Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR) announced that Laura Aumann has joined the firm as a senior account executive.

“Laura brings a solid grasp of innovative and tried and true public relations strategies,” said Rose McKinney, APR, president of RMPR. “She is equally skilled at B2B and consumer media relations, which our clients have come to expect.”

Aumann graduated from Valparaiso University, School of Arts and Sciences, with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and museum studies/art history and a minor in new-media, journalism. Previously, Aumann worked at Kohnstamm Communications as an account executive. She completed internships at Edelman Public Relations in Chicago and GE Healthcare.

has been promoted to director of brand planning, partner at creative agency Carmichael Lynch. She joined the agency in 2008 and has served as group planning director for clients Calphalon, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and Seventh Generation. In her new role, Thompson is challenged with leading a department of account planners and research professionals; developing strategies for positioning client brands; and ensuring clients’ brands are positioned to be highly relevant to consumers and poised for growth.

Prior to joining Carmichael Lynch, Thompson served as an associate director of strategy and insights at space150 in Minneapolis where she led brand strategy for Dairy Queen, General Mills and Andersen Windows. She also served as a brand planner at Campbell Mithun on the Burger King, Popsicle and General Mills Big G cereals accounts.

“Kelly has become an indispensible leader within the agency,” says Mike Lescarbeau, CEO of Carmichael Lynch. “She has not only led planning on key pitches and existing clients, but she’s also taken the initiative to propose and lead a number of projects that are making us a better agency. Kelly has demonstrated the kind of vision and collaborative spirit that embodies Carmichael Lynch.”

Outside of work, Thompson is involved in lobbying efforts on behalf of the Animal Humane Society and Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Thompson graduated cum laude from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., with a double major in English and theater and a minor in sociology.

has been named managing director of Carmichael Lynch Spong, assuming day-to-day operational responsibility for the PR firm’s clients and staff in New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and its Minneapolis headquarters. Prior to her promotion, Batliner served as the firm’s chief client relations officer with responsibility for ensuring the consistency of high-value thinking; smart and creative execution; best practices in client-relationship management; and outstanding achievement on behalf of the firm’s 30 clients served by six offices.

Batliner joined Carmichael Lynch Spong five years ago from PR agency Fleishman-Hillard, where she served as senior vice president. Since then, she has led a number of key client teams that have achieved remarkable business results while increasing revenue for the public relations firm and its parent company Carmichael Lynch Inc.

Batliner’s promotion is part of a succession plan that has been in progress for the past 18 months after founder and namesake Doug Spong assumed added responsibility as president of parent agency Carmichael Lynch. Batliner will continue to report to Spong, who now serves as president of the entire 200+ member creative agency as part of a new leadership structure designed to foster collaboration across all disciplines—from advertising and public relations to digital communications and consumer engagement.

In announcing Batliner’s promotion to managing director, Doug Spong, founder of Carmichael Lynch Spong, says, “Julie models collaboration, passion for her clients and remarkable achievement both individually and collectively. In every respect, Julie is a natural-born leader who inspires the best from everyone around her. There is no one I trust more in leading the firm forward.”

Batliner is committed to maintaining and growing the firm’s longstanding clients while adding new clients. She says the firm has a distinct advantage in its ability to create ideas that will build a client’s brand and make those ideas work across the multiple platforms.

“Gone are the days when sending out a news release and doing some media pitching make up the PR plan,” says Batliner. “Carmichael Lynch Spong is uniquely positioned for the current needs of sophisticated clients in today’s marketing environment. We have the added advantage of pulling in consumer engagement, digital, social and creative experts to take our PR ideas to the highest level of effectiveness.”

“Doug is an excellent businessperson and an all-star PR professional,” says Batliner. “He has been a great mentor, and I am looking forward to partnering with him to continue the success he has established since he founded Carmichael Lynch Spong almost 20 years ago.”

Batliner has received many accolades during her career. In the past four years alone her client work has won 31 awards, including four from PRWeek, 13 national Silver and Bronze Anvil awards and 13 local PRSA awards and one SABRE award. She has also received personal recognition for her achievements. Batliner was named one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 honorees in 2009 and a finalist for PR News’ 2009 Account Director of the Year.

Outside of work, Batliner is a board graduate of the Minneapolis Community Capital Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to preparing the next generation of citizen leaders. The Community Capital Alliance focuses on volunteer services in the Twin Cities. She also has volunteered on the marketing committee for the Jeremiah Program, a community initiative designed to assist low-income mothers, helping them to complete their education and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Batliner is also a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Campbell Mithun announced the recent promotions of the following six employees: Peggy Arnson, promoted to associate creative director; Alex Colvin, promoted to integrated producer; Kristy Duenwald, promoted to account supervisor (Compass Point Media); Pete Leacock, promoted to vice president, management supervisor; Tim Putnam, promoted to network and systems administrator; and Quinn Risdall, promoted to art director.

’s promotion to associate creative director reflects her client-centered ability to bring wisdom and persuasion to her creative work. Her significant contributions to projects completed for Tresemmé, Nexxus, Land O’Lakes, Burger King Kids and SuperValu have proven her leadership skills.

Production-pro Alex Colvin has been promoted to integrated producer. This past year Alex pulled off photo shoots in South Africa, Paris and Prague for two major agency clients. In addition to managing international casting, integrating print and TV shoots, and rounding up talent around the globe, he “grew” tropical trees on one set and created a humid day on another. His work speaks for itself.

