The Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Colorado) announced the winners of its 2026 Gold Pick Awards, recognizing excellence in strategic planning, creativity, execution, and measurable results in public relations. Established in 1966, the awards honor campaigns, agencies, and professionals from corporations, nonprofits, universities, healthcare organizations, and government agencies across Colorado.
The Grand Gold Pick Award, the top honor among all entries, went to Genus for its PRRS-Resistant Pig Website: PIC Leverages Digital Platform to Drive Awareness, which also earned a Gold Pick Award in the Digital Platform category. SchroderHaus Marketing Communications received the Gold Pick Award for Best Agency - Boutique/Small and also earned awards for influencer marketing and social media campaigns.
Other recognized organizations included Children's Hospital Colorado for media relations around the region's first pediatric heart and liver dual-organ transplant, the University of Colorado for communications highlighting scientific research, Colorado State University for storytelling connecting Master Gardeners and students who are blind, the Denver Public Schools Foundation 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 business growth, and SideCar Public Relations for campaigns highlighting Denver development and community revitalization.
Individual honorees included Wendy Manitta Holmes, APR, who received the Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award; Tim Carroll, APR, named Sharon Linhart Public Relations Person of the Year; Jaclyn Allen as Media Professional of the Year; Dani Sturges as Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year; Danielle Moore as Jane Dvorak Mentor of the Year; Quinn Kelsey with the Ayers Chapter Service Award; and CIG Public Relations as PR Team of the Year.
The complete list of 2026 Gold Pick Award winners and special award honorees is available on the PRSA Colorado website. The awards were presented and produced by SideCar Public Relations, with additional support from PRSA Colorado's annual platinum sponsor, Linhart Public Relations.
This recognition matters because it showcases how public relations professionals are driving measurable impact across critical sectors. From advancing healthcare and education to strengthening communities and helping businesses connect with consumers, these campaigns demonstrate the power of strategic communications. For the industry, the awards set a benchmark for excellence and innovation, encouraging professionals to pursue creative and results-driven approaches. For readers and businesses, the honored work illustrates how effective communications can amplify important causes, build trust, and foster community engagement. As PRSA Colorado continues to advance the profession through professional development, networking, and ethical practices, the Gold Pick Awards highlight the vital role of public relations in shaping public discourse and driving positive change. Learn more about the chapter at https://prsacolorado.org.
