Jill Lawrence Vaughan, APR, recognized for Excellence in Public Relations; Taya Jarman, APR, named as Shining Star; Jason Lee named as Rising Star, Best-in-Show Awarded to Commonwealth Public Relations and Library of Virginia

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Richmond Chapter announced the winners of the 77th Virginia Public Relations Awards at a luncheon on Thursday, May 30. The awards recognize outstanding public relations professionals and their work at the Virginia Public Relations Awards banquet. Entries are taken for local, statewide, national and global campaigns, from government entities, non-profit organizations, corporations and PR agencies and independent practitioners. The chapter recognizes the most creative and effective communications strategies and tactics happening across Virginia. Around 100 individuals and organizations were recognized for outstanding public relations campaigns and tactics in various categories.

The chapter recognized Jill Lawrence Vaughan, Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), above, with the Excellence in Public Relations award. The award recognizes the extraordinary achievements of seasoned professionals in the Richmond region. Vaughan owns JLV Communications, a strategic communications firm focused on manufacturing and economic development. She previously spent 22 years serving in communications leadership roles at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Lottery. She serves on the communications committee for LEAD Virginia and raised more than $63,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Woman of the Year Candidate in 2022. Vaughan led the PRSA Richmond Chapter as president in 2007 and is currently a director at large. She has been a board member for the Richmond Public Relations Foundation for the past 10 years, promoting student scholarships for communications students in central Virginia.

Taya Jarman, communication director for the Institute for Public Health Innovation, is this year’s recipient of the new Shining Star Award. The award recognizes a mid-level career professional showing a high level of achievement in PR, demonstrating leadership as a professional within the industry and who actively gives back to the community. Jarman spent more than 15 years in the Virginia state government before taking on her current role at a regional public health institute. Jarman has served as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities teaching public relations and communications. She currently serves as a board member for the VCU Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, Christopher Newport University Alumni Society Board, and as editor for the Midlothian Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Jarman also served in various roles on the PRSA Richmond Chapter board before becoming chapter president in 2023.

Jason Lee, marketing manager for the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP), the region’s leading economic development firm, is this year’s Rising Star Award recipient. This award is bestowed upon a professional with less than five years of experience in public relations. Lee’s social media campaigns and other digital marketing tactics for GRP have helped position Greater Richmond as a top location for business. Lee currently serves as DEI Chair for the PRSA Richmond Chapter. In 2023, Lee helped write an article for PRSA’s Strategies and Tactics national newspaper titled, “Five Steps to Create Educational Heritage-Content.” He is also the secretary of the American Marketing Association Richmond Chapter, a marketing committee member of the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the LGBTQ+ Engagement & Philanthropy steering committee at VCU.

The Library of Virginia received the Best-in-Show in the Commonwealth Award category for its campaign celebrating the library’s 200th anniversary. The Best-in-Show Commonwealth Award category recognizes exceptional public relations campaigns.

Commonwealth Public Relations received the Best-in-Show in the Capital Award category for its work supporting Grace & Holy Trinity Church’s Hope for Ukraine concert. The Capital Awards category recognizes unique and exceptional public relations tactics.

A full list of the winners is here.