, recently named account supervisor in media division Compass Point Media, brings a passion for research and strategic thinking to the advancement of client objectives. Currently working on the Great Clips and Chipotle accounts, Kristy also is a key member of the agency’s corporate social-media team.

A promotion to vice president, management supervisor, gives Pete Leacock well-deserved recognition for his ability to drive sound strategy and flawless execution. In his new role, he has assumed responsibility for the TRESemmé account and continues to oversee projects with Allianz and the United Way. Pete also has steered great work for clients including Burger King and Schwan’s.

In ’s new role as network and systems administrator, he has assumed responsibility for supporting the agency’s network and server infrastructure; developing, testing and implementing new systems and services; and overseeing user administration. Since joining Campbell Mithun in January 2009, Tim’s contributions have furthered the goals of both the IT department and the agency.

’s promotion to art director recognizes her ability both to generate great creative concepts and to execute them well. Recently contributing to work developed for clients TRESemmé, Nexxus, Land O’Lakes and Burger King Kids, Quinn now will assume more responsibility for directing a particular project’s ability to communicate with and appeal to a target audience.

On May 11, the Advertising Bandits will be released! Ad Fed/Ad2 members and friends from across the Twin Cities will holdup Uptown like a band of desperados. The gang will gather at Bar Abilene to kickoff the 4th annual /Ad2 Pub Crawl. Once the rodeo is underway, we'll mosey over to Stella’s for extended happy hour specials and some good ol' networking. We’ll end the night at Cowboy Slim’s, the ultimate Uptown outpost.

Don’t have a cowboy hat or a dusty pair of boots?

We’ve got you covered … literally. Every attendee will be presented with a bandanna to not only show your Ad Fed pride but to brand Uptown. So strap on your spurs, it's time to hit the road!

Register here


1. Starting at Bar Abilene 5:30-7:00pm


Happy hour: 4-7 pm
1/2 Price Tap Beer, Rail Drinks, Wine, and Standard Margaritas!

2. 7-8:30pm
.

$4 for tap beer, house wine or single pour call cocktails for anyone sporting a Ad Fed / Ad2 branded bandanna!

3. Cowboy Slim’s 8:30pm-10pm
.


Prizes throughout the night so make sure to have your bandanna on and lots of business cards to pass!

Advertising agency GdB bolstered its social media and design capabilities, bringing on four new faces to its Minneapolis office— Tom Flint, Tim Otis, Brian Danaher and Naomi Hoffman.


joins GdB as Digital Strategist. Flint comes to GdB from Periscope where he spent a decade in the agency’s digital marketing practice using social media, organic search optimization and email marketing for brands eBay, Target, Abu Garcia, and the Minnesota Twins. Flint started his career at Tripp Advertising, a small agency specializing in the outdoor sporting industry.


joins GdB as Supervisor of Social Media/PR. Otis comes to GdB from Axiom Marketing Communications where he was responsible for introducing brand Country Inns & Suites By Carlson to the world of mom bloggers, and securing ink in top tier media outlets including New York Times, Bloomberg News, and Time Magazine. Otis officially launched his career in 2007 when he worked at RLM Public Relations for New York Times bestselling author Richard Laermer.


, Designer, comes to GdB after spending 11 years of professional experience on strategic branding, advertising, print and interactive design accounts for brands large and small, in addition to working as a freelance illustrator. Danaher’s work has been recognized by Communication Arts, Print, HOW, AIGA Minnesota, Creativity, among others.


, Assistant Account Executive, comes to GdB from TheaterMania.com, a national consumer website based in New York, NY. There, Hoffman oversaw email production and managed advertising sales for Broadway and the NY market, as well as spearheaded the company’s entrance into the Twin Cities market. Prior to joining TheaterMania, Hoffman worked in the theater industry, sourcing, designing and building props for theaters throughout Manhattan.

Minnesota Women in Marketing Communications (MWMC) announces the Women@Work Workshop on Tuesday, May 18. This presentation focuses on improving productivity – using writing as a powerful tool for getting things done. Stan Berry, professional writing coach from Berry Writing Group, will teach attendees how to write quickly and effectively, saving time for themselves and their readers. Attendees will impress others with their ability to get to the point quickly, clearly, and concisely. Project managers will especially appreciate learning how to more effectively meet important deadlines and keep projects on target.

Workshop objectives: The concepts provided in this program teach people to present their ideas clearly in all business communications, regardless of length or medium including letters, memos, reports, business decision documents, voice mail and e-mail messages.

">Attendees will learn how to:
• Clarify thoughts before writing,
• Separate the readers’ needs from the writer’s needs,
• Use the inverted-pyramid principle of organization,
• Use the three models of organization, and
• Write technical information to non-technical people.


Event Information
Tuesday, May 18
1:00 to 4:00 PM
St. Catherine University
Ballroom, third floor of the Coeur de Catherine building on the St. Paul Campus
Visit www.mnwc.org to register for the event.

The Fleishman-Hillard Minneapolis/St Paul office will be hosting a PR informational session for college students and entry-level PR people on Thursday, June 3 at 10:30 a.m. in our downtown Minneapolis office. In the session, we will discuss “what’s hot in PR” (with a focus on digital and social media) and give tips for making yourself as marketable as possible while searching for your first PR job.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Katie Olby at . Space is limited, so please RSVP soon.

