Grover Smith Award

PRCA Recognizes George W.Winters, APR, as Grover Smith Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

IRMINGHAM, AL – (April 5, 2011) - George W. Winters played a key role in corporate communications, marketing and stakeholder management efforts for BellSouth Corporation’s regional office in Huntsville, Alabama, for more than 21 years.

Winters implemented BellSouth’s media and public information initiatives during divestiture of the company by AT&T. In addition to leading several product and market launches for BellSouth subsidiaries and business units, he coordinated strategic relationship management initiatives, employee communications, joint sponsorship activities and grassroots lobbying efforts. Winters led the first successful campaign in Alabama to convince voters to approve billed charges for enhanced 911 services in Madison County. He has extensive experience in public and media relations, public affairs, corporate citizenship and marketing.

Winters is nationally accredited in public relations and has consistently promoted accreditation among professional communicators for two decades. He received the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s highest honor in 1986 when the professional group presented him with the Phillip R. Forrest, Jr. medallion. The award tops a lengthy list of others in specific aspects of public relations and marketing communication. Winters served in numerous in numerous professional and community leadership roles in North Alabama including the Public Relations Council of Alabama, Volunteer Center of Huntsville / Madison County, Huntsville Hospital Foundation, The Schools Foundation, United Ways in Huntsville and the Shoals, and in the Chambers of Commerce in Huntsville and the Shoals. Winters is a graduate of both Leadership Shoals and Leadership Huntsville.

After leaving BellSouth, Winters formed Winters & Associates, a corporate development, public relations and integrated marketing services firm. In addition to helping Toyota with the groundbreaking for its $220 million motor manufacturing plant, Winters & Associates has helped a number of Huntsville area business clients with strategic development, public relations, corporate citizenship and marketing communications projects. His client list includes The Boeing Company, Siemens VDO Automotive (now Continental AG), Avocent, Huntsville Hospital, Theatrical Lighting Systems, the Carlton Cove retirement community, Machine Craft, Inc., Ability Plus as well as a variety of other companies. His firm works with advertising agencies and other creative resources to assist client companies with large projects that require integrated marketing and public relations expertise. Winters continues his community leadership service to local civic and charitable organizations including the Huntsville Rotary Club, The Schools Foundation, the Huntsville / Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the Public Relations Council of Alabama.

In October 2010, Winters became Manager of Marketing and Corporate Communication for XMED Disposal, Inc. The Huntsville company is an Alabama small business operating in a complex regulatory environment and highly competitive marketplace but with significant potential to grow over the next few years.