- TopLine Federal Credit Union

Aguilar Productions, based in the Twin Cities, presents the 10th annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest conference on April 25-26.

Aguilar Productions, the only Latino-owned company in the U.S. producing an annual Hispanic marketing conference, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of promoting the Hispanic market. Aguilar Productions also produces Asian American and African America marketing events.

The two day conference includes the 2nd annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest Awards Dinner "celebrating excellence in Hispanic marketing" that will be held on April 25th at the prestigious James J. Hill Reference Library located in St. Paul.

Hispanic marketing pioneer Alex Lopez Negrete, President and CEO of Lopez Negrete Communications, Houston, TX is being honored for his leadership in the development of the Hispanic marketing industry. Carlos Garcia, President of Garcia Research Associates, Burbank, CA will receive the "HispanSource" award for outstanding achievement in Hispanic marketing research. The Hispanic corporate marketing award will be presented to American Family Insurance Company.

Keynote speaker for the awards dinner is Israel Hernandez, who holds the No. 2 job in commerce and is the Director-General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Services.
The awards selection committee members includes: Hector Orci, La Agencia de Orci & Asociados, Felipe Korzenny, acclaimed author and Hispanic marketing research guru, Rico Vallejos, LatinoCreative.com, Sam Richter, President of the James J. Hill Library and Rick Aguilar, President/CEO of Aguilar Productions.

The April 26th 10th annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest conference will be held at the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis. The all-day conference will feature: Carlos Santiago, Santiago Solutions Group, New York, NY, Rochelle Newman-Carrasco, Enlace Communications, Los Angeles, CA and Carlos Garcia, Garcia Research Associates. Keynote speaker for the conference luncheon is Felipe Korzenny, who will discuss his recently published book, "Hispanic Marketing: A Cultural Perspective". For conference information online go to http://www.aguilarproductions.com or call .

is on the hunt for some ambitious students to write a few articles for this site. If you feel like you have unique insight into the pr community in Minnesota or broader and you want to have your ideas published, . Here are some ideas on things you could discuss:

• How you found the perfect internship
  
• How you are struggling to find a job
  
• Creative ideas to seperate you from the pack of spring graduates
  
• How to improve your writing
  
• How to build a perfect portfolio
  
• How to network with the pros
  
• How to build PR campaign for yourself

These are just a few ideas. Be creative and then let me know what you are thinking.

Hope to hear from someone soon.

-Ryan

College of St. Catherine's President Andrea Lee, IHM, today announced that Marjorie Mathison Hance, is the new Vice President for External Relations for the College.

“In a very talented pool of candidates, Marjorie swiftly and unequivocally rose to the top,” said Lee. “She is an enormously talented leader. I enthusiastically welcome her as a partner and have supreme confidence in her abilities, professionalism and strong commitment to St. Catherine’s.”

Hance currently is Director of Corporation and Foundation Relations and her work contributed to the College’s successful completion of Leadership in Mind, the largest comprehensive campaign in the history of Catholic colleges for women, with more than $85 million raised. Hance is also Chair of the Business Administration Department, teaches advanced classes in marketing and management and is the principal architect of the College’s nationally recognized programs in professional sales. She is a graduate of the College of St. Catherine and earned her Masters of Science degree in Higher Education from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Prior to joining the College of St. Catherine staff in 1993, Hance was National Sales Manager for Honeywell and also served on the College of St. Catherine’s Board of Trustees. During her career she has been a member of the Continuing Education leadership team at the University of Minnesota and a member of the College of St. Catherine Admissions staff.

Recognized as one of the "25 Most Influential Women" in business by The Business Journal, Hance has been honored as one of the College’s Centennial 100, named one of the College’s Outstanding Alumna, and was acknowledged for her work in developing the College’s Professional Sales Program with 3M’s Frontline Leadership and a Frontline Service Awards.

Calling all college and university communications students!

You are invited to attend “Meet the Pros,” an exciting opportunity to meet with and learn from business communications professionals. A buffet-style dinner from 5-6 p.m. will be followed by brief presentations by IABC Minnesota members who work in specialties including marketing communications, media relations, employee communications, electronic/web media, writing, design, sports/entertainment marketing, community relations and government relations. Informal roundtable discussions with the professionals will run from 7 to 8 p.m., and one-on-one networking will start at 8 p.m. **NOTE** SPACE IS LIMITED.

Details:

When: Thursday, April 6, 2006 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Where:
University of St. Thomas
Minneapolis Campus,
nue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403


Click here to sign up now.

Believe it or not my pastor talked about blogging yesterday! His sermon was on communication and it was interesting because he brought up several issues that I think are applicable to us as public relations pros.

First, he said that today's generation is desperate to be heard, which is why blogging has become so popular. If this is true, who is listening?

My pastor also pointed out, and Technorati's latest research confirmed, that a new blog is created every second. With nearly 30 million blogs existing to-date, that is far too much noise to decipher. So, again, who is listening?

That led neatly into my pastor's second point. If you're not listening, you're not communicating. Interesting?

Stepping away from the sermon now, let's look at this from a business persepective. How many of us think we know what blogs are saying about our companies? Are we listening to blogs like we listen to the radio, like we watch tv or like we read the news paper?

In their continuing efforts to increase networking opportunities, the Minnesota Public Relations Society is hosting their second, 1st Tuesdays Network on April 4. The event will take place at the new Trocaderos night club and restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. Here are the details:

Trocaderos
107 Third Ave. N. Minneapolis

All committee meeting, 4 – 5 p.m.
1st Tuesdays Networking, 5 – 8 p.m.

Free drinks/drink specials and appetizers FREE!

.