While it has a bit of reputation for delivering more on the party scene than on useful panel presentations, there are a few SXSW Interactive presentations that stand out from the crowd. I didn't attend the conference, but I did take some time to watch the video of Peter Shankman's presentation, "Why Self Promotion Will Save The World." Among the plethora of panelists and participants in the interactive space who tend to leave a bad taste in my mouth with all of their "self promotion," Shankman seems to have mastered the art.

If you are reading this blog, there's a good chance that you're familiar with Shankman, who in PR circles is widely appreciated (and well-known) for founding Help A Reporter Out - a service that connects PR professionals to sources looking for content. Throughout his career - from AOL online news editor to Marketing and PR firm CEO, Shankman has developed his personal brand through the simple craft of self-promotion done well.

"Good PR is getting people to do it for you," says Shankman. And, certainly, he has mastered this feat. (His panel idea for SXSW received enough votes in only two days to be added to the slate and was one of the top ranking suggestions among all of the interactive panels.)

Shankman's arsenal for self-promotion is guided by basic principles --

Join BMA-Minnesota on May 18, 2010 for "Reap What You New: A Futurist's Guide to Anticipating and Leading Change".

What future can you bank on? Futurist Cecily Sommers knows that making predictions is a fool's game, however understanding and anticipating change is required practice for any organization wanting to play smart.

In her presentation, "Reap What You New: A Futurist's Guide to Anticipating and Leading Change," Sommers shows how the social, economic, and environmental events of our time spring from just four constant and predictable forces. Understand how they work together to drive change, she says, and you can stake out a territory that is yours to invent and own - for the long-term.

"Reap What You New: A Futurist's Guide to Anticipating and Leading Change" surveys the road ahead for B2B Marketing over the next 1-5-10 years. It is a media-rich presentation that takes the audience on a guided tour of the future, wrapped around four main ideas:

1. How the brain, business, and government are wired for the "Permanent Present" and resist change
2. Four constant and predictable forces shaping the future
3. Three dramatic disruptions on the horizon that should be a part of every strategic conversation
4. How to manage an innovation portfolio that plans on the far and future, while delivering on the near and now

Offering new tools and models for a new world, "Reap What You New" is a refreshingly practical guide for how B2B marketers can build relevance and revenue for their clients over time.

Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time: 7:30 a.m. Registration and breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Presentation
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Members Only Workshop

Location:
Metropolitan Ballroom


Directions

Cost: Members $30 / Non Members $45
Register by: May 14, 2010
Register Now

A limited number of onsite registrations will be available
For more information about BMA-Minnesota and how you can become involved, go to www.BMAminnesota.org.

This is the most unsettling subject I’ve learned about while studying public relations. Crisis communication in many ways to me resembles tiptoeing through a field covered in landmines while being shouted at to solve complex algebra problems. Crisis Communication is delicate, explosive, and incredibly time sensitive. (And by the way I’m terrible at math, especially algebra).

However, over the years I’ve come to feel much calmer about the subject. Like any mistake or act of dishonesty made in life, the most important thing I’ve learned is that its best to face the situation head on, and come clean. Tear the Band-Aid off. And ideally, have a crisis communication plan in place before things head south.

As Till and Heckler put it in The Truth About Creating Brands People Love, When a crisis confronted head on and put into the perspective of the brand’s values, the crisis can be turned into a course-altering defining moment.”

Be like Tylenol, who in 1982 recalled over $100 million dollars worth of product after seven people where reported dead after taking extra-strength Tylenol. As it turned out, someone tampered with their product by putting 65 milligrams of deadly cyanide into Tylenol capsules. Even though they were not responsible for the tampering, to ensure public safety Tylenol developed now industry standard triple-seal tamper resistant packaging. Although they had to take a huge profit blow temporarily, Tylenol emerged more trusted than ever after this crisis. They reacted quickly, positively, and stuck to their core values.

When dealing with the media, keep in mind these fundamental guidelines developed by PR Newswire:

• “No Comment” fuels hostility. Even a simple “Can I get back to you?” can be misconstrued as evasive.
• Always try to be helpful. Too many executives are so guarded in conversations with reporters that they miss opportunities to get their own case across.
• Be familiar with print and broadcast deadline. Calling a news conference on or after a deadline may hurt your organization’s chance to get fair or full treatment.
• Get to know the journalists in your area before a crisis hits. That way, they will already know something about you and your company, and you will have an idea of how they work.

I also recommend checking out which discusses the use of Social Media in Crisis Communications.

Jennifer Berg
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment

• Find out from Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’, Ruth Duran Deffley, on how the current conditions of the nonprofit sector affect you and your job search
•  Hear Peggy Byrne, creator of Minnesotaunemployed.com, talk about a jobseeker tool she created out of frustration of her job search, and how that tool landed her a new role
• Learn from the experience of a former corporate employee that recently transitioned into a nonprofit career at Goodwill Easter Seals

• Pick-up on how your nonprofit peers are navigating the job search process
• Develop a supportive environment made-up of your peers
• Discover how your experience can translate into a nonprofit career
• Get connected to the nonprofit sector

The Minnesota State Lottery has announced that it has chosen OLSON, Minneapolis, as its agency of record after a competitive review. OLSON will handle brand strategy and holistic marketing responsibilities for the account.

