Author: chris

Cooksey Communications Again Named Among Top Public Relations Agencies in D/FW

Cooksey Communications proudly ranked #11 on the Dallas Business Journal’s North Texas Public Relations Firms List. This year’s ranking also included this brief profile of Founder and CEO Gail Cooksey.

Cooksey Communications Promotes Ashley Sears to Senior Account Executive

Ashley Sears has been promoted to senior account executive at Cooksey Communications, a North Texas based strategic communications firm. She joined the firm in January 2016 and serves clients such as the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, Perkins+Will, City of Richardson, Richardson Economic Development Partnership and multiple transportation entities.

Sears assists with developing client communication materials, day-to-day account team activities, building strategic plans, content development and overall client strategy.

“Ashley is a key player who has delivered great value to the company,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder of Cooksey Communications. “Over the last year, she has shown her true skill as a PR professional and this promotion recognizes her excellent work and commitment to both her team and her clients.”

Sears joined Cooksey as an account executive after serving as a communications specialist and spokesperson for Greyhound Lines, Inc. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a public relations concentration from the University of North Texas.

Cooksey Earns Five MarCom Creative Awards

Cooksey Communications recently received three Platinum honors and two Gold honors in the 2016 MarCom Awards, an international creative competition.

The five awards highlight Cooksey’s diverse and successful experience in strategic communications, creative design, media relations, website development and more:

• Platinum Winner – Special Event – Bluestem Park Opening Celebration and Community Event. In partnership with Hillwood Properties, Cooksey created the invitation and other collateral, supported media and community outreach, and drafted the program.
• Platinum Winner – Television Placement – Skanska North Texas/Amanda Calvert Internship. Cooksey secured a three-minute segment on Fox 4 News – KDFW-TV about a female intern’s experience working on the job site for The Music Factory, Irving’s highly anticipated entertainment venue.
• Platinum Winner – Motion Graphic Video – 2016 Cooksey Creative Reel. Now in its 22nd year in business, Cooksey created a 2.5-minute video to showcase creative and digital services, from a full suite of branding to innovative websites.
• Gold Winner – Newspaper Placement – Texas Lures Data Centers, Not for Jobs but for Revenue. Cooksey facilitated an extensive article in the real estate section of The New York Times about the emergence of data centers in North Texas.
• Gold Winner – Business to Business Website Design and Development – Mohr Capital Website. Cooksey designed and programmed a fully responsive website that aligns with Mohr Capital’s strong brand as a leading commercial real estate investment firm. The site features robust functionality and a vibrant user interface.

The MarCom Awards celebrate the outstanding work of individuals or companies involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. Platinum Awards are granted to those few entries exhibiting superior quality, creativity and resourcefulness. Gold awards are presented to those entries judged to exceed high standards of the industry norm.

MarCom is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious creative competitions in the world. MarCom is sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), a 22-year-old international organization consisting of several thousand creative professionals. As part of its mission, AMCP fosters and supports the efforts of creative professionals who contribute their unique talents to public service and community organizations. Over the past few years, AMCP has given over $200,000 in charitable contributions.

TEA Designates Cooksey as Continuing Education Provider for School Boards

The Texas Education Agency designated Cooksey Communications a registered provider of continuing education for school board members Oct. 20. “Effective local leadership is essential if we are to achieve our goal of education excellence for all of our students,” says Ronald Rowell, Texas Education Agency senior director. “High quality training for school board members will help ensure that board members are well equipped to govern and oversee the management of local schools to achieve this goal. Thank you for your commitment to providing such training.”

Randy E. Pruett Rejoins Cooksey as Vice President and Account Manager

Dallas/Fort Worth-based public relations firm Cooksey Communications has hired PR professional Randy E. Pruett as vice president and account manager. Pruett previously worked with Cooksey in 2002-2003 as a senior account manager. Prior to re-joining Cooksey Communications, Randy worked for Pierpont Communications for eight years, as well as various security software companies before Pierpont. Throughout his 30-year career, Pruett has established a reputation for generating creative communications strategies that produce solid results.

Pruett brings a deep level of expertise in marketing communications, public relations, project management, special events, crisis support, mergers/acquisitions, sales operations, brand management and writing. His keen understanding in applying each of his skills to successfully help business partners in the philanthropy, food and beverage, retail, technology, financial services and association management industries has resulted in national media placements that include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, The Guardian, CNN, PBS, NPR and MSNBC.

“Randy is a truly dynamic public relations professional who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enhance the Cooksey team,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder of Cooksey Communications. “He is such a pleasure to work with, and will play a key role in providing and implementing high quality strategic communication solutions for our clients.”

In addition to his public relations career, Pruett is a published author. His book, A Dream as Big as Texas, profiles the winners of the Miss Texas Pageant. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Miss Texas Scholarship Organization and the Public Relations Committee for the Dallas Arboretum.

A past president of the International Association of Business Communicators/Dallas, Pruett is a recipient of the organization’s “Dallas Communicator of the Year” award. He is also a four-time FEMA-certified crisis communications expert, and has earned the designations of Accredited Business Communicator and Certified Association Executive.

Pruett received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied journalism and political science.