When:
March 30th---6-9pm

Register:
Pre-register by March 24th
Register online at
or call

Where:
Memory Lanes
2520 26th Ave. S.
Minneapolis


Cost:
$35 for members
$45 for non-members

Specials:
2 for 1 drink specials
2 hours of bowling

Prizes, food, all the networking you can handle

According to a PEW Internet & American Life study released today more American's are choosing to get there news online thanks to the growth of broadband connections.

Some 50 million Americans turn to the internet for news on a typical day, a new highwater mark for online news-gathering that coincides with rapid growth of broadband adoption in American homes.

Over the last four years, overall internet penetration rose from 58% of all adult Americans to 70%, and home broadband penetration grew from 20 million people (or 10% of adult Americans) to 74 million people (37% of adult Americans).

Coincidently today, the Wall Street Journal published an article talking about how newspapers are struggling to find young readers and keep ad revenue up.

Some traditional, big-ticket advertisers are changing their habits. Department-store chains, which have long been major advertisers, are consolidating and cutting their newspaper ad spending, according to Borrell Associates Inc., which provides advertising advice to media companies. Local car dealers, another big source of revenue, are switching more of their ad spending to the Web to reach car buyers online.

Newspapers' classified-ad business -- a major source of revenue for many papers for decades -- also faces competitors on the Web. One is Craigslist, an online classified service operating in 190 markets, which allows users to post free ads for jobs, housing, goods and services. Craigslist makes money by charging for employment listings in three of its markets -- New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Sites such as Monster.com, where people look for jobs and workers, and eBay.com, where consumers buy and sell items, also compete with newspaper classified ads.

Evidence of this locally can be seen at the Star Tribune where advertising revenue dropped 5.1 percent in February.

**UPDATE** - Pioneer Press ad linage plunges in February

I had the pleasure of talking to some PR students at Metro State last night and it got me thinking this morning about a story I told them.

Back in high school, when I first met my high school counselor to develop a college/career plan, I had every intention of being a wacky DJ or a television camera operator. But when my counselor looked at my grades, my experience (keep in mind I was a sophomore in high school) and my test scores, she told me it was too late to think about television or radio and that I should consider a career as a telephone repair man or a forester.

Fast forward 15 years to the present day. I have almost ten years of professional experience, I graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota, School of Journalism, am enrolled in Augsburg's MBA program and am enjoying a healthy career. Here's my point: No one has the right to tell you "you can't."

Now, they may have the right to tell you they think "you shouldn't" but you have the right not to listen. Pursue your dreams! You may surprise yourself and you'll shock them. I may have enjoyed being a telephone repairman or a forester, but it wasn't my dream.

After working for a radio station and volunteering for several public television stations, I have since made the choice to pursue other career opportunities including this blog. Make no mistake, there were people who tried to talk me out of spending time blogging, but I am glad I didn't listen.

Do yourself a favor, follow your dreams. Do others a favor, don't squash their dreams.

I am stepping off my now. Thanks.

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced the promotion of financial services practice member Angela Ardolf.

Ardolf, who joined the agency in 2003 as an intern, has been promoted from assistant account executive to account executive. She currently works on an award-winning national campaign to promote direct deposit. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Ardolf worked at Region Nine Development Commission in Mankato, Minn., as an intern in public relations. A native of Albert Lea, Minn., she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a public relations emphasis from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

As a writer I make it my business to write something every day. Some days I turn to this blog to write, other times I write in my personal journal and, of course, I often write for work and school. Today however, I am feeling tapped! Drained. I have the blogging blahs. I don't have anything of value to say. So I am writing about not writing.

Why am I telling you this? Well, because I need to. It is what distinguishes between a blog that gets read and a blog that doesn't.

If there are truely 70,000 blogs created every day, at least two-thirds of those are not updated regularily and are therfore not read. In my opinion, for a blog to be of value it must be updated at a minimum of three times a week or have some real insightful content.

I guess that expains why I update this site so often :-)

Fast Horse Inc., a Minneapolis-based consumer marketing public relations agency, has added two new employees.


Charley Ciresi has been hired as a Client Relationship Manager. Ciresi specializes in media relations, consumer research, writing and editing and special events. He plays an instrumental role in day-to-day execution, planning and client counsel for such clients as The Coca-Cola Company and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Prior to joining Fast Horse Inc., Ciresi served a variety of consumer and business clients at Portland, Ore.-based Lane Marketing, including Nike, the Upper Deck Company and Ultimate Electronics. Ciresi was a finalist for PR Week Young PR Professional of the Year in 2003 and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a B.A. in English and Education.


Dave Fransen has been hired as a Client Relationship Director. He specializes in strategic program planning, internal and external corporate communication, new product launches and event planning and execution. Fransen will lead the agency’s work on Burnsville-based Northern Tool + Equipment and the Victory Motorcycles division of Polaris Industries.

Fransen previously worked at the Bloomington office of Weber Shandwick, where he served clients such as Polaris, Snickers, H&R Block, Sprint and Hormel Foods. Fransen is a 1996 graduate of North Dakota State University in Fargo, with a B.A. in mass communication and speech communication.

“Charley and Dave bring valuable experience, insight and skills that will help our clients achieve their goals in creative, strategic and innovative ways,” said Jörg Pierach, president, Fast Horse Inc. “They are both highly skilled, experienced practitioners and are a strong addition to our evolving culture.”

From Nicole Garrison-Sprenger @ The Business Journal

On April 28, we will be publishing our first ever focus section on food marketing. For this section I'd like to go behind the scenes and learn about how LOCAL food companies market their products. For example, a company launching a new product might need to do some market research or design a brand for that product. I want to know how they do that - what is the process, how long does it take, what is the end result?

I don't want a company to tell me their story, I want to watch it unfold. I know that food companies are typically very quiet and don't like to share too much info, but there are some that I'm sure would be more than willing to let me get a closer look at how they go to market.

Because many of you work with local food companies, I'm asking for a few ideas. Please be sure you get permission from your client before you pitch me on this. The piece would likely be due April 14, so we need to get moving on this ASAP.