“The Lottery was looking for a next-generation agency, one that would bring thought leadership and a unique strategic and creative approach to our business,” says Clint Harris, executive director, Minnesota State Lottery. “We will tap into OLSON’s progressive marketing platforms and its strong brand-building ability to create more meaningful connections with our community.”

“The Minnesota State Lottery has a long history of producing incredibly creative work,” says Tom Fugleberg, executive creative director, OLSON. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to build on that legacy, and to do so with an organization that gives back to our state in so many remarkable ways.”

Proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery benefit all Minnesotans. Since first selling tickets in 1990, the Lottery has raised more than $1.8 billion for state programs, including $713 million for critical environmental programs. In addition, the General Fund has received over $1.1 billion to help fund important functions such as education, public safety and health and human services. Visit www.mnlottery.com for more information.

LaBreche announced Tami Kou as the new director of public relations this week, along with the addition of graphic designer Tony Willow. The four new additions to LaBreche’s public relations team include senior account executive Karin Helmey and assistant account executives Heather Morrison, Kris Kaufmann, and Jenna Bennett.

, who has been at LaBreche since 2005, has been promoted to the Director of PR. Kou oversees the public relations team and works with staff to establish strategic PR direction on all accounts. In addition, she is the media training lead at LaBreche. Kou is a former broadcast journalist, having worked in Eau Claire, Madison, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as an award-winning reporter. Kou’s work at LaBreche has earned many awards including an IABC Bronze Quill and an IABC Pacific Plains Silver Quill award.

also joins the LaBreche team as a graphic designer. Willow previously worked as a self-employed designer for six years, creating brand communications material for the medical industry, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. His experience with new media brings LaBreche the capability to harness current market trends in online and mobile communication, as well as create innovative concepts in the video and interactive space. Willow is also involved with the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).

Senior account executive comes to the Twin Cities from Dallas where she worked as an account executive for public relations agency Michael A. Burns & Associates. She enjoys advocating for her clients through account team leadership and collaboration. Helmey currently contributes to healthcare and consumer accounts at LaBreche, including Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Coloplast, and Tastefully Simple.


Assistant account executive Heather Morrison previously worked as an intern for a Minneapolis-based publishing group and as a publicist for a Twin Cities singer/songwriter. Morrison’s client roster includes Ascent Healthcare, Ellerbe Becket, Computype, Tastefully Simple, and Wausau Paper.

Assistant account executive Kris Kaufmann joins LaBreche after working in the public affairs department for the Minnesota Twins. She is also a member of the Minnesota 133 Air National Guard. Kaufmann’s clients include Capital Safety, American Express, Victaulic, Meritas, and the Wood Products Council.

Assistant account executive comes to LaBreche after working as a broadcast news reporter in Helena, Montana, and in Wausau, Wisconsin, and also as an interactive producer for BRIO Books, an independent publishing company in Minneapolis. Bennett’s client list includes 3M, Capital Safety, the Capitol Region Watershed District, Coloplast, and Victaulic.

LaBreche announced this week the addition of five new clients to their diverse strategic portfolio. Ascent Healthcare Solutions, the Capitol Region Watershed District, iMobile Wellness, MicroCare Medical, and Business Incentives all joined the agency’s client roster.

LaBreche is providing PR services for Ascent Healthcare Solutions based in Phoenix, Arizona. Ascent focuses on sustainable healthcare solutions through reprocessing and remanufacturing programs for medical devices. The programs help Ascent’s partner hospitals reduce thousands of pounds of medical waste each year. Ascent works with all leading national group purchasing organizations as well as many nationally recognized hospital delivery networks.

The Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) protects and manages part of the Mississippi River Basin, including the lakes that drain into the river. LaBreche is doing public relations work for CRWD, which covers 40 square miles and includes parts of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville, and St. Paul, Minnesota. CRWD strives to protect the district’s water resources by monitoring water quality, issuing storm water management permits, installing practices that reduce runoff and remove pollutants, and encouraging citizens to engage in water quality protection practices.

LaBreche is coordinating brand, interactive, mobile, and social media work for iMobile Wellness based in Phoenix, Arizona. iMobile connects people around the world to the latest medical information when conditions or situations require immediate answers. The vision at iMobile Wellness is to foster a global community of people who seek access to a higher level of health and wellness.

MicroCare Medical is headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut, and offers cleaners, lubricants, fluids, and wipes for the medical device industry. LaBreche is working on a full-scale campaign launch for MicroCare. Their products clean plastic, metal, and ceramic parts, and are available in aerosol, bulk, and high-purity glass packaging.

LaBreche is also doing public relations work for Business Incentives, based in Minneapolis. BI provides custom communications, marketing, organizational effectiveness, and research services to a variety of industries. LaBreche is launching BI’s Contractor Rewards coalition marketing program to builders, remodelers, and home product manufacturers.

Weber Shandwick released Chief Communications Officers: First 100 Days, an "e-book" reflecting advice from dozens of veteran corporate communications officers (CCOs) around the world on how best to navigate the early months on the job. Weber Shandwick continues to build a vast storehouse of information and insights on the fast rising and influential C-suite position.

