Gold Coast PR Council names Bernays Awards nominees, honors co-founder Gary Schweikhart

The Gold Coast PR Council has announced nominees for its 20th Annual Bernays Awards, set for July 23 in West Palm Beach. The event will also honor co-founder Gary Schweikhart with the Presidents Award and spotlight 14 categories of PR, marketing and communications work across South Florida.

Why it matters: - The Bernays Awards are one of South Florida’s key recognition programs for public relations, marketing and communications work. - The 20th anniversary puts a spotlight on campaigns that ranged from nonprofit outreach to crisis communications and citywide branding. - The event also elevates longtime industry figures, with Gary Schweikhart set to receive the Presidents Award.

What happened: - Gold Coast PR Council co-presidents Sandy Collier and Melissa Perlman announced the nominees for the 20th Annual Bernays Awards. - The luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, at 11:30 a.m. at the Airport Hilton in West Palm Beach. - WPTV NBC 5 anchor Tania Rogers will serve as emcee. - GCPRC will present awards in 14 categories, including 10 competitive categories and four special honors chosen by the Board of Directors. - The Bernays Awards have recognized South Florida public relations campaigns, marketing programs, media relations, special events and communications initiatives since 2005.

The details: - The Presidents Award is the only honor announced in advance. - Gary Schweikhart, who co-founded GCPRC in 2002 with the late Barry Epstein, will receive the Presidents Award. - Schweikhart has more than 55 years in communications. - His career began in Omaha and San Francisco as a radio and television talk show host, investigative reporter, and newspaper and magazine editor. - He later moved into corporate public relations roles with The Sharper Image and Office Depot. - Schweikhart launched Boca Raton-based PR-BS in 2001. - PR-BS focuses on nonprofit and cultural organizations, hospitality and tourism, attractions, crisis communications, event planning and targeted promotions. - Schweikhart’s clients over the past 25 years have included the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Mounts Botanical Garden, Lynn University, The Colony Hotel Palm Beach, the Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival and the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County. - Schweikhart also serves as president of the Board of Directors for the Carbonell Awards. - The Carbonell Awards recognize excellence in South Florida professional theater. - The 2026 nominee slate includes nonprofit campaigns, social media work, special events, crisis communications and marketing materials. - Best Nonprofit Project or Campaign – Small nominees are Dashiell Communications for Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s "The Shakespeare by the Sea Town of Jupiter Centennial Night" and The Buzz Agency for Promise Fund’s "Expanding Access to Life Saving Cancer Screenings." - Best Nonprofit Project or Campaign – Large nominees are BlueIvy Communications for Arts Garage’s "Sustaining a Cultural Anchor Amid Arts Funding Cuts" and the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County, for "Stop the Scams! Sign Up for Property Fraud Alert." - Best PR Campaign / Large PR Firm or Organization nominees include BlueIvy Communications, Broward Water Partnership, City of Boca Raton, Discover the Palm Beaches, Florida Atlantic University, Haven Health Management and The Mosaic Group. - Best PR Campaign – Small nominee is Hey Sandy! PR & Communications for T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society’s "Opioid Prevention Education Series, Season 5." - Best Social Media Campaign nominees are Kaliah Communications & MasterWing Creative Agency for "Dine Local. Savor Greenacres." and Boardroom PR for "Banking for the Next Generation." - Best Special Event nominees are BlueIvy Communications for Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans, Discover the Palm Beaches for "Spill the Tea: Bringing The Palm Beaches to New York City Through Immersive Storytelling" and Palm Beach County Library System for the Canyon Branch Grand Opening. - Best Crisis Communications nominees are Food For The Poor for "Responding to Hurricane Melissa" and The Buzz Agency for Boca Helping Hands’ "Mobilizing Community Support During Food Insecurity Crises." - Best Marketing Material - Print nominees are Anne M. Gannon, Constitutional Tax Collector serving Palm Beach County, for "A Report to Our Citizens for Fiscal Year 2024-25" and Palm Beach County Library System for "The Bookmobile Rebrand." - Best Marketing Material - Digital/Video nominees are Boardroom PR for "Own Your Future," Food For The Poor for "United Magazine," Hey Sandy! PR & Communications for "Renewed Wellness Medical Center Commercials" and Multi-Media Works, LLC for "G.O. Bond Revitalization of A1A in Pompano Beach." - Other honors to be presented include the PR Star Award, the Tim Byrd Award, the Founders Award and possibly a Judge’s Award. - Collier and Perlman said the anniversary reflects the talent, creativity and impact of South Florida communications professionals. - The co-presidents also said the nominees represent some of the region’s most innovative campaigns and meaningful work.

Between the lines: - The nominee mix shows how local PR work is increasingly tied to public service, civic identity and community problem-solving. - Honoring Schweikhart also reinforces the council’s emphasis on institutional memory and long-term professional service. - The awards balance agency work with in-house campaigns from public institutions, nonprofits and private organizations.

What's next: - GCPRC will reveal the winners at the July 23 luncheon. - The organization may also present a Judge’s Award, depending on the 2026 panel’s decision. - Tickets are $50 for GCPRC members and $60 for nonmembers. - Tables of 10 are available at tables of 10 reservations. - Event, sponsorship and ticket information is available at GoldCoastPRCouncil.com. - GCPRC will continue celebrating its 20-year Bernays Awards history with special honors beyond the competitive categories.

The bottom line: - South Florida’s PR community is using the Bernays Awards’ 20th year to showcase its broadest range of campaigns while recognizing one of its co-founders for a lifetime of service.