Awards include Best of Show from Insurance Marketing Communications Association and two “Stevies” from American Business Awards

SOUTHPORT, CONN., August 11, 2014 – The launch of Access Health CT, Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace (also known as the Exchange), brought 11 marketing, management and communications awards to the Exchange and Southport, Conn.-based Pappas MacDonnell, Inc., its marketing and communications agency of record. The awards were the result of an integrated marketing campaign that produced 230,000 enrollees in its first year – more than double its goal of 100,000.

The list of accolades for Pappas MacDonnell and the Exchange include the 2014 Best of Show award from the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA) for its Change is Here campaign under the category of Total Sales/Marketing/Branding Campaign. The agency also received an Award of Excellence from IMCA for its creation of the Exchange’s educational website. The American Business Awards conferred two of its Stevie Awards to senior managers of the Exchange. CEO Kevin Counihan received a Gold Stevie Award for Executive of the Year, Insurance, and Jason Madrak won a Silver Stevie Award in the category of Marketing Executive of the Year.

In addition, Pappas MacDonnell gathered seven additional awards:

Hermes Creative Awards

• Platinum – Change is Here integrated marketing campaign
• Gold – Real Life Stories online interactive element
• Honorable Mention – Change is Here TV ad campaign

League of American Communications Professionals

• Impact Award – Change is Here marketing campaign

Health Information Resource Center

• Bronze Web Health Award – Making the Right Choice interactive content/rich media

The Telly Awards

• Bronze – Change is Here local TV & cable campaign

Graphic Design USA

• American Web Design Award – Learn More educational website

“This amount of recognition is extremely gratifying and speaks volumes to the effectiveness of a comprehensive integrated marketing effort,” said Kyle MacDonnell, founding principal of Pappas MacDonnell. “We did it all – from consumer awareness to education and engagement to enrollment – and we did it within an aggressive 10-month timeframe.”

Based in Southport, Connecticut, Pappas MacDonnell is a marketing and communications agency that works with some of the world’s best-known brands in financial services, healthcare, insurance and business services. For more information, visit PappasMacDonnell.com.