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DTMB receives public relations award at the 2023 PACE Awards from CMPRSA

In May, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) was honored with the 2023 PACE Award of Excellence for outstanding public relations success in websites for the State of Michigan Website Modernization Project from the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America (CMPRSA).

"DTMB was honored to be recognized in CMPRSA's 2023 PACE Award program," said Caleb Buhs, DTMB chief deputy director. "This recognition highlights the important work and impact government communications can have in the lives of all Michiganders."

In April 2022, DTMB and state agencies successfully launched over 110 websites on a new website content management system (WCMS) as part of a multi-year modernization project. After receiving funding approval from the Michigan Legislature in 2017, DTMB and state agencies began work to replace the 20-year-old WCMS, Vignette, including the review and overhauling of more than 170,000 web pages and 133GB of digital assets under Michigan.gov. The project sought to address outdated system architecture, improve digital asset management, expand DevOps, offer integrated personalization functionality, establish a unified SOM brand, bridge content experiences across agency sites, improve user experience for the public, and create a more flexible and user-friendly content management environment for staff supporting website activities.

To learn more about the WCMS project, check out StateScoop’s Jan 18 article about the project, which features an interview with DTMB’s Suzanne Pauley.


The PACE Awards are mid-Michigan's highest honor of public relations activities and are awarded annually to practitioners who, in the judgment of their (out-of-state) peers, have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity, and resourcefulness.

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