Together they’ve created a safe environment to explore each industry and ultimately how social media is influencing all of us.The goal of #journchat LIVE is to have live events occurring at the same time around the United States.

The next #journchat event is being hosted by and The call will be:

Rumor has it that Alphabet Bash is less than a month away and you still don't have your ticket(s). We forgive you, but know that we're only extending the Early Bird discount by one extra week. So mark the Bash down on your calendar TODAY, finalize your plans and catch the $10 discount this week (through Friday July 31) while you still can!

Join AdFed, AIGA Minnesota, AMA, IABC, MWMC and PRSA for the 4th Annual Alphabet Bash on Thursday August 20 from 6 - 10 p.m. at Epic Event Center in Minneapolis. For one more week tickets will cost:
$35.00 for members
$45.00 for non-members
$20.00 for students

**Price includes drinks, heavy appetizers and the chance at a number of door prizes.

I’m extremely excited to announce that I’ve accepted a position with Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR). You can read the full announcement here tomorrow, but basically, I will be responsible for creating new business and also maintaining current client relationships.

I am excited for this next adventure in my career. It will offer me the opportunity to capitalize on my decade’s worth of communications experience and build some new skills. I certain my transition to RMPR will be a natural one.

If you’re not familiar with RMPR, you can get more information here. Essentially, RMPR believes in the power and potential of public relations to obtain results that matter to you and your organization. Using integrated combinations of new and tried-and-true strategies, we can effectively evolve your brand and reputation.

What does this mean for MNPR blog?

The most important thing that I want you to know is that the content and motives behind mnprblog.com are not changing. This site has always been a place you can come for the latest news, events and jobs for the Minnesota public relations industry. The opinions expressed here are my own.

RMPR understands the importance of keeping MNPR blog as a separate entity from the agency. However, in my new role I will have the opportunity to spend more time thinking about the resources this blog offers.

I am working on pulling together a list of potential resources that could be a part of this site. For example,  I would like to compile a list of Minnesota PR firms and do an expose on each agency. If you have ideas please send me an e-mail - .

Tunheim Partners, a Minneapolis-based strategic communications company, is pleased to announce that Bryan Brignac has been promoted to account executive and Bill Brozak has been promoted to senior account representative.

Brignac joined the agency in April 2006. With his advanced understanding of the complexities in commodity trading, Brignac has continued to build relationships with clients in agricultural and biofuels industries and works to strategically position them in a variety of media. Brignac’s accounts include U.S. Energy Services, DTN, Mystic Lake Casino and Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. A graduate from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Brignac earned a degree in journalism with an emphasis in strategic business communications.

Brozak joined the firm in February 2007 and specializes in media relations. During his time at Tunheim Partners, Brozak has performed various media relations tasks and built strong relationships with clients. Brozak’s accounts include U.S. Energy Services, DTN and the National Institute on Media and the Family. Brozak holds degrees in mass communication with an emphasis in public relations and speech communication from Minnesota State University, Mankato .

In these difficult economic times you may be finding yourself in a situation where you have to justify your role as a PR professional. This can be an amazing opportunity to shine or a tremendous burden to carry.

Recently, I was made aware of a that may be able to help you identify some of the things PR can do for your company. has career resources, a blog roll and general PR resources for those looking to learn more about our industry.

So what is PR good for? Here is what Public Relation Blogger says:

• Grow Your Brand 
• Heighten Demand of Your Product or Service 
• Expand Your Customer Pool
• Establish Trust for the Company and its Products
• Form a Position of Leadership for the Company
• Change the Way Your Product is Perceived
• Generate Awareness for Your Products or Services
• Improve Employee Moral and Draw Top Quality Talent to Your Company
• Enhance the perceived value of your company
• Make Socially Responsible a Key Characteristic of Your Company

I am sure there are more. What do you think? Comment below.

Risdall Marketing Group (RMG) continues its expansion with the addition of Ashley Bruce to its Strategic Consultation division. As an associate strategist, Bruce will focus her time on market research and strategy for new and existing clients.

“Insight into the target and marketplace is critical for a solid strategy, whether it’s for an existing brand or a new product launch,” said Cindy Lord , president of Risdall Strategic Consultation (RSC). “Ashley brings more depth in our strategy offerings, including significant online experience that will allow us to better serve clients with Web-oriented projects. I’m excited to have her rejoin my team in a new agency setting.”

In her most recent position as a search marketing specialist for TopRank Marketing, Bruce developed and ensured consistency of online messages, analyzed Web analytics to identify opportunities for usability improvements and managed search marketing efforts. Bruce also worked as an account planning intern with Lord at Martin|Williams Advertising and as a public relations intern for The Family Institute for Creative Well-Being.

Fast Horse, a Minneapolis-based integrated marketing agency, recently strengthened its social media marketing, event marketing and sports marketing capabilities by hiring Jodi Petrich , Mike Keliher and George Fiddler .

Petrich, who spent five years at Best Buy Co. before joining Fast Horse, brings 11 years of event marketing and account service in the sports and entertainment sector to the agency. At Best Buy, she was instrumental in building the company’s first-ever NASCAR® program and supported multiple product category campaigns and product launches with sweepstakes, contests, in-store and online promotions and cause marketing campaigns. As senior director, she will provide account leadership while working on the agency’s largest account, The Coca-Cola Company, as well as Radisson Hotels & Resorts.

Prior to joining Fast Horse as client relationship manager, Keliher managed the public relations practice at Provident Partners in St. Paul , Minn. In that role, he managed traditional media relations and online outreach efforts for SoftBrands, a global software company with more than 700 employees, and led an ongoing thought-leadership campaign for the business advisors at Technomic Asia, an international strategy consulting firm. He also helped launch Governor Tim Pawlenty’s audio podcast. He will provide Fast Horse clients Marvin Windows & Doors and Radisson Hotels & Resorts with social media marketing strategy and execution, as well as new media and traditional media relations.

Fiddler joined Fast Horse as an intern in January after graduating from the University of Minnesota and holding marketing internships at the Minnesota Daily newspaper and Contacto Integrated Media, a Minneapolis-based bilingual marketing company. In his role as a Fast Horse associate, he will work with Insight Schools of Minnesota, part of the nation’s leading network of online high schools, and Aquarius Spring!, a natural spring water from The Coca-Cola Company that promotes watershed conservation. He will also support the agency’s sports marketing practice and provide social media marketing counsel and execution to clients.