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Gold Pick Awards
Since 1966, PRSA Colorado's Gold Pick Awards, the state’s most prestigious recognition program for PR practitioners, have honored the region’s best work in public relations. Gold Pick Awards recognize outstanding public relations campaigns, tactics and professionals across industries and specialties. Whether you work in corporate communications, nonprofit PR, agencies, government, education, or another sector, the Gold Picks are an opportunity to showcase your team's best work.
Congrats to our 2026 Winners!
PR Team of the Year
Honors a PR team that deserves special recognition for its exceptional achievements during the past year.
CIG Public Relations for Colfax BRT project
Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizes a PRSA Colorado Chapter member for distinguished service to the profession of public relations, the community and to PRSA. This award may be based on volunteer work for non-profit causes, leadership on a significant public relations issue affecting the community, and/or outstanding educational achievement in public relations.
Wendy Manitta Holmes, APR
Sharon Linhart Public Relations Person of the Year
Honors the outstanding achievement of a public relations professional who has taken their PR skills to the next level during the past year through professional development, client success or another demonstration of professional excellence.
Tim Carroll, APR
Media Professional of the Year
Presented to a journalist of a Colorado-based media outlet who has demonstrated a dedication to their craft by reporting with integrity, sharing impactful stories and always keeping the public interest in mind.
Jaclyn Allen
Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year
Recognizes an outstanding new member of the PRSA Colorado Chapter and the public relations profession who is actively involved in the Chapter.
Dani Sturges
Jane Dvorak Mentor of the Year
Recognizes an outstanding public relations professional who has demonstrated time and commitment to being a mentor to other public relations professionals.
Danielle Moore
Ayers Chapter Service Award
Presented to an individual who has demonstrated a particularly strong level of commitment to the Chapter through volunteer work, board or committee work, or involvement in special projects. The award is designed to recognize a member whose contributions might be regarded as unpublicized and behind-the-scenes.
Quinn Kelsey
Gold Pick Award Winners
Grand Gold Pick
PRRS-Resistant Pig Website: PIC leverages digital platform to drive awareness, Genus
Best Agency - Boutique/Small
SchroderHaus Marketing Communications
Community Relations - Government
Colorado Proud 2025 Farm to School Meal Month Campaign, Philosophy Communications
Shaping the Next Decade of Five Points, SideCar Public Relations
Data Insights
PRRS-resistant pig: PIC leverages data insights to drive positive consumer awareness, Genus
Digital Platform
PRRS-resistant pig website: PIC leverages digital platform to drive awareness, Genus
Events and Observances - More Than Seven Days - Government
Colfax BRT Arch Lift Events, CIG Public Relations
Events and Observances - Seven or Fewer Days - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
A Showcase of Student Leaders, Innovators, and Change-Makers: DPS Foundation's Achieve Gala 2025, Denver Public Schools Foundation
Events and Observances - Seven or Fewer Days - Business
Meet Me at Denargo: A Daylong Celebration of Denver's Newest Destination, SideCar Public Relations
Feature Stories
Master Gardeners and blind students grow together in unique garden, Colorado State University
Reintroducing 16th Street: How Thought Leadership Helped Explain Denver’s Downtown Transformation, SideCar Public Relations
AI ghosts are coming: Is that comforting or creepy?, University of Colorado
Human emissions drove the megadrought in the western US, University of Colorado
Influencer Marketing
Minor Figures Dairy Disloyalty, SchroderHaus Marketing Communications
Justin’s "Crunch Time" Crunchy Peanut Butter Launch, SchroderHaus Marketing Communications
Integrated Communications - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
Campaign: Value of Research, University of Colorado
CU Boulder State of the Campus 2026 Campaign, University of Colorado
Media Relations - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
Children’s Hospital Colorado Performs Region’s First Pediatric Heart and Liver Dual-Organ Transplant, Children's Hospital Colorado
Linhart PR Drives Enrollment Consideration for CSU Global Through Year-Long News Bureau, Linhart Public Relations
Opening Doors and Driving Awareness for One of Colorado's First Proposition 123-Funded Housing Communities, SideCar Public Relations
