Smith Mountain Lake, VA (November 26, 2008) - The Blue Ridge chapter Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) held its annual Summit Awards Gala on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at the Vinton War Memorial. The Summit Awards recognizes the best practice of public relations in Southwest Virginia and highlights the creative and effective ways in which communications impacts our lives.

The Willard Companies and its subsidiaries including Prudential Waterfront Properties, were honored with four Summit Awards for outstanding work in public relations. A Silver Summit Award in the category of Website Development for the design and launch of www.thewatersedgecc.com. The website was produced for The Water’s Edge Country Club. A Gold Summit was awarded in the Print Publications category for work on a pocket folder brochure for The Farm, Willard’s environmentally friendly real estate development. The Golf Lin Chaff Award for Creativity which recognizes artistic design, was awarded to Prudential Waterfront Properties for the “101 Reasons” real estate campaign. And, a Summit Award in the Special Events category was awarded The Water’s Edge for their “Grand Reopening.”

According to Christopher Finley, Director of Marketing and PR for The Willard Companies, “We are extremely honored to be recognized in the region for our public relations and marketing efforts. Whenever we set out to create a new campaign our goal is to not only generate interest, but to do so without losing the strong brand identity that we have been building for many years. I would also like to give credit to both the GO Agency and Access PR for contributing to the success of the various campaigns.”

PRSA is the world’s largest association of public relations professionals. The society’s members represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional service firms and nonprofit organizations.

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The Willard Companies is the umbrella for Willard Construction of Roanoke Valley, Inc., Prudential Waterfront Properties, The Waterfront, The Water’s Edge and The Westlake Golf and Country Clubs. The company is involved in country clubs, building, developing, marketing and real estate. The Willard Companies is also affiliated with Westlake Towne Center, Westlake Cinema and Smith Mountain Building Supply.
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Smith Mountain Lake, VA (November 5, 2008, 2008) – Prudential Waterfront Properties announced that Parker Waters, GRI, REALTOR®, has earned the professional designation, “Fine Homes Specialist,” conferred by Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial [NYSE: PRU] company.

Waters received the designation by meeting the professional standards set by Prudential Real Estate for sales professionals who successfully list, market and transact sales of Fine Homes. The Brand’s definition of a Fine Home is a residence valued within the top 10 percent of its respective marketplace. This exclusive designation was established in 1997 to define professional quality standards within the Prudential Real Estate Network and to recognize the level of specialized knowledge, experience and skills required by affluent clientele.

Waters has over tens years of professional work experience in the insurance field. Prior to joining Waterfront Properties, Waters worked as a Senior Claims Representative for a company out of Roanoke, Virginia. Waters became a REALTOR® in 2003 and focuses on real estate sales full time in the Smith Mountain Lake area as well as the Roanoke Valley. He has a vast knowledge of the area as he has resided in Roanoke for thirty-two years and has spent the last twenty summers enjoying Smith Mountain Lake. Waters is a member of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber/Partnership, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Realtors, Virginia Association of Realtors, and the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors. Waters graduated from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon University in North Carolina. Waters lives in Roanoke with his wife, Kimberly and their son, Parker III.

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Prudential Waterfront Properties markets property throughout Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding areas. As members of the Multiple Listing Service, Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS® are able to assist buyers and sellers with all listed properties in a variety of price ranges and locations throughout the lake and surrounding areas. Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS® are consistent leaders in sales as well as customer and client service. www.smithmtnlake.com.
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