“As more CCOs report directly to CEOs and face unparalleled challenges ranging from sudden crises to vast shifts in how messages get distributed, our easy-to-read guide for incoming communications professionals helps them hit the ground running,” said Leslie Gaines-Ross, Weber Shandwick’s chief reputation strategist. “Our new e-book provides invaluable advice from seasoned CCOs on making the most of those first 100 days when any missteps can derail the best of plans.”

Weber Shandwick’s new e-book provides 12 lessons for a successful early tenure, such as becoming a change agent, preparing for surprises and working with a demoralized staff. The book is based on verbatim quotes from seasoned CCOs in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. The book also captures advice on do’s and don’ts from CCOs for those newly coming on board.

“With multiple time zones, diverse cultures and 24/7 media, the demands on incoming CCOs are unprecedented. Since the first 100 days can make or break careers, our guide provides an invaluable roadmap to success for CCOs who are depended upon for strategic communications counsel from day one,” said Gaines-Ross.

is looking for nominations for the Silver Medal Award and the Paul Foss Award. These two prestigious awards are the highest honors that Ad Fed of MN bestows upon its members and our industry leaders.

Please submit your nomination(s) to the Ad Fed office at . Fill out the Silver Medal Award Criteria form for Silver Medal Award nominees. If you have questions or are interested in serving on the nominations committee - please contact the Ad Fed office at .

The criteria for both of these awards are listed below - to see a complete list of past recipients, go to .

The cut off for nominations is May 21, 2010. Winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting on June 16, 2010.

Silver Medal Award
American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry's standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern.


Paul Foss Award
The Paul Foss Award, first awarded in 1981, recognizes a member of the Advertising Federation of Minnesota who has made outstanding contributions to the organization. Past recipients have served on committees, board of directors, volunteered countless hours at events and more.

Metropolitan State University today designated Rose McKinney, APR, a member of the President’s Circle of Engagement. McKinney, recognized because of her Public Relations Principles course (COMM 381), was one of 35 faculty members inducted at a ceremony yesterday morning.


The Circle of Engagement at Metropolitan State University helps explain the connection between both academic and student affairs and the community. It is focused on seven aspects: civic engagement, community-university partnership, community immersion, community-based learning, university-community service, service to community, and community connection.


“This designation underscores our university’s commitment to civic engagement and community partnerships,” said Sue K. Hammersmith, president of Metropolitan State University . “Through her course and guest speakers, Rose exposes students to many aspects of real-world public relations while developing connections that benefit our students and the university.”


McKinney , who has taught Public Relations Principles since 2005, is the president of Risdall McKinney Public Relations. She also developed the curriculum and syllabus for the course.


“Public relations involves communicating with many different stakeholders,” said McKinney . “People in business, nonprofit and other organizations benefit from understanding various perspectives and levels of engagement.”

One of the nation¹s top public relations trade media, The Holmes Report, named Minnesota-based Kohnstamm Communications as its 2010 "Boutique Agency of the Year." Calling Kohnstamm a "permanent fixture" on its list of Best Agencies to Work For, Holmes said that the 13-person agency "provides conclusive proof that a boutique firm in a smaller market can consistently generate prominent national media coverage."

The Holmes Report is the only PR trade source that independently surveys clients for its annual "PR Agency Report Card," and hosts one of the most coveted awards in the PR profession, in New York City each May, called "The Sabre Awards." Holmes pointed to Kohnstamm¹s national client base, with particular strength in natural products and corporate social responsibility, that drove the St. Paul-based firm to reach 17 percent growth last year, while the national PR agency average dropped 12 percent.

O¹Dwyers Public Relations News ranked Kohnstamm Communications 94thst in its March 2010 annual ranking of independent public relations agencies. For more information, go to www.kohnstamm.com

has been promoted to account director at Beehive PR. Hansen will continue to manage a portfolio of consumer clients, including Delaware North Sportservice, Red Wing Shoes and Peters Billiards. He will also help lead the agency’s sports marketing practice, focusing on corporate social responsibility and sponsorship activation.

Hansen joined Beehive PR in 2008 to help the agency establish its sports marketing practice. He spent nearly four years at Weber Shandwick as the PR representative for one of NASCAR’s top teams. He also led sports marketing initiatives for Coca-Cola (NCAA and NASCAR), Century 21 (MLB), FedEx (NASCAR and PGA) and Computer Associates (PGA). Hansen has extensive experience working with high-profile athletes and celebrities as part of brand-building campaigns for Fortune 500 companies.

Hansen worked for the National Hockey League where he managed hospitality events associated with the 2004 NHL All-Star Game. He also worked for the Minnesota Wild in the Communications and Broadcasting department managing media relations and player appearances.

Overall, Hansen’s work has contributed to award-winning campaigns recognized by Minnesota Public Relations Society of America’s Classics; Minnesota International Association of Business Communicators’ Bronze Quills; and the Holmes Report’s Gold SABREs.

The national chapter of the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) recently appointed , vice president, broadcast media at Compass Point Media (division of Campbell Mithun), to a two-year term on its national board of directors.

Grothem, a member of the association for 15 years, served on the board of the local chapter for the past 10 years and also is its past president. She also has received the Diamond Member of the Year award twice since the local chapter created the award six years ago.

Other members of the 19-member AWM national board represent organizations including Google, Discovery Communications, CBS Radio, CNN and other media-related legal and consulting service providers nationwide. Grothem will be the only board member representing the advertising-agency industry. Only one other person from the Twin Cities has served on AWF’s national board: Norma Cox, national sales manager for Minnesota Public Radio.

