Category Award Programs

Are you entering award nominations for your organization, but not getting the results you deserve? The problem could be the way you are filling out your application. Successful award entries take time, strategy, and dynamic storytelling.

Join us on Wednesday, July 22, for an in-depth panel discussion on award writing best practices with some of the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) professional recognition leaders. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and ways to make your entries stand out in front of judges. This workshop will include:

• Identifying common mistakes and writing problems
• Understanding judges and what they are looking for
• Proactive planning to avoid late deadlines
• Crafting entries that tell a story and demonstrate results

These best practices will prepare you to submit any type of award entry, regardless of industry and award type. This online event is free for IABC members and non-members.

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WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR

NEW CATEGORY: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IABC has now added Category 17: Diversity and Inclusion to Division 1 – Communication Management. Entries in this category should highlight campaigns or programs of work aimed at building a culture of inclusion for an organization, with internal or external stakeholders (or both).   Learn More

2020 IABC NASHVILLE LEADERSHIP AWARDS IABC Nashville is proud to support three Leadership Awards designed to honor outstanding communicators in our region. These awards are designed to recognize members for their outstanding achievements and positive impact on the profession and IABC Nashville. Categories include: Rising Star: Salutes a young, dynamic leader who is shaping the future of IABC Nashville. Communicator of the Year: Recognizes a communication leader who demonstrates exceptional leadership, management, and communication skills. Hall of Fame: Lifetime achievement as an outstanding communicator whose contributions have raised the standards of professional communications. Nominate Today

NEW SPONSORSHIP LEVELS Sponsors of the Music City Gold Pen Awards gain visibility and recognition from the region’s top business communicators. Showcase your company to event attendees by becoming a sponsor and reach a group of decision-makers and influencers in the business community.    Become A Sponsor

JUDGING PARTNERS A BIG thank you to our official award partners, IABC Atlanta and KC IABC, for providing judges for the 2020 Music City Gold Pen Awards. As part of this partnership, members from IABC Nashville will be judging the KC Quills and Golden Flame Awards.   Learn More About IABC Atlanta Learn More About KC IABC

We hope you will consider entering your best work! If you have questions regarding the 2020 Music City Gold Pen Awards, please reach out to Kellie Davie, APR, Vice President of Awards and Communications, at kdavie@keycompr.com. Good luck and thank you for your support!

Kellie Davie, APR,  is the managing director and founder of Keycom, a marketing communications firm in Nashville dedicated to providing businesses with the creative strategies they need to reach their goals. Kellie also serves on the IABC Nashville board of directors as Vice President of Awards and Communications. 

Thank you for joining us in recognizing business communicators from across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky for their professional achievements and brand campaigns.

About the event

We presented the 2019 Music City Gold Pen Awards on August 28 in Nashville. Danielle Breezy, Chief Meteorologist from WKRN-TV Nashville News 2, served as emcee and presented 38 awards in categories ranging from internal communications to nonprofit campaigns. Photos from the event are posted on IABC Nashville’s Facebook page.

From our president 

“It is an honor for our chapter to recognize these communications professionals for their outstanding work and campaigns,” said Sarah “Birdie” Loeffler, IABC Nashville president. “From internal communications to public relations agencies, this year’s group of winners displayed the very best in business communications throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky and are paving the way for our region to be recognized as one of the nation’s top locations to be a communications professional.” 

Thank you to our sponsors! 

This year’s event was sponsored by Keycom, a lifestyle marketing communications firm, and Tracy K. Johnson from Camera Sutra Stud.io photography.

Congratulations to our award winners! 

The award winners represented a range of industries, including strategic communications, public relations, non-profit, marketing, media relations, health care, and more. The teams at Keycom and McNeely, Pigott and Fox (MP&F) Strategic Communications both took home numerous awards for their work in change communication, community relations, government communications, communication research, nonprofit campaigns, media relations, corporate social responsibility, and special events. This year’s award winners include:

• Kerry Burke, Cigna
• Jacob Burns, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Nancy Cooper & Dr. Forbes Walker, Aries Clean Energy
• Kellie Davie, Keycom, Nashville Fashion Week
• Julie Davis & Sharon Harper, Brookdale Senior Living
• Laura Haynes, MP&F Strategic Communications, First Bank
• Drew Ruble & Carol Stuart, Middle Tennessee State University
• Genma Holmes, GSH Media
• Jessica Hopson, Lovell Communications
• Sarah Hunt-Blackwell, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Paul Ladd, World Christian Broadcasting
• Birdie Loeffler, NDC, Inc.
• Sara Salisbury, MP&F Strategic Communications
• Julia Stump, Volkert
• Millie Wert, MP&F Strategic Communications

Come celebrate with the stars at the Music City Gold Pen Awards Luncheon! 

Wednesday, August 28, 2019 | 11:30am – 1pm

Noah Liff Opera Center, 3622 Redmon St, Nashville, TN 37209

Tickets are $45 for members, $55 for non-members, and $30 for students 

Register today! 

Join IABC Nashville for the 2019 Music City Gold Pen Awards luncheon, where we 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. 

We are excited to welcome the talented Danielle Breezy, Chief Meteorologist at WKRN-TV Nashville, as our EMCEE! 

With over 25 awards categories, ranging from complex communications campaigns to single news articles (and much more!) you’ll get to celebrate with leading communications professionals and learn about their award-winning projects! 

Why should you attend? 

Even if you decided not to submit an entry, the Music City Gold Pen Awards ceremony is an event you won’t want to miss. Here’s why you need to be there:

• Mix and mingle with leaders in communications, public relations, marketing, etc. from Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky
• Learn about the award-winning communications projects and what made them successful
• Gain exclusive insight about current communications trends, best practices, and how the industry’s stars are shaping our field for the future

Register today – We can’t wait to see you there! 

Check out our 2018 MCGPA photo gallery and see why this is an event you don’t want to miss! 

About our emcee 

Danielle Breezy is the Chief Meteorologist at News 2. She earned her atmospheric science degree from Cornell University. After that, it was stops in Salisbury, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Boston before landing in Nashville. Danielle has the CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) Seal, which is the highest seal a meteorologist can have and currently is the on the American Meteorological Society Board of Broadcast. On a personal note, she is married to Joe Breezy who does afternoons at i106.7 and is also the brand manager. They have a fur baby named Lucy and together they are happy to call Nashville home!

Website – Instagram @daniellebreezytv 
Facebook – Twitter @DanielleBreezy

Special thanks to our event sponsors! 

Website – LinkedIn 

About Keycom:

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Keycom is a lifestyle marketing and public relations firm dedicated to providing businesses with creative services to reach their audiences and goals. From enhancing a brand’s reputation to promoting services, we work with clients to create solutions that are authentic and efficient. Let the Keycom team of experienced strategists and storytellers take your brand to the next level.

Photography sponsor: Camera Sutra Stud.io 

Owner / Photographer: Tracy K. Johnson

Facebook Page 

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