Famous Footwear’s holiday advertising debuted nationwide this week with a 30-second run through snow in a spot called “Frozen Moments.” Developed by agency , the ad presents a young woman moving in slow-motion down a snowy sidewalk past (and over) her neighbors, who are engaged in a series of winter vignettes – showcasing the most famous shoe brands, of course.

“This spot captures the magic of the holiday and conveys that even the shoes on your feet can contribute to the creation of memorable moments. The technique here presents an emotional story arc for viewers, with our shoes nearly becoming characters within it,” said Famous Footwear Senior Vice President of Marketing Will Smith.

The ad represents the latest in the retailer’s “Make Today Famous” campaign and uses the emotional picket-fence scene to present shoes within the context of “famous holiday moments.” Famous Footwear intends for the slow-motion scene to motivate consumers to shop its buy-one-get-one-half-off holiday sale. The spot runs nationwide, with companion radio, through the end of the year.

Creating “Frozen Moments”

Campbell Mithun filmed the winter spot on two summer nights (really!) using a digital phantom camera, which shoots at an extremely high frame speed, 300 frames per second in this case, to create the final slow-motion result. The crew shot five background scenes to create the context of neighborhood action surrounding a young woman as she runs past dropping packages, flying snowballs, a whizzing sled, a tipping ladder and in-transport holiday goodies, to meet her young man arriving via taxi.

“A layering of scenes accomplished our objective to engage consumers. The main character carries the emotion and narrative tension, and the contextual scenes add depth as well as additional opportunities for meaningful shoe-centric camera angles,” said Campbell Mithun Art Director Andy Anema.

To create the winter wonderland, the agency “snowed” the location by covering it with white blankets and truckloads of cotton-fiber-based realistic, packable snow. Sound for the spot, created by Nylon Studios, finalizes the snow-globe wonderland feel.

Other creative partners included Loni Peristere, director, and Brett Nicoletti, editor, both of Zoic Studios. Agency credits include: executive creative director; Andy Anema, art director; Bill Johnson, copywriter; and Alex Colvin and David Howell, producers. Spark is the media agency.

Make Today Famous
Famous Footwear’s Make Today Famous campaign was created by Campbell Mithun in . The campaign features vignettes showing how people can make even everyday activities “famous” in their own unique ways, influenced by the shoes on their feet. The 2010 holiday ad represents the fifth seasonal effort under the Make Today Famous campaign umbrella and follows the recent featuring fast-paced “time-slice” moments.

LaBreche recently announced that has been promoted to assistant account executive and to account assistant.

Since joining LaBreche in 2009, Morrison has worked on a variety of consumer and business-to-business accounts including: American Express, Bercom, Fafinski Mark & Johnson, Ascent, AECOM, Computype, Tastefully Simple and Wausau Paper. Prior to joining LaBreche, Morrison previously worked as an intern for a Minneapolis-based publishing group and as a publicist for a Twin Cities artist.

Whitney Johnson began her career as an intern at LaBreche in June 2010 and has recently been promoted to an account assistant. Johnson is a recent graduate of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Her client roster includes: Faegre & Benson, the Wood Products Council, Wausau Paper, 3M Traffic Safety Systems, Ascent, and BI Contractor Rewards.

Guest Blog: Cliques and social media
 
Cliques have always had a negative connotation, beginning with memories of our high school days. The “power elite” popular kids excluded us from the underage drinking parties on weekends, and even worse, we were the brunt of many bad jokes in an attempt to be initiated into the in-crowd.

If you compare this type of group and the cliques or niche groups one can find in social networks, it’s a night and day difference. You might have thought this post was going to turn into a rant revealing striking similarities between being a popular kid in high school and maintaining a similar position on , but it’s not. Instead, I’d like to point out how cliques are a natural progression in social media in order to weed out the noise rather than those unwanted based on their looks or behavior.

Think about it: how many times on Twitter do we see individuals connecting with like-minded individuals? We then see these relationships progress into something even more personal – a real life meeting, such as a tweet-up or happy hour with your T-Mobile “5”. In these meetings, you exchange your ideas, you build off one another, and pretty soon the group grows. No one is excluded. The only requirement: participation.

The Golden Rule of Twitter has and always will be (though I don’t think anyone’s actually tweeted it) to participate in communities outside the Twitter community shared within the Twitter community – meaning, participate in blog discussions, then share the posts, and then perhaps engage directly with the author of those posts on Twitter to secure a meet-and-greet the next time they’re in town. The last step takes a bit of time, so remember that.

