The first-ever ICey Awards were held May 7 in Atlanta, celebrating the work of talented public relations professionals from across Georgia.

The winners were all independent PR professionals who own their own agencies. In each category, the runner-up got the “Pretty Cool” award, and the winner got the “ICey” award.

Seven smiling individuals stand together at an indoor awards event, each holding a framed certificate. The group is diverse in age and dressed in business or semi-formal attire. The certificates are labeled with various “Icey Awards” and categories such as “Best Nonprofit Campaign,” “Best Ongoing Campaign,” “Journalist of the Year,” and more. A backdrop with the Icey Awards logo is partially visible behind them. The setting appears to be a cozy restaurant or bar with warm lighting and wooden decor.
Winners of the first-ever Icey Awards were honored this month. (L to R) Kim Speece, Mitch Leff, Debbie Fitzgerald, Michael Kanell, Meredith Fletcher, Elise Riley. (Provided)
 

“Independent Counselors in Georgia represent clients, small and large, and are usually very senior professionals with decades of expertise,” said Mitch Leff of Leff & Associates, who created the awards. “ICEY stands for ‘Independent Counselors Elevate You’ and we felt it was important to highlight the work these professionals provide across almost a dozen categories. We expect the number of entries to grow as word spreads about the new Icey Awards!”

The 2025 ICey Award Winners are:

  • Journalist of the Year – Michael Kanell, retired Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter.

Best Nonprofit Campaign

  • Icey – Fletcher PR, Wellroot Family Services, Christmas Giving 2024
  • Pretty Cool – Leff & Associates, Tunnel to Towers to Open Atlanta Veterans Village

Best Written Work

  • Icey – NEW’s PR, Arlington Memorial Park Opens Nation’s First-of-Its-Kind Mausoleum
  • Pretty Cool – Spotlight Communications, Giving Tuesday: A Day to Invest in the Arts, Invest in our Future

Best Podcast

  • Icey – Strategic Global Media, “Second Act Stories” Podcast
  • Pretty Cool – Leff & Associates, “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight”

Best Thought Leadership Campaign

  • Icey – Fitzgerald PR, Fitzgerald PR helps the Caregiver’s Journey Soar
  • Pretty Cool – ConnectingYOUto PR, Unplugged for Self Care

Best Business Campaign

  • Icey – The PR Studio, Media Relations Keeps Cutting Edge Firewood a Hot Topic
  • Pretty Cool – NEW’s PR, Leveraging Media Relations to Increase CCBB membership

Best Ongoing Campaign

  • Icey – Leff & Associates, The Verdict is in for Emory Law
  • Pretty Cool – Fitzgerald PR, Fitzgerald PR helps the Caregiver’s Journey Soar

Best Small Event Campaign

  • Icey – Tadpole Communications, Dreamhack Returns to Atlanta
  • Pretty Cool – Leff & Associates, Gaming Convention MomoCon Sets New Attendance Record

Best Entertainment Campaign

  • Icey – My Global Presence, Rome International Film Festival
  • Pretty Cool – Sage PR, Georgia Production Partnership

Best Photo

  • Icey – Haute Choc’lat Multimedia Group, R.I.C.E Awards Lifetime Honoree Xernona Clayton/Red Carpet

Best Lifestyle Campaign

  • Icey – The PR Studio, Media Relations Keeps Cutting Edge Firewood a Hot Topic
  • Pretty Cool – ConnectingYOUto PR, Unplugged for Self Care

Best Work of the Year – The “Maverick” Award

  • Strategic Global Media, “Second Act Stories” Podcast
  • NEW’s PR, Arlington Memorial Park Opens Nation’s First-of-Its-Kind Mausoleum

This report was compiled and written by Rough Draft Atlanta's staff.