Upsher-Smith Laboratories of Maple Grove, Minnesota has chosen Maccabee Group for their public relations.

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company which manufactures and markets prescription pharmaceutical, Over The Counter/OTC and cosmetic products for the cardiovascular, dermatological and women’s health markets, will use Maccabee Group for national product publicity and corporate communications.

OLSON, announced that it has promoted Rebecca Herbst to PR account supervisor and Clint Roberts has been hired as a PR account supervisor.

“This agency has long shown a passion for public relations in all its forms, from media relations and experiential marketing to buzz and word of mouth. It's a discipline that permeates every corner of the agency,” said John Olson, president of the agency. “Rebecca and Clint have a wealth of public relations experience under their belts, and by promoting Rebecca and hiring Clint we’re showing that we’re committed to providing our clients with the best in public relations practices.”

Since joining OLSON in 2003 as a senior account executive, Herbst has managed PR efforts for such clients as Sallie Mae, Phillips Distilling Company, Old Dutch and NSF International. Before joining OLSON, Herbst worked at Padilla Spear Beardsley and Carmichael Lynch Spong.

Prior to OLSON, Roberts worked at Carmichael Lynch Spong managing day-to-day projects for Harley-Davidson and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Before CLS, Roberts was at Weber Shandwick where he worked on projects for The Scotts Company and Miracle Gro, Minnesota Vikings, Polaris and Tom Lehman’s Charity Golf Tournaments.

“Public relations has always been, and always will be part of our holistic approach,” said Kevin DiLorenzo, managing director and senior vice president at OLSON. “With Rebecca and Clint on board, the future of PR for our clients and our agency is very bright.”

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick announced today the promotion of David Krejci from director to vice president of the office's Web Relations practice.

"Online communication has become deeply entrenched in the way we do business and the way our clients reach their target audiences," said Sara Gavin, president of Weber Shandwick's Twin Cities office. "David has developed our Web Relations team to be a central capability that we offer our clients."

Krejci began his career with Weber Shandwick nearly seven years ago as an intern. Building the agency's Web Relations compatibility in the Minneapolis office and throughout Weber Shandwick worldwide Krejci has become a respected leader for his knowledge, strategic abilities and creativity in using the Web to help clients communicate more effectively.

Come enjoy a chance to mingle with friends and colleagues. Feast on hearty hors d'oeuvres. Bid on fabulous silent auction and live auction items, including the chance to win lunch with a Minnesota Twins player, and win prizes in our continuous raffle drawing.

Tuesday, December 6, 11:00am - 1:30pm
Radisson Plaza Hotel



11:00 Registration
Hors d'oeuvres and mingling
Raffle sale and drawing
Silent Auction

12:30 Live Auction

1:00 Purchase Auction items, mingle

Holiday Music courtesy of the Minnesota Zephyr Cabaret singers

Register online at or download a registration form here.

Member $30
Nonmember $50
$400 for groups of 10

Register by November 30 at 5:00pm. Add $10 after this date and at the door. No refunds or cancellations after 5:00pm on Wednesday, November 30.

(To register a group, please contact the Ad Fed office @ )

Not an Ad Fed member? Join today at .

, one of the leading golf management and marketing firms in the nation, has hired Fast Horse Inc. to assist with public relations initiatives for a new book by PGA TOUR veteran and 2006 Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman debuting in November 2005.

Fast Horse will develop and execute a multi-phased media relations campaign to promote “A Passion for the Game,” in which Lehman shares his love for the sport as well as the inspirations and motivations in his life. The book offers insights from Lehman’s more than 15 years on the PGA TOUR and memoirs from his experience playing in three Ryder Cup events.

“SFX Golf has a strong reputation for quality talent and event management, and works with some of the biggest names in the game,” said Jörg Pierach, president of Fast Horse Inc. “We believe Tom Lehman and Ryder Cup fans everywhere will be very interested in learning about this new book, and we’re delighted to team with Tom and SFX Golf to build awareness for it.”

Tunheim Partners announced the appointment of Heather Peterson as an account supervisor and Eliza Clark as a senior account executive.

