2021 Winners

The Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Colorado) is pleased to announce the 2021 Gold Pick Special Award winners nominated by industry peers and awarded to outstanding professionals in the field of public relations. PRSA Colorado annually honors the achievements of individuals and organizations in public relations through recognition of best practices and high ethical standards among leaders and peers in the industry.

2021 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Wendy Aiello | President, Aiello Public Relations & Marketing

Wendy S. Aiello, president of Aiello Public Relations & Marketing, has lived and worked in the Colorado market for more than 35 years. Aiello’s career in public relations and marketing includes work in traditional corporate communications (internal and external), business to business marketing,  digital communications and crisis communications. During the last 35 years, Aiello has worked with entertainment entities, commercial and residential developers, homebuilders, nonprofits, tourism,  restaurants, hotels, and retail concepts. A sampling of Aiello’s clients includes Denver Union Station, Oakwood Homes, Take Note Colorado / Colorado Music Coalition, AEG Presents, BMC Investments, JE Dunn Construction, Suitsupply, and Jewish Community Center Jamfest, a festival featuring Jewish artists, authors, movies, and music.

2021 CHAPTER SERVICE

Michelle Lyng | Novitas Communication​

Michelle Balch Lyng has more than two decades of experience in strategic communications and reputation management relating to executive positioning, community engagement, issue management, corporate communication and crisis communications.

As the founder and CEO of Novitas Communications, Lyng advises a wide range of clients from Fortune 100 companies experiencing significant change to start-up grassroots political organizations on proactive and reactive media. She has helped implement organization-wide communications strategies to uphold reputations when financial and regulatory stakes were highest.

Under her leadership, Novitas Communications has won a number of national awards, including the  2020 PR World Award for Gold Achievement of the Year in Public Affairs, the 2020 Gold Bulldog Award for Best Public Affairs Campaign, the 2020 Ragan Award for Best Governmental or Public Affairs Campaign and the 2020 Platinum Hermes Award for PR Campaign.

The Denver Post named her one of Colorado’s “Up and Coming Most Influential Women,” and RedState.com dubbed her a “strategic communications expert.” In 2018, she was among the Denver Business Journal’s 40 under 40 honorees. In the political sphere, Lyng is well-known

in Colorado for her work defeating Amendment 66, also known as the “billion-dollar tax increase.” The ballot initiative was defeated by a nearly two-to-one margin.

2021 PR PERSON OF THE YEAR

 Winna MacLaren | Manager of Communications and Engagement, Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency

Winna MacLaren has 13 years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations. Currently serving as the manager of communications and engagement for Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, she is passionate about making the planet a healthier, more inclusive place to live. Winna has previously worked in various non-profit and government entities, including Denver Regional Council of Governments, Arapahoe County's Election Division and Denver Public Schools. Winna currently serves as Board Secretary for The Alliance Center and as chair of Colorado's PRSA Diversity and Inclusion committee. She previously served on Mayor Hancock's Sustainability Advisory Council and served as chair of the council’s subcommittee on Equity and Environmental Justice. Winna lives in Denver with her husband and three daughters. She enjoys exploring Colorado's wild places and creating interesting cocktails for friends and family.

2021 MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Liz Kamper | Corporate Communication Specialist, CBRE

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As part of CBRE’s dynamic Corporate Communications team, Liz Kamper provides media relations, social media and internal communications support for multiple markets across the West, including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Utah. Prior to starting her career in PR, she spent several years instructing college journalism students in writing, reporting, interviewing and ethics. Currently a part of PRSA Colorado’s Board of Directors, Liz has been an active member in the chapter, previously serving as Chapter Editor and chair of the Chapter's Communication Committee. Liz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Wyoming. Her master's thesis studied how brands are framed by the media (in newspapers) during times of crisis.

2021 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Anna Ritz | Specialist, CIG Public Relations

A Colorado native and CU Boulder alum, Anna knew she wanted to pursue PR before she started college. Her involvement in PRSSA led her to gain valuable leadership and industry experience. As a new professional, Anna works hard every day to learn and grow in her career. When she’s not in meetings or attending PRSA events, you can find her exploring new recipes in the kitchen or seeking adventures across the Front Range.

2021 BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Tory Bruno | CEO, United Launch Alliance

Tory Bruno is the CEO of United Launch Alliance. Under his leadership, ULA has transformed into a competitive powerhouse that is shaping the future of space launch by making it more affordable, accessible and introducing revolutionary new capabilities to meet the challenges of the future. Over the past 35 years, Tory has developed and fielded dozens of critical defense and space launch systems that form the backbone of America’s national security and her efforts in space exploration. He has a deep history in Missile Defense, Strategic Deterrence, and Space Launch.  

Tory is also an expert in several rocketry and hypersonic technologies and holds multiple related patents. He is a tireless advocate for the industry, sharing his passion for space technology and his vision of a self-sustaining human presence beyond Earth. Tory is also a strong communicator on space. His social media presence is legendary worldwide and is an inspiration to many.

2021 MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR

Ed Sealover | Reporter, Denver Business Journal

Ed Sealover has been a reporter at the Denver Business Journal since March 2009. He covers state government, transportation, economic development, hospitality, tourism, and the beverage industry. 

He graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and worked at daily newspapers in Arkansas and South Carolina before coming to Colorado in 2000. He worked for the Colorado Springs Gazette and Rocky Mountain News before his time at the DBJ. Throughout his career, he’s received 138 awards from national organizations and from press associations in five different states in categories that include beat reporting, political reporting, public service and investigative reporting. He recently was named the 2020 Colorado Journalist of the Year by the state chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for his coverage of the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on business. When not covering government, Sealover lives in Wheat Ridge with his wife, Denise, and their children, Lincoln and Jane. He also has written two books: "Mountain Brew: A Guide to Colorado Breweries” and “Colorado Excursions with History, Hikes and Hops.”

2021 PR TEAM OF THE YEAR

Sage Restaurant Concepts

Denver-born and based Sage Restaurant Concepts (SRC) creates industry-leading restaurant and bar concepts with soul for the people who live, work and play in the communities they serve. Launched in 2005 under 37-year-old Sage Hospitality Group, SRC boasts more than 50 restaurant, bar and coffee shop locations in 13 states across the country in top cities such as Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and Portland. Comprised of seasoned restaurateurs and innovators, SRC is committed to consistently crafting exceptional experiences that forge a bond with guests, enrich communities and empower people.  For more information, visit the website or follow @SageRestaurantConcepts on Facebook and Instagram.  ​

Thank you to our 2021 Sponsors!

FORTY NINER SPONSOR

MAGMA SPONSOR

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Cancellations
All tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred. Ticket transfers must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the event, by phone or email. If the event is canceled, the full cost of the event ticket will be refunded within 30 days from the notice of cancellation.