Also remember that social channels such as Twitter aren’t only for the geeks or “gleeks” wanting to converse and connect. This list of offers up a variety of contextual categories. Even more niche than that, Twitter lists also enable you to find like-minded types of people. You can mimic a similar arrangement with Facebook groups, although it’s not micro-friendly and certainly not as participatory… not yet anyway. Nevertheless, we’ve never felt second or third best in these lists or groups. We’re right where we belong.

But in social networks people do pretend to be someone they are not, which is easily sniffed out thanks to those follow-up real-life meetings, or shared social objects that are not quite adding up. Hmm… that person talks about their love for beer when I’ve only ever seen them drink wine. And why did they say they were obsessed with Mumford and Sons when they’ve only added and subscribed to Lady Gaga channels on Pandora? We had a name for these people in high school – “posers” –and man were they the brunt of many bad jokes. That leads me to another point: in forming cliques, we also have to be honest if we truly fit into those cliques. I can think of many online communities where I simply don’t belong. How about you?

So whether you’re a Star Wars fan or the loudest voice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, remember that in social media, you’re not just clicking on links. You’re “cliquing” on a world that welcomes you in. But as the big blue genie in Aladdin reminds us, “Beeee yourself.” (Yes, Aladdin is my favorite Disney movie. The guy gets the girl).

As social media becomes more advanced and new tools and websites are popping up everyday, it can be hard for companies to stay up-to-date with social media and creating a personality for all these sites. One of the most common and useful tools however, takes a bit of work: blogging. Many companies have in turn hired someone to write and update their blog for them. This begins the debate of ghostblogging, is it ethical or not? From one point of view ghost writing has become very accepted and no one questions who is behind the company news letter these days, or who sends out the annual reports, most just assume it is not coming directly from the CEO, although they most likely (hopefully) are the ones who review them before publishing. But do most people also assume the same for blogs?

Because blogging is such a new form of media the logistics of it are not always as clear as we would assume. Many customers visiting the blog may think they are actually reading from the desk of the CEO. If that’s the case great, but majority of the time its not and the public should be given this information. I feel the same way about the micro-blogging site Twitter. There is no need to make the public believe they are actually talking to a celebrity who in reality just hires someone to tweet for them, or the head of a company who actually has no clue how to use Twitter. Some argue that it is common sense (obviously Lil’ Wayne isn’t tweeting from his jail cell), but you would be surprised by the amount of people that don’t take things like this into account. Overall I think it doesn’t have to be an issue if there is someone or many people blogging for a company, but why not take off the mask and make it known to the public. As everyone is still trying to figure out the “right way” of going about social media, the idea of transparency and honesty with the public can’t hurt.

There is a surplus of articles online about this topic that go into numerous different options and situations in which ghostblogging is acceptable and when it is not. Obviously there is no right answer here but I encourage you to explore the topic further, I found very good points from both sides. One great article I found was The Ghost Speaks by Michael Janofsky, it goes into depth on the topic and talks to some of the ghostbloggers behind big names. At the end of the day I still think that as far as PR goes, social media is a way to connect with our target audiences and build relationships with them, and more and more these days online communities expect and appreciate transparency. If your company has a blog why not put the names of the people that actually wrote the posts on it? If its coming from a writer for the CEO, state that somewhere. It will go a long way.

Betsy Sandberg
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment 

As the world progresses and we see ourselves moving more and more into a social media world, how often do we consider the effects it is having on our everyday lives and interactions? I mean, ten years ago nobody really employed blogs let alone used one themselves personally or professionally. But take a look at today’s world and it’s not hard to see how far we’ve come from our pre-blog days. Technorati currently states it is tracking roughly 113 million blogs, a number which anyone person of any age can respect. I mean, 113 million people using blogs either professionally or professionally? That’s 113 million people that are posting their lives, information and personalities on the web in the attempt to make themselves known to the world. There are over 500 million active users on Facebook. And Twitter? A shade over 100 million users. Don’t believe me? See for yourself:  Call me old fashioned, but something about this just doesn’t seem personal at all.

We have moved into a world where face-to-face interactions and personal relationships are slowly being traded for online interactions and the ability to “connect” with the maximum amount of people over the shortest period of time. Today, the number of Twitter followers and Facebook friends one has is more important than how many times they have picked up the phone and held a worthwhile, extended conversation with someone that they truly care about. Is it just me, or has the desire to become more versatile and recognized in the social media world trumped the value of investing time and effort into fewer relationships? I feel like we’ve become a society obsessed with being a mile wide and an inch deep; not the other way around.

