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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Job - LaBreche seeks an Account Executive

Changing the Channel

No, this is not a post about television and the ratings game. Rather the natural infatuation with a new toy and PR people are no different. As a group, I would say PR pros are intellectually curious and seem to have a wide variety of interests that span well beyond what’s on television tonight to fill the time. Continuous learning and experimenting is one of the ways that top communicators remain in touch with their particular target audience and understand what the audience will need next. So where’s the problem? Everything I’ve raised so far is good right? Well, don’t fall in love with a channel.

I enjoy so much of the new technology that is currently available to us. allows your audience to have a much more connected experience with your company or product; can serve as an excellent source for real-time search with millions of users broadcasting news or opinions relevant to them at any point in time; users view two billion videos a day; and Foursquare is just tapping into its full potential as a retail engagement tool that will further increase loyalty to a particular location as more and more venues begin to offer benefits to users. What about others that don’t get the media attention but have really transformed how we can work? is an outstanding resource that can extend your content and be extremely valuable to others. is viewed by some as a dinosaur but it is underutilized as a data mine for connecting to others all over the world.

Here’s the thing though, how are you feeling about that huge MySpace investment you made? Who remembers Friendster? How about Yahoo 360? And there is core the point of this post. Right now, social media is an essential and a bit trendy part of the PR person’s toolbox and I believe it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. However, as counselors that have a responsibility to our employers and clients, we must remain focused on the objectives we have for social media to engage with the audience that is appropriate for the project rather than the one we think is “hot” or our own favorite. The landscape changes quickly and if you lose sight of the goal and focus on the shiny new object you might wind up left behind. Below is an excerpt from an Information Week article discussing a new channel for B-2-B companies.

The real value of XXXXXXXXX for Cisco is the opportunity for spontaneous customer interaction, said Christian Renaud, chief architect of networked virtual environments for Cisco. "It's like a birds-of-a-feather session that goes on 'round the clock," he said. He routinely encounters customers XX XXXXXXXXX who want to talk to him about their needs and what they want Cisco to do. "I bump into customers and partners multiple times a day XXXXXXXXXXXXX. In 11 years at Cisco, walking through the parking lot in San Jose, I never get people that come up to me and say, 'I'm a Cisco customer, have a second?'"
Sounds like a pretty amazing channel for connecting doesn’t it? Any good PR pro must be on top of this. If you’d like to fill in the blanks you can visit the original article here. Yep, for those that were there, this was the pending glory known as…wait for it…Second Life, a mere three years ago. Companies were clamoring to spend money there. I was told it was going to change “everything” for the industry.
Love the engagement; don’t fall in love with the tools.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Olson promotes Slinde Bastian to account director

has been named group account director at OLSON, in recognition of her astounding success leading agency accounts including University of Minnesota, UHG companies Ovations and OptumHealth, Boston Scientific, Imation and Memorex. She was promoted from account director, and has worked at the agency since 2005.

Bastian joined after a stint in Zimbabwe with her family, where she lived after leaving Carmichael Lynch Spong in 2002. She began her career at a German fashion and retail agency and holds a degree in journalism from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

“Jennifer has an amazing ability to take some of OLSON’s most complex business and reduce it down to its essence. She has been associated with industry award-winning work, including Jay Chiat Awards and Effies — demonstrating her strategic ability to develop programs for clients that truly deliver return on investment,” says Kevin DiLorenzo, president and CEO, OLSON. “And with all her health care client experience, we’re hoping she’ll be ready this year to do our agency flu shots too.”

Job - Land O'Lakes - Government Relations Intern

Block joins Haberman's Executive Team

Haberman announced that has joined the agency as Managing Director. His addition to the Haberman tribe helps amplify the agency’s capabilities, including comprehensive branding and communications programs that build connections between consumers and socially responsible, mission driven organizations. The agency, founded in 1994, has bucked trends and continues to grow its client and employee rosters.