Thanks,

Nicole

So the network went down today at work, so while I was waiting for IT to figure out the problem I started reading an article titled How to Network in a New Millennium, by Boni Sivi. The article discusses some practical points for building a network that I think are worth repeating here since I can't find the article online.

1. Find an organized way to keep track of your network. File your business cards and hang on to e-mail addresses
2. Don't think you have a network? Start building one. Think about who you know that does what you do, then when you are struggling with an issue at work ask them for advise.
3. Maintain your network. Once you have started to develop a list of contacts keep in touch with them, as Sivi says in her article, "we live in a very mobile society."

Still not convince you need a better network? Here are a few yes or no questions to ask yourself:

• The job I currently have allows me to use all of my skills and encourages me to develop others.
• I am the position (assistant account executive, account executive, manager) that I have worked for and deserve.
• I have many sources for acquiring information to get my job done in the most effective way possible.
• I am making a fair amount of money for the work I do considering the hours I put in, the education I have, and the commitment and loyalty I bring to my job.
• I have the exact job I want in the industry I prefer to work in.

If you answered yes to all the questions don't worry about networking, but if you answered no to any of them it might serve you well to start building your network.

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced two hires in the technology practice.


Claire Sychowski has joined the team as a senior account executive. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Sychowski worked at Merritt Group in Reston, Va., where she supported the enterprise software and government groups. She also worked as an account executive at Greer, Margolis, Mitchell & Burns in Washington, D.C. Sychowski received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.


Lindsey Klein was hired as an assistant account executive upon completion of an internship with the agency. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Klein worked as an intern at Waggener Edstrom in Seattle, Wash., and as a communications specialist at Hollister-Stier Laboratories in Spokane, Wash. She received a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.

Risdall Advertising Agency announced this week the creation of its new public relations entity headed by Rose McKinney, APR.

"Public Relations is vital to the integrated approach for our clients," says John Risdall, Chairman of Risdall Advertising. "We know a first-class PR firm needs to be more than just another ad agency offering to generate phenomenal results for clients and to succeed in a competitive environment, it needs leadership and vision - Rose McKinney embodies both."

McKinney is most known for her work to save the Twin Cities Shriners Hospital for Children, which was honored with a SABRE award and named as PR Week magazine's health care campaign of the year in 2005.

"I am as passionate about the powerful ways that PR positively impacts business as I am about the public relations business itself," said McKinney. "It is a career dream to join an independent, brand-marketing agency with such a long history of genius client work and a refreshing approach to integrated agency services."

Strother Communications Group (SCG) has been selected to provide strategic communications services for Minneapolis-based Yale Mechanical and Owatonna, Minn.-based Truth Hardware.

Yale Mechanical has engaged SCG to provide branding and eMergent™ media web services, direct marketing and media relations. Since 1939, Yale has been providing a full range of HVAC services including the design, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and satisfactory operation of total systems. Complementing HVAC services, Yale’s Millwright services provide a wide range of industrial functions.

Truth Hardware has engaged SCG to develop a full range of strategic marketing initiatives including advertising, public relations, eMergent™ media web services, collateral development, direct marketing and research. For more than 50 years Truth Hardware has been recognized as the industry leader in the design and manufacture of quality operating hardware. Truth's complete line of hinges, locks and operators are used by the top names in the window and door industry.

---

SCG also announced today that Stephanie Haugan has been promoted to Vice President, Stephanie Mitchell has been promoted to Director of eMergent^™ Media, Joy Wagner has been promoted to Associate Creative Director and Trevor Nolte has been promoted to Senior Production Artist. Each will be responsible for helping clients effectively communicate with their customers through integrated strategic communications programs.

Barb Iverson, who has played a key role in developing outstanding communications campaigns for a variety of financial services companies and U.S. government agencies, has been appointed president of Weber Shandwick’s North American financial services practice.

“Under Barb’s leadership, the practice has grown substantially and we are very proud of the innovative campaigns her teams have produced,” said Andy Polansky, president of Weber Shandwick. “Barb is a well-respected client counselor and she also has been instrumental in developing our expertise in financial technology in the banking, electronic payments and retirement services industries.”

Iverson, who joined Weber Shandwick nearly 10 years ago in Minneapolis, has 30 years of communications management experience in business, government and education. She has spoken at national forums on trends, issues and communications challenges facing the financial services industry. In addition, she has particular expertise in designing campaigns that resonate with baby boomer audiences. In 2005, Iverson was cited by PRWeek as a “financial services trailblazer.”

Looks like the Twin Cities could be down to one paper shortly. What do you think?

The parent company of the Star Tribune has agreed to buy Knight Ridder Inc., publisher of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, for $4.5 billion, in a deal that will create the nation's second-largest newspaper chain.

McClatchy Co., which publishes the Star Tribune and 11 other daily newspapers, said early today that it will pay $67.25 in cash and stock for each share of San Jose, Calif.-based Knight Ridder. The company will also assume about $2 billion in Knight Ridder debt, making the total value of the deal $6.5 billion.

McClatchy will not keep all the newspapers it is acquiring. The company plans to sell 12 of the 32 Knight Ridder daily newspapers, including the Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune, Grand Forks Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Jose Mercury News and Akron Beacon Journal. It will keep the Miami Herald, Kansas City Star, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Charlotte Observer, among others.

The company said in a statement this morning that it will sell the Pioneer Press due to anticipated anti-trust concerns if it owned both Twin Cities newspapers.

No buyers for the Pioneer Press or the other newspapers to be divested were announced. McClatchy chief executive officer Gary Pruitt told CNBC this morning that the company "will begin marketing those newspapers today."

In a letter sent to McClatchy employees this morning, Pruitt said the company has no plans to eliminate jobs at the newspapers it is buying.