Peterson brings more than 17 years experience to Tunheim Partners with a broad range of public affairs, systems advocacy and government relations. Prior to joining Tunheim Partners, Heather was public affairs manager at Courage Center and also participated in the Minnesota Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities.

Clark is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, and has worked in the public affairs law firms of Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Ltd. and Flaherty & Hood, P.A. She has experience in the real estate, land use and urban planning areas.

Entries are now being accepted for the 28th Annual Minnesota PRSA Classics. The deadline for entries is December 8, 2005 at 5 p.m.

In addition to the outstanding public relations elements and programs that will be recognized, Minnesota PRSA will also name a recipient of the Donald G. Padilla Community Classic Award. In addition, area college students are encouraged to showcase their work by entering the 4th annual PRSA Student Classics.

Celebrate your public relations achievements of the past year by entering your own outstanding work in the 28th annual Classics Awards program on March 9, 2006 at the Depot.

Click here for more information on the PRSA Classics.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend and that everyone had enough to eat! In case you missed it, over the weekend, there were a couple of good articles about blogging including this one discussing whether or not Target should have a blog.

The question of whether Target should blog or not is not a new one, in fact bloggers have been discussing this issue for some time. But the interesting twist to this article is that it pushes Target to do an internal blog for employees.

Author Kevin Dugan says Target could learn from what other company's have done, here is an excerpt:

Target could learn a lot from:

1. Honeywell: The manufacturer created a "Career Blog" so potential candidates can get a read on company culture from current, passionate employees.
   
2. Labor Unions: Most alarming is that the union already hosts blogs for Target employees to give them a voice in the hopes they can organize them. The Target Stores Employees' Web Site aggregates blog posts from current, and even potential, employees.
   
3. Current Employees: Honeywell's positive experiences impact search results should any current employees blog about a negative experience. As Target is not officially blogging, a quick Google search turns up Target employee B. Ron. B. Ron writes openly about his experience setting the store with "some ****Edited**** from corporate." "I will tell you, if it weren't for real morons this company might be bigger than Wal-Mart. What am I saying, everyone that works at Wal-Mart is a moron!"

Target needs to engage its employees in a dialogue and give them a voice. Left unchecked, labor unions and its unhappy employees will impact customer opinion of this top retailer.

Other blogging articles:
Also announced this past week, IBM has taken internal blogs to the next level with employee Podcasts.

Get more blog articles like this one, , by visiting my .

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Hope your year has been as rewarding as mine. Here is a little Thanksgiving Quiz to get you in the holiday mood.

My quiz results were not as good as I had expected:

You answered 15 items out of 20 correctly.

Your score is 75%. Good job! Gobble! Gobble!

The Star Tribune reported this morning on a new trend hitting the University of Minnesota next year -- ZipCars.

ZipCars are a "car-sharing" service that allows users on-demand cars. According to the Strip article, the cars are "aimed at people who typically walk, bike or use transit."

ZipCar.com says:

Thousands of smiling drivers use Zipcars in Boston, New York, and Washington DC. In many neighborhoods, Zipcars are as ubiquitous as ATMs. ZipCars for Business (Z2B) and personal drivers alike are loving the freedom and cost savings a Zipcar brings to their life - many have even achieved transportation nirvana. That's why over 30% of our customers have either sold their car or have stopped their purchasing decision. The revolution is underway, at least in the minds of members who no longer give a second thought to how they will get where they need to go. With a Zipcard in your pocket, a car is only a wireless signal away.

HourCar was another company considered for the program, but was not selected because of rates.

Wish they had this service when I was in college!!

Looking for an opportunity to work on big brands that appreciate the value of one-to-one communications? So you know there's creative opportunity beyond mass media tactics & you're passionate about building brands via direct marketing? If you have 2-4 years of agency experience, you may be just the individual Carmichael Lynch is looking for.

The interactive and direct marketing manager works within a greater brand team to plan, design and execute integrated solutions for big brand clients. Must be a champion of great creative, be detail oriented, isn't afraid of analysis, and have a track record of managing programs that build a client's business.