Block will be leading and growing client engagements to help tell the stories of pioneering and socially responsible organizations. Throughout his 25+ year career, Block has specialized in building client relationships, developing new business, creating branding and communication strategies, recruiting and managing creative resources and improving marketing performance. Eric’s experience has included leading highly effective branding solutions for a wide range of clients including Coca-Cola, United Airlines, Federal Express, Jim Beam Brands, HandsOn Network, and Panera Bread.

"What attracted me to Haberman is its mission and its people. This team has an incredible track record of helping values-based organizations tell their unique stories,” Block said. "All trends point to the fact that people are increasingly interested in doing business with socially responsible companies. As the lines between marketing, PR, communication and social responsibility continue to blur, great stories of doing good need to be told in a compelling fashion and permeate all facets of the brand experience.”

Fred Haberman, co-founder and CEO of Haberman commented, “We are building the agency of the future, an agency that serves the increased social and environmental awareness of corporations, organizations and consumers worldwide. Eric’s extensive experience in virtually all marketing disciplines complements our distinctive approach to telling the stories of brand pioneers who are making a difference in the world—be they small or large, new or established. This positions us to deliver on our clients’ desire for more capabilities and solutions from our firm.”

Block’s work experience includes 17 years with Fallon Worldwide, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. At Fallon, he was the chief architect of the company’s global expansion and broadened integrated marketing capabilities. In 2004, he left Fallon to become one of the founding partners of Duffy & Partners, the internationally recognized branding and design firm, where he led operations and business development efforts and served as senior strategist for branding initiatives for key clients.

Before joining Fallon, Block was VP/Creative Services for Fox Television in Los Angeles, where he helped launch FOX, the fourth television network. He began his career in the television industry.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

MWMC - Seasoned Professionals Event: Camera Ready!

  • Location: Vescio’s Cucina | ,
  • Website: http://www.vescioscucina.com
  • Non-members are welcome at this event.
  • Paid registration is required.
    MWMC members: $15.00
    Non-members: $20.00

Event Information

Presentation by Cindy and Brad Martin of bSharp Creative and Debra Fisher Goldstein of Gold Fish Communications.

MWMC Seasoned Professionals will kick off their year with an exploration of video and photography. Cindy and Brad Martin of bSharp Creative will talk about video in communications, including YouTube. Debra Fisher Goldstein of Gold Fish Communications will tell the story of her journey into photography at the Minnesota State Fair. Event registration includes appetizers and a cash bar is available.

Register now online>

Monday, September 27, 2010

Job - ShopNBC - Marketing Communications Specialist

Friday, September 24, 2010

Job - Weber Shandwick - Web Developer

Did the Public Relations Industry Miss the Cluetrain?

I recently revisited "The Cluetrain Manifesto," which, written more than 10 years ago, has been hailed for its' forward-thinking and relevance, especially in today's social media world. In the manifesto, the authors (Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls and David Weinberger) assert that the Internet and "human to human" conversations will be the "end of businesses as usual."

With that perspective, they had quite a bit to say about the PR industry, and how the very nature of the century-old practice may be counter-intuitive to this new era of business.

"Ironically, Public Relations has a huge PR problem: people use it as synonym for BS...Everyone--including many PR people--senses that something is deeply phony about the profession."

However, that's not to say there's not a place for PR. It's that the industry, like all others, need to adapt to online communications:

"In the age of the Web where hype blows up in your face and spin gets taken as an insult, the real work of PR will be more important than ever."

This leaves me to wonder...has the public relations industry stepped up to the plate, or did we miss the Cluetrain?

Let's take a look at some of the concepts and quotes from the book...

Do you place value on relationships, engagement, and quality of conversation, or measuring success by media placement, hits, and ad equivalency?

"As soon as I stopped strategizing how to 'get ink' for the company that was paying my salary, as soon as I stopped seeing journalists as a source of free advertising for my employer, I started having genuine conversations with genuinely interesting people...That's how I discovered PR doesn't work and markets are conversations."

Are you telling stories or pushing positioning statements? Are you truly "relating to the public?"



Read a recent press release or pitch. Does it sound like a robot or a human?
Before the marketplace evolved, humans sold their goods by speaking to one another. Buyers spoke directly to sellers who then created products based on demand. As the marketplace grew, we became disconnected from this process, disconnected as humans, and far more disingenuous.

