CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 16, 2010 — Luquire George Andrews (LGA), one of the Southeast region’s leading advertising, marketing and public relations firms, received a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at a ceremony held June 3 in
New York City. The Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding strategic public relations planning and implementation.

“The Award of Excellence recognizes top public relations programs in our industry,” James J. Roop, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2010 Awards and Honors Committee chair and president of Roop & Co., Cleveland, Ohio. “To receive an Award of Excellence, programs must be of Silver Anvil caliber and represent some of the finest strategic and creative thinking in our profession.”

LGA was selected from more than 800 entries nationwide to receive the 2010 Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for its “Jumpstarting a Physician Practice in a Competitive Market” campaign in the integrated communications category. Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists, Central Indiana’s premier provider of comprehensive orthopedic services and the official team physicians for the NFL Indianapolis Colts, had not promoted itself in years and was losing market share when LGA developed an integrated communications plan to reestablish the practice and increase new patient volumes. With public relations, advertising and marketing supporting each other, 2009 was the orthopedic practice’s most successful year ever.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the impact this campaign has made for Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists, and we are equally proud to receive this national recognition for a program that involves brand strategy, public relations, advertising and new media,” said
Judi Wax, LGA’s executive vice president of public relations. “It is a testament to the creativity, hard work and dedication of the integrated team and our agency.”
The Silver Anvil Awards program has grown in scope and stature since its inception in 1946, and awards are now given in 59 categories and subcategories. In the 60-plus-year history of the Silver Anvils, many organizations have been recognized, including solo practitioners, agencies of all sizes, large and small businesses, top corporations, nonprofits, associations and government agencies.

About Luquire George Andrews
A leader in integrated communications in the Carolinas for more than 25 years, Charlotte-based Luquire George Andrews (LGA) provides advertising, marketing and public relations services to a broad range of clients from major regional corporations to global Fortune 500 companies. For more information, visit www.lgaadv.com.

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
With more than 31,000 members, PRSA is the largest organization of public relations professionals and students. PRSA is comprised of 111 local Chapters organized into 10 geographic Districts; 16 Professional Interest Sections that focus on issues, trends and research relevant to specialized practice areas, such as technology, health care, financial communications, entertainment and sports, and travel tourism; and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which has more than 300 Chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. PRSA is headquartered in New York.

Projects could include:
Microsite and website design and development, banner and e-blast
design and development, general production work and new business
brainstorming.

This is a paid internship. Hourly rate TBD.
Internship is expected to be 40 hours a week and will extend through
the summer and possibly part-time into the fall.

College grads and college seniors are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications:
Creative problem solver with passion for new media
Proficiency in essential design/development programs (see capabilities below)
Strong conceptualization skills
Ability to manage multiple projects on tight deadlines
Good written and verbal skills

Desired Capabilities:
Dreamweaver
Standards compliant HTML/XHTML/CSS, etc.
CMS experience (Wordpress, Expression Engine, Joomla, Drupal)
Additional scripting experience like PHP, Javascript
Flash
Photoshop
Illustrator
After Effects/Final Cut experience a plus
DVD authoring a plus

Demo and Format:
Portfolio site/link required
Please forward portfolio links to Resumes@lgaadv.com

The InSpire Awards exemplify the best of the best in public relations. They honor communications programs that incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. They must meet the highest standards of performance in the profession. LGA won the following awards:

• Award of Excellence/Communication Management, Media Relations – Babson Capital: Showcasing an Undiscovered Gem

• Award of Excellence/Events & Observances – Goodstock: 25 Hours of Great Work for Good Causes

• Award of Excellence/Integrated Communications – Methodist Sports Medicine/The Orthopedic Specialists: Jumpstarting a Physician Practice in a Competitive Market

• Award of Excellence/Marketing Consumer Products or Services, Business-to-Business – National Gypsum: Showcasing Innovation to Build a Brand

“LGA is honored to be recognized by our industry peers,” said Judi Wax, executive vice president/director of public relations. “The awards demonstrate the quality of our public relations team and reflect our goal to provide winning results for our clients.”

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The ADDY® Awards exemplify the best of the best in advertising. They represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types and creative of all sizes. LGA won the following awards:

• • Judges’ Award for Print – Consumer / Trade, Full-Page Color – Don’t Worry/Charlotte Plastic Surgery
• • Gold ADDY® for Special Event Campaign – Fight Night Tickets / Charlotte Sports Commission
• • Gold ADDY® for Outdoor Board – Goal Posts / University of North Carolina Charlotte
• • Gold ADDY® for Mixed Media, Local Consumer – It’s a Rush Campaign / University of North Carolina Charlotte
• • Silver ADDY® for Direct Marketing – Jersey / University of North Carolina Charlotte
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Publication, Full-Page Color – Banana / Blum, Inc.
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Publication, Full-Page Color – Balloon / Blum, Inc.
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Publication, Full-Page Color –
  Don’t Worry /Charlotte Plastic Surgery
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Campaign, Color – Balloon + Banana / Blum, Inc.
• • Silver ADDY® for National Radio – Holiday Hints / Quail Hollow Championship
• • Silver ADDY® for Local TV – Deer / Meineke Car Care Bowl
• • Silver ADDY® for Local TV Campaign – Deer + Snowman / Meineke Car Care Bowl
• • Silver ADDY® for Self-Promotion, Direct Marketing –
  Holiday Tin: Mr. Pistachio Head / LGA

“We have an outstanding group of creative professionals who work hard to provide results for our clients,” said Steve Dunkley, senior vice president/executive creative director. “LGA is honored to be presented with these awards.”

