Cincinnati Metro Wins Top Communications Honors

Nov. 23, 2015

Cincinnati Metro received two of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s highest awards during its recent Blacksmith Awards Dinner. The Blacksmith Awards recognizes the best of the best and celebrates the innovative public relations work done in Cincinnati during the year.

CEO Communicator of the Year Award

Dwight A. Ferrell received the Cincinnati PRSA chapter’s CEO Communicator of the Year Award for his stellar communication efforts since joining the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority as CEO and general manager in January.

One judge remarked that, “He takes the initiative as a leader to educate himself in areas that he’s not proficient in, for example social media, which is an incredible tool for his organization. He is well respected and well received, especially for a CEO who is not native to the community. He knows how to work with the media and appeal to their good side to foster relationships and position himself and organization as a resource and benefit.”

Communications Team of the Year

Metro’s External Affairs department was named the Communications Team of the Year for their focus, commitment and professionalism when communicating with riders, employees, the media and regional leaders, setting the standard for successful communications programs.

Additionally, the team won silver-level Blacksmith Awards for their “Tri*Metro” video designed to teach young professionals and first time riders how to ride the bus and for their “Stand Up for Transit Day” government/ public affairs campaign to urge Congress to pass a long-term, sustainable transportation funding bill.