The Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Colorado) has announced the winners of its 2026 Gold Pick Awards, honoring outstanding communications campaigns, agencies, and professionals across the state. Established in 1966, the awards recognize excellence in strategic planning, creativity, execution, and measurable results. This year’s winners represent a diverse range of organizations, including corporations, agencies, universities, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies, reflecting the broad impact of public relations in Colorado.
The Grand Gold Pick Award, the top honor among all entries, went to Genus for its work on the PRRS-Resistant Pig Website: PIC Leverages Digital Platform to Drive Awareness. The project also earned a Gold Pick Award in the Digital Platform category. SchroderHaus Marketing Communications received the Gold Pick Award for Best Agency - Boutique/Small, along with awards for influencer marketing and social media campaigns. Other notable winners include Children’s Hospital Colorado for media relations surrounding the region’s first pediatric heart and liver dual-organ transplant, the University of Colorado for communications highlighting scientific research, and Colorado State University for storytelling connecting Master Gardeners and students who are blind. The Denver Public Schools Foundation was recognized for its Achieve Gala, CIG Public Relations for communications supporting the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project, Linhart Public Relations for campaigns supporting consumer education and community engagement, and SideCar Public Relations for highlighting Denver development and housing revitalization.
In addition to campaign awards, PRSA Colorado honored individual professionals and teams. Wendy Manitta Holmes, APR, received the Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award; Tim Carroll, APR, was named Sharon Linhart Public Relations Person of the Year; Jaclyn Allen was recognized as Media Professional of the Year; Dani Sturges received the Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year award; Danielle Moore was named Jane Dvorak Mentor of the Year; Quinn Kelsey received the Ayers Chapter Service Award; and CIG Public Relations was honored as PR Team of the Year. These awards underscore the talent and dedication of Colorado’s public relations community.
The recognition matters because it highlights how strategic communications contribute to advancing healthcare, education, community well-being, and business growth. By celebrating these achievements, PRSA Colorado reinforces the role of public relations in shaping public discourse and driving positive change. The complete list of 2026 Gold Pick Award winners and special award honorees is available on the PRSA Colorado website. For more information about PRSA Colorado and its initiatives, visit https://prsacolorado.org.
