Flagler County is the recipient of three National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) “Awards of Excellence,” including a Best of Category for “Coast to Country” – the county’s digital quarterly magazine. NACIO, which is an active affiliate of the National Association of Counties (NACo), made the presentations on July 13 during its annual conference in Tampa and the county attended virtually.
“Coast to Country” took the top award in the category Specialized Websites single issue communication for the magazine released October 1, 2023 – the first issue of the current fiscal year. Flagler County’s Transparency Dashboards was awarded an “Excellence,” given to entries that exceed industry standards, also within the Specialized Websites category. The third award of “Excellence” was for a feature story entitled “Flagler County Forestry Supervisor Ralph Risch Vouchers 20-plus Species.”
“I am proud to announce our team was honored with three prestigious awards from the National Association of County Information Officers,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito during the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting. “These accolades recognize our dedication to effectively engaging our community, disseminating valuable information, and fostering a culture of transparency.”
The NACIO “Awards of Excellence” program honors the innovative, creative, and outstanding work of county government communicators and state county associations communications departments throughout the nation with its annual awards program, according to its website.
Communications Coordinator Julie Murphy is the editor of “Coast to Country” – the current issue is always available at www.flaglercounty.gov/coasttocountry – and authored the story about Risch.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized at the national level for work I have had a hand in creating,” she said. “Excellence is always a goal, which is made easier when you work with a team of outstanding professionals, like Ralph Risch, who provide an endless source of great stories to write.”
Deputy County Administrator Jorge Salinas brainstormed the Transparency Dashboards project (www.flaglercounty.gov/data) unveiled in May 2023 as part of the county’s pledge to provide accurate information to the community. This innovative tool allows viewers to explore data sets of keen interest in a visual and easy-to-understand format.
“Flagler County’s Transparency Dashboard embodies our commitment to providing real-time, accurate information to our community,” Salinas said. “It’s a powerful tool that allows viewers to visualize data and explore information of keen interest, enhancing our dedication to openness and accountability.”