"We don't plan any across-the-board layoffs at the Knight Ridder papers we retain, though there are some job duplications on the Knight Ridder corporate staff and at Knight Ridder Digital [Knight Ridder's Internet operations] that will have to be addressed," Pruitt wrote.

The deal is expected to close in three to four months. The combined company will have a daily circulation of about 3.2 million, second only to USA Today publisher Gannett Co. In addition to 32 daily newspapers, Knight Ridder has 50 non-dailies.

Get the full story here

Uncertainty at Pioneer Press

Details on the companies and sale

Best Buy Children’s Foundation is the lead sponsor of GoNorth! Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 2006, a twelve-week adventure learning program that brings learning into classrooms LIVE from the field. Departing in March on a 700-mile dogsled journey across the Alaskan Arctic, using an interactive online curriculum, an international team of scientists, educators and explorers will teach K-12 students around the world about the realities of oil exploration and the search for renewable resources. Best Buy Children’s Foundation has partnered with the University of Minnesota to be the primary funder of this free adventure learning program.

“We know that interactive technology makes learning fun for students, and GoNorth! is a perfect example of how technology, adventure and fun can increase engagement and capture the attention of students worldwide,” said Paula Prahl, Vice President of Public Affairs at Best Buy.

More than 750 schools in Minnesota alone will participate in the program using the GoNorth! state-of the-art, interactive web site, www.PolarHusky.com. Students are able to interact and collaborate with topic experts, other users and GoNorth! team members live in the field. The robust online environment also includes a variety of multi-media tools that allows the audience to experience the Arctic as if they were there themselves.

The Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) last night honored the best local public relations work of the past year during the 28th annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards, held at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis.

Emceed by former anchor Frank Vascellaro, the event attracted public relations professionals from more than 45 agencies, corporations and non-profit organizations. They celebrated fellow practitioners who, in the judgment of their peers, successfully addressed communications challenges with exemplary skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

“Every entry, finalist and winner demonstrates that local public relations practitioners are accomplishing remarkable things for their clients, companies and non-profit organizations,” said Gail Liebl, Minnesota PRSA president. “The Classics awards substantiate the value that public relations brings to our business community and how Minnesota public relations professionals truly make a difference to the success of the organizations with whom they work.”

The awards are divided into two distinct categories: elements and programs. Classics Element Awards honor the best tactics of a program, while Classics Program Awards honor the best public relations campaigns.

Minnesota PRSA presented the top honor of the evening, the Best of Show Award, to Minneapolis-based Olson+Co., for its work on behalf of client Phillips Distilling Co. The campaign involved the launch of Phillips’ new whiskey, Phillips Union, and had celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Teri Hatcher and Nelly clamoring for a taste. In addition, the campaign generated media coverage in top publications, including USA Today, The New York Times, Star Tribune, US Weekly, Complex and others. Winners of the Classics Program Awards were eligible for the Best of Show Award.

Student Awards

Minnesota PRSA also honored the best in student public relations among Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin undergraduate students during the evening. Students entered projects completed for school, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter activities, internship projects and volunteer work.
Student Classics Awards were presented to Lora Johnson, of the University of Minnesota, and the Studio One Marketing Team from the University of North Dakota. Recipients of this year’s Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarships were also recognized. The scholarship recognizes those who excel in the study of public relations and communications. Marie Norton of St. Cloud State University won $2,000 and the title of “Best of PRSSA,” the University of St. Thomas’ Natalie Wicker won $1,000 and Lora Johnson, Joshua Gerads and Heather Hauer from the University of Minnesota each received $500 awards.

---

Out of 217 initial entries, a total of 49 Classics Awards were presented during the evening to public relations agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and students from the metro and out state areas. Attached is a list of all winners which can also be found on the Minnesota PRSA Web site (www.mnprsa.com).

28th Annual PRSA Classics Awards Winners

ELEMENTS

Brochures (three or more colors)
Reaching Dog-Lovers with Play More Magazine
Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. with Exponent Public Relations

Special Purpose Publications
American Standard Empowers a Generation of Women Do-It-Herselfers
American Standard with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Video (Video News Releases - VNR)
Pudgy Pets Make Big Holiday News
Nestlé Purina with Exponent Public Relations

Audio (Programs)
The Allure of the Indy
Faith Filmworks, Inc. with Exponent Public Relations

Audio News Releases
All Signs Point to Arthritis Pain
Nestlé Purina with Exponent Public Relations

Annual Reports (Business/Industry)
Restoring Lost Paradise: Rough Waters-Synovis Life Technologies
Synovis Life Technologies with Padilla Speer Beardsley

Annual Reports (Government/Nonprofit)
Growth: 2004 LifeSource Annual Report
LifeSource

Media Kits (Products)
Unlocking the Mystique of Indian Cuisine
Patak’s with Weber Shandwick

Media Kits (Services)
A Brand New Shine
Jenn-Air with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Media Kits (Events)
American Standard’s Sexiest Plumber Search Makes Media Blush
American Standard with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Media Kits (Other)
American Standard Empowers a Generation of Do-It-Herselfers
American Standard with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Newsletters (up to two colors)
RSM McGladrey Advantage: Actionable Intelligence for Midsized Businesses
RSM McGladrey with Hanley Wood Marketing

Newsletters (three or more colors)
Bumper to Bumper RV Coach Care
Cummins Power Generation with Karwoski & Courage

Magazines (Internal)
Cooperative Profiles: Business Consulting at Your Doorstep
CHS-Land O’Lakes with Exponent Public Relations

Magazines (External)
Cooperative Partners: Bringing Agribusiness Profitability to Life
CHS Land O’Lakes with Exponent Public Relations

Media Relations (Business/Industry – Budget <$25,000) Imation Micro Hard Drive Product Launch
Imation Corp. with Fleishman-Hillard

Media Relations (Business/Industry – Budget >$25,000)
Press for Access at the Nation’s Best Dog Parks
Deramaxx with Exponent Public Relations

Media Relations (Government/Nonprofit)
Saving MinnesotaCare and Preserving Affordable Health Care
Minnesotans for Affordable Health Care with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Feature Writing
Tapping into the Mindset of Youth through Blogging
University of Minnesota Parking and Transportation Services

Technical Writing
Making the Case for Feeding Joint Pain
Nestlé Purina PetCare with Exponent Public Relations

Speech Writing
Tuning into Your Patients
Patterson Dental with Karwoski & Courage

New Media/Technology (Web Sites– Internet or Intranet)
Seven “Soaper Heroes” Take to the Web
NSF International with Olson+Co.