"...markets were: conversations between people who sought out others who shared the same interests. Buyers had as much to say as sellers. They spoke directly to each other without the filter of the media, the artifice of positioning statements, the arrogance of advertising, or the shading of public relations."

The rise in popularity of social media allows us to go back to our human nature. To have conversations with like-minded individuals. To level the playing field. Breakdown the firewall.

Are you having conversations?

Keep in mind, it's not a conversation unless it goes two-ways, which requires some listening. Pushing out a news release is not a conversation. Pitching a "news story" is not a conversation. Listening to journalists, bloggers and influencers, learning their interests and expertise, and telling a story to someone genuinely interested in what you have to say? That's the heart of conversation.

"Conversations are where ideas happen and partnerships are formed...to have a conversation, you have to be comfortable being human. You can only have a conversation if you're not afraid to be wrong...conversations occur only between equals."

Be human? Be wrong? That's a scary proposition.

No company wants to place themselves in a vulnerable position, and no PR professional wants to be the sitting duck protecting that vulnerability. That's why, traditionally, we've protected the message, and controlled the spread of information. Problem? That doesn't work in social conversations among humans.

"Controlling information is like trying to control a conversation. It can't be done and still be genuine."

Now, consider this: for decades, PR professionals have, via press releases and pitches, "let go" of the message with the hope and faith that the journalists who "picked it up" would translate positively. Have we been able to translate that same faith to social media?

In this medium, we have an "economy of voice" and conversations are currency.

What is your voice? And, are you helping clients to find theirs?

"There's an inherent pomposity in much of what passes for corporate communication today. Missing are the voice, humor and simple sense of worth and honesty that characterize person-to-person conversation."

So, ten years ago, The Cluetrain Manifesto professed that PR industry (and others) needed to radically shift the way in which they'd been operating for decades. To let go of the processes and systems that separated brands from their public. To listen first and talk second. Basically...

"Losen up. Lighten up. And, shut up for a while."

And, if they didn't, the might face their ultimate demise:

"Organizations myst encourage and engage in genuine conversation with workers and markets-or go belly up."

The manifesto is now ten years old. The press release has not died, nor has the PR industry.

Did we totally miss the Cluetrain? Is it too late to hop on? Or, was it all an illusion?

Kary Delaria is Vice President of Kane Consulting, a social media marketing and PR firm that specializes in strategy, integration and measurement. You can contact her via email, or on Twitter.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Job - Land O'Lakes - Marketing Communications Intern

MWMC - Seasoned Professionals Event

Camera ready!

Thursday, October 7, 2010
5:30 p.m. Registration; 6:00 p.m. Program
Vescio’s Cucina
|
www.vescioscucina.com

Presentation by Cindy and Brad Martin of bSharp Creative and Debra Fisher Goldstein of Goldfish Communications

Minnesota Women in Marketing and Communications (MWMC) Seasoned Professionals will kick off their year with an exploration of video and photography. Cindy and Brad Martin of bSharp Creative will demonstrate how they use video in communications, including YouTube. Debra Fisher Goldstein of Goldfish Communications will tell the story of her journey into photography at the Minnesota State Fair. Event registration includes appetizers and a cash bar is available.

Registration
Seating is limited! Register online at www.mnwc.org

Non-members are welcome at this event.
Paid registration is required.

NOTE: If you plan to register at the door, MWMC can only accept payment via cash or check; credit cards will not be accepted the night of the event.

Cost
MWMC members: $15
Non-members: $20

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Carmichael Lynch Promotes Carolyn Ahlstrom to Senior Brand Planner

has been promoted to senior brand planner at advertising agency Carmichael Lynch. She joined the agency in May 2009 and provides strategic guidance and leadership on several accounts. In her new role, Ahlstrom is charged with establishing and managing client objectives, while developing and defining key concepts for their brands.

Before joining Carmichael Lynch, Ahlstrom served as a brand planner for Fallon in Minneapolis, providing strategic planning on the Purina Latin America, Boston Market, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express accounts. She also served as a cognitive anthropologist for Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Boulder, Colo., where she conducted primary research and provided strategic insights for Volkswagen and Domino’s Pizza.

