Winner: Ted Nguyen, Communications Manager, Orange County Transportation Authority
Liberal or conservative, rich or poor, people are usually resistant to news that will impact their wallets. Given this tendency, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
communications manager Ted Nguyen had to boost awareness and raise public support for a sales take that would provide $12 billion for transportation improvements, as well as bus
rate increases for the disabled and seniors. The chances of overwhelming public support were slim, but Nguyen's engaging and approachable character allowed him to convey the
needs to his audience with minimal negative reaction.
That's just one of many examples in which Nguyen uses effective communications principles to deliver results for OCTA. His efforts have increased positive news coverage to 75
percent in just two years. He is able to pull off such impressive numbers through his attention to transparent, honest practices and creative solutions. Nguyen spawned the
Extreme Traffic Makeover concept surrounding a major road widening, which resulted in suggestions from 10,000 people on future traffic improvements. He also spearheaded the
"Stuff a Bus" holiday toy drive that netted 3,500 toys for children throughout Southern California.
Beyond his knack for creativity and charity work, Nguyen was able to steer OCTA through a series of challenges in 2005 that included the failure to secure federal funding for
light-rail transit, a bus driver charged with sexual harassment, and bus and train accidents that resulted in multiple deaths.
Thus, Nguyen's professionalism and compassion help drive OCTA's efforts while keeping its constituents' interests at the forefront.
Contact: [email protected]
Honorable Mentions
Emily Callahan, senior vice president of communications for the American Legacy Foundation in Washington, D.C., has been crucial in promoting the organization's blockbuster
"truth" campaign, helping to prevent young Americans from smoking. She turned the National Press Club into a celebration of the campaign's fifth anniversary.
Julia Cartwright, PR manager for Weber Shandwick, secured millions of media hits for the Susan G. Komen Foundation on television and in print. Her efforts during National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month well surpassed all the organization's prior performance and goals.
Nancy Fletcher, vice president of communications for the California Milk Advisory Board, has received accolades for her work on the "Real California Cheese" campaign of 2005
from Columbia University and literally helped write the textbook on Advertising and Promotion: an Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective.
Ron W. Roecker, vice president of communications and media relations for The Recording Academy, has raised the GRAMMY awards to new heights, while promoting the organization's
myriad other activities and contributions to music.