Experience in both offline and online direct marketing is a plus. Idea candidate has implementation experience with direct mail, direct response advertising, online advertising, email marketing, website creation. Carmichael Lynch's client roster includes a number of reputable brands such as Porsche, Harley-Davidson, American Standard, AG Edwards, Northwest Airlines, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Gibson and others.

Send resume to: Human Resources, Carmichael Lynch, , or fax or email

AWC Twin Cities is pleased to announce the presentation of a half-day professional development seminar on Thursday, January 19. Invest in Your Presentation Effectiveness will equip you with the most important techniques you can use each and every time you present yourself -- be it presenting to a reporter, a prospective client, or an audience of hundreds.

The seminar will be hosted at The Woman’s Club from 7:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. featuring a continental breakfast, lunch, and the following speakers:

Tad Simons,

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Presentations is the only magazine dedicated exclusively to individuals and organizations that create and deliver presentations. Tad, the publication’s editor-in-chief, will identify best presentation practices of leading presenters and organizations worldwide. He will also share the dos and don’ts of Powerpoint, and introduce you to the latest presentation technology and trends – from practical tools to techno-gadgets.

Joan Moser, Spoken Impact

As the president of a public speaking training and consulting company, Joan knows how to get captivate an audience. In just 60 minutes she will give you a quick overview of the six most important techniques you can use when you present. Examples of what to do and what not to do will be given. Come ready to update your delivery in these areas: authenticity, likeability, gestures, vocal variety, executive presence, and eye contact.

Beth LaBreche, LaBreche Murray

Beth has provided media training to executives in various industries throughout the U.S. This is your opportunity to experience her trademarked and renowned PRepare Media Training session. Beth’s interactive, informative presentation will help you acquire – and immediately apply through skills practice -- the techniques necessary to make the most of your media opportunities.

Samantha Pereira, Stevie Ray’s Improv Company

The School of Improv at Stevie Ray's has trained thousands of people, many who have used the benefits of improvisation to better their business lives. As the school’s administrator and an instructor, Samantha is a master of improvisation. Her presentation, Think On Your Feet, will help you develop improvisation techniques to become a better presenter under pressure. It’s a humorous and very useful training for delivering yourself with poise and command.

This event will surely be worthy of a standing ovation! Mark your calendars now and register on-line starting December 1 at http://www.awctwincities.org . For more information, please contact Sarah Sladek at .

Nicole Garrison-Sprenger from the Business Journal reports that Gabriel deGrood Bendt has won the Andersen Windows account. From the Journal:

One of Minnesota's oldest brands just hired one of the Twin Cities' newest advertising agencies.

Andersen Corp., the 102-year-old window and door maker out of Bayport, tapped Minneapolis-based Gabriel deGrood Bendt to create its 2006 corporate branding campaign. Andersen had worked with Minneapolis-based Campbell Mithun on the creative portion of its advertising for the past 72 years. Campbell Mithun will keep media planning and placement duties on the account.

Andersen is an account that GdB principals said they've had their eyes on for some time.

"We tried to talk to them eight years ago when we started our company," said GdB founder and CEO Tom Gabriel. "At the time they had a relationship."

Get the rest of the story here.

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced the hiring of new employees in the consumer marketing, financial services, healthcare and Web relations practices.

Greg Swan was hired as a senior account executive in the consumer marketing practice working on accounts in the food and beverage and consumer financial services categories. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Swan worked as an account executive for Kohnstamm Communications Public Relations Counsel in St. Paul, Minn. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Swan earned his bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Kristen Thistle returns to Weber Shandwick as a group manager in the healthcare practice. Thistle previously worked for Weber Shandwick from 1996 to 2003. Before returning, she was the manager of public relations for the National Marrow Donor Program. A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., Thistle graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with a degree in speech/communication.

Jeff Bakken joined the financial services practice as a senior account executive to manage partner relations programs for a national communications campaign to encourage electronic payment of federal taxes. Before joining Weber Shandwick, he was a Public Information Officer for Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minneapolis, Minn. A native of Oakdale, Minn., Bakken earned his bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Minnesota.

