The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) honored six individuals, 18 Silver Spike Awards, and several other accolades during its 2025 Silver Spikes award dinner on Oct. 23, 2025 at The Depot in Reno, Nev.

The Silver Spike Awards celebrate excellence in the local public relations and communications industry. Public relations and marketing professionals submit their work for evaluation by an out-of-market PRSA chapter. Submissions are judged on a 100-point scale, with top scores earning a Silver Spike, Bronze Spike or Award of Excellence.

In 2025, the Sierra Nevada Chapter of PRSA received 64 submissions. Of these, a remarkable 47 were recognized for their outstanding research, well-defined goals and objectives, effective execution, and measurable results.

In addition to recognizing professional projects, the Sierra Nevada Chapter honored individuals based on community nominations. A selection committee, composed of industry professionals and community leaders, reviewed nominations and finalized award recipients.

“The Silver Spike Awards are a way to honor the incredible achievements of our local public relations community, and learn from one another to continuously improve our craft,” said Kathie Taylor, APR, 2025 PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter president. “The number of awards this year are a testament to the hard work of northern Nevada’s practitioners, and the impact their communications work has had.”

Below is the complete list of awards presented at the 2025 Silver Spike Awards:

Individual Award Winners

Lifetime Achievement Posthumous Award: Dr. Michael Todd Felts, APR
Public Relations Hall of Fame: Kathie Taylor, APR, In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
Gold Spike Community Member: John Trent, University of Nevada, Reno
Mark Twain Community Service: Kurt Hoge, Reno Type
Mark Curtis Jr. Chapter Member of the Year: Renee Plain, In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
Outstanding New Practitioner: Hannah Reizenstein, The Ferraro Group

Best of Show
This is the highest-scoring entry.

RAD Strategies, Inc.
Imagine: A Musical Collaboration with Jeremy Renner

Silver Spike Award Recipients
These recipients received a score of 90+.

Argentum Partners
Special Events & Observances, 1 or 2 days
Virginia City’s Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry
Desert Research Institute
Content Marketing
IRP Brochure
Desert Research Institute
Content Marketing
SAR 2025 Vol. 1- Printed Report and Storymap
IC Media Strategy
Media Relations – Paid: Online, Print, Digital and Other Channels
NNPH Sexual Health Clinic Campaign
In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
Overall Campaign
Boots and Bling – Austin’s House
KPS3
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Carson City to Canada Quest: A Trailblazing Travel Campaign
KPS3
Multicultural Communications
Block the Pox
KPS3
Overall Campaign
A Winter’s Charm
RAD Strategies Inc.
Emergency or Crisis Programs
Hot August Nights Uses Social Media To Overcome A Crisis
RAD Strategies, Inc.
Community Relations
Imagine: A Musical Collaboration with Jeremy Renner
Renown Health
Overall Campaign
Transforming a Local Challenge Into a National Campaign
Travel Nevada
Special Events & Observances, 1 or 2 days
Chicago Spaces Out In Nevada
Travel Nevada
Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
From Out There to Everywhere
Travel Nevada
Public Affairs
Tourism Means More
Travel Nevada
Media Relations – Paid: Online, Print, Digital and Other Channels
Travelzoo + Travel Nevada Shine a Spotlight on Elko
Travel Nevada
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Unearthing the Unexpected
Visit Reno Tahoe
Overall Campaign
Reno Tahoe Creator Camp
The Gattuso Coalition
Special Events & Observances, 3 or more days
The Great Reno Balloon Race 2024

Bronze Spike Award Recipients
These recipients received a score between 84-89.

Argentum Partners
Overall Campaign
Inside These Doors
Desert Research Institute
Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Arkstorm Sierra Front
Desert Research Institute
Content Marketing
Books and Bots Logo
East Public Relations
Overall Campaign
First 5 Nevada
Good Giant
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
2024 Barracuda Championship
Good Giant
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
2024 Reno Rodeo
Good Giant
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Reno Tahoe Indoor Track Launch
In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
Special Events & Observances, 1 or 2 days
Boots and Bling – Austin’s House
KNVC Carson City Community Media
Content Marketing
KNVC Local Content and Services Report to the Community
KPS3
Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
Dairy Paradise
Palmer Consulting
Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Livin’ Rancho Cucamonga
Renown Health
Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Second Chance Through ECMO
Renown Health
Content Marketing
The William N Pennington Cancer Institute Annual Report
University of Nevada, Reno
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
University of Nevada, Reno Wildlife Experts Guide

Award of Excellence Recipients
These recipients received a score between 78-83.

Argentum Partners
Special Events & Observances, 3 or more days
Reno Air Show
Desert Research Institute
Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Written in the Trees
IC Media Strategy
Multicultural Communications
NNPH Sexual Health Clinic Campaign
In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
Overall Campaign
Carson Valley Meats
In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
New/Emerging Technology
Carson Valley Meats
In Plain Sight Marketing LLC
Overall Campaign
Roper’s HVAC Fan Drive
MJT Consulting, LLC
Audio, Video, Webcasts, etc.
Respect the Cone: My family needs me home
Northern Nevada Public Health
Multicultural Communications
Northern Nevada Public Health’s 5210 Healthy Washoe Lotería
Northern Nevada Public Health
Multicultural Communications
NNPH – Food Business Resource Fair
Renown Health
Overall Campaign
Beyond The Ribbon-Cutting – Building Momentum for the Conrad Breast Center Launch
Renown Health
Internal Communications
Inspiring Employee Survey Engagement
Travel Nevada
Overall Campaign
The Space to Be
University of Nevada, Reno
Media Relations – Owned: Social Media
Grads of the Pack
Visit Reno Tahoe
Media Relations – Earned: Online, Print, Expert Positioning
Buzzfeed Reno Tahoe Feature Story
Washoe County, Communications Division
Issues Management
Washoe County Reclaims the Narrative on Homelessness

The 2025 Silver Spike Awards ceremony was made possible with generous support from Renown Health; Argentum Partners; Northern Nevada Health System; In Plain Sight Marketing LLC; MJT Consulting, LLC; The Ferraro Group; East Public Relations; KPS3; University of Nevada, Reno; Reno Type; Mike Higdon’s Storytelling Studio; and Dani’s Design Co.

Connect with the Sierra Nevada PRSA chapter on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. For more information, visit prsasierra.org.

The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) consists of public relations practitioners from Northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area. The Chapter is active in professional development for its members and community-service service programs for organizations without formal public relations departments. It maintains a close working relationship with the Theodore E. Conover Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at the University of Nevada, Reno, helping the student organization toward a number of regional and national awards, including the prestigious Bateman Case Study championship.

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