On October 14, PR News announced the winners of its annual PR People Awards, and Chris Floore, Public Affairs for Macon-Bibb County, was named Government Communicator of the Year. The annual awards program showcases the country’s top talent who set the benchmark for excellence in public relations, as well as the professionals and emerging leaders making communications matter. Winners will be recognized at a luncheon on December 12.

Chris manages Macon-Bibb’s Office of Public Affairs, which was created in January 2014 to lead strategic communication efforts across all channels in a way that reaches as many as possible. It is tasked with provided current, relevant, accurate, and timely information to the public, and to provide the public an effective way to request services, ask questions, and voice concerns or needs.

“People deserve to hear from and be heard by their local government, and our Public Affairs team is consistently being recognized at the national level for how well they are making that happen,” says Chris. “I’m proud of their work and dedication every day to serve our community, and they have fun doing it, making even the most hectic and busy day exciting."

“[Chris] is the consummate communications professional, helping us stay on message, working with media and partners, remaining calm through weather crises (of which we’ve had many in the past few years), and showing his love of this community and desire to move it forward in every action he takes,” wrote Mayor Robert Reichert in his nomination letter.

“Without a change in messaging and media coverage of our consolidated government and community, we would not today be celebrating several years of successful recruitment and expansion efforts; we may never have been on the radar of Amazon, Irving Consumer Products, Embraer, and more,” Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority Executive Director Stephen Adams wrote in his recommendation letter. “And with his support and mentorship, we are growing our own communication effort to help bring even more jobs and economic development to our community.”

This recognition follows several other awards and recognitions earned by the Office of Public Affairs in the past 18 months, including:

four from the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) for the Solid Waste Services Change Infographic, the Public Affairs Annual Report, Tropical Storm Irma Debris Collection Infographic, and for departmental logos;

two from PR Daily for the Women of Macon-Bibb Instagram Campaign and Public Affairs Annual Report;

multiple rankings by SeeClickFix as one of the top teams for customer service in the country for processing and closing nearly 15,000 service requests every year.

Floore earning an ACE Award from PR Daily as the top Government Communications/Public Affairs Professional in the country and being named one of the top three Government Communicators in the country by PRNews in 2018 and twice by the National Association of Government Communicators; and

Floore being included on ELGL’s annual Traeger List of Top Local Government Influencers three consecutive years.

In previous years, Macon-Bibb’s Strategic Plan earned a national award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA), which also named Chris Communicator of the Year at the same time.