MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Michael Head, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (Southern) — the nation’s leading wine and spirits distributor, with operations in 35 states — announced today that the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) has recognized Southern as a Merit Award winner in the 2015 Gold Quill Awards program.
The formal Excellence Gala and awards presentation was last month in San Francisco as part of IABC’s World Conference.
The Gold Quill Awards program recognizes business communication excellence globally and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry. Award winners were announced in the spring of this year.
“This award is a gratifying honor because it recognizes our efforts to foster participation and understanding in Southern employee benefits,” said Head. “I’d like to extend my congratulations to Michelle Toney, Southern’s Director of Benefits, and her team on their exceptional work communicating our company 401(k) benefits.”
The Gold Quill evaluators recognized Southern’s successful efforts to increase employee participation in the Southern 401(k) plan. Toney collaborated with PartnerComm, an employee communication firm, in developing three unique mailers. Each addressed specific 401(k) benefits based on an employee’s years of service at Southern. The mailers also served as an enrollment form, allowing employees to detach and mail the form to start participating in the Southern 401(k) plan.
Southern’s work communicating the 401(k) plan also earned the company a Gold Quill in 2013.
“Gold Quill sets out to recognize communication that meets a business need: either solving a problem, working through an issue, or maximizing an opportunity. It’s not just about attractive execution. We look for strategic impact,” said Priya Bates ABC MC, 2015 International Gold Quill Chair.
About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation’s largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. The multi-state distributor currently operates in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Southern also holds operating licenses and permits in Nebraska and Texas. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs more than 14,000 team members. Southern urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information about Southern and its responsible consumption program, visit: http://www.southernwine.com.
