Gold and silver hardware is what the Public Information Department of the Fayette County Public School System brought home from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Atlanta chapter, Golden Flames Awards competition. 

Nia Washington, public information specialist, and Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, public information officer, were among the 63 communication professionals representing 26 companies and organizations who received a 2018 Golden Flame Award, which recognizes exceptional work in the areas of communication, marketing and advertising.

Entries do not compete against each other, but are judged on their own merits based on IABC’s Global Seven-point Scale of Excellence for strategic planning and execution. The judging panel for each division is made up of international peer-professionals.

Washington won the silver award in the Communication Skills division, Corporate Writing category, for her press release titled, “Rising Starr Principal Shares Innovative Ideas with Chinese School Administrators.” Scoring in this division is based on the work sample’s creativity, professional execution and alignment. Washington was one of 11 silver award winners, and one of only two in her category.

Berry-Dreisbach won the gold award in the Communication Management division, Government Communication Program category, for marketing and communication of the 2017 ESPLOST (Educational Special Project Local Option Sales Tax) renewal. Entrants in this division are required to submit a four-page work plan along with work samples. Scoring is equally divided between the work plan and work samples. Berry-Dreisbach was one of 42 gold award winners, and the only gold winner in her division.

Fayette County Public Schools was among some of the top state and national corporations receiving awards, including Georgia Power, Cox Communications, Edelman (an international public relations firm), Lockheed Martin, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, and the American Cancer Society.    

“It felt amazing to watch teams from major corporations and business firms accepting the same awards as our two-person office. To know that our work stands up to that of these huge organizations with bigger staffs and budgets, is absolutely incredible,” says Berry-Dreisbach about the awards.

IABC Atlanta is the premiere professional communications association that provides professional development, networking and best practices for a broad range of communication professionals at all career levels. With membership across internal and external communications, as well as executive, marketing and public relations sectors, the association provides unique networking events and learning opportunities for communication professionals to advance their careers and build meaningful connections within the Atlanta community.