Erin Bray was hired as a senior account executive in the financial services practice where she plays a pivotal role in writing and media relations for a large federal government client. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Bray was a copywriter for FindLaw.com, a Thomson Business, in Eagan, Minn. A native of Winchester, Mass., she holds a bachelor's degree in English from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.

Kristi Corey joined the Web relations practice as a senior account executive to manage the internal production of Web and interactive projects. Before joining Weber Shandwick, she worked as an Associate Account Manager for StoneArch Creative in Minneapolis, Minn. A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Corey graduated Magna Cum Laude from Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn., with a degree in Mass communications.

As an extension of their corporate pro bono program, Making a Difference, a team from Weber Shandwick raked leaves on a recent autumn afternoon for senior clients of H.O.M.E. (Household and Outside Maintenance for Elderly). The group of 17 stuffed 131 bags in a couple of hours.

"The company-sponsored on Loan program is in its third year," said Leah Kondes, Marketing Director at Weber Shandwick. "We added this component in response to an employee survey where non-PR folks (accounting, admin, etc.) said they wanted a way to be involved in our community relations program. This past spring we spent at an afternoon at Feed My Starving Children."

Job Description:

Business Payroll Services (BPS), part of the Diversified Products Group within Wells Fargo, is in search of a Communications Associate 1 to join our team in . Responsible for tactical/routine writing and editing such as newsletter articles, policies and procedures, advisories and alerts, correspondence, event or initiative communications, press releases, fact sheets, forms to support achievement of business goals and maintain/improve the company's image.

Position may include responsibility for contributing to publication design including photography and graphic design; assisting with civic/community relation activities; maintaining website content including developing, writing, editing, and posting information; maintaining distribution lists; translating documents across languages; and/or gathering and reporting information regarding team member or public opinion for use by management. This position reports to the National Sales Manager.


Minimum Qualifications:

4 year degree and 2+ years experience in a communications related field. Familiarity and experience with Desktop Publishing and graphics applications. Strong computer skills, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Extensive writing background and experience. Demonstrated project management and facilitation skills.


How to Express Interest in This Job: Wells Fargo invites you to express interest in this position by visiting our site here and then following the on-screen instructions.

Job reference code: 794351

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced the promotion of Matt Hansen to account executive from assistant account executive in the consumer marketing group and Cate Dobyns to account executive from assistant account executive in the financial services group.

Hansen, who joined the agency in April 2004 as an intern and was hired as an assistant account executive in July 2004, focuses on media relations, writing and strategic planning for the agency's clients. As a 2002 graduate of the University of Iowa, Hansen holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and Political Science.

Dobyns, who joined the agency in June 2004 as an intern and was hired as an assistant account executive in October 2004, focuses on national and trade media relations, strategic planning and brand building for the agency's clients. She graduated in the spring of 2004 from UW-Madison.

Martine Larson has recently returned to the Minneapolis/St. Paul office of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. as an account executive in the technology practice group.

“We are so excited to have Martine return to the Fleishman-Hillard fold,” said Sarah McNeil, senior vice president in the Minneapolis/St. Paul office. “she brings with her the experience she gained while in San Diego, along with a deep understanding of our office culture and our current clients.”

Larson joins Fleishman-Hillard from Beck Ellman Heald in San Diego, CA, where she worked as an account executive for technology, healthcare, law, real estate and retail clients.

Prior to Beck Ellman Heald, Larson spent a year interning at the Minneapolis/St. Paul office of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. where she worked with such clients as Imation, GlassHouse Technologies and CommVault Systems.

Larson earned at Bachelors of Science in Business degree in marketing from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

It is Veterans Day today! Because of their fearless dedication to fighting for our country and their service to our nation Veterans have earned our thanks. Be sure to thank a Veteran you know today.

Here are a couple tributes to our soldiers that I enjoyed:

Military.com - A Tribute to Those Who Have Served.

