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San Diego PR firm c3 Communications Inc. recently acquired the National Marine Manufacturers Association's Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail.

In partnership with Miami's Vine Communications, c3 has already kicked off the PR campaign for the Feb. 14-18 show, which is the largest Miami annual event with crowds of 105,000 over five days.

Barbara Metz, principal at Metz PR, topped off the 25th anniversary of her firm by winning a few awards this year, including San Diego Press Club's Andy Mace Award for Outstanding Contribution in PR, the only award handed out specifically for public relations.

Earlier this year, Metz won the Extraordinary Member Award from the San Diego Diplomacy Council for her citizen diplomacy efforts. She and her partner, Hector Torres, have entertained and provided lodging for more than 100 foreign dignitaries who have visited San Diego as guests of the U.S. State Department.

Additionally, she received a presidential citation from the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for Distinguished Service. Metz has represented the local society for more than 20 years.

San Diego-based SpearHall Advertising & PR has added several new clients to its portfolio, including Battle on the Midway, BYCOR General Contractors, Costa Pointe Luxury Apartments, Dr. Sarah Blair, Imaging Healthcare Specialists, Insid3r, Lazerplane, Lighthouse Ventures, StenoCast, Support the Enlisted Project, the Sicilian Festival and Zeroline Golf.

Jeannie Fratoni, co-founder of Red Door Interactive, will judge the first Interactive Advertising Bureau Rising Stars Digital Video Ad Format Competition.

Fratoni will critique the competition, including more than 50 in-stream, linear interactive digital video ad product concepts. The judges will review the ad units for their potential to drive brand equity at scale, and submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria: user experience, branding, functionality, integration and adoption. Winners will be announced in February at the bureau's Annual Leadership Meeting.

"The Rising Stars display and mobile ads award programs have both been very successful, and I'm excited to work with our industry's leaders to establish the form of advertising that will replace the classic 30-second commercial," said Peter Minnium, head of brand initiatives at Interactive Advertising Bureau.

jada.thomas@sddt.com