The appointment acknowledges Grothem’s national leadership and visibility in the radio industry. She gives credit to her own local mentors – Mary Murphy of Initio Advertising and Anne McKean, Martin Williams – for igniting her passion and drive for the media business.

The Alliance for Women in Media (formerly known as American Women in Radio & Television) celebrates its 59th anniversary in 2010 and is the longest established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment.

OLSON is pleased to announce the promotions of three arty types —Gary Loo Bun, Karl Wolf and Brian Hurley — to creative directorships.

, a new associate creative director, joined in November of 2007 as an art director and designer from the Netherlands, where he was freelancing and working for Dutch agency Energize.

, now creative director, had been an associate creative director at OLSON since March 2007, joining from Target Corporation, where he was a senior art director. Before that Wolf was a fashion art director and designer for Marshall Fields.

Brian Hurley, now an associate creative director, has been an art director at OLSON since January 2007, arriving from Martin-Williams.

“Gary, Karl and Brian are all holistic, next-generation thinkers who have played enormous roles in helping define OLSON’s creative product over the past few years,” says Tom Fugleberg, executive creative director, OLSON. “I'm so very proud of them all, and look forward to seeing them help lead the renaissance that's occurring within our walls every day."

As college students, we are constantly told that the best way to find a job will be to network. We hear it, smile, nod and continue on not really knowing how important that little aspect can be. But what does it really mean to network? How do you start? Who do you talk to?

In this economy it is especially important to start finding those connections and utilizing them to help you find your first job, and possibly future jobs as well. Here are some tips on how to start.

1. Know what you want to achieve: Once you know what you want you will become more confident in your ability to find it. Develop an “elevator speech” that let’s someone know who you are and what you are looking for. As long as you can articulate why you’re so great, others will be bound to believe what they hear.
   
2. Brand yourself: Be a name that someone will want to pass on. Let people know why you are a memorable person. Show them how your abilities, creativity, and skills set you apart from others. This will give you an edge when someone needs to pass on a potential job candidate.
   
3. Talk to people you already know: Some of your best contacts are the ones you already have. Your professors, family friends, club leaders, and other people you know. You can talk to these people about any contacts they might have in your field. Informational interviews can be extremely helpful for future job possibilities.
    
4. Don’t be a pest: Once you’re in touch with a network contact, remember that they have jobs and lives. It’s fine to persistent but not pushy. If they don’t email you back right away, be patient- it could just be a busy week at work for them.
    
5. Stay in touch with potential future network contacts: If you have done informational interviews or made any future contacts make sure you keep in touch with them. Send thank-you notes, write emails checking-in, or follow them on social networks such as , , or .

Jennifer Lagos
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment

Join Minnesota PRSA for their upcoming event!

Round Table Discussion: Shifting state-level communications programs to a national or global level

Date: Friday April 30, 2010

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Registration & Networking
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Roundtable Discussion

Location: Weber Shandwick ()

As more companies look to expand their exports and customer base, understanding how to reach beyond our local area and state is key. The first 2010 PRSA Round Table event will focus on communications programs and the challenge of taking them from a local level to a national or global level. Denny Shields will be talking about the national program and the grassroots efforts that he works on. Ted Davis will be talking about the technology and challenges of setting up communication to international locations. Looking at national and international communications coordination is the theme of this Round Table and should generate great discussion. An assortment of breakfast refreshments will be provided.

Presenters:
, Vice President, Weber Shandwick (@DennyShields)

, President, Davis Communications Management (@Ted Davis)

Registration: Please register for this event through the MN PRSA Portal http://www.mnprsa.com/index2.cfm?page=login.cfm

Cost: $30 Members
$40 Non-members

Weber Shandwick today announced the promotions of 12 employees across its health care, consumer marketing, digital communications, financial services, technology and corporate, community and public affairs practices.

has been promoted to account group manager in the technology practice. Bork currently supports public relations initiatives for Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, PDI Ninth House and mPay Gateway and recently managed the development of a comprehensive product technology and brand positioning sales reference guide for Syngenta Seeds. Since joining Weber Shandwick in 1999, she has participated in the agency’s global exchange program, spending six months in Brussels supporting clients British Telecom and Solectron. Bork is also a co-lead of Insights, a Weber Shandwick learning and development program.

has been promoted to account group manager in the health care practice. Garrison joined Weber Shandwick in 2006 and provides media and government relations, including thought leadership and issues management campaigns, for clients such as the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) and Ecolab.

has been promoted to account group manager in the financial services practice. Since joining Weber Shandwick in 2008, Hayes has managed and executed public relations campaigns for both public and private financial services accounts, including Prudential Retirement and the 2010 Census. Currently, she leads issues management and measurement efforts for the 2010 Census. Hayes also serves as president of Minnesota Women in Marketing and Communications.

has been promoted to account group manager in the health care practice. Poletz joined the agency in 2004, where she has provided expertise and team management in coalition building, public awareness campaigns, advocacy and events for clients including the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and Go Direct, a campaign for the U.S. Treasury.

has been promoted to account supervisor in the technology practice. Hirigoyen joined Weber Shandwick in the fall of 2002 and has since provided an array of public relations support to Honeywell, 2010 Census, Lawson Software, Calabrio and Spanlink. She currently leads strategic planning and trade media relations for Honeywell’s Utility Solutions division, which consists of creating media materials, including press releases, bylines and case studies.

