TUCSON, AZ (October 26, 2022)—The Southern Arizona chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has announced the winners for this year’s IMPACT Awards for Excellence in Public Relations.

This year’s top honors go to Jan Howard, a Partner at NüPOINT Marketing who was granted our Career Impact Award, and the Arizona Daily Star’s Caitlin Schmidt for 2022 Media Person of the Year. Craig Reck from the Tucson Airport Authority was honored as the 2022 Rookie of the Year and the winner of our 2022 PR Professional of the Year award is Elizabeth “Libby” Howell, APR, from Pima Community College. The event was held at the Tucson Museum of Art.

The communications team for Tucson Water walked away with this year’s Best in Show Award for their Water Matters newsletter, which is designed to inform, educate and engage customers about evolving water issues.

The IMPACT Awards honor PR, marketing, and communications professionals for the work they do each year across the region. This year’s submissions were judged and scored by the New Mexico chapter of PRSA. IMPACT Award honorees represent the highest standards in programs and projects that successfully incorporate the four key elements of public relations: research, planning, execution, and evaluation. Winners receive either an IMPACT Certificate of Excellence or an IMPACT Award of Excellence in Public Relations, the event’s highest scoring category.

This year’s winners, include:

IMPACT Awards for Excellence in Public Relations (Highest Scoring Category)

Tucson Water (2022 Best in Show Recipient)
• Newsletters: “Water Matters: A Monthly Newsletter from Tucson Water”

The Caliber Group & University of Arizona Center for Innovation
• Creative Collateral or Media Placement, Single Deliverable: “Video: An Entrepreneur’s Journey”

Gordley Group
• General Marketing: “MHC Healthcare Advertising Campaign”
• Digital Communications: “Halloween Social Media Campaign”

NüPOINT Marketing
• Government/Public Affairs Communications: “Flagstaff General Obligation Bond Initiative”
• Creative Collateral or Media Placement, Single Deliverable: “Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona Logo & Brand Development”
• Branding: “Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona Rebranding”

Tech Parks Arizona & University of Arizona, Research Innovation and Impact
• Creative Collateral or Media Placement, Single Deliverable: “Tech Parks Arizona FDI Brochure”

Pima Association of Governments
• Newsletters: “Regional Connections Newsletter”
• Internal Communications: “PAG Props”

University of Arizona
• Media Placement: “Native American Student Tuition”
• Media Placement: “Black Hole Image Reveal”

Sundt Construction
• General Marketing: “Craft Recruiting Campaign”

Tucson Airport Authority
• General Marketing: “Nonstop for Tucson”
• Branding: “Nonstop for Tucson”

University of Arizona Health Sciences
• General Marketing: “Cannabis Awareness Month”
• Digital Communications: “Women in Health Sciences”


2020 IMPACT Certificates of Excellence Winners

NüPOINT Marketing
• Annual Report: “FY 21 Annual Report”

Tucson Electric Power
• General Marketing: “A New Peak to Beat”

University of Arizona, Research & Innovation
• Internal Communications: “Women of Impact Awards & Celebration”

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
• Creative Collateral: “End of Life Care Partnership Training Video: Tim’s Story”

University of Arizona Center for Innovation & Biosphere 2
• Special Events & Observances: “UACI at Biosphere 2 Grant Opening”

University of Arizona
• Newsletters: “UANow”

Gordley Group
• Creative Collateral or Media Placement, Single Deliverable: “Holiday Card 2021”

PRSA’s Southern Arizona Chapter offers professional development to public relations, marketing, and communications professionals through events, awards, continuing education and accreditation, and a vibrant network of local practitioners.