Gold’n Plump Poultry, the St. Cloud, Minnesota-based, family-owned provider of premium chicken products, has chosen Maccabee Group Public Relations as its new public relations agency, to augment the work that incumbent marketing and advertising agency Gabriel DeGrood Bendt currently performs for Gold’n Plump. Maccabee Group will provide Gold’n Plump with local and national media relations and corporate communications services.

Mile 9 announced today the promotion of Johnny Surprise from director to vice president.

The six-time Ironman triathlete brings more than a decade of branding and extensive marketing strategy expertise to the agency. Surprise joined the agency this past May and specializes in providing strategic events marketing services for clients including ABC, ESPN and Fox networks. He has managed multiple branding and positioning campaigns along with experiential marketing events for the agency's deep roster of clients.

"Since the day Johnny joined us, he consistently demonstrates his skills as a strategist and leader," said Jeff Smaul, Mile 9 president and CEO. "Johnny will continue to be a significant contributor to the success of Mile 9's events marketing practice by growing our brand presence in the Midwest regional market where he has strong professional ties."

Johnny is based here in Minneapolis and will be working on strengthening the Mile 9 brand and presence here in the Midwest region (starting in the Twin Cities where he has strong ties and then spreading to Chicago, St. Louis, etc.).

Prior to joining Mile 9, Surprise has held positions at Minneapolis-based ASI Communications, director, sports & entertainment marketing; D&H Consulting, director, sales & marketing; Professional Event Solutions, account lead, sports marketing; and the University of Minnesota. His client experience includes working with top brands such as Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, SEGA, Red Bull, and Ameriprise Financial as well as assisting numerous Fortune 500 companies restructure their operations to maximize revenue. Surprise has extensive background coordinating logistics and sponsorship fulfillment for several Super Bowl Games, The NCAA Final Four, Ironman Triathlon World Championships, and the Jim Rome World Tour.

A native of San Mateo, Calif. Surprise is a graduate of Western State College.

New media. New world. Discover how PR is evolving.

Just a reminder that early registration for the Minnesota PRSA Professional Practices Conference, which will be held on December 4 at the Metropolitan, closes this Wednesday, November 26. On-site registration will also be available at the door.

Cost of the conference, which includes breakfast and lunch, is $110 for PRSA members, $130 for non-members and $60 for students. On-site registrations will be charged an additional $30.

There are some additional details about the conference below, and you can check it out on or .

Unable to make it but still interested? Follow the conference on .

announced today that The Schwan Food Company has retained the Minneapolis-based agency to handle its media planning and buying as well as its consumer promotion and account-specific marketing activity.

The media planning and buying portion of the assignment will be handled by Campbell Mithun’s CompassPoint Media subsidiary and the promotion portion by the in-house promotion department of Campbell Mtihun.

Campbell Mithun Promotion and Compass Point Media will start work with The Schwan Food Company immediately, working with its iconic national brands: Tony’s, Red Baron, Freschetta, and Wolfgang Puck frozen pizzas; frozen desserts, Edwards and Mrs. Smith; and the Asian Sensations line of Asian Style Snacks.

Campbell Mithun will continue its current partnership with Schwans in the area of brand identity through its BrandOptix subsidiary.

“We’re proud of our long-standing strength in innovative media planning and buying as well as our strategic approach to providing creative promotion solutions for our clients,” said Steve Wehrenberg, chief executive officer of Campbell Mithun. “We take great pride in expanding our relationship with a world class, entrepreneurial company like Schwan’s and look forward to creating business building pioneering ideas for them.”

This will be the seventh new business win for Campbell Mithun in the past year.

is a media planning and buying unit within Campbell Mithun, serving both full-service and media-only clients. Compass Point Media provides a complete spectrum of highly effective and efficient media services to a wide variety of companies and categories.

The following post was provided courtesy of :

Percolating oneself on every social network seems to be the common strategy for practitioners wanting to stay ahead of new media competitors. Though, if you spend your time fragmenting, you're going to miss out on the thing that matters most to landing online business: social media measurement tools.

