ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) has announced the recipients of its top individual honors for 2025, including Catherine Lazorko, longtime municipal communications leader and NC3C founding member, who was awarded the Chris Coulson Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Chris Coulson Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual with 10 or more years of experience in government communications who has made a lasting impact on the field and exemplifies the highest standards of character, service, and professional excellence.
Catherine Lazorko, director of the Communication and Engagement Department for the Town of Carrboro, was selected for her decades of service to the field of public communication in municipalities across the country, including Las Cruces, NM; Chapel Hill, NC; and Carrboro, NC.
According to the NC3C announcement: “A founding member of NC3C and a former president, Lazorko has long been a behind-the-scenes force for good—mentoring fellow communicators, supporting inclusive outreach efforts, and creating crisis communication systems that respond to real community needs. Colleagues describe her as ‘a measured voice of reason’ and ‘a quiet leader who lifts up everyone around her.’”
“The dedication and expertise of Catherine (Cat) Lazorko as Carrboro’s Communication and Engagement Director have been exceptional!” said Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney. “Cat’s intentional approach to create meaningful and timely social media and web content, capture and disseminate accurate information, and produce innovative outreach and engagement opportunities is truly remarkable and has made a tremendous impact on our town.”
In addition to her local government work, Lazorko has served as communications director for the North Carolina State University College of Design and for the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science, and served as a news writer and alumni magazine editor for New Mexico State University. She began her career as a newspaper reporter for the El Paso Times and other regional papers in the Southwest. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master’s degree in English with an emphasis in rhetoric and professional communication from New Mexico State University. Additionally, she holds the designation of Certified Public Communicator, the field’s top certification.
Also recognized during the NC3C annual conference on April 10, 2025 in Asheville, NC, was Ethan Smith, communications manager for the Town of Huntersville, who received the NC3C Communicator of the Year Award. This award honors an individual who has made a significant impact in their role during the past year, demonstrating outstanding leadership, creativity, and strategic communication.
Ethan Smith was selected for his transformative work building the Town of Huntersville’s communications program from the ground up. From launching an award-winning website and resident newsletter to leading a full municipal rebranding effort informed by thousands of data points, Smith has helped reshape how Huntersville connects with its community. He also serves on the NC3C Board and played a key role in launching the organization’s first-ever webinar series. His colleagues describe him as a thoughtful, humble leader whose work has garnered state, national, and international recognition.
These awards are named in honor of Chris Coulson, a founding member of NC3C who played a pivotal role in establishing the organization in 2007 before passing away later that year following a battle with cancer.
“Both Ethan and Catherine embody the values that Chris Coulson stood for: public service, humility, innovation, and integrity,” said NC3C President Kaisha Brown. “We’re proud to honor their contributions and grateful for the example they set for our profession.”
About NC3C
The North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) is a professional organization dedicated to strengthening the local government communications profession through training, networking, and support. Learn more at www.nc3c.com.
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Media Contact:
Kaisha Brown, NC3C President; president@nc3c.com, 336-298-8166