CannonArtillery.com - November 11, A Date To Remember

Global PR Blog Week

Minnesota Public Relations Society of America's Monthly Meeting

Presenter: Brian Freeman, author of IMMORAL

Long-time Minnesota PRSA volunteer Brian Freeman left his day job earlier this year to live the dream of many in the communications field. His thriller IMMORAL has become an international hit, sold in more than 14 countries and named a Main Selection in book clubs from the U.S. to Australia.

At the November monthly meeting, Brian will talk about the process of getting a literary agent, selling the book to a publisher, and working through the publication cycle from acceptance to sales. He'll discuss the key role of public relations at all stages of the process - and what's exciting and frustrating about the world of publishing PR. There will also be plenty of time for Q&A.

At the end of the meeting, we'll conduct a drawing to give away several signed copies of IMMORAL!

About Brian Freeman

Brian Freeman is author of IMMORAL, a thriller published by St. Martin's Minotaur in 2005. His novel has been sold to publishers in 14 countries and was named International Book of the Month by Bookspan. It was the Main Selection in both the Literary Guild and the Book of the Month Club. His next novel is due out in Fall 2006. For more information, visit his Web site at www.bfreemanbooks.com.

Prior to going out on his own as an author and business writer, Freeman served as director of marketing and public relations at the international law firm of Faegre & Benson, where he conceived and led a multiple-award-winning communications and marketing program. Under his leadership, the firm's Web site was rated the #1 law firm Web site in the nation by an independent consulting firm three years in a row, and its bimonthly legal magazine Trends won the Burton Award for top law firm publication in the U.S. Brian also served as guest columnist for The Business Journal on techniques for corporate storytelling and has authored numerous feature stories for Twin Cities Business Monthly.

Meeting Specifics

Thursday, November 17, 2005
Registration & Networking: 11:30 a.m. – noon
Lunch: noon – 12:30 p.m.
Program: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Location:
Metropolitan Ballroom
.



Cost: Cost: Pre-Registered: $30 members, $45 guests, $15 students; Walk-ins (after November 14): $40 members; $55 guests; $25 students
Register By: 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 14), to receive the discounted rate.

Registration:
or call the Minnesota PRSA office at .

Networking. Networking. Networking. This word is used quite a bit within our industry and by professors. But how important is networking? In my experience, networking has been vital. In each of my three internships, my initial contact with the company was a result of networking.

If you think of the actual word and its definition, you will see words like interconnected and cross-over. The glory of networking is you are bound to find someone you know who has a connection. And, more than likely, that person will have a connection as well.

First thing first, make a list of people you know - include relatives, neighbors, classmates/co-workers, etc. Let them know you are on the job-hunt and what kind of position you are interested in. E-mail them an updated resume and ask them to distribute it to people they know.

Second, make a list of companies and agencies that sound appealing to you. Research who the appropriate contact is at the company and/or agency and see if that person would be willing to have an informational interview with you, either in person or via teleconference. Informational interviews provide you interviewing experience and valuable feedback on your resume. If the individual you interviewed with is impressed, they may forward your information on to someone in a different department or to a different company all together.

Third, who you have spoken with and ask if they would be willing to give you feedback on your resume and interviewing skills.

The results of the fifth annual 2005 PRWeek/Burson-Marsteller CEO Survey reveal that while blogs are increasingly making headlines, only seven percent of CEOs are actually blogging and many are skeptical about starting a blog themselves. Despite the low numbers, 59 percent of CEOs said blogs are useful for internal communications, and 47 percent said blogs are effective for external audiences.

CEOs surveyed recognize the benefits of blogs, including the ability to quickly communicate new ideas and news (41 percent), providing a more informal venue for communication with constituents (40 percent), and obtaining immediate feedback (36 percent). Despite these benefits, only 18 percent of CEOs plan to host a company blog over the next two years.

"Most CEOs are still in a wait-and-see mode when it comes to blogs mainly due to time limitations and concerns about what they can say publicly," said Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross, Burson-Marsteller's chief knowledge & research officer worldwide and CEO reputation expert. "Even though there is greater awareness of the power of blogs today, CEOs may feel that employees expect them to be spending their time running the business, meeting customers driving growth."

