City Wins NATOA Government Programming Awards

The City of Las Cruces is proud to announce it has earned three Government Programming Awards (GPAs) of Excellence and three Awards of Distinction from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA).

The NATOA Government Programming Awards honor excellence in broadcast, cable, multimedia, and electronic programming produced by local governments nationwide. Recognition in these competitive categories highlights the City’s commitment to creativity, education, and community connection.

This year the City won Awards of Excellence for the following submissions for content that had been originally produced between April 12, 2024 and April 13, 2025:

• “What’s My Line Made Of” – Lead & Copper Education
  Watch “What’s My Line Made Of” here

          Category: Instruction/Training
         Recognized for helping educate the public on a complex issue in a clear and engaging way.

• “I Can’t Do Every Job”
  Watch “I Can’t Do Every Job” here

           Category: Event/Program Promotion
          Praised for highlighting City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau’s approachable leadership style and sense of humor—something many communities wish for in their local government.

• “The Zipper Method”
  Watch “Zipper Method” here

          Category: Visual Effects
         Acknowledged for creative and effective use of visual media to explain roadway safety in a memorable way.

 The City was additionally recognized with Awards of Distinction for the following categories:

• “Las Cruces Summer Reading Program” – Category: Library Programming
• “Small Business Storefront Repair Program”  – Category: Community Awareness
• “I Can’t Do Every Job”  – Category: Use of Humor

These awards demonstrate the innovative spirit and commitment of our team to communicate effectively with our community,” said Mandy Leatherwood, Director of Communications for the City of Las Cruces “Whether we are explaining a complex issue like water safety, promoting traffic safety on our roads, or trying new and engaging ways to recruit, our goal is to connect with residents in ways that are both meaningful and accessible.”

The City’s Utilities, Public Works, Economic Development, Quality of Life, Human Resources, and City Manager’s Office departments are also acknowledged for providing content and talent for these submissions.

Communications Office employees Nathaniel Bitting, Media Production Specialist and Adrian Guzman, Technical Operations Manager attended the GPA Ceremony in New Orleans, LA on August 21, 2025, where they claimed these awards.