Pictured, left to right: Joe Legge, Walker County Government; Kent Callison, GameTime; Amanda Carmichael, Mace+Carmichael; Amanda Haskew, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; and Charles Coleman, Coleman Creative
The Lookout Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognized several local organizations for communication excellence. Developed in 2020, the Crown Awards acknowledge exemplary work in the fields of public relations, communication and marketing in the greater Chattanooga area.
From a competitive selection process, the 2022 Crown Awards were bestowed on the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Mace+Carmichael and Walker County Government and Walker County Chamber of Commerce.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation was recognized for the BlueCross Healthy Places program, which develops parks in rural and urban communities statewide, creating accessible, inclusive spaces for all ages that encourage community connection and healthy activity. With a combination of media and community relations, social media and event tactics, the BlueCross Healthy Places program garnered nearly 9.3 million total media impressions, 22.9 million social media impressions and an awareness goal of 33% from all business decision-makers surveyed.
GameTime, through a collaboration with Mace+Carmichael and Coleman Creative, garnered praise for their work on a virtual sales training. With a combination of pre-recorded and live Zoom content for a series of virtual training sessions, the Mace+Carmichael team produced an engaging, effective and educational campaign with tactics including an email campaign, gift packages for participating employees, surveys and more achieving an attendance rate of 90 percent and a 100 percent satisfied to very satisfied rate from participating employees.
In the joint winning campaign from Walker County Government and the Walker County Chamber of Commerce, the #WalkerRocks Selfie Trail features nearly a dozen prime locations with eye-catching backdrops ideal for capturing photos to share on social media featuring a custom “Walker Rocks” boulder that serves as a trailhead marker and strategically placed to help selfie takers get the best angle for the perfect shot. The trail is intended to be a unifying symbol and link for all the amazing outdoor adventures available in Walker County.
Based on creativity, planning, execution and impact, nominations were judged by a panel of professionals from the Volunteer Chapter of PRSA serving the Knoxville area:
• Cheryl Ball, City of Knoxville;
• Becky Hopson, Oak Ridge Associated Universities – ORAU;
• Gail Rymer, Gail Rymer Strategic Communications; and
• Dr. Joe Stabb, Tombras School of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Tennessee at Knoxville.