In an announcement that highlights the importance of communication in governance, the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) has named two exemplary professionals as recipients of its most prestigious awards for the year 2025. According to the Town of Huntersville's official website, Ethan Smith, the Communications Manager for the Town of Huntersville, has earned the accolade of NC3C Communicator of the Year.
Smith's achievements include the establishment of a comprehensive communications program for Huntersville, introducing innovations such as an award-winning website and a resident newsletter, while driving a significant municipal rebranding initiative that drew on extensive community feedback; these efforts have not only gained recognition within North Carolina but also on national and international scales. In a statement obtained by the Town of Huntersville, Huntersville Assistant Town Manager Bobby Williams praised Smith, saying, "Ethan genuinely believes in his profession and is selflessly willing to give his time to others seeking advice and guidance," shedding light on Smith's devotion to elevating government communication to new heights and his inclusive approach in championing the ideas of his colleagues.
Alongside Smith, the NC3C honored Catherine Lazorko with the Chris Coulson Lifetime Achievement Award, an award indicative of a substantial and enduring contribution to municipal communications over a decade or longer. Lazorko's career includes influential stints in different municipalities across the United States, as well as a pivotal role in the founding of NC3C itself. Described as “a measured voice of reason” and “a quiet leader who lifts up everyone around her,” as reported by the Town of Huntersville, Lazorko's impact on public communication has been both profound and sustaining, her work epitomizing the ideals of service and professional excellence.
The awards, reprised in 2025 to honor both emergent and long-standing communications excellence, were vested at the NC3C Annual Conference, which took place on April 10 in Asheville. "Both Ethan and Catherine embody the values that Chris Coulson stood for: public service, humility, innovation, and integrity," NC3C President Kaisha Brown expressed in a tribute to the awardees’ commitment to the field, recognizing their adherence to the principles upon which the NC3C was founded.
