Westchester County ’s Multi-media group: On the road to the Oscars?

Prestigious Telly and Aurora Video Awards on display in county office building lobby

Westchester County’s Communications Department is in the spotlight again. The five Telly Awards and 16 Aurora Awards won by the department’s multi-media staff for their stellar work in video production are on display in the lobby of the Michaelian Office Building at 148 Martine Ave. in White Plains.

The exhibition illustrates the tremendous talents of the multi-media team – Director Carl Pagano and his staff – Scott Tensel, Juan Medina and Bill Rodriguez – for their real-life treatments of subjects such as gangs and youth violence, sexual abuse, gay youth and Internet safety.

“Whether it’s a documentary on the making of Westchester’s 9-11 Memorial, an educational piece on pandemic flu or a video that dramatizes the dangers of cyber-bullies, our multi-media team is the star behind the scene,” County Executive Andy Spano said.

Spano said, “We are very fortunate to have such a talented and creative multi-media staff. Winning these competitions was really a big achievement when you consider that their work was up against some of the country’s most respected ad agencies, corporate production companies, TV stations and cable operators. This exhibition recognizes the group for their outstanding work.”

Disney and the Philadelphia Zoo are on the list of past Telly and Aurora honorees.

The multi-media group is part of the county’s Communications Department headed by Chief Advisor Susan Tolchin.

“I am so proud of the work my multi-media staff does,” Tolchin said. “They are a terrific, conscientious team who work diligently on everything they produce. Their productions are entertaining as well as educational and they appeal to everyone. They truly deserve all the recognition and credit for these impressive awards.”

Founded in 1978, the Telly Award is the premiere award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web.

The Aurora Award is an international competition designed to recognize excellence in the film and video industries.

Spano said that all of the award-winning videos featured in the exhibit and other pieces produced by Pagano and his staff can be viewed at www.westchestergov.com.

The awards exhibit can be viewed Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.