“Research shows that consumers want to know more about everything from budgeting and saving to credit and investing so they can feel empowered in their own abilities to make good financial choices, especially in this current economic environment,” said Peggy Brookhouse, LGA president and partner. “This campaign was created to emphasize BB&T’s 138-year history of sharing the knowledge that helps clients move confidently in the right direction.”

Beginning Monday, April 5, the campaign will run in 33 markets along the East Coast, including Atlanta, Miami and Washington, D.C., and incorporates television and radio advertising. The advertising primarily will be weighted towards Alabama and Florida markets to coincide with the on-boarding of new clients to BB&T from the conversion of Colonial Bank, which was acquired in 2009.

Four, 30-second TV commercials illustrate BB&T’s personal approach by showing clients going the opposite direction of the crowd while walking through an airport, shopping in a mall, driving in a car or heading to work because of the peace and independence that comes with better knowledge and control of their finances. The 60-second radio commercials complement the campaign.

“The spots are a dramatic and relevant presentation of what it’s like to know more about your finances and where that can take you. They show how knowledge from BB&T can assist them in making informed decisions and provides them with an optimistic view of the future related to their finances,” said Steve Dunkley, LGA executive creative director.

The campaign is targeted to a cross section of BB&T’s client base as well as the bank’s service lines, including commercial banking, checking and savings, mortgage lending and general retail services.

“The intriguing visuals and story lines work on a level a bit deeper than the typical ad campaign because it’s reflective of not only the better financial path that BB&T clients are traveling, but also of BB&T’s history of independent thinking and sound principles, which has helped the bank emerge as one of the most respected in today’s economic environment,” said Marty Kelso, LGA associate creative director/copywriter.

“It’s a pleasure to reward hardworking and talented people like Pete, Judi and Bobbi,” said Peggy Brookhouse, LGA president and partner. “All three of these individuals have been instrumental in LGA’s success and in helping our clients reach their business goals.”

As LGA’s chief operating officer for the past nine years, Marco oversees agency operations – including capital equipment needs assessment, preparing for growth, contract negotiations and managing expenses and receivables. He has an extensive media and advertising background that includes more than 30 years in the newspaper and broadcast industries, as well as in agency media planning and senior account management.

Since joining LGA in 2006, Wax has led continued growth in the agency’s public relations practice – expanding existing relationships and developing new clients in key business categories, including healthcare, financial services and food products. A 26-year PR veteran, she has extensive experience in strategic program development, media training and crisis management. Wax has held senior positions at leading agencies in the Midwest, including Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm. She also is a former feature writer for the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald. In 2009, she received the Charlotte Business Journal’s Women in Business Achievement Award.

Adderton has contributed to LGA’s success for more than 10 years, managing vendor relationships and production functions, including collecting competitive bids, estimating, proofreading and maintaining quality control. She has been involved in the graphics industry in Charlotte for more than 25 years, including time at Belk Printing and Washburn Graphics (now Cadmus), and on the client side at Premier, Inc.

As vice president, Sammerson will provide senior-level counsel on the development and execution of strategic public relations initiatives for clients including BB&T and Mölnlycke Health Care.

“Lauren has worked on major brands and brings the perfect mix of corporate and agency experience to LGA,” said Judi Wax, LGA’s executive vice president / director of public relations. “We feel fortunate to have her on our growing PR team.”

Sammerson brings a wealth of financial services experience to her new role with LGA. Most recently, she worked as a senior communications specialist and corporate spokesperson for Lincoln Financial Group in Greensboro, N.C., where she managed financial communications including mergers and acquisitions, issues management, media relations and foundation relations.

Prior to Lincoln Financial, Sammerson was a communications manager for ING DIRECT Bank, overseeing media relations, community sponsorships, financial literacy programs and internal communications to increase product and brand awareness.

Her previous agency experience includes working with a leading marketing communications firm in Wilmington, Del. – RT&E Integrated Communications Agency – on brands such as DuPont, General Electric, Delaware Lottery and the YMCA.

A graduate of the University of Delaware, Sammerson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She received her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 2004.

In his role as treasurer, Tate will serve a one-year term. He will chair the PRSA Finance Committee and work closely with Phil Bonaventura, PRSA’s chief financial officer, to oversee the budget for PRSA. He also will oversee the PRSA Investment Committee and PRSA Audit Committee. Tate is one of 17 other professionals selected for leadership on the national board.
“We are proud of Philip and his leadership role in PRSA,” said Peggy Brookhouse, president of Luquire George Andrews. “His commitment to the organization makes him well-suited for the treasurer position.”
Prior to being elected to this position, Tate served as the Southeast district director on the PRSA national board and served the PRSA Charlotte chapter as president (2006), vice president of programming (2005), secretary/treasurer (2004) and as an at-large board member (2002-2003). In February 2002, he received his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Universal Accreditation Board and remains deeply involved in the Charlotte chapter’s accreditation program.

Tate graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a double minor in political science and history. Away from the office, he has served as volunteer chair for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte Y-Guides Program, a father-child program for more than 3,000 families, which ranks as one of the largest programs of its kind in the United States. He also has spearheaded local fundraising campaigns for the American Heart Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

Urban Ministry Center “The Difference”

Thanks to our production partners at Emulsion Arts for lending their talents to our mission.

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