2024 in review: A year of partnership, wins and milestones

As the year comes to an end, we’re reflecting on the remarkable accomplishments of our clients and the impactful work we’ve completed together. From industry awards to grand openings, 2024 has been a year of growth, innovation and recognition. 

The year started off strong with T&C welcoming Heather Handyside as president and COO, joining CEO Jennifer Thompson and Blueprint Alaska President Sarah Erkmann Ward on the leadership team. Together, the three partners launched a new corporate entity that combined Blueprint’s strategic advocacy agency and T&C’s public relations and digital services — establishing the foundation for a successful year. 

At T&C, we know the best public relations often happens behind the scenes. Throughout the year, our team delivered exceptional services to our clients in the form of content and video shoots, attending professional conferences, securing media placements, ordering swag, designing graphics, hosting press trips and everything in between. While we celebrate all these wins — no matter how big or small — we want to take a moment to recognize a few of our team’s and clients’ biggest achievements from this past year.  

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Awards

Our clients won big this year and were recognized with awards that highlight their innovation, leadership and commitment to excellence.

• The John Hall’s Alaska catalog received a gold Magellan Award by Travel Weekly, highlighting the importance of compelling creative work. 
• Donlin Gold received the 2024 Mine Reclamation Award presented by the Alaska Division of Natural Resources during the Alaska Miners Association Conference, recognizing Donlin Gold’s excellence in environmental stewardship.
• Fora Travel was named the Magellan Award gold winner by Travel Weekly for Travel Agent Innovation, highlighting Fora’s forward-thinking approach in redefining the travel agent industry.
• GCI received the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Gold Pan Award for Community Service by a large business for its work with Broadway Alaska, demonstrating a commitment to supporting the Alaska community. 
• The Alaska Travel Industry Association’s Cultural Ambassador Program took home first place in the multicultural public relations category of the PRSA Alaska Aurora Awards. In fact, many of our clients were recognized at the Aurora Awards this year, it’s always an honor to be recognized by others in the industry. 

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Media hits

We delivered top-tier media coverage for our clients, securing placements that elevated their stories.

• Alaska was included on Conde Nast Traveler’s 25 Best Places to Go in 2025. 
• Anchorage was included in Travel + Leisure’s 50 Places to Go in 2025, shining a global spotlight on the city’s allure as a travel destination. 
• Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train was featured on Matador Network, capturing the imaginations of travelers seeking a unique winter experience.
• The executive director of the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program published an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News, highlighting the program’s vision and impact on education and career.

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Events

We planned and hosted impactful events, creating meaningful experiences for both our clients and our agency.

• We welcomed our remote team members to Alaska, bringing our entire agency together for our annual retreat. Highlights included a competitive scavenger hunt, a relaxing day at the lake, a barbecue and professional development sessions that strengthened our team.  
• From Anchorage to Bowling Green, Kentucky, we played a key role in opening Tommy’s Express Car Wash locations, helping the franchisee establish a presence in these communities. 
• Our agency coordinated the annual Alaska Media Road Show on behalf of ATIA in Las Vegas with more than 30 national and travel trade journalists and Alaska partners, fostering media relationships and showcasing Alaska’s unique appeal. 
• We assisted Amazon Web Services with an event to introduce its cloud-based IT solutions for state agencies to help with efficiency and cost savings. 

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Campaigns

• Our team partnered with Protect Juneau’s Future to successfully oppose Ballot Measure 2, an extreme proposal that sought to severely restrict cruise ship traffic, hurting Juneau's economy. We worked with the local team to engage voters and deliver a clear, fact-based message about the importance of cruise tourism. The result was a decisive win for common sense, with over 60% of Juneau voters rejecting the measure.

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Digital wins

Our digital team continued to deliver big results for our clients. 

• New services alert! Our in-house multimedia manager received his FAA-certified drone license. Our clients are benefitting from the new perspective added to their video content! 
• For longtime client GCI, we created a man-on-the-street-style holiday paid social campaign centered on the power of connection, encouraging Alaskans to call a loved one during the season. Currently running, the campaign has surpassed the tech industry’s average conversion rate by more than a full percentage point, proving heartfelt messages drive both affinity and engagement.
• Travel Alaska partnered with Yukon-based influencer Dani Lister to drive awareness and engagement about road tripping in Interior and Southcentral Alaska. The campaign garnered over $1.1M in advertising equivalent value and delivered breathtaking content from several Alaska communities. 

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Looking ahead to 2025, we’re inspired by the successes of this year and ready to embrace the new year ahead. Here’s to another year of collaboration, innovation and success. 

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Blueprint, a Thompson Company, is Alaska’s go-to bipartisan firm for public affairs and strategic communications. Organizations from major industry leaders to small family businesses turn to Blueprint to influence policy, raise message visibility, engage stakeholders and achieve results. 

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