Richmond, Va. (Aug. 17, 2012) – CRT/tanaka, an award-winning public relations and marketing firm known for its whatcanbe^SM workplace culture and approach to business, today announced the recipients of the 2012 whatcanbe Awards, which celebrate employees who have helped create a bigger, brighter, better future for the agency, its clients and the community. The 2012 award winners are Scott Davila, vice president, Corporate/B2B Practice (client category); Jason Stemm, associate vice president, Food/Beverage/Nutrition Practice (agency category); and Lisa Ramos, receptionist/administrative assistant (community category).

Each recipient receives a $2,500 stipend and a one-week sabbatical to create a personal, whatcanbe experience.

“CRT/tanaka launched the whatcanbe Awards in 2008 as an employee recognition program to celebrate our associates who use whatcanbe thinking to create a more exciting and expansive future for the agency, our clients and the community-at-large,” said Patrice Tanaka, CRT/tanaka co-chair, chief creative officer and whatcanbe ambassador. “Scott, Jason and Lisa each demonstrate the aspirational spirit of whatcanbe in their individual endeavors.”

Client Award Winner – Scott Davila

As leader of CRT/tanaka’s B2B team within the agency’s Corporate Practice, Davila is being recognized for his work with such clients as the Council of Better Business Bureaus; Satmetrix, the leading provider of cloud-based customer experience software for companies worldwide; Owens & Minor, supplier of a wide array of medical products backed up with supply-chain consulting and e-business solutions for healthcare customers; and Barnes & Noble College. Under Scott’s strategic direction, Barnes & Noble College has grown to be one of the agency’s largest accounts. Scott’s work also has earned numerous industry awards, including a prestigious Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the Technology Campaign of the Year award from PRWeek and a national Gold Quill (Media Relations) from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

Agency Award Winner – Jason Stemm

Along with serving as a senior member of CRT/tanaka’s Food/Beverage/Nutrition Practice, Stemm also served as president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council this past year. He played a critical role in planning the group’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. He also serves as co-chair of CRT/tanaka’s whatcanbe committee, which develops trainings and other activities to foster a culture of whatcanbe within the agency. Jason also is a regular contributor to the agency’s Buzz Bin blog, which is regularly cited as one of the most influential in public relations, marketing and social media.

Community Award Winner – Lisa Ramos

Along with her duties as receptionist/administrative assistant in CRT/tanaka’s New York office, Ramos has organized many community service events for the agency, including an office coat drive for New York Cares, a holiday food drive that resulted in more than 350 pounds of food donations to food banks, a back-to-school supply drive for elementary school children in Brooklyn and a career clothing donation to Dress for Success. Outside the office, Ramos also leads efforts to benefit people with special needs, which include volunteering four hours a month to hold workshops for Latino parents of children with autism.

About CRT/tanaka

CRT/tanaka is an award-winning public relations and marketing firm known for its whatcanbe^SM workplace culture and approach to business. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., and New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Norfolk, Va., CRT/tanaka specializes in four practice areas – Food/Beverage/Nutrition, Health/Healthy Lifestyles, Corporate/B2B and Consumer. The agency has been recognized with more than 350 national and regional awards for its strategic counsel, creativity, workplace culture and community service. Clients include Air New Zealand, BISSELL Homecare, Cambria Suites (Choice Hotels International), Charles Schwab & Co., Council of Better Business Bureaus, Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, Girl Scouts of the USA, Sprint, Web.com and Wines from Rioja (Spain). More information about CRT/tanaka is available at www.crt-tanaka.com.