The North Carolina City County Communicators (NC3C) has recently announced its annual award recipients, with Catherine Lazorko and Ethan Smith leading as this year's honorees. Lazorko, the Communication and Engagement Director for the Town of Carrboro, was honored with the Chris Coulson Lifetime Achievement Award. This accolade recognizes an individual with over a decade of government communication experience who has significantly influenced the field and upholds the principles of character, service, and professional excellence. According to the Town of Carrboro's announcement, Lazorko was chosen for her extensive service, which spans multiple municipalities across the United States, including Las Cruces, NM; Chapel Hill, NC; and Carrboro, NC.
Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney spoke highly of Lazorko's dedication, highlighting her intentional approach to significantly shape social media and web content. Toney, in a statement obtained by the Town of Carrboro, said, “The dedication and expertise of Catherine (Cat) Lazorko as Carrboro’s Communication and Engagement Director have been exceptional!” Lazorko's varied roles include her time as a communications director for academic institutions and her beginnings as a newspaper reporter, showcasing her multifaceted communications career.
Alongside Lazorko, Ethan Smith, the Communications Manager for the Town of Huntersville, received the NC3C Communicator of the Year Award. This award praises an individual who has brought forth remarkable leadership, creativity, and strategic communication over the past year. Smith has been instrumental in developing Huntersville’s communications program, launching a website and newsletter, and heading a complete municipal rebranding effort. His work, described by peers as thoughtful and humble, has achieved local, national, and international recognition.
The NC3C also used the awards to commemorate Chris Coulson, a founding member who significantly contributed to the establishment of the organization in 2007. NC3C President Kaisha Brown remarked on the significance of both Lazorko's and Smith's work, stating they "embody the values that Chris Coulson stood for: public service, humility, innovation, and integrity," as reported by the Carrboro’s official announcement.