An ambiguous area to say the least, social media measurement is something not even the experts have been able to completely understand, but companies are trying. Here are the top 5 social media measurement tools to add to your proposal:

• Trackur Similar to Google Alerts in terms of pop-up value, the site also allows you the ability to filter out keywords that don't belong in your search. You can add as many filters as you like. Comparable to Google Reader with its results userface, Trackur features share and RSS feed subscription. Trackur's biggest advantage: highly specific, though search results can take 2-3 minutes.
  

• Compete.com A must-have for monitoring the popularity of one Web site over another, Compete generates web traffic and indicates visitor frequency daily and annually. For example, searching perezhilton vs. techcrunch reveals, while Websites are entirely dissimilar, they maintain similar web traffic.
  

• Vitrue SMI Vitrue asks the question, "How social is your advertising?" A quick comparison search will reveal not only the popularity of the subject or phrase, but where it's most likely discussed, such as forums, microblogs, blogs, and video-sharing. This tool was highly impressive when it came to projection monitoring of the 2008 Presidential Election.

• Forrester Research- Social Technographics Tool This free and fast tool will provide you insight into where your client should focus their audience. After filtering gender, age, and country—the result is an analysis on whether or not you should advise set up on blogs, discussion boards, or microsites.
  

• Don't underestimate the power of search on a microblog. Extremely fast turnaround, allows you to directly reach out to your consumers after they tweet about bad or exemplary services and products.

For more social media news and commentary, visit us at www.dailyaxioms.com

Minneapolis-based communications company LaBreche announces that Bob Huff has joined the company as a principal. Huff will lead the company’s branding communications services, which include leading client engagements in strategy, design, interactive and print media. In addition, Huff will also be responsible for internal staff development and training.

“I am happy to announce Bob as a new member of LaBreche’s leadership team,” said Laura Boyd, president of LaBreche. “His unique blend of leadership and brand expertise will be critical as we continue to grow and expand our marketing communications, interactive and design services. His deep understanding of business communications strategy will add nothing but value for our existing and future clients.”

Huff brings close to 15 years of professional branding experience to his new position at LaBreche. Prior to joining the company, Huff was the associate director for leadership development at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. While there, he built the Leadership Experience, an experiential leadership program aimed at helping full-time graduate students enhance their self-awareness and interpersonal skills.

His career started as an intern and then account executive at branding agency Fallon. Huff later joined Olson as vice president of brand strategy where he was responsible for helping launch, reposition and manage brands including the Minnesota Wild NHL team. Throughout his career Huff has worked with some of the world’s most powerful brands such as Coca-Cola, Subaru, GTE, Purina and Pillsbury. He has also managed the launch and growth of an interactive design department and an agency training program.

Huff earned his BA from Northwestern University and his MA from Columbia University, and is working toward completing his doctorate in leadership development.

"I am looking forward to this new and exciting opportunity,” said Huff. “LaBreche is chock-full of incredibly intellectually and emotionally bright people who really know how to build brand value across many different communication vehicles. I look forward to helping LaBreche and its clients achieve unprecedented results.”

Join your fellow Business-to-Business marketers on December 3, as we celebrate the launch of the Minnesota chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA).

From 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, meet new and prospective BMA members for a night of free sushi and fresh conversation at the Twin Cities' coolest lounge, Seven, above the historic Pantages Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.

Brought together to address the unmet needs of BtoB marketers in the region, BMA-Minnesota was formally established in September 2008. BMA-Minnesota is the only professional association in Minnesota dedicated exclusively to address the unique needs of Minnesota’s robust BtoB marketing community.

Interesting article in today's Minnpost. John Reinan discusses some of the challenges traditional media is facing as they compete with today's social media. Here is an excerpt:

For nearly 100 years, they've been at the core of communication in this country: newspapers, magazines, radio and TV. They told us what was happening in our communities, they delivered our commercial messages, they entertained and informed us.