Common sugar substitute shown to impair brain cells, boost stroke risk, University of Colorado
Media Relations - Business to Business
From Robots to Infrastructure: Reframing the Future of Waste Recovery, AMP
Media Relations - Consumer Products Non-Packaged Goods
Empowering Older Adults with Hearing Loss Education to Promote Healthy Aging, Linhart Public Relations
Naming Denver's Next Landmark: The Story Behind Rhingo the Rhino, SideCar Public Relations
Media Relations - Consumer Products Packaged Goods
Linhart PR Builds a Spokesperson-Led Media Engine to Drive National Coverage for Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., Linhart Public Relations
Linhart PR Ignites Summer Grilling Season with Consumer Insights-Led Media Strategy for Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., Linhart Public Relations
Media Relations - Consumer Services
Linhart PR Harnesses Housing Market Trends to Drive Media Growth for Oakwood Homes, Linhart Public Relations
Powering Customer Education Across Southern Colorado for Black Hills Energy, Linhart Public Relations
Digging Up a Story: How Prim Turned Construction Dirt Into a 3.5 Million-Person Conversation About Clayworks, Prim + Co
Social Media
We Back The Fax Social Media, CIG Public Relations
Spreading the Love for Justin’s: Best Use of Social Media, SchroderHaus Marketing Communications
Videos
Crime-scene science gets real in the classroom, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Colorado Cattleman’s Agriculture Land Trust, SideCar Public Relations
Town of Castle Rock 2025 State of the Town, Town of Castle Rock
Websites
Preserving the Story. Preparing for the Next Chapter., SideCar Public Relations
Silver Pick Award Winners
Best Agency - Boutique/Small
Prim + Co
Best AI Integration and Digital Innovations - Agency
NovaSight™: Engineering Brand Meaning for the AI-Driven Buyer Journey, The Nova Method
Best In-House Team - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
From Campaigns to System: CU Boulder’s Integrated Reputation Transformation, University of Colorado
Best Solo/Independent PR Pro
Quinn Kelsey: Building Momentum Through Transition, Quinn Kelsey
Content Marketing - Government
Drugged Driving Content Marketing Articles, CIG Public Relations
Crisis Communications
Embrey Leetsdale Fire, SideCar Public Relations
Events and Observances - More Than Seven Days - Government
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Park Activations, CIG Public Relations
Events and Observances - Seven or Fewer Days - Business
Kettle & Fire KettleWorks Grand Opening Community Celebration, SchroderHaus Marketing Communications
Events and Observances - Seven or Fewer Days - Government
Greeley Groundbreaking for Cascadia, SideCar Public Relations
Feature Stories
Maya monuments speak in signs, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Major breakthrough in cancer screening, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Integrated Communications - Government
Colfax BRT Small Business Support, CIG Public Relations
Internal Communications - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
CU Boulder Wi-Fi Improvement Project, University of Colorado
Media Relations - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
Children’s Hospital Colorado: Advancing Access to Lifesaving TPN Through Strategic Media Relations, Children's Hospital Colorado
Communicating a Commitment to Financial Literacy, Impact PR & Communications
Most Effective Campaign on a $5,000 to $10,000 Budget
Sweet Strategy: How a $9,000 PR Campaign Put Denver Macaron on the Map and Quintupled Holiday Sales, Prim + Co
Product or Company Launch - Consumer Products - Regional Focus
Quinn Snacks NorCal Costco Limited Launch Campaign, SchroderHaus Marketing Communications
Public Affairs
Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 2025 Advocacy Campaign, Philosophy Communication
Protect Our Paychecks: A Digital Campaign to Safeguard Worker Choice, Novitas Communications
Quarry Permits Challenge, Jacqueline Clark, APR, Fellow PRSA & Justin Kurth
Public Service - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
Sharing the Good About Goodwill of Colorado, Jumel Communications
Reputation/Brand Management - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations/Educational Institutions
Sharing the Good About Goodwill of Colorado, Jumel Communications
Videos
The Long Road: Navigating a DUI Arrest Video Series, CIG Public Relations
Websites
SideCar Public Relations Website, SideCar Public Relations
2026 PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards were Presented and Produced by SideCar PR
Special thanks to our annual platinum sponsor: Linhart PR
