Zone 5 To Take Center Stage for Inaugural Empire Awards

ALBANY, NY – Zone 5 has been selected as a finalist in two categories for the 2008 Empire Awards. This is the first time that the Public Relations Society of America – Capital Region Chapter has honored area public relations and public affairs practitioners. The inaugural awards competition consists of nine categories including the disciplines of public relations, public affairs, media relations, and internal communications.

Zone 5 submitted three entries and two of those entries have been selected as finalists in the categories of Public Affairs and Media Relations.

The public affairs nomination marked the outstanding work done by Zone 5 for the Corinth Mills Project. Zone 5 was retained to assist Philmet Capital Group, LLC in transforming a century old industrial site into a modern, multi-tenant industrial park. Zone 5 was responsible for changing stakeholder attitudes from one of strong opposition to strong support. At the time Zone 5 was retained, the Village of Corinth was in the process of taking the client’s property through eminent domain. Less than six months later the village agreed to become the municipal sponsor for a $2.5 million Restore New York grant.

The second finalist entry was in the category of Media Relations – Profit. Zone 5 has been recognized for its work done on behalf of Saratoga Associates in attracting media attention to an Earth Day event. Saratoga Associates - a landscape architect, architecture, planning and engineering - enjoys a solid reputation of sustainable design and conservation. On Earth Day 2008, a firm-wide volunteer project was established to clear land at a local nature preserve. Zone 5 secured a significant amount of media coverage for the event.

“We are honored to be named finalists in two categories for the inaugural Empire Awards,” said John D’Alessandro, Vice President of Public Affairs at Zone 5. “These nominations acknowledge the expertise of our staff and the commitment we have to our clients.”

The Empire Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 13 at the Albany Institute of History & Art.