“Carolyn is an enthusiastic and dedicated professional,” says Mike Lescarbeau, CEO, Carmichael Lynch. “She has a knack for developing a vision for our clients and is diligent in everything she does. Carolyn is very deserving of this recognition.”

Ahlstrom is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s school of journalism, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in professional strategic communications with an emphasis in advertising.

Job - Lola Red PR Internship

Meet & Mingle at McGovern’s - Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Meet & Mingle with PRSA and Beehive PR on the St. Paul side of the river. October’s event will be held at McGovern’s Pub in the heart of St. Paul.

Hosted by Beehive PR, this event will allow you to network with other public relations professionals while learning more about an up-and-coming PR agency.

DATE
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
TIME
5:30–7:00 p.m.
(5:30 p.m. check-in)
PRICE
$10
Price increases by $5 after October 8 and must be paid at the door.
Appetizers are included.
One drink ticket ($5 maximum

Agency Profile – Maccabee Group Public Relations

During its 15 years as one of Minneapolis’ most strategic and thoughtful PR agencies, Maccabee Group has been chosen by such respected brands as Gold’n Plump Poultry, Deluxe Corp., OfficeMax, Carlson Companies, AmericInn hotels, M & M/Mars, Caribou Coffee, Cirque de Soleil, Shock Doctor, General Mills, Malt-O-Meal, American Medical Systems and Octane Fitness.

Maccabee Group’s drive for real-world results goes beyond the media impressions the firm has generated for clients, from ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” and National Public Radio to the pages of the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Inc. and Newsweek. Typical of the agency’s successes was its helping OfficeMax secure a 20% bump in traffic and 444,000,000 page views on the Web, assisting General Mills in achieving a sell-out of 10 million boxes of Cheerios withn a 90-day window, and supporting “Go Organic for Earth Day” in driving awareness of organic food from 65% to 75% nationwide.

In an industry prone to turf battles, Maccabee Group embraces a collaborative philosophy that puts clients first, agency hubris last. Rather than force clients to use “in-network” agencies to drive profits to holding companies, independently-owned Maccabee Group balances its own capabilities with graphic design, event marketing, sales promotion, interactive and SEO services from other best-of-breed firms. That collegial attitude inspired Medvec Eppers Advertising to enthuse, “Maccabee Group is hands down the Best Damn PR Firm Period.” Experiential agency Innova Marketing adds: “Innova has worked side-by side with a lot of agencies, but Maccabee Group’s the best of them – truly collaborative, creative and competent, with lots of trust, no egos and great results for clients.”

Nationally recognized for its creativity, Maccabee Group broke a Guinness Record with OfficeMax’s World’s Largest Rubberband Ball, hired Pet Psychics to read the minds of cats and dogs for PETCO stores, employed a Gypsy fortuneteller to dramatize palm reading technology for Internet Service Provider, VISI; carved Jesse Ventura out of 5,000 pounds of Kemps Ice Cream and used Dueling Elvis Presley impersonators to drive sales of M & M/Mars candy.

Maccabee Group’s strength is in concepting game-changing programs that move client companies to their next level of growth. Consider the “Stand Up For Your Right to Write Checks” consumer advocacy campaign for Deluxe Corp; the pathbreaking “Four Generations Overcoming Addiction” and “Making Recovery America’s Business” public education programs for Hazelden; the “Keeping Sexual Intimacy Alive” healthcare marketing campaign with Dr. Ruth Westheimer for American Medical Systems; and the “Bring Home the Bac-O’s” cause marketing initiative, which earned Maccabee and General Mills a “Best PR Campaign of the Year” award.

Maccabee Group’s NODE online practice guides clients to the most effective use of Web assets, interactive technologies and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Maccabee Group – winner of “Best Interactive Viral Promotion” from Promo magazine for its ElfYourself campaign for OfficeMax – offers clients proprietary Web planning and online reputation measurement tools that drive powerful engagement with clients’ most important audiences.

