Category: announcements

Cooksey Earns Six 2018 Hermes Awards in International Creative Competition

Cooksey Communications recently received four Platinum and two Gold honors in the 2018 Hermes Creative Awards, an international creative competition.

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

• Platinum Winner – Publications – 2017 AllianceTexas Magazine. Cooksey was recognized for its planning, writing and design of the 28-page, four-color magazine produced for AllianceTexas, a development of Hillwood.
• Platinum Winner – Media Relations – The Real Estate Council (TREC). In conjunction with media outreach efforts for the inaugural Dallas Catalyst Project recipient, the agency secured a feature placement in The Dallas Morning News titled “Can $1 Million ‘Brighten Up’ Fading Block?” The article details TREC’s three-year initiative to invest more than $1 million in grants and pro-bono professional services work within the Forest Revitalization District in Southern Dallas.
• Platinum Winner – Media Relations – Toyota Music Factory. Cooksey was honored for media outreach and placements for Toyota Music Factory, a mixed-use entertainment and lifestyle complex in the Las Colinas Urban Center in Irving. Cooksey secured 282 print, broadcast and digital media clips in 12 months for the entertainment and dining destination.
• Platinum Winner – Advertising – Cooksey Communications. The agency was honored for its own ad titled “Sky-High Visibility” in the 2017 Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show program.
• Gold Winner – Integrated Marketing Campaign – Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Cooksey created the campaign materials for the 2018 Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. This included a logo, brochure, pledge card, eblast and other collateral.
• Gold Winner – Logo Design – City of Wylie Economic Development Corporation. Cooksey designed a logo for the city’s signature “Wide Awake Wylie” brand. Today, “Wide Awake Wylie” evokes a fondness for the hometown feel, while representing the vibrant community it has become.

The Hermes Creative Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, honor creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

There were about 6,000 entries from throughout the United States and many other countries in the 2018 Hermes Creative Awards competition. In the past, about 15 percent of entries won Platinum, the top award, and around 20 percent the Gold Award. Approximately 10 percent were Honorable Mention winners.

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.

Cooksey Once Again in Top 10 PR Firms in Dallas

Cooksey Communications once again has ranked in the Top 10 of the 2015 Top Public Relations Firms in North Texas as ranked by the Dallas Business Journal.
The ranking, which appeared in the August 5, 2016, issue of the Dallas Business Journal, ranks PR firms by total revenues for the year. With $2.2 million in revenues, Cooksey ranked 10th in the region.

Now in its 22nd year in business, Cooksey has become a fully integrated strategic communications firm, offering traditional PR services along with creative and digital services.
“We are very proud to continue to be ranked in the Top 10 of local PR firms,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder. “We have experienced consistent growth through the years, but have always stayed focused on servicing our loyal clients.”

Cooksey Communications Promotes Michelle Frith Hargis to Vice President

Michelle Frith Hargis has been promoted to Vice President and Account Manager at Cooksey Communications, a North Texas based strategic communications firm. Michelle heads up Cooksey’s Austin area office in addition to working with clients in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Hargis originally joined Cooksey nine years ago, and rejoined the team last fall after working in Salt Lake City for several years.

“Michelle is well-deserving of this promotion as she expands our presence in the Austin area, while at the same time continuing to deliver superior results for our clients in the North Texas area,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder of Cooksey Communications.

Hargis’ years of PR experience include a strong background in digital as well as traditional media relations. Her savvy skills include planning and implementing media relations strategies, establishing community partnerships and providing crisis communications consultation for a wide variety of clients. She has deep experience in the real estate and economic development sectors.

She earned her degree in public relations from Southern Methodist University. Hargis is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Austin Chapter and is involved with the Greater San Marcos Partnership. She also serves as a volunteer with the Waterleaf Falls Home Owners Association and the PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.

Cooksey Communications Welcomes Ashley Sears

Dallas/Fort Worth-based public relations firm Cooksey Communications recently added Ashley Sears to its team as an account executive. Sears brings public relations experience with a strong background in traditional media relations.

“Ashley’s skills in media relations and social media nicely complement our integrated marketing solutions,” said Gail Cooksey, founder and president of Cooksey Communications. “We believe she will be a true asset to our team and to our clients.”

Prior to joining Cooksey, Sears served as a communications specialist and spokesperson for Greyhound Lines, Inc. In this role, she managed media relations, crisis communications and special events for the company, which serves more than 2,700 destinations across America. Her background also includes agency work with TruePoint Communications (formerly Nunez PR Group), HCK2 Partners and MM2 Public Relations. Sears has also worked with clients in the hospitality, restaurant, transportation, real estate, consumer, business-to-business and nonprofit sectors.

Sears earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a public relations concentration from the University of North Texas.

TREC Engages Cooksey for Public Relations Support

Cooksey Communications has been engaged by The Real Estate Council (TREC) to serve as its public relations partner. The Cooksey team will work with TREC to develop and execute communications strategies designed to initiate discussions about the real estate issues and projects impacting the North Texas area, as well as drive membership and elevate awareness of the organization’s staff, members and programs.

As the largest and most influential organization of its kind in Texas, TREC represents more than 1,700 individual members and 500 companies, which make up 95 percent of the commercial real estate businesses in North Texas. Because commercial real estate is a vital driver of the Dallas-Fort Worth economy, producing approximately 1/6 of the area’s economic output, TREC wields strong influence in the region.