New Media/Technology (Other)
Is Cat Your Final Answer
Nestlé Purina with Exponent Public Relations

Creative Tactics
American Standard’s Sexiest Plumber Pinups
American Standard with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Research
Donaldson Puts the Pressure on with Hydraulics Research
Donaldson with Strother Communication Group

Evaluation
Capturing it All: eClip Report Delivers
3M ESPE with Karwoski & Courage

PROGRAMS

Community Relations (Business/Industry)
A Better Night’s Sleep for Those in Need
Select Comfort with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Community Relations (Government
Meet Howie Dazzle: The 2004 TCF Holidazzle Parades
Minneapolis Downtown Council with Padilla Speer Beardsley

Institutional Programs (Business/Industry)
Going Pan-to-Pan to Fight Hunger
Jenn-Air Appliances with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Institutional Programs (Government)
Claiming a Big Fat Problem
The North American Olive Oil Association with Exponent Public Relations

Special Events/Observances (less than seven days) (Business/Industry)
A Full Throttle Assault on the Energy Drink Category
The Coca-Cola Company with Fast Horse, Inc.

Special Events/Observances (less than seven days) (Government/Nonprofit)
Uniting Guns and Greens to Improve Minnesota’s Environment
Rally for Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Special Events/Observances (more than seven days) (Business/Industry)
American Standard’s Sexiest Plumber Contest Finds a Champion
American Standard with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Special Events/Observances (more than seven days) (Government/Nonprofit)
Meet Howie Dazzle: The 2004 TCF Holidazzle Parades
Minneapolis Downtown Council with Padilla Speer Beardsley

Public Service (Government/Nonprofit)
Saving MinnesotaCare and Preserving Affordable Health Care
Minnesotans for Affordable Health Care with Carmichael Lynch SpongSaving MinnesotaCare and Preserving Affordable Health Care
Minnesotans for Affordable Health Care with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Marketing Services (Established) Budget <$25,000 Cutting Through the Clutter: The Asheville Northern Tool Grand Opening
Northern Tool with Fast Horse, Inc.

Marketing Services (Established) Budget >$25,000
Grooving Your Body Toward Better Health
Blue Cross Blue Shield Minn. and the American Heart Association with Fast Horse, Inc.

Marketing Products (New) Budget <$25,000 Growing a New Product from the Group Up
Absorbent Technologies, Inc. with Exponent Public Relations

Marketing Products (New) Budget>$25,000
Full Throttle Assault on the Energy Drink Category
The Coca-Cola Company with Fast Horse, Inc.

Marketing Products (Established) Budget >$25,000
Equal Access for Disabled Dogs
Novartis Animal Health with Exponent Public Relations

International Public Relations
We Speak an International Language
Fairfield Language Technologies & HBL Media with Carmichael Lynch Spong

Investor Relations.
Maintaining Investor Confidence During a CEO Leadership Transition
Tennant Company with Padilla Speer Beardsley

Integrated Communications (Products)
Phillips Union: A Sip and a Smile
Phillips Distilling Co. with Olson+Co.

Integrated Communications (Services)
Driving Hoards to Circuit Boards
BTW with Strother Communications Group

BEST OF SHOW

Phillips Union: A Sip and a Smile
Phillips Distilling Co. with Olson+Co.

4th Annual MN PRSA Student Classics Awards
Special Purpose Publication
University of Minnesota PRSSA Newsletter: The Link
Lora Johnson with U of M PRSSA, University of Minnesota

News/Feature Writing
While Husbands are Away, Wives will Play
Lora Johnson, University of Minnesota

Community Relations/Special Events
Studio One Campus/Community Relations: Season 36
Studio One Marketing Team, University of North Dakota

New Media/Technology
Studio One E-Newsletter
Studio One Marketing Team, University of North Dakota

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced that Shireen Gandhi, APR, has joined the agency as vice president and will work on accounts in the healthcare and public affairs practices.

Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Gandhi spent eight years leading communications programs, providing strategic media relations counsel and statewide crisis communications as vice president of communications and member relations, assistant vice president, and director of communications for the Minnesota Hospital Association in Minnesota.

As an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Gandhi served as president of the Minnesota chapter in 2005. She has also worked as a communications manager and marketing and public relations specialist for a health system and level-one trauma hospital in California where she was responsible for internal and external communications, including Web sites, media relations, online newsletters, grassroots and legislative and public relations strategies. Gandhi also is a member of the board of directors for Portico Healthnet, an organization which works to reduce the number of people without health care services in Minnesota.

Happy 5-year Anniverary to my beautiful wife. It seems like just yesterday we were getting married, but indeed it has been five fun-filled years. And proving once again that my wife is the best, she is letting me attend the Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards tonight at The Depot. See you all there.

-Ryan

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced two employee promotions in the technology and corporate, community and public affairs practices.

Mike Teegardin has been promoted from account supervisor to group manager in the corporate, community and public affairs practice. Teegardin joined the agency in 2000 as a senior account executive and specializes in public relations and public affairs for the defense and aerospace industries. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, he worked as the communications director for the Minnesota Senate Republican caucus and served as an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Army. Teegardin holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Dakota.

