Earlier this year, Mindful Kreative (MK) had the privilege of attending the 2026 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Pittsburgh Renaissance Awards. As the leading professional organization serving the communications community, PRSA hosts the annual Renaissance Awards to the celebrate the region’s most impressive marketing communication campaigns and practitioners.
This year, MK was honored to be recognized for three different campaigns, including:
Allegheny Regional Asset
District’s RAD Pass Year-Round
Fun for Everyone
In an effort to bring awareness to Allegheny Regional Asset District’s (RAD) renewed RAD Pass program, MK generated countywide exposure through a press announcement, resulting in coverage from every major outlet in Pittsburgh, reaching an estimated 4.4 million people, and driving about 1,500 RAD Passes reserved within days.
The campaign promoted the RAD Pass program’s transition from a seasonal offering to a year-round initiative, giving Allegheny County library cardholders more free and discounted opportunities than ever before to access Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions.
The success of this campaign earned MK a Renaissance Award in the Media Relations category.
The Strip District Terminal
Through a combination of media relations efforts, social media strategy, and partnership initiatives, MK positioned the Strip District Terminal as a positive and trustworthy cornerstone of one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved neighborhoods.
During the campaign, MK’s earned media efforts garnered 25 stories highlighting four new tenants that opened within the last year, reaching an estimated 90.3 million people across the region. After taking over the Strip District Terminal’s Instagram and Facebook accounts, their audiences grew by over 8,400 followers within eight months, driving more than 2.4 million views, nearly 23,000 content interactions, and over 45,000 visits.
Beyond increased engagement and media coverage, thoughtful partnerships helped deepen the Strip District Terminal’s ties with its community, including iHeart’s Pittsburgh’s Stuff-A-Bus, which filled a record-breaking 82 buses stuffed with toys for the Marine Toys for Tots program, and Pittsburgh’s Walk of Fame, a first-of-its-kind initiative celebrating the achievements of southwestern Pennsylvanians.
These efforts earned MK an Award of Merit in the Reputation Management category.
2025 Greater Pittsburgh
Festival of Books
For the fourth consecutive year supporting the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, MK established an integrated marketing campaign to promote the event, helping drive record-breaking turnout which totaled a 166% increase in attendance over the previous year. This campaign included digital marketing initiatives, a strategic advertising plan, media relations outreach, and the development of marketing collateral.
Additionally, these efforts significantly grew the Festival’s owned channels. The newsletter database added 3,000 new contacts, website traffic increased by 190%, and social channels grew, with Instagram’s audience growing by 75% and Facebook’s audience growing by 33%.
The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, now known as Pgh Book Fest, is held each May to gather literary figures and readers and to celebrate literature.
The campaign earned MK an Award of Merit in the Integrated Marketing and Communications category.
The celebration didn’t end there. We were also proud to recognize a special member of our team:
“From the moment Jensen joined our team, she’s consistently shown wisdom and creativity well beyond her years. She represents exactly what it means to be a rising star in our field.”
– Melinda Kaiser, MK Founder and CEO
“Jensen brings a spark to every meeting. She’s the kind of teammate who makes everyone around her strive to be better. She’s always prepared, always positive, and always learning.”
– Annie Lewis, MK Chief Operating Officer
Rising Star Award
Recognized for her dedication and exceptional work in the industry, MK’s very own Jensen Troy was honored as this year’s Rising Star. This award is given to only one early-career professional annually with five or fewer years of experience, highlighting emerging talent.
Over the past year and a half, Jensen has juggled graduate school, earning her master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University, all while still being a full-time member of our team.
Jensen is no stranger to the PRSA Renaissance Awards. In 2024, she earned her first Renaissance Award for professional work. At the same ceremony, her undergraduate alma mater, Slippery Rock University, celebrated its PRSSA chapter for winning the University’s first-ever student Renaissance Award—a testament to the work Jensen led as a senior the year prior.
She also supports students through speaking engagements and mentorship, freelances as a social media consultant for small businesses, and is a 2023 inductee of the SRU Communication and Media Hall of Fame.
But there’s no award-winning work without the support of our partners. Thank you to those who trust us with their brands and stories each day.
A special thank you to PRSA Pittsburgh for creating a space that celebrates our region’s communications professionals. We’re already counting down the days until next year’s ceremony!