Several Borshoff staff members and clients recently attended the presentation of the Hoosier PRSA Pinnacle Awards, which recognize outstanding public relations work completed in 2009.

We were excited to be named the recipients of two Pinnacle Awards…and even more excited that our clients were there with us to accept the awards!

We received Pinnacle Awards for:

• Wishard Health Services’ Senior Care Campaign
• Carle Foundation’s Hospital’s green initiative, titled “Healthy People. Happy Planet.”

Click on the links to read earlier blogs about our award-winning campaigns.

Some people have MBA after their name, others CPA or LEED. For me and my profession, it’s APR. In October 2009, I became one of only 5,000 public relations professionals who hold the APR mark, which stands for Accreditation in Public Relations.

Although Borshoff doesn’t require it, our agency places a high value on professional accreditation and advanced degrees. All four of our principals and several of the account staff have earned Accreditation or an advanced degree (or both). In fact, Borshoff has more accredited professionals than any other agency or company in Indiana.

Plus, I knew it would be a benefit not just to me and my employer, but to my clients as well. The Public Relations Society of America lists these advantages of hiring an APR:

• We are bound by strict ethical guidelines.
• We are senior-level strategists who have demonstrated skills and abilities necessary in today’s public relations executive or manager.
• We have successfully completed a challenging review and examination process.
• We are required to maintain our Accreditation through professional development and education.
• We have committed to enhancing the profession.
• We have demonstrated the desire to succeed.

About the time I wrapped up the APR process, a blog post on Journalistics (which would be on my blogroll if I had one) took up the question of whether you need APR. The writer polled the audience via Twitter, and the majority felt APR was worth the time. Overall, out of 249 responses, 67 percent think the APR is worth it, while only 26 percent don’t.

I’m with the majority. The preparation for APR alone was worth it, as it sharpened my skills and boosted my confidence. But the three letters after my name – priceless!

Borshoff recently won industry awards including a Pinnacle Award from the Hoosier Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and several awards from Healthcare Marketing Report.

Borshoff was recognized with a PRSA Pinnacle Award for the Indianapolis Prize media relations campaign. The Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation, was initiated by the Indianapolis Zoo as a significant component of its mission to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. Media exposure for the Indianapolis Prize increased more than 300 percent from the initial media relations campaign for the 2006 award, and earned media placements in USA Today, National Geographic Weekend Radio, CNN Radio and Voice of America, among others.

Healthcare Marketing Report recently announced its 2009 winners, and Borshoff was recognized for work with Wishard and St. Francis. Most notable was a Gold award, the highest honor, for Wishard’s Five Factors print ad series. In total, Borshoff received recognition for the following work:

• Gold – Wishard Five Factors print ad series
• Bronze – St. Francis Community Benefit Report
• Bronze – St. Francis Mooresville grand opening
• Bronze – Wishard Five Factors TV spot
• Merit – St. Francis Doctor’s Day Card
• Merit – St. Francis Spirit of Women event