CEOs Spend More Time Communicating With Employees and Customers

According to this year's survey, CEOs are spending more time communicating internally and externally with every type of constituent -- most notably employees and customers. CEOs surveyed said they are spending 47 percent more time on both internal and external communications than they were two years ago.

CEOs also noted that they are spending more time communicating "face-to-face" with employees with most saying they spend more than 41 percent of their time in this regard. CEOs now realize that attracting and retaining talent is a key competitive advantage and morale booster.

"The CEO is the company's public face for many audiences, including Wall Street, the media, shareholders, and their own employees. Effective and consistent CEO communication builds credibility and strategic alignment with internal and external audiences," said Julia Hood, PRWeek's editor-in-chief. "The real challenge for CEOs today is balancing the demand from stakeholders for responsive and timely communications."

An Expanding Role for the Executive Board

Other trends identified in this survey include the increasing role of executive boards in reputation management. In the current corporate environment, boards are under greater scrutiny for their oversight in company operations, strategy, CEO performance and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Boards are also being held financially liable for crises that result from corporate negligence or misconduct. In this year's survey, CEOs ranked their board second in importance for managing corporate reputation, up from fourth place in 2004.

About the Survey

The PRWeek survey on non-PR CEO's importance of public relations was conducted by PRWeek and research firm Millward Brown. A total of 131 U.S. CEOs completed the survey between September 12th and October 7th. Based on the sample size, the results are statistically tested at a confidence level of 90%.

Complete survey results can be found in the November 7, 2005 issue of PRWeek.

Colle+McVoy is proud to announce Glenn Gray as the agency's newest group creative director.

"Glenn is an awesome addition to Colle+McVoy's softball roster," said Mike Fetrow, Colle+McVoy's executive creative director. "Oh, and he's, um, extremely talented when it comes to coaxing great ideas out of others. We're really excited to have him."

Gray was wooed out of the freelancing wilderness, where he had been gleefully frolicking for the past 18 months, to join Colle+McVoy. He will initially oversee creative direction for the Nestlé-Purina account, with his duties expanding to other clients in the near future.

A Long Island native, Gray began his advertising career as an art director in New York ("We were still using rubber cement and specing type then.") and worked in Atlanta at Earle Palmer Brown before venturing to the northern remoteness of the American Midwest. He has previously held positions in Minneapolis at Carmichael Lynch and twice at Clarity Coverdale Fury.

Gray's versatile work for clients such as Harley-Davidson, Rapala, Chopin Vodka, Schwinn Bicycles, Old Town Canoes and Mothers Against Drunk Driving has garnered awards from the Effies, Obies and The Show (Minneapolis), and has also been recognized in Communication Arts, One Show, Print, Creativity, Graphis, Lurzer's International Archive and Adweek. In addition, Gray has a winning smile and a firm handshake.

Taubman Centers, Inc., the Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based owners and operators of major shopping centers in 11 states, has named Colle+McVoy as its advertising agency of record, hiring the agency to handle marketing duties in ten of its shopping centers located throughout the country.

Colle+McVoy's work for Taubman will include strategic counsel and planning, advertising and direct marketing, focusing on several promotions for 2006, including spring, back-to-school and holiday campaigns.

"This is an exciting win for us," said Colle+McVoy CEO and chief creative officer John Jarvis. "As consumers are getting bombarded with retail advertising, Taubman gives us a huge opportunity to create original work that breaks out from the clutter, particularly during the busiest shopping seasons of the year."

Founded in 1950, Taubman Centers, Inc. is a real estate investment firm that owns and manages 23 urban and suburban regional and super regional shopping centers in 11 states. Taubman Centers, Inc. is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (TCO).

Roepke Public Relations received MarCom Creative Award’s prestigious Platinum Award honoring excellence in marketing and communications in the category of Media Relations/ Publicity. MarCom’s international awards recognize outstanding achievement by marketing and communications professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of marketing and communication programs and print, visual and audio materials. In addition to its platinum award, Roepke Public Relations also won two Gold Awards and one Honorable Mention for their media relations efforts.