Kira Jorvig has been promoted from senior account executive to account supervisor in the technology practice. Jorvig joined the agency in 1999 as an intern and currently manages media relations programs for manufacturing and applications software clients. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, she worked at Broadbent & Williams, an advertising, marketing and public relations agency in Wisconsin. Jorvig holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and French, with an emphasis in public relations and advertising, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Thanks to the many loyal Minnesota Public Relations Blog readers that alerted me of this article in the NY Times today. The article discusses Wal-Mart enlisting bloggers to post information about the retailer without revealing the source.

I would have posted this earlier, but I have been in a communications conference, the last two days discussing this very thing, media relations and the use of blogging in a strategic, well-designed plan. Does this qualify as strategic or well-designed? You decide, here is an excerpt from the NY Times:

Under assault as never before, Wal-Mart is increasingly looking beyond the mainstream media and working directly with bloggers, feeding them exclusive nuggets of news, suggesting topics for postings and even inviting them to visit its corporate headquarters.

But the strategy raises questions about what bloggers, who pride themselves on independence, should disclose to readers. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, has been forthright with bloggers about the origins of its communications, and the company and its public relations firm, Edelman, say they do not compensate the bloggers.

But some bloggers have posted information from Wal-Mart, at times word for word, without revealing where it came from.

Glenn Reynolds, the founder of Instapundit.com, one of the oldest blogs on the Web, said that even in the blogosphere, which is renowned for its lack of rules, a basic tenet applies: "If I reprint something, I say where it came from. A blog is about your voice, it seems to me, not somebody else's."

What do you think? Should bloggers always reveal their sources?

Get complete coverage of Kirby's life, death and many memories at startribune.com or pioneerpress.com.

MakeMusic, Pearson’s Candy, Architectural Alliance, Domestic Abuse Project and Pet Crossing Animal Hospital have all chosen Maccabee Group to provide public relations services. In addition, Maccabee Group is assisting OfficeMax with a PR project.

The Minneapolis PR agency’s newest clients are:

• MakeMusic, the Eden Prairie, MN-based music education technology company whose products include the SmartMusic music practice system and Finale, the world’s best-selling music notation software.
  
  
• Pearson’s Candy, the St. Paul-based national manufacturer of the famed Pearsons Nut Goodie, Mint Pattie, Salted Nut Roll and Bun Bar.
  
  
• OfficeMax, the Itasca, IL-based office products retailer with more than 950 superstores and over $8 billion in sales, will use Maccabee Group for a public relations project.
  
  
• Architectural Alliance, the award-winning Minneapolis-based full-service architectural and interior design firm serving the needs of corporate, retail, public and aviation clients -- with upcoming projects including the new Guthrie Theatre and Minneapolis Central Public Library.
  
  
• Pet Crossing Animal Hospital, the Bloomington-based state-of-the-art facility which has been featured on the Bravo TV Network for its diagnostic and therapeutic care for clients and their four-legged family members.
  
  
• Domestic Abuse Project, a Minneapolis-based non-profit that for 26 years has been a national leder in efforts to end domestic abuse, provides services that range from assistance in court to counseling groups for every member of the family.
  
  When asked whether the new contracts would lead to hiring Paul Maccabee said, "yes, we’re searching right now for an SAE with 3-5+ years PR experience in a PR agency or PR department." Visit www.maccabeegroup.com for more details.

On a mission to be the leading brand of choice among frequent travelers who seek an upscale hotel experience, Radisson Hotels & Resorts® has turned to Carmichael Lynch Spong (CLS) for help in promoting its exclusive partnership with Select Comfort, maker of the SLEEP NUMBER® bed.

The partnership, first announced in 2004, called for the national introduction of a custom-designed Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort™ at more than 200 Radisson properties being upgraded to Sleep Number® beds during 2005 and 2006.

“Working with Select Comfort brings hotel bedding to a new level of comfort and choice in our industry,” said Nancy Johnson, executive vice president and brand leader for Radisson Hotels & Resorts. “CLS, already the agency of record for Select Comfort since 2000, was a natural fit to take on this project.”

Radisson, one of the world’s leading full-service hotel companies with more than 415 properties in 63 countries, is focused on understanding the independent mindsets and changing needs of today’s business and leisure travelers, and their research showed that the bed is a critical ‘guest experience’ touch point. Thanks to the partnership, the hotel now offers Sleep Number beds, featuring adjustable air-chamber technology, for guests who desire more control over their hotel experience. CLS has and will continue to support the Radisson and Select Comfort partnership through a full range of public relations practices, including special event planning and promotion, media relations, media coaching and ongoing public relations support.

“Our work with Radisson is doubly exciting for us,” says Doug Spong, managing partner. “As a longtime supporter of the Sleep Number bed, we know as well as anyone that Radisson means business about distinguishing itself with the offering of Sleep Number beds at its properties. We’re thrilled to be a part of the Select Comfort and Radisson partnership.”

Ketchum, a leading global public relations firm, was honored with four awards and one honorable mention for outstanding client work at last evening's seventh annual PRWeek Awards ceremony held at New York City's Tavern on the Green.

"I am immensely proud of these awards. The PRWeek Awards are growing in importance in the U.S. and Ketchum's performance is a clear indication of the vibrancy of our brand and a reflection of the passion and precision our colleagues apply to their work with clients," said Raymond L. Kotcher, senior partner and chief executive officer at Ketchum.

