The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations named James Douglass of Rochester as its 2016 National Communicator of the Year at the organization’s annual conference here in March.

NCMPR’s Communicator Award honors a two-year college marketing professional who has demonstrated special leadership and ability in college communication.

Douglass is executive director of communications, media relations and marketing at Riverland Community College (Minn.). He was recognized for his ability to build strong media relations, his work on the college’s 75th anniversary and his contributions to Riverland’s strategic plan, “Strategic Vision: A Blueprint for Excellence.”

Fostering activities that improve on-campus communication, Douglass encouraged the college president to initiate “Breakfast with the President” meetings and helped shape monthly “grapevine” forums on each of Riverland’s three campuses. He and his department have won dozens of NCMPR district Medallion and national Paragon awards, including six Paragons in 2016.

“Mr. Douglass is well-respected because of his skills, work ethic and personality,” Riverland President Adenuga Atewologun said in a press release. “He is selfless, confident and always strives for excellence. I’m proud to know and work with him.”

Douglass joined Riverland in 2001 and attained his current post in 2014. A former journalist, he worked at the Post-Bulletin Company, Montevideo American News, and a family-owned newspaper in his hometown of Lakefield, Minnesota. He earned bachelor’s degrees in communications and theater arts from St. Cloud State University.

NCMPR supports the professional development of community college communicators, serving more than 1,700 members from nearly 550 colleges across the United States and Canada. It is the only organization of its kind that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges and is one of the largest affiliates of the American Association of Community Colleges.