has been promoted to account supervisor in the consumer marketing practice. During her career at Weber Shandwick, Kramer has worked with a variety of national food and technology clients, including The Coca-Cola Company, Odwalla, Land O’Lakes, Polaroid, Patak’s and Verizon. For the past two years, Kramer has provided project management and strategic support to the 2010 Census account, including contributions to the planning and launch of the 2010 Portrait of America Road Tour.

was promoted to account supervisor in the corporate, community and public affairs practice. Since joining the agency in 2007, Maurer has provided strategic counsel and support to a number of accounts, including BAE Systems, Duluth Metals, Polaris, the Minnesota Twins, the 3M Championship and Taste of the NFL. Maurer is also a member of Weber Shandwick’s Team Inline, a group designed to help clients bridge the gap between online and offline media.

has been promoted to senior account executive in the health care practice. Torres joined the agency in 2005 and has provided account support and expertise in the areas of public affairs, public awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts for a wide range of clients, including the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD). Torres is a member of Minnesota PRSA and also leads Weber Shandwick’s GREEN committee, the agency’s environmental responsibility initiative.

has been promoted to account executive in the consumer marketing practice. Hudson joined Weber Shandwick in June 2008 and has since played a key role in media relations, results measurement, campaign launches and reputation management for a variety of clients, such as the U.S. Army, 2010 Census and The Allstate Foundation.

has been promoted to account executive in the health care practice. Radio joined Weber Shandwick in late 2007 and has since provided expertise in advocacy and grassroots campaigns, media relations, event planning, patient education programs and public awareness for a variety of clients. These clients include Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), Boston Scientific, Prime Therapeutics and the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD). Radio is also a member of Minnesota PRSA and is involved on the Classics committee.

has been promoted to digital designer in the digital communications practice. Sorum joined Weber Shandwick in 2007 and has since assisted with the design, coding and distribution of numerous clients’ digital programs. These programs include the Syngenta e-newsletters, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service electronic press kits and the National Agri-Marketing Association award-winning myDairy Toolkit.

Johnna Vogelbacher has been promoted to account executive in the consumer marketing practice. Since joining Weber Shandwick in April 2008, Vogelbacher has provided media relations, online reputation management, campaign coordination and product launch assistance to a variety of clients, including Syngenta, Amway, and Polaroid. Vogelbacher also supports Weber Shandwick’s pro bono client, Partners for Violence Prevention.

Axiom Productions, the video division of Axiom Marketing Communications in Bloomington, announced Thursday the firm was selected to produce multiple video projects for the Chicago Builders Association. This new venture adds to the already
extensive multimedia work being done for clients like Carlson Hotels Worldwide, The Toro Company and Wilsonart International.

Axiom Productions will develop, produce and deliver marketing videos geared towards contractors and builders, promoting the benefits of working with the Builders Association. Axiom was one of many agencies considered in a national search.

"Axiom's history of success with projects much like what we had in mind give us confidence that they're the right partner on this project for us," said Andy Cole, Communications Manager, Chicago Builders Association. "It's important to us that we convey the value of our organization both to prospective members and the general public.

"The Axiom team exhibited a great understanding of what we wanted to accomplish and detailed how he would go about that in an incredibly comprehensive presentation that made us excited to work with Axiom. We can't wait to get started and look forward to what we think is going to be a great finished product."

Axiom's history with the building trade may have played a big role in the Builders Association's decision to hire outside of Chicago. Having worked on previous projects for such national clients as Women Build, Kitchenaid, Wilsonart and Habitat for Humanity, Axiom looks forward to continuing its work within the commercial and residential building products sectors.

Many of my fellow students have no doubt spent the early part of this semester trying to find an internship for this summer. Internships are a great way to get “real world” experience as well as meet people in the field you want to work in.

Unfortunately, an internship is seen as the “holy grail” for undergrads in their quest for employment after college. I say this because there are other opportunities besides internships in which undergrads can gain valuable experience in the field they want to work. One of those opportunities is a mentorship. The best part about a mentorship? They aren’t just for undergrads. All professionals should be seeking to learn from those who have more experience than them.

Before I go on, I should probably explain a little bit about what a mentorship is. As I hinted above, it is learning from someone who has more experience from you. But it is also more than that: A mentorship is a relationship. This isn’t just another way to network, a mentor-mentee connection is much deeper than that. Mentors will not only connect you with others in the field, they will guide you and teach you so that you can will be successful in the field.

This all sounds great, right? So why doesn’t everyone have a mentorship?

The problem is, most people don’t know how to set up a mentorship, and if they do start a mentorship, they have no idea what to do once they have them. Here are some tips to make your mentorship a positive experience:

• When searching for a mentor, find someone you respect. You want to have a relationship with somebody who is in a position that you want to be in someday.
• Decide what you want out of a mentorship. Before you start searching for a mentor, you should know what skills you want your mentor to help you develop, and what goals you want to accomplish with your mentor.
• Communicate your goals with your mentor. As I said earlier, mentorships are relationships and communication is key to positive relationships.
• Don’t feel like you are using your mentor. Your mentor will likely be giving a lot more to the relationship than you are, but that is OK. They wouldn’t be a good mentor if they weren’t sharing their knowledge with you.