MarCom’s Platinum Award, presented to entries judged to be among the most outstanding entries, was bestowed on Roepke PR for their work with Ardea Beverage Company, maker of airforce Nutrisoda®. These entries were recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness.

Gold Awards were received in recognition of Roepke PR’s work for Artspace, the nation’s leading nonprofit real estate developer of artist live/work space, and The Nicollet, a 56-story luxury residential high-rise developed by Nicollet Mall, LLC. MarCom’s Gold Awards were presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry.

The firm’s work for 614 Company, operator of the historic Young Quinlan building on Nicollet Mall, also received honorable mention.

“The high quality of work produced by the firm has always been recognized by our clients,” said Katherine Roepke, president of Roepke Public Relations. “It is an honor to have our efforts recognized on an international level. I am very proud of our team.”

MarCom Creative Awards are judged by experienced professionals in the marketing and communication industries who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. There were 4,613 entries from throughout the United States and several foreign countries. Platinum and Gold Award winners come from advertising and public relations agencies, corporate communication departments, educational institutions, government entities, designers, writers, video productions professionals, broadcast and cable operations, and other businesses and individuals throughout the country.

Get the complete list of MarCom Creative Award winners here.

As PR professionals we should all understand the importance of recognizing employees for the good work that they do, but in the daily hustle and bustle sometimes recognition is hard to find.

Yesterday, About.com published ten ways to motivate employees and give them the kudos they deserve. Here is a sample:

1. Do it now. Positive feedback is too important to let slide. Say something right away.

2. Make it public. While negative feedback should be given privately, positive feedback should be given publicly. Do it in front of as large a group as appropriate.

3. Be specific. Don't just say "Good job, Sally." Instead say something like "Hakim, that new procedure you developed for routing service calls has really improved our customer satisfaction. Thanks for coming up with it."

4. Make a big deal out of it. You don't want to assemble the entire company every time you give positive feedback, but do as much ceremony as the action warrants.

5. Consider the receiver. It is important to consider the feeling of the person receiving the recognition. For a very shy person, thanking him in front of his workgroup is probably most appropriate. For another person, you might hang a banner, balloons, and streamers in the department area.

Get the other five ways and the rest of the article by clicking here.

Weber Shandwick, PRWeek’s Agency of the Year 2005, and the leading Twin Cities public relations firm, is looking for a Senior Account Executive with corporate and issues management experience. We offer the chance to work with outstanding clients in an exciting and energetic office.

Senior Account Executive candidates should have five-plus years of experience. Must have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, always with a keen attention to detail. Candidates must be motivated team player with a strong client focus.

The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, with an emphasis on outstanding writing. Must have solid background in media relations. Proven track record of excellent client service required, including strong strategic thinking and planning skills. Experience supervising & mentoring junior-level employees required. Agency experience is a plus.

Specialist in Interactive Marketing

As a Specialist in Interactive Marketing on the Target.com's Interactive Marketing team you will partner with team members across Target Corporation to drive online marketing initiatives to deepen the relationship with the guest, strengthen the brand, and drive sales. The Specialist, Interactive Marketing works with a multitude of different teams as the single point of contact during all project phases to communicate and manage scope, requirements, project plan and budget. This position is accountable for the accomplishment of project responsibilities on-time and within the allocated budget.

