IABC Cleveland Retires the Vision Awards

In 1995, smart phones didn’t exist, DVDs were new, and no one knew what “instant messaging” meant. 1995 was also the first year IABC Cleveland hosted its annual Vision Awards ceremony.

After 15+ years, IABC Cleveland is retiring its Vision Awards event. The board made the tough decision based on June 2010 survey feedback from members and those who aren't members but have been attending IABC events. The survey results indicated there wasn’t enough fun at the awards ceremony, and that many wanted more networking opportunities throughout the year and at the end-of-year event.

Heeding your advice, IABC Cleveland plans to offer an entirely new event for its end-of-the-programming year activity. It will keep activities that consistently rate favorably with members and guests, such as the Communicator of the Year, but are retiring the Vision Awards communications projects competition.

2010 - NORTHEAST OHIO COMMUNICATORS TAKE A BOW

Learn more about our Awardees

JUNE 2 -- Northeast Ohio communicators took center stage today, securing awards for outstanding communication at IABC Cleveland’s Vision Awards event held at Windows on the River on the East Bank in the Flats.

The Vision Awards are the highest honor awarded by the local chapter, and entrants undergo rigorous judging by seasoned communicators from around the country. Entries were reviewed for their depth and precision in planning and strategy, along with execution and results.

Read the keynote address provided by Kimberly St. John-Stevenson, IABC Cleveland's 2010 Communicator of the Year.  Kimberly encourage the audience to share the stories of our community -- its people, its struggles, its triumphs -- that really need to be told.

See who won and learn more about the program.

Loree Vick, senior public relations and media adviser for University Hospitals, served as master of ceremonies.  Jennifer Holton of Westlake, a John Carroll University sophomore communications major, won this year’s Future Vision Award scholarship.

The 2010 Vision Awards were presented by Medical Mutual of Ohio, with support from PR Newswire and Time Warner Cable.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Other sponsors: Saint Luke's Foundation, Fleishman-Hillard, Findley Davies, Laurie Mitchell Marketing & Executive Communication Search, Cinecraft, Loree Vick and AGS Custom Graphics.

View past award-winning examples.  See what earned Findley Davies an Award of Excellence in Communications Management, Benefits Communications, in the 2009 Vision Awards. See what earned Cleveland Metroparks an Award of Excellence in Communication Creative, Advertising, Print, Broadcast, Interactive/Electronic, in the 2009 Vision Awards. 

2010 COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR

Kimberly St. John-Stevenson, Saint Luke's Foundation

IABC Cleveland found its communicator par excellence.

Congratulations to Kimberly St. John-Stevenson, who was selected as IABC Cleveland's 2010 Communicator of the Year! St. John-Stevenson, communications officer at Saint Luke’s Foundation, was honored at IABC Cleveland's Vision Awards June 2. 

She joined the Saint Luke's Foundation in April 2007 with more than 20 years experience in developing and implementing marketing communications solutions in the profit and nonprofit sectors. She has been active in a number of professional and community organizations throughout her career, including IABC Greater Hartford/CT and IABC Cleveland. 

Loree Vick emcees 2010 Vision Awards

Loree Vick, senior public relations and media advisory for University Hosptials, served as emcee of the 2010 Vision Awards.  A former, award-winning TV broadcaster, Vick served as producer, writer and host of Around Town, a daily news segment that captured the lives of everyday people on TV.   

The Vision Awards luncheon, which honors winners of the local communicators' competition, the 2010 Communicator of the Year and Future Vision Award scholarship winner, took place Wednesday, June 2, at Windows on the River. 

Get Involved

Join now with IABC Cleveland to make the next Vision Awards the chapter’s premier event celebrating regional communication excellence. Want to learn more?  Contact Vision Awards Director Jamie Jackson.

REMEMBER, 2009 VISION AWARDS

JUNE 3, 2009 —Skills in project planning, strategy, execution and results that showed the depth of communication talent in Northeast Ohio were on display June 3 at IABC Cleveland’s 2009 Vision Awards luncheon held at Windows on the River on the west bank of the Flats.

Congratulations, Vision Award winners ... see the complete list

Twenty-two communication projects received recognition in the communications management, communication skills, communication creative and student categories.  Four organizations, including the Cleveland Metroparks, Time Warner Cable, Watson Wyatt Worldwide and Findley Davies, secured the coveted Award of Excellence, the Vision Awards' highest honor. 

Entrants included communicators working at Fortune 500 companies, consultancies, public relation firms, government and non-profit agencies.  They tested their best work against a standardized rating system based on scoring set by the International Association of Business Communicators.  A little more than half the score is based on the entrant’s successful development of a detailed work plan, including budgeting and results measurement.

Keynote speaker was Robin Ratliff, Assistant Vice President of Communications and Assistant Corporate Secretary for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.  She was selected as IABC Cleveland’s 2009 Communicator of the Year. Well-respected broadcaster and community champion, Larry Morrow served as master of ceremonies.

In additiion, Rebecca Odell, a public relations major from Cortland, Ohio, attending Kent State University, received the chapter's $2,000 Future Vision Award scholarship.

The 2009 Vision Awards was presented by Findley Davies, with the support of PR Newswire and Medical Mutual of Ohio.

Robin Ratliff named IABC Cleveland’s 2009 Communicator of the Year

Assistant Vice President of Communications and Assistant Corporate Secretary, The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Known for her artistry in “creating one voice from many,” Robin Ratliff has helped the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s diverse team of experts advance their views—during times of both calm and crisis— on economic and policy issues that affect our nation and region. She’s also IABC Cleveland’s 2009 Communicator of the Year.

More on the Communicator of the Year Award.  This award honors an individual within the Northeast Ohio community who has demonstrated communication excellence during the past year. The winner will have consistently displayed leadership in the delivery of information to employees, customers, and stakeholders.  

The Future Vision Award Scholarship

Thank you to all who recently submitted entries for theFuture Vision Award Scholarship program. Pass on the word about your experiences to the undergraduates you know interested in a communications-related career. We think it's a great opportunity.

Past scholarship winners

2010- Jennifer Holton, John Carroll University.

2009— Rebecca Odell, Kent State University (at right in center with Marie Kilbane-Seckers and Kavita Sherman)

2008— Angela Kaufman, Bowling Green State University
2007—Kelly Fenn, Kent State University