Category Award Programs

We continue our quest to recognize Middle Tennessee professionals who exemplify excellence in strategic business communications, management skills, thought leadership, and creativity.

Each year, the Music City Gold Pen Awards showcase leading-edge work, from area communicators – members and non-members alike. Submitting an entry will help you develop your professional knowledge and skills, and prepare for entry into the international Gold Quill Awards program. Upload your entry here. 

Judged by other IABC chapter professionals, a Music City Gold Pen Award is one of the most prestigious awards a communicator, designer, marketing strategist, or student can earn.

10 Reasons to Enter Music City Gold Pen Awards

1. Demonstrate your skills in analytical thinking and creative implementation by entering an effective strategic communications plan according to IABC’s global standards and criteria of excellence.
2. Earn credibility and a reputation for excellence, as one among the best in the region.
3. Be recognized for your work by colleagues, your employer, and clients, with solid evidence that you’re one of the best at what you do.
4. Fine-tune your skills with expert feedback from senior professionals.
5. Inspire your team and enhance their reputation, both internally and externally.
6. Build a business case for an increase in your communications budget.
7. Elevate the standard of professional communication in your organization.
8. Build a portfolio of work & a stronger resumė to open doors for new clients and career advancement.
9. Show you can compete with the best of the best.
10. Use the feedback from our local IABC chapter awards to enter an even stronger submission at regional and international levels.

IABC Nashville celebrated the 2018 Music City Gold Pen Awards winners on Thursday, Sept. 20, with the “Voice of the Predators” Pete Weber calling the play-by-play as we recognized top communications projects and professionals in middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky.

Winners and photos from last year’s event are available here.

About Us

IABC Nashville is one of more than 100 chapters in 70 countries providing learning opportunities for its members and professional development sessions that offer new insights into the latest communication trends, technology and issues facing the industry. The chapter is diverse, with members representing area agencies, broadcast stations, corporations, universities and nonprofit organizations. IABC Nashville offers ties to communications jobs, connections to a communications tribe, and Music City Gold Pen Awards.

Connect Here. Go Anywhere!

Questions? Email Vice President of Awards: Mich Michaud.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Platinum Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Photography Sponsor

Congratulations to 2018 MCGPA awardees!

• Angela Argiro, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Michelle Fowler, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Amanda Gambill, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Laura Haynes, FirstBank
• Genma Holmes, The Ohio State University
• Mich Michaud, M*Modal
• Mich Michaud, Metro Nashville Public Schools
• Cole Miracle ,MP&F Strategic Communications
• Misty Moore & Mignonne Blair, HCA Physician Services Group Communications
• Ameerah Palacios, APR, MBA, Metro Nashville Public Schools
• Rosemary Plorin, Lovell Communications Inc.
• Jan Read, Vanderbilt University
• Rob Scobey, World Christian Broadcasting
• Javier Solano, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Millie Wert, MP&F Strategic Communications

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NASHVILLE – (Feb. 27, 2018)  – The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Nashville Chapter presented the President’s Award to board members Lysa Rigo and Sarah Loeffler during its Feb. 20 professional development luncheon. 2017 IABC president Tom Kenley presented the award, which recognizes exceptional contributions by chapter members, to Lysa and Sarah for showing extraordinary commitment to the chapter’s growth and wellbeing in 2017.

On the heels of winning an IABC Gold Quill Award for her work at Ingram Barge, Lysa Rigo, vice president of finance for IABC Nashville, successfully reorganized the chapter’s financial affairs and has shared her expertise with chapter members and university students alike. “Lysa is always one of the first to volunteer to help with special chapter projects,” said Tom Kenley. “We couldn’t have done it without her last year.”

Sarah Loeffler, vice president of membership for IABC Nashville, continually reaches out to potential members through mixers and one-on-one networking. “Sarah consistently offers assistance with special projects,” said Kenley. “Fortunately, her commitment has continued as her chapter responsibilities have grown, and we are excited to learn that she has agreed to continue her contribution to the chapter by becoming the chapter’s president-elect this year.”

IABC Nashville is one of more than 100 chapters in 70 countries providing learning opportunities for its members and professional development sessions that offer new insights into the latest communication trends, technology and issues facing the industry. The chapter is diverse, with members representing area agencies, broadcast stations, corporations, universities and nonprofit organizations. IABC Nashville also offers ties to job bank services and the annual Music City Gold Pen Awards program.

IABC is the only place to connect with communicators globally.

Connect here. Go anywhere!

So proud of board member Lysa Rigo and her Ingram Barge team (Steve Cross and Jaleena Ball) on their IABC Gold Quill Award of Excellence. The Gold Quill Awards program recognizes business communication excellence globally, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry.

The awards were presented at the Excellence Gala, held on Tuesday, June 13, as part of IABC’s World Conference in Washington, D.C.

In total, IABC has recognized 227 entries as world class, announcing 74 Excellence Awards and 153 Merit Awards. Winners come from all over the world, with 16 countries represented in the winners list. They represent a cross section of public and private sector organizations, both large and small.

“The Gold Quill Awards program celebrates business communication’s best practices and the value professional, strategic communication programs bring to an organization’s bottom line, its brand and its reputation,” said Lynn Barter, ABC, MC, chair of the IABC awards committee. “Each entry is evaluated on its own merits against IABC’s Global Standard of excellence in communication. Winning a Gold Quill recognizes exceptional work, innovation and creativity.

“Gold Quill winners represent a global community executing their responsibilities ethically and to the highest standards of the profession. These exemplary practitioners deliver high-impact results for their organizations and clients, taking communication to the next level.”

For more than 40 years, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards have recognized and awarded excellence in strategic communication worldwide. The Gold Quill Awards honor the dedication, innovation and passion of communicators on a global scale with a focus on achieving solid business outcomes.

Congrats, Lysa and Team! In a few months, they will present their winning program focused on employee engagement. Stay tuned!

See all of the 2017 Gold Quill Winners from around globe!

IABC is the only place to connect with communicators globally!

IABC Nashville’s annual awards program honors the best in communications!

Under the soaring glass canopy of the Ragsdale Family Grand Lobby at the Noah Liff Opera Center in west Nashville, communications professionals from across Middle Tennessee were honored with gold for their excellence in corporate, government, higher education, and community communications.

“It’s said that opera is the highest form of art because it combines so many elements – complicated orchestrations as well as soaring melodies, vocals, acting, dancing, and set design,” said Tom Kenley, IABC Nashville chapter president. “So, this is an appropriate place to celebrate your award-winning projects and programs, woven together to create communications with impact.”

The evening awards program is an annual opportunity for IABC Nashville to recognize the often-unsung heroes who write, edit, create, and bring to life the many programs, special events, and powerful stories that punctuate life across Middle Tennessee. The chapter is honored to offer a platform to recognize excellence in communications, and celebrate those who turn their ideas into action, and offer hope and celebration.

Award winning WSMV-TV Channel 4 News Investigative Reporter Alanna Autler served as the celebrity host. And in addition, the evening would not have been possible without the generous sponsorships from The Creative Group, a Robert Half Company, and photographer Bernadette Ruby.

Of the 40 communications entries submitted, there were a total of 26 winning entries, 15 awards of excellence, and 11 awards of merit. Judging was handled by IABC chapter members in Tulsa, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, South Carolina, and Kansas City.

IABC Nashville is proud of its tradition in honoring excellence in communications, and providing a platform to those within the professional, who are making a difference in their communities.

To view all event photos, click here .  [espro-slider id=12540]

IABC is only place to connect with communicators globally!!