Position Description:

• PROJECT MANAGEMENT- Project Manager for small to medium-sized projects with strong definition of what/how to implement. Leads cross-functional project teams of 3-5 people. Engages immediate manager in most key decisions/scope management
  
• BUSINESS ANALYSIS - Translates business objectives into creative and technical requirements based on client provided strategy, objectives and business rules to exe
  cute project, analyzing identified data as necessary. Documents business, creative and technical requirements and articulates for project team
  
• COMMUNICATION - Communicates project objectives, status and key decisions within project teams/department occasionally involving immediate manager where necessary. Ensures proper approvals are gathered during project milestones. Translates technical jargon into layman's terms
  
• RISK MANAGEMENT - Identifies risks and interdependencies within projects/system changes and works with manager to identify and implement plausible solutions/contingency plans
  
• VENDOR & CLIENT MANAGEMENT - Interacts with and conducts business with vendors and client partners, shares appropriate information, sets clear expectations and holds vendor(s)/client(s) accountable, partnering with manager where necessary. Represent the creative, technical, and other Target.com teams as needed in vendor and client meetings
  
• QUALITY/BRAND MANAGER - Ensures creative and technical outputs pass usability testing, provides a good guest experience, and meets client's business objectives. Ensures that all brand standards, legal compliance and web marketing best practices are reflected in all projects
  
• BUDGET MANAGEMENT - Develops estimates and refines them through collaboration with project teams (design, copy, production, technical, information architecture) once scope is determined. Manages overall project budget and involves manager to resolve discrepancies between budget and actual costs

Job Requirements:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

o 4 year college degree and/or equivalent experience
o 2+ years of internet/interactive project management experience
o Demonstrated ability to manage small to medium sized projects
o Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate project teams
o Ability to deal with ambiguity
o Ability to manage conflict
o Strong customer focus
o Strong interpersonal and communication skills
o Ability to maximize relationships
o Ability to utilize resources and resolve problems quickly
o Strong PC skills (MS Office, MS Project, Visio)
o Working knowledge of web functionality, database structures and content management tools

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS

o 1+ years of marketing experience
o Previous retail experience
o Ability to establish and manage a budget

Apply now by clicking here.

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Senior Specialist:

As a Senior Specialist, you will oversee and conceptualize ideas and write copy for Target.com, sitelets, e-mails, banner ads, special projects and related promotions.

See Yourself:

• Managing writers, proofreaders and freelancers who write or edit projects
  
• Working with clients to determine strategy for online communication efforts
  
• Attending creative kick-off meetings and partnering with clients and account team members to understand business objectives
  
• Collaborating with Web designer and other members of the creative and business teams to concept projects
  
• Partnering with store advertising teams to reinforce and amplify creative campaigns online
  
• Promoting the Target brand by writing informative, conversational copy in the Target style that is imaginative, fun and engaging
  
• Providing follow-through on all creative projects, maintaining consistency as project develops and changes are requested
  
• Representing Editorial Team for creative presentations to merchants, business managers, site editors and Target.com management
  

Job Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

o 4-year degree in Journalism, English or related field
o Proven writing skills, as demonstrated by a portfolio
o Previous Internet writing experience
o Ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
o Five to seven years experience in advertising, communications or related field

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS:

o Target or Target.com experience
o Two or three years experience managing a staff or freelance writers, copyeditors or proofreaders

Apply now by clicking here.

New Hires Join Technology and Consumer Practice Groups

The Minneapolis/St. Paul office of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. recently added three new interns to the company’s on-going intern program.

Brian Flynn has joined the technology practice and will be working on client accounts including Fair Isaac and CommVault Systems. Flynn joins Fleishman-Hillard from the University of Minnesota where he received an undergraduate degree in communications studies in May 2005.

Anne Michaletz has joined the technology practice to work on accounts including Imation Corp. and Kodak Graphic Communications Group. Michaletz recently completed a marketing/event planning internship for the Edina Chamber of Commerce. She is a May 2005 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor of arts in communications studies and a minor in sociology/anthropology.

Rachel Studinger is the newest member of the office’s consumer practice group. Studinger comes to Fleishman-Hillard from Target Corporation, where she served as an executive retail intern. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point where she received a May 2005 bachelor of arts in communications with an emphasis on public relations and a minor in business administration.

“The level of achievement and experience we see in intern candidates is very impressive,” said Jon Austin, senior vice president. “Anne, Brian and Rachel have already distinguished themselves academically and in their first ventures into the working world. We are excited to welcome them to Fleishman Hillard, to help them in the next stage of their professional development and to learn from them.”