Within two and a half months, Union County’s Public Communications Department was recognized with seven prestigious awards at the state, national and international levels, highlighting the County’s commitment to communicating effectively with residents in creative and strategic ways.

“These recognitions are a testament to the exceptional talent and dedication of our team, as well as the strong collaboration we have with our fellow County departments,” said Liz Cooper, Director of Public Communications. "I’m proud to lead a department of communications professionals who are deeply committed to delivering clear, creative and meaningful information that connects our residents to important services and stories.”

Awards Include:

International Recognition – The Communicator Awards
In May, Union County earned two Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, one of the largest international competitions celebrating creative excellence:

• Award of Excellence in General Government for the Charters of Freedom Displays Unveiled video

• Award of Distinction for Government Campaign for the Lead Prevention campaign (in partnership with Environmental Health)

National Recognition – National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards
In June, NACo honored Union County with two awards for innovative and effective county programs:

• Health Category: Lead Safe Campaign (in partnership with Environmental Health)

• Civic Education and Public Information Category: Meet Us Monday social media campaign

State Recognition – NC City & County Communicators (NC3C) Excellence in Communication Awards
Union County was among 27 jurisdictions recognized at the NC3C annual conference in April, earning three awards:

• Graphic Design: UC At a Glance infographic

• Website: Union County Water website (in partnership with Water)

• Brochure: Transportation Riders Guide (in partnership with Transportation)

“These awards represent the real impact of communications in building trust, sharing resources and strengthening communities,” said Cooper. “We are grateful to our internal partners, County management and the Board of County Commissioners for their continued support.”

Learn more about the Public Communications team. 


The Union County Public Communications Department was recently honored with seven prestigious awards at the state, national and international levels. The Department includes team members (L-R) Megan Hinkle, Sr. Communications Specialist; Jourdan Westenberg, Multimedia Productions Specialist; Liz Cooper, Public Communications Director; Nicole Hricik, Communications Specialist; Aileen White, Administrative Professional; Brent Ayers, Graphic Designer; Erin Steele, Digital Content Coordinator; and Erika Bowden, Sr. Communications Specialist.