But the old media went over the cliff a few years ago. Now they're like Wile E. Coyote, frantically running in place just before the bottom drops out from under them.

Read the rest of John's article here.

Judging partner: This year we have partnered with Utah PRSA to exchange judging responsibilities. Thanks to everyone who volunteered to judge the Utah Golden Spike Awards in September! Judges will be recognized at the Classics banquet in March 2009.

Tuesday, December 16
6 p.m.
Open Book,1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis
Cost: Free for members; $20 for non-members

Members: register here
Non-members: register here

Take a break from the holiday bustle to nurture your career with a fabulous networking event. Women Launching Women, the networking component of MWMC is open to members and non-members for networking. Plus, hear from a guest speaker who will share the highlights of her career path and the lessons learned along the way.

Appetizers will be served. Directions are available at www.openbookmn.org. The event is free to MWMC members and $20 for non-members.

Speaker Bio:

Beth Ewen, editor and co-founder of Upsize Minnesota, will discuss her career path as a business reporter and editor.

Before launching Upsize, Ewen held top posts in area business publications include serving as editor-in-chief of The Business Journal, Ventures magazine and Corporate Report magazine and The Fact Book. Ewen began her reporting career in the 10th grade at the Traill County Tribune in Mayville, N.D.

Upsize Minnesota is the magazine and online resource center dedicated to helping business owners build bigger and more profitable companies and includes Upsize e-tools, Upsize How-to Audio, Upsize Online and the Upsize Growth Challenge, a unique contest that matches winning business owners with experts who will help them reach their business goals.

• He hired Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook, to create a social networking site out of www.barackobama.com.  Obama's website is a place where supporters can interact with one another, not just read information about Obama's policies and campaign
• Since August, there have been 500 million blog posts referencing Obama 
• Obama has a network of 844,927 MySpace friends and 118,107 Twitter followers
• There are nearly 2 million links to www.barackobama.com
• Obama raised $33 Million from his online fundraising operations alone

Heather Nelson has been named designer at public relations firm Carmichael Lynch Spong and will be based out of the Minneapolis office. In this new role she is responsible for conceptual thinking, designing and producing a broad range of creative products on behalf of the agency and its clients.

Nelson comes to Carmichael Lynch Spong from Carrot, a direct marketing services agency specializing in the health and well-being arena, in Golden Valley, Minn. While there, she served as the graphic designer, conceptualizing and designing for clients such as OptumHealth and UnitedHealthcare.

“We are happy to welcome Heather to Carmichael Lynch Spong,” says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president of the firm. “Her strong skill set, coupled with her knowledge of design makes her a valuable addition to our team and ensures continued creative excellence on behalf of our clients.”

Prior to her role at Carrot, Nelson was the graphic designer for Mind Spark Creative in Minneapolis, Minn. She also served as the layout and electronic production artist for Metropolitan Media Group in Bloomington, Minn.

In her spare time, Nelson is involved with the Advertising Federation of Minnesota and she regularly attends industry events. She also enjoys traveling and participated in a summer art study program in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Nelson received her bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis.

Attend this action-packed conference that will shed new light on the changing landscapes of public relations. Hear the insight from panelists and keynote speakers alike, who've been deeply entrenched in aspects of new media, blogs, and fast-paced news, which continues to drive the modern world of PR.

The Minnesota Chapter, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) brings you the 2008 Professional Practice Conference, a half-day immersion into the ever changing landscapes affecting modern-day media.