Ketchum and its clients received PRWeek awards and an honorable mention for programs with Best Buy/Geek Squad, National Geographic Society, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, The State of Connecticut and Wendy's. Colleagues from offices around the Ketchum network, including Chicago, Ketchum Newscan, Ketchum West, London, Munich, New York, Paris, Washington, D.C., and The Washington Group created and developed these award-winning programs. They are:




HONORABLE MENTION:



"Working on this project was an amazing collaborative experience that reinforced the value of our profession done well," said Rebecca Gruber, Vice President, who worked on the National Geographic campaign. "Our clients brought strong media relations expertise to the table and our team of colleagues provided great market insights. We were able to keep each other focused on a very simple strategy and differentiated message that delivered results -- both media output and business outcomes -- beyond everyone's expectations."

PRWeek awards are bestowed annually and are recognized as one of the most prestigious accolades in the public relations industry. The awards honor the best practices and creative excellence in public relations programming.

In addition to the award wins, Ketchum was proud to be nominated as a finalist in the following categories:

Carmichael Lynch Spong (CLS) took home three trophies at the PR Week Awards last evening at Tavern on the Green in New York City. CLS had seven finalists at the awards show, which showcases the best public relations campaigns, companies, and individuals from the previous year.

CLS, finalist in six of the nine categories and was tied for the second most awards of the evening. PR Week, now entering its seventh year, received over 900 entries for the 2006 Awards show.

The firm won awards in the following categories:

• Business-to-Business Campaign of the Year 2006
  CLS and ASV
  ASV Rides Unique Technology to Top of Construction Equipment World
  
  
• Nonprofit Campaign of the Year 2006
  CLS and Minnesotans for Affordable Health
  MinnesotaCare and Preserving Affordable Healthcare
  
  
• Cause-Related Campaign of the Year 2006
  CLS and Select Comfort
  Beds, Celebs, and a Better Nights Sleep

“We are very excited about our performance last night at the 2006 PR Week Awards,” says Douglas K. Spong, APR, managing partner and founder of Carmichael Lynch Spong. “It’s a great team-building event for our staff, but most importantly, it reinforces with our clients the dedication we have to their brands and organizations.”

Carmichael Lynch Spong (CLS) announces the following new hires:

Michelle Hoffman has been named counselor in the Chicago office of CLS Public Relations. Hoffman brings a variety of knowledge to CLS in strategic planning, media relations, event planning and marketing. She will be working primarily with clients American Standard and Juno Lighting. Hoffman spent nearly 12 years working for the Six Flags Theme Parks organization in both Dallas and Chicago before joining CLS. There she managed a variety of public relations, community relations and marketing efforts.

Natalie Danaher has joined CLS Public Relations as a counselor. Danaher brings a wealth of retail and home and garden industry experience to CLS. She will be working on the A.G. Edwards and Home Building Community Foundation accounts. Prior to joining CLS, Danaher was public relations supervisor at Ace Hardware Corp.

Craig Nordeen has joined CLS Public Relations as a designer. Nordeen offers a wide range of graphic design and illustration abilities to the firm’s Minneapolis-based creative department. Prior to joining CLS, Nordeen was a graphic designer at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., a law firm in Minneapolis. While there, he created marketing and case-specific designs and illustrations for the firm and its clients.

Curtis Smith has been named CLS Public Relations' business development manager. Smith brings nearly a decade of marketing and business development experience to CLS and over seven years experience with two of the largest public relations agencies in the world. Smith will be responsible for creating business development strategies that will increase the agency’s nationwide presence and help leverage the agency’s reputation as the national champion of best practices in public relations. Prior to joining the firm, Smith was senior coordinator at the Minneapolis office of Fleishman-Hillard.

Kelly Huber has been named associate at CLS Public Relations. Huber started in the firm’s Minneapolis office in 2005 as an intern. Huber came to CLS from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast area. While in New Orleans, she worked for the nationally recognized business publication New Orleans CityBusiness.

Carmichael Lynch Spong (CLS) announces the following promotions:

Erin Mathe to media relations manager. Mathe joined CLS in 2002 as a senior broadcast specialist and has provided media relations expertise for clients such as Cargill, MasterBrand, Maytag, PETCO and Select Comfort.Mathe joined Carmichael Lynch Spong after spending five years in television news as a general assignment reporter and anchor at KWGN (WB affiliate) in Denver; KRTV (CBS affiliate) in Great Falls, Montana; and KOAA (NBC affiliate) in Colorado Springs.

Bill Menezes to senior media relations strategist. Menezes is based in the firm’s Denver office where he works on A.G. Edwards, Pentair and Trane. Menezes joined CLS in 2004.Menezes joined CLS from the Denver Post, where he was an assistant business editor. Previously he worked for Reed Business Information where he served as editor-in-chief of Wireless Week, a national news magazine covering the wireless industry, and as editor of Broadband Week magazine. Menezes also has worked for The Associated Press as a reporter and senior business news editor, and for Dean Witter Reynolds as a retail and institutional account executive.

Keith Negrin to senior associate. Negrin joined CLS in 2004 as an associate and has provided public relations counsel for clients such as A.G. Edwards, Clorox, MasterBrand and Heins Mills & Olson. Negrin brings to CLS his experience as an attorney in the nonprofit sector. He founded and operated Non-Profit Solutions, where he provided legal and management counsel to nonprofit organizations.

Jessica Tolliver to media relations manager in the firm’s New York office. Tolliver joined CLS in 2005 as a senior media relations specialist and has provided media relations expertise on accounts such as Amana, American Standard, Jenn-Air, Lutron Electronics, Maytag, MasterBrand Cabinets, Select Comfort and Trane.

Tolliver joined CLS after working as a New York-based editor and writer specializing in home design. She has served as the editor of several magazines, including House Beautiful Kitchens/Baths, House Beautiful Home Building, Good Housekeeping Do It Yourself and American Dream Homes.

It’s time once again to nominate top minority business owners, leaders and an advocate. The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal will recognize 21 people — 10 business owners, 10 corporate executives and one advocate — in the 2006 Minority Business Guide.