Mentorships may not seem as glamorous as an internship to most undergrads, so I hope this helps you look at other ways of gaining “real world” experience. Mentorships can be just as valuable as an internship, plus you get the added bonus of making a deep connection with someone you admire. And if you are still worried about getting that perfect internship; who knows, maybe your mentorship can turn into an internship. I’ve seen it done before.

Sam Scott
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment

Risdall Marketing Group (RMG) announced that Matt Bergen has joined the company as Interactive Creative Director.

“Matt brings a broad range of creative experience to interactive and social media,” said Lara Balai co-president of creative for RMG. “His unique point of view will be an asset to our creative team.”

Most recently, Bergen worked at McCann Erickson Worldwide and Martin Williams as a senior designer.

Bergen graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Bergen as a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Temple University in paintings and print making.

is an important social medium for every public relations practitioner to use. However, when first entering this Twitter universe, it can be more overwhelming than the concept of status updating appears. This site opens up a new realm of possibilities for networking, so I decided to look at some different tips for proper Twitter etiquette to make the most of your Twitter experience.

1. Think of Twitter like a dinner party. If you behave the same way your experience should be informative, entertaining, and fun. If you wouldn’t say something out loud, then definitely don’t say it on Twitter. Because of the wide variety of people, some subjects aren’t appropriate. Also, remember that it’s public. If you Google yourself, your Twitter account will probably come up. Your mom or even future employer could read your tweets. Use this opportunity to prove your credibility and portray your personality.
    
2. Interact and share valuable information. Twitter is an interactive social medium so conversing with others is important. Comment on the information shared by others, and re-tweet what appeals to you. Fellow tweeters will return the favor, expanding your network. Tweets should include more than what you ate for lunch that day, because let’s be honest, no one really cares. Share links, tips, and information about subjects with which you’re familiar. And don’t ever spam! You may have a product or service to promote, but posting every two minutes about it will help you lose followers. Space out your information about your products among other valuable tweets.
    
3. Balance your professionalism with your personality. You want to prove to followers that you are a trustworthy and dependable source of information. You should appear approachable and friendly, but still remain professional. People are much more likely to do business with someone they are familiar with, and Twitter can help humanize you to others. You also want to also be sincere. Give credit where it is due, and keep up on congratulatory and gratitude tweets. You’ll end up leaving an imprint on the people you network with.
    
4. Follow interesting people. Twitter gives everyone the opportunity to sample ideas and knowledge of others, not only in your same area of expertise, but in areas where you have great interest, but lack knowledge. Follow important figures in your industry, and make sure to follow some of the same people they do as well! Don’t feel obligated to follow your followers. Look at the person's profile before you decide to return the favor. Today, reciprocating a Twitter follow is strictly voluntary, and there is no discourtesy in choosing not to.
    
5. Make your words count. For a networking site that allows you to post 140 characters, you have to learn to get to the point while still creating interest. On your Twitter bio, you have just 160 characters to make your case. Include your contact information, and a place where potential clients and followers can get an idea of what you and your business are about.

Katie Bertram
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment

Conference: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Gala: 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Full agenda

What you won’t want to miss:

• Getting knocked out of the park by Shel Holtz, ABC and IABC Fellow
  During his presentation Communicating Strategically in the Networked World, you’ll learn how online communication is driving audience behaviors, hear case studies that demonstrate alignment with business goals, tips about writing for the online environment, integrating online and offline communication and learn the basics for assessing the value of an organization’s online interactions
• Spending time networking with fellow communications professionals over an open lunch and extended Gala social hour.
• Taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of the Target Field in the amazing Carew Atrium.
• Celebrating the profession!

Conference + Gala registration includes:

• Continental breakfast
• Shel Holtz’s conference presentation, prepared exclusively for IABC Minnesota
• Lunch overlooking the field and in the Legend’s Club field seats (weather permitting, of course)
• Social hour with heavy appetizers and a cash bar – overlooking the field and Minneapolis skyline
• Gala program with Shel Holtz and the recognition of Bronze Quill and Pinnacle Award winners, as well as other professional achievements

We invite you to take this time to celebrate the profession, recognize accomplishments, and rejuvenate your passion for the field. Plus, two lucky Gala attendees will win a pair of tickets to see our hometown team – the Minnesota Twins!

Register by May 6th.

Target Field is located at 3rd Ave N, between 5th St N and 7th St N. We encourage attendees to take the Hiawatha LRT or Northstar Commuter Rail directly to Target Field and enter at the Fifth Street entrance. If driving, attendees should use Ramp A of the ABC Ramps and take the direct skyway access to Target Field. If walking, attendees should enter the ABC Ramps and come via direct skyway access from Ramp A.

Followers, retweets…these are some of the metrics of modern-day communications campaigns. But what about return on investment? If we dare to raise the issue, does that mean we're expected to have an answer?

Please join us for a group discussion on measuring the effectiveness of social media campaigns facilitated by Andy Keith, B2B Account Director in Weber Shandwick's digital communications practice and Aaron Pearson, SVP of Weber Shandwick's technology practice.

Weber Shandwick - Social Media Roundtable

WHEN:


Friday, April 23
Breakfast/registration: 7:45 a.m.
Roundtable discussion: 8-9 a.m.


WHERE:






RSVP:


Please contact Leah Kondes at
or .