Walk into Maccabee Group’s headquarters in Minneapolis, and you’ll sense the agency’s high-energy culture -- a jukebox stuffed with 1950s R & B, a rotating disco ball and an animated Elvis Presley robot head, and a “College of Marketing Knowledge” library that back up NODE Presents events and other professional development workshops for employees.

“The lifeblood of any PR agency is trust,” says president Paul Maccabee. “Building trust with consumers, keeping trust with clients, reinforcing trust with media, bloggers and other influencers who affect a company’s success.” Maccabee Group’s integrity has attracted socially responsible groups like Go Organic for Earth Day and Sunrise Community Banks. It’s led the agency to champion domestic partnership legislation for gays with a coalition of 30 other creative agencies; pursue pro bono work for Sierra Club Minnesota; and turn down the opportunity to promote casinos, liquor and nuclear weapons. Go figure, a PR agency with a conscience?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fast Horse launches “Intern-For-A-Day” program

Fast Horse has launched a new “Intern-For-A-Day” program for its Facebook community. The agency introduced the page, “The Fast Horse Experience”, in 2009 to offer opportunities for a “digital informational interview.” Its goal was to provide a resource for aspiring professionals seeking internships or entry-level positions in advertising, graphic design, marketing, PR, interactive, etc.

Since activating the page, Fast Horse has hired a few interns it met through the page. Today it started The Fast Horse Experience Intern for a Day program in which the firm will put out calls for guest posts for its blog, The Idea Peepshow, once every two months. Interested applicants will then have two weeks to send a post and Fast Horse will pick its favorite and publish it on the blog. The agency will also hire that person for a one-day paid internship.

Along with the guest blogging gig and one-day (eight hours, $12/hour) contract to work at Fast Horse, each intern will get an office tour, free lunch, and the opportunity to showcase his or her creativity, do real client work and get a sense of what agency life is like.

The call goes out to anyone. Any age with any set of interests or skills. The only requirement is that applicants be a member of Fast Horse’s Facebook page. After the intern-for-a-day is selected, Fast Horse will tailor the work day to fit the winner’s interests. The winners can pick their day — and if they aren’t based in the Twin Cities or able to make the trip, they can , or work outside of Fast Horse walls for the day and keep in touch via phone/email/Skype, etc.

Here are the application instructions for the first open call - which starts today:
  • Write a blog post on the broad subject of your reaction to a marketing campaign or message that caught your attention recently. Whether you found it to be effective or poorly done, just make sure to tell why.
  • Send the post to by 5 p.m. Oct. 4
  • Keep the posts to about 400 words
  • If you’d rather submit a video, MP3 of a podcast, collection of photos telling a story, or whatever else, feel free to do so

Each of the following open calls will be made on Fast Horse’s Facebook page, so ‘like’ the page and visit the ‘Discussions’ tab for questions about this program.

Job - Roepke PR - Public Relations Intern

Monday, September 20, 2010

Journey to My Job: Kasey Skala

Kasey Skala
This post of "Journey to My Job" features Kasey Skala, who started his job as communications specialist at in July.


       1.  Tell me about your career path so far, and how you found each of your jobs.

Prior to my current position at Great Clips, I spent five years in the financial industry working at both small financial firms and large banking institutions. Also, other than my current position, all my jobs were the result of a professional connection referring me.   


       2.  Describe what you do in your current position at Great Clips.

My role with Great Clips has a mix of responsibilities, with my primary duties being geared toward overall corporate and brand communications – focusing on both internal communication with stylists and external corporate relations efforts. Additionally, I am responsible for our online communication work.  

       3.  What worked well for you in your most recent job search?

The thing that I feel was most beneficial was simply meeting with other professionals and companies regardless of whether or not they had open positions. By getting my name out and forming relationships, I didn’t have to go through the job search by myself. It made the process a lot less stressful knowing that I had others keeping their eye open for me and passing along opportunities they came across.

4.  What would you have done differently in your most recent job search?

Job searching can be quite stressful and you can lose hope quickly. In the beginning, I think I took the process a bit too personal and got down on myself if I didn’t get an interview or got passed over for another candidate. It took a while to realize that it’s not personal and that I needed to keep my head up and continue to plug away.

