For Immediate Release
June 5, 2017
Economic Development Cabinet, LRC claim top KAGC award
Communicators statewideamong winners in 2017 Awards of Excellence contest
FRANKFORT—The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Office of Research and Public Affairs and the Legislative Research Commission Public Information Office have both claimed the “Communications Office of the Year” title in the 2017 Kentucky Association of Government Communicators (KAGC) Awards of Excellence competition, heldon May 12.
The KAGC Communications Office of the Year award is given each year to the agency that earns the most points for awards given in 20 categoriesincluding writing, design, photography, audio, video, social media and more. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Office of Research and Public Affairs has earned the top award, and the first year that LRC has earned the title.
“We are blessed to have a team of incredibly creative people here at the Cabinet who are passionate about quality,” Office of Research and Public Affairs’ Executive Director Joe Lilly said about his agency’s performance. “They work extremely hard to communicate Kentucky’s economic development messages in the best and most creative ways possible.
“We’re fortunate to have staff members who focus their considerable talents on informing citizens about General Assembly actions. Their work helps maintain the two-way lines of communications needed between Kentuckians and their state lawmakers,” said Rob Weber, LRC Public Information Officer. “The fact that my coworkers work with such dedication behind the scenes makes it a real treat to see them publicly recognized for their skills and professionalism.”
The runner-up for 2017 KAGC Communications Office of the Year is the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is second runner-up for this year’s title.
Government communicators statewide competed for the KAGC awards, which were presented during the group’s spring conference on May 12 in Lexington. The competition is open to those involved in government communications at the local, state and federal levels.
KAGC offers professional development opportunities to government communicators while promoting high standards of professionalism, networking opportunities, and recognition of the essential role good communication plays in public service. The group holds monthly meetings as well as spring and fall conferences. For more information, go to
The complete list of 2017 KAGC Awards of Excellence winners is as follows:
News Writing
Award of Excellence: Rob Weber, Legislative Research Commission
Award of Merit: Rebecca Hanchett, Legislative Research Commission
Honorable Mention: Allen Blair, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet; Mike Marsee, Kentucky Department of Education; Anya Armes Weber, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Jim Hannah, Legislative Research Commission; Rebecca Hanchett, Legislative Research Commission; Rob Weber, Legislative Research Commission; Beth Fisher, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Kevin Kelly, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; Lee McClellan, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Feature Writing
Award of Excellence: Kevin Kelly, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Award of Merit: Kevin Kelly, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Honorable Mention: Chris Aldridge, Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Laura Satterly, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet; Mike Marsee, Kentucky Department of Education; Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; Lee McClellan, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; Beth Fisher, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Rob Weber, Legislative Research Commission; Brenna R. Kelly, Kentucky Department of Education; Anya Armes Weber, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Allen Blair, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Speech and Editorial Writing
Award of Excellence: Rebecca Hanchett, Legislative Research Commission
Award of Merit: Rebecca Hanchett, Legislative Research Commission
Honorable Mention: Beth Fisher, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Jim Hannah, Legislative Research Commission; Anya Armes Weber, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Newsletter
Award of Excellence: Brenna R. Kelly and Anita Fleming, Kentucky Department of Education
Award of Merit: Legislative Research Commission
Honorable Mention: Legislative Research Commission
Magazine/Publication
Award of Excellence: Elden May, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Award of Merit: Kentucky Afield Magazine Staff, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Honorable Mention: Shannon Ramsey, Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service; Communications Department, Kentucky State Fair Board
Brochure
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Honorable Mention: Emily Gresham Wherle and Lynne Saddler, Northern Kentucky Health Department; Elden May, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Annual Report
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Communications Department, Kentucky State Fair Board
Honorable Mention: Ilse House, Kentucky Retirement Systems; Erin B. Hester, Kentucky Department for Public Health
Single Photograph
Award of Excellence: Bobby Ellis, Kentucky Department of Education
Award of Merit: Bud Kraft, Legislative Research Commission
Honorable Mention: Bud Kraft, Legislative Research Commission; Amy Wallot, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Photo Series
Award of Excellence: Amy Wallot, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Award of Merit: Bobby Ellis, Kentucky Department of Education
Honorable Mention: Legislative Research Commission Public Information Office
Image Campaign
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Honorable Mention: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; Shannon Ramsey, Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service; Beth Fisher and Barbara Fox, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Anita Fleming, Kentucky Department of Education
Advertisement
Award of Excellence: Communications Department, Kentucky State Fair Board
Award of Merit: Shannon Martin, KYTC Kentucky Design and Print Services
Honorable Mention: CHFS Communications, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Publication Design
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Ilse House, Kentucky Retirement Systems
Honorable Mention: Elden May, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Audio, Single Program
Award of Excellence: Keith Krey, Legislative Research Commission
Award of Merit: Office of Public Affairs, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Honorable Mention: Charlie Baglan, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Video, Single Program or Series
Award of Excellence: CHFS Communications, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Award of Merit: Legislative Research Commission Public Information Office
Honorable Mention: Brett Smith and Parry Barrows, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government; Jeff Fossett, Legislative Research Commission
Web-Based Media
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Honorable Mention: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; Communications Department, Kentucky State Fair Board; Nick Brock and Erik Schwartz, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government; Office of Public Affairs, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Social Media
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Amy Wallot and Parry Barrows, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Honorable Mention: Beth Fisher and Barbara Fox, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Electronic Presentation
Award of Excellence: Erin B. Hester, Kentucky Department for Public Health
Award of Merit: James A. Isaman, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Honorable Mention: Kelly May, Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions; Shannon Ramsey, Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service
Public Information Campaign Division A
Award of Excellence: CHFS Communications, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Award of Merit: CHFS Communications, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Public Information Campaign Division B
Award of Excellence: Noelle Hunter and Erin Eggen, Kentucky Office of Highway Safety
Special Event Division A
Award of Excellence: CHFS State Fair Team, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Special Event Division B
Award of Excellence: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Award of Merit: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Honorable Mention: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Innovations Division A
Award of Excellence: CHFS Communications, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Award of Merit: Office of Public Affairs/OIT/ITS, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Innovations Division B
Award of Excellence: Kelly May, Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
Award of Merit: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Honorable Mention: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
2017 Communications Office of the Year
First Place: Office of Research and Public Affairs, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, and Legislative Research Commission Public Information Office
Second Place: Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Third Place: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
END