Agenda

7:30 AM – 8:00 a.m. Registration and breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:00 a.m. Welcome, morning keynote (Paula Prahl, Best Buy)
9:00 AM – 9:15 a.m. Break
9:15 AM – 10:15 a.m. Breakout sessions (Media panel, agency panel)
10:15 AM – 10: 30 a.m. Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 a.m. Breakout sessions (Media panel, agency panel)
11:30 AM – 11:45 a.m. Break
11:45 AM – 12:15 p.m. PRSA Annual Meeting
12:15 AM – 1:30 p.m. Lunch, afternoon keynote (Peter Shankman, HARO), Close

Media Panel: PR’s Changing Relationships

The media panel will focus on the ever-evolving media landscape and the changing relationship between PR practitioners and journalists of every kind.
Featuring:

• Mike Caputa, assistant news director, WCCO-TV
• Joel Kramer, CEO and editor, MinnPost.com
• J. Keith Moyer, former president and publisher, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Agency Panel: PR Today & Tomorrow

The agency panel will focus on how PR agencies are evolving to stay relevant in today’s changing world — from the work they do for clients to the way they operate internally.

Featuring:

• Lisa Hannum, CEO, Beehive PR
• Matt Kucharski, senior vice president, technology, crisis/critical issues, Padilla Speer Beardsley
• John Reinan, senior director, Fast Horse
• Maria Reitan, senior principal, Carmichael Lynch Spong
• Keith Negrin, director of public relations, MorseKode

Keynote Speakers:
Paula Prahl, VP of communications, public affairs and corporate responsibility, Best Buy
Peter Shankman, founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO)

Location:	Metropolitan Ballroom | Golden Valley, MN 55416
Price:	PRSA Member Nonmember Student $110 $130 $60 The conference fee includes breakfast and lunch. Walk-ins will be charged an additional $30.

*Online registration will close on Sunday, November 26 at 5:00 p.m. The cost will increase by $30 for all attendees who register at the event.

For more information, call the Minnesota Chapter PRSA office at , or revisit the Minnesota PRSA Web site.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul office of Weber Shandwick today announced that Robert McFarlin has joined the firm as vice president in its corporate, community and public affairs practice.

McFarlin brings 27 years of experience in government affairs and public relations to the agency. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, he served as the assistant commissioner for policy and public affairs at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). McFarlin was appointed acting commissioner of Mn/DOT by Governor Tim Pawlenty in February 2008. During the I-35W bridge collapse crisis, McFarlin was Mn/DOT’s principal spokesperson and strategic policy and communications lead.

“Bob adds to our already strong and growing public affairs practice,” said Sara Gavin, president of Weber Shandwick’s Minneapolis-St. Paul office. “This move demonstrates our commitment to continue being a public affairs service leader on a local, state and national level. Public affairs is a key part of our Minneapolis-St. Paul practice, and Bob’s experience, expertise and leadership provides additional capability and strength. We are thrilled and eager to welcome Bob to our firm.”

Weber Shandwick’s public affairs practice is deeply rooted in the market and spans the office’s 25-plus year history. The local, regional, national and international client base includes: the Prairie Island Indian Community; BAE Systems; Mall of America; Alliance Pipeline; the Minnesota Departments of Veteran Affairs and Education; Mayo Clinic/Rochester Coalition; U.S. Army; U.S. Census; U.S. Treasury; and, Manitoba Hydro, among others.

“Our public affairs strength is broad and deep,” said Gavin. “We have expertise and experience across multiple industries including health care, defense, energy and the environment and specialize in building advocacy, especially at the community level.”

McFarlin joins the Corporate, Community and Public Affairs practice group led by 16-year agency veteran, Eric Pehle, an executive vice president, and Denny Shields, a vice president hired in 2006 after his retirement from the Minnesota National Guard.

“Weber Shandwick’s reputation as a leader in public affairs is felt throughout the region,” said McFarlin. “I will bring an extensive background in communications and public policy with a firm understanding of the political environment. I look forward to this opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in public affairs and create business results for our clients.”

Earlier in his career, McFarlin served as president of MCF Consulting Group, a public relations and public affairs consulting firm. He spent time as the executive director to the Board of Trustees at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and Director of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff at Mn/DOT. McFarlin holds a masters degree in speech communication and bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.