This year, the Business Journal will again be conducting the nomination process online. Links to the nomination forms can be found at http://twincities.bizjournals.com, in the bottom left corner of the Web page, under the “Community” section. All nominations must be submitted online.

To be eligible for the business owner award, an individual must be an ethnic minority and the majority owner (at least 51 percent) of a fast-growing business — ideally with annual revenue in the $1 million to $25 million range — who have made an impact in the community. The business must be based in the Twin Cities 11-county metro area, including Minnesota counties Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright; and Wisconsin counties Pierce and St. Croix.

Corporate executives eligible for the leadership award must be people of color with high levels of responsibility — such as a VP, CFO, a partner or someone in charge of a business unit. The top candidates are those who play a strong leadership role outside of their jobs, and serve in industry associations or other influential community organizations.

We also will honor one outstanding advocate who fosters minority-owned businesses through funding, promotion, corporate diversity programs or other support. Entrants must work in the Twin Cities 11-county metro area for firms or organizations based in the state or national companies that have at least 1,500 employees in Minnesota.

Nominations are due Friday, March 17. If you have any questions about the online nomination forms, contact Project Editor Steve LeBeau at , or .

Honorees will be profiled in the June 16 Minority Business Guide. The 21 honorees will be recognized at a cocktail reception on June 15. For information about the reception, please contact Event Coordinator Jessica Dixon at , or .

Sincerely,

Steve LeBeau,
Managing Editor

Mackenzie took home a merit award at the (NAMA) Best of NAMA Awards, held Jan. 12 in Des Moines, Iowa. NAMA awards honor the best work in agricultural communications.

The agency won its award for a national multi-media campaign to relaunch John Deere Credit’s Farm Plan brand. The campaign included print ads, collateral, direct mail and website redesign, as well as corporate identity pieces and internal staff communications. The campaign will now advance to national competition in April at Best of NAMA in Kansas City, Mo.

“We love positive recognition on behalf of our clients,” says Andrew Mackenzie, president and chief executive officer, Mackenzie. “And to have an entire campaign win—fabulous.”

New position from Monster:

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


After completing an internship, Gina Thoele joined the financial services practice as an assistant account executive providing writing and media relations support for a large federal government client. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, she was a media relations intern at HealthPartners and an advertising intern at Bock & Associates in Minneapolis. A native of Edina, Thoele graduated with bachelor degrees in communication and psychology from the University of North Dakota.


Mary Nhotsavang was hired as an assistant account executive in the financial services practice upon completion of an internship, in which she worked on a federal government campaign to promote direct deposit. Before joining Weber Shandwick, Nhotsavang spent a semester in Los Angeles, where she worked as a publicity intern at Paramount Pictures and as an intern for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She also has worked as an intern at ABC News Station in Minneapolis. A native of Apple Valley, she earned her bachelor’s degree in television/radio with a concentration in advertising and public relations from Ithaca College.


After completing an internship, Angela Rolle was hired as an assistant account executive in the consumer marketing practice working on accounts in the food and beverage and retail marketing categories. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Rolle worked as a public relations intern for the Duluth Convention and Visitors Bureau and as a promotion intern for Primarius Promotion in Minneapolis. A native of Duluth, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Gustavus Adolphus College.


Meaghan Boylen Carpenter joined the consumer marketing practice as an assistant account executive after her internship, in which she worked on accounts in the public service, sports marketing and financial services industries. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, she interned at Campbell Mithun and Medtronic. A native of Janesville, Wis., Carpenter graduated with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from the University of Minnesota.


After completing an internship, Melissa Neill joined the technology practice as an assistant account executive. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Neill worked as a communications specialist for Mesaba Airlines, and as a publicity intern for VEE Corporation in Minneapolis. A native of Lino Lakes, Minn., she graduated with a bachelor's degree in professional strategic communications from the University of Minnesota.


Vicki Verhelst was hired as an assistant account executive in the technology practice upon completion of an internship in which she worked on a variety of accounts. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Verhelst worked as the director of public relations for the Minnesota State Student Association and as an intern for the Mankato Family YMCA. A native of Canby, Minn., she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University in Mankato.


After completing an internship, Leah Davison joined the marketing and design practice as a junior designer. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Davison worked as a design intern at the Department of Recreational Sports at the University of Minnesota. She provides design support to clients in all practices – financial services, consumer, healthcare, technology and corporate, community and public affairs. A native of Tintah, Minn., she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the University of Minnesota.

Advertising agency produces first-ever national PSA campaign on debt for the Homeownership Preservation Foundation

In response to the alarming, near-epidemic trend of home foreclosures in the United States, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF), along with marketing partners Colle+McVoy and Exponent PR, produced a new, first-of-its-kind public service campaign breaking this month that specifically addresses the nation's growing home foreclosure problem.

Advertising agency Colle+McVoy and its public relations partner, Exponent, have produced a pair of television public service announcements that deftly uses humor in order to tackle the serious subject of debt. Full of physical comedy, "Annoying" and "Loud Mouth," portray actors who do impishly infuriating things to personify the nagging, annoying thoughts weighing on a homeowner who is experiencing financial difficulty.

The public service's tagline, "Debt is more than annoying—it could cost you your home," reinforces the effort to move these debt-ridden homeowners from a state of denial to taking action before it's too late, encouraging them to call the HPF at 888-995-HOPE to receive free, confidential advice from a Housing and Urban Development-certified counseling agency. More than 2.9 million American households have experienced home foreclosure within the last five years alone.

"Loud Mouth" and "Annoying" were directed by Brendan Gibbons of Los Angeles' Hungry Man Productions. Gibbons' other commercial credits include campaigns for CNN, Verizon, ESPN, and M&Ms candies.

Founded in 2004, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization that was created for the explicit purpose of helping prevent home foreclosures and preserve homeownership throughout the United States. For more information about the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, visit www.hpfonline.org.