5.  What advice do you have for job seekers today?

Network. The community in Minneapolis is such a social and supportive group that you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you aren’t attending events, having coffee with professionals and getting your name out there. Recommendations go a long way in our industry and you never know who or where your next lead will come from.

Also, I’d preach patience. Be picky and make sure you find the right fit. Don’t jump at every opening you see. While it might be frustrating not having a job or being in a position you don’t enjoy, it’ll be a lot worse having to go through the job search a second time.


Connect with Kasey through or .

--

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Job - Hopkins Public School District - Communications and Public Relations Coordinator

Friday, September 17, 2010

Olson promotes Linder from new biz director to VP

OLSON has promoted marketing director to vice president. At the agency, he leads the charge on all new business efforts. Linder joined OLSON from Jack Morton Worldwide in January 2007 as an interactive account supervisor, and moved to new business marketing director the following year.

“Ryan’s hard work has really helped land us where we are today — one of the top 10 independent agencies in the United States,” says Kevin DiLorenzo, president and CEO, OLSON. “He uses his diverse and integrated background to drive the development of strategic and creative brand communications. With Ryan’s help, in just the last two years, OLSON has experienced phenomenal growth and recognition.”

“My proudest moments happen every time we pursue and secure new client partnerships,” says Ryan Linder, OLSON’s marketing director, VP. “Success in agency business development relies heavily on team chemistry and expertise, and OLSON’s collective and perfectly focused team effort has allowed us to experience success even during this most recent turbulent economic period.”

Ryan holds a degree in advertising and public relations, and is pursuing an MBA at the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis. He and his wife have two small boys — which means when he rides his semi-custom motorcycle he always wears his helmet.

Risdall adds Ten New Accounts in July and August

During the months of July and August, Risdall Marketing Group (RMG) entered into new engagements with 10 diverse and exciting organizations. With an emphasis on internet related activities as well as traditional marketing and advertising support, the engagements are a reflection of Risdall’s unique client-centric approach.
 
“There is no one size fits all program for our clients,” said John Risdall, vice chairman and CEO of RMG. “Our approach and execution echoes the driving needs of each company – whether it’s expanding website presence, supporting ongoing education programs or launching a new brand.”
 
·         Cumberland Dental, affiliate of client Metro Dentalcare – Website
·         Documentis – Branding and market development
·         Elkay ManufacturingWebsite
·         Hennepin County Environmental ServicesCampaign support
·         Northern Clay CenterAdvertising and media strategy
·         Orthodontic Care Specialists, affiliate of client Metro Dentalcare – Website
·         Steven Community Apartments – Website and promotions
·         Topline Federal Credit UnionSEO
·         University of Minnesota College of Science & EngineeringMarketing communications plan positioning and 75th anniversary
·         World Data ProductsWebsite and SEO
 
Through the first half of 2010, the firm has added or expanded engagements with 65 organizations. In 2009, RMG added 106 new or expanded accounts.

April Nelson has joined Beehive PR as an account director

has joined Beehive PR as an account director. Nelson has nearly 10 years of experience managing public relations programs, leading crisis communications and securing high-profile media coverage for agency clients, publicly traded companies and nonprofit associations.

Before joining Beehive, Nelson was an account supervisor at Weber Shandwick, where she helped lead the national public relations campaign for the 2010 U.S. Census. She also represented clients Prudential Retirement, Amway and the YMCA of North America. Nelson previously led public affairs efforts at Education Minnesota and corporate communications for PLATO Learning. Her award-winning work has been recognized by the national and Minnesota chapters of PRSA, Minnesota IABC, PR Week and the American Federation of Teachers.

A summa cum laude graduate of Concordia College, Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in English. She also earned a project management certificate from the University of St. Thomas. She is a member of Minnesota PRSA, the Education Writer’s Association and the Association of Education Publishers.

Job - AgStar Financial Internship - Mankato, MN

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Job - Xcel Energy - Intern - Employee Communications

Where do geeks go to find out