But I’ll get off my soapbox now. Because at the end of the day what I say about it will more than likely be written off as old-school, too outdated, certainly way too behind the times. I guess this is the world we live in. A world that would rather invest its time maintaining a thousand Facebook friends and retweeting to all their new “friends” they “met” online at the blogging forum they spent 11 minutes on during their lunch break. And what would I know? I’m just a kid that enjoys having lunch with those I truly know and engaging in substantial conversations whose quotes won’t end up being tweeted. A guy who can’t seem to shake the feeling that the real world is founded on one’s ability to be personable and interact well with others in person. A guy that sees the importance of the online world as just a little bit overvalued and the worth of personal outreach a little too underappreciated. I guess it’s just a sign of the times…

The integration of OLSON and OLSONdenali is taking an exciting step forward, with the transition of Greg Heinemann, former managing partner and a founder at Denali Marketing, to OLSON as senior vice president. In June, OLSON merged with Denali to create OLSONdenali, a specialty discipline within OLSON.

At OLSON, Greg works closely with the strategy and media groups and oversees the development of work and thinking with key clients. At Denali, Heinemann focused on brand strategy, business development and key accounts, including Best Buy, United Health and AARP.

“Greg is like a shot of adrenaline to the system—he’s masterful at connecting dots between people and organizations with energy and focus,” says Kevin DiLorenzo, president and CEO, OLSON. “And, integrating his expertise between OLSON and OLSONdenali has meant that we have seen great strides in bringing our shared clients together.”

“OLSON is combining inventive and creative thinking with emerging tools and technologies in a whole new way, navigating exciting and uncharted waters,” says Greg Heinemann, OLSON senior vice president. “I’m energized to be riding this next wave with OLSON, building connections between individuals, communities and brands.”

Before founding Denali, Heinemann ran Blackwatch, a brand consulting agency, and was president of design firm Agency Eleven. He holds a degree in history from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in international studies from the University of Notre Dame. He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors for the James J. Hill Reference Library.

It’s about that time of year again: seniors register for their last semester of college and the harsh reality of graduation slaps them in the face. Currently, I am among that group of students. I planned out my classes for spring 2011 and realized the only thing left to do was to start looking for a job.

Oh crap.

I wouldn’t say I’m a square one with my job search; I get feeds sent to my e-mail every day with new internships and entry level positions. I scour the and pages for job opportunities with most of the PR agencies in Minneapolis. I’ve learned a thing or two, especially using social media job for my job hunt. With the reality of impending graduation and as the “real world” awaits me, I’ve come to prepare myself a little better than I give myself credit for. For those just starting out looking for a job using social media outlets, or even for those looking for another take on it, I’ve gotten a few ideas together on the dos and don’ts of job searching via social media.

DON’T let your page scream “I partied HARD in college!”

This one should be obvious: take down or un-tag yourself in incriminating pictures of “that one really crazy night”. We always hear that once it’s on the internet, it will never go away. So, at least make inappropriate photos harder to find. Employers don’t want see how little clothing you wore on Halloween night dressed as a “sexy cop” or the photo proof that you actually did make out with the homecoming queen at your frat party. So yes, go take down that profile picture of your “epic keg stand” from last weekend ASAP.
DO utilize every social media outlet available

We get it. You’re addicted to Facebook. Now get addicted to Twitter. If you never really understood the point Twitter or you’ve heard of it but never got into it because your friends don’t use it, too bad, go set one up right now. Make it your homepage. Use it on your phone. Look at it 100 times a day. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, all communications professionals have a twitter and surprise (!), they actually know to use it and use it often. I get all my communications news from people I follow on twitter, and I’m a lot more social media savvy and connected because of it. Even if your friends don’t use it, start following people in the business. Here are a few of my favorite twitter news sources to get you started:

Media bistro:
PR Newser:
Flack Me:
Ryan May:
Fast Horse Inc:
Sara Evans:
Just for fun:
Flavorpill:
(Then google Minneapolis/St. Paul PR agencies and follow every single one)

DO Blog Away

Blogging is scary. However, not only can getting yourself connected with communications blogs be a way to gain contacts and friends you otherwise would not have the chance to meet, you can use it as a way to differentiate yourself from other applicants going after the same job as you. Communications employers expect you to be connected, and it helps if there are little pieces of yourself on the internet for them to get a real sense of who you are, not just the you from your resume or your polished suited-up self during your interview. Blogging gives you a voice and provides a real life outlet for your writing abilities, which we all know is very important.

Here are a couple great blogs to get you started:
Everything PR: http://www.pamil-visions.net/
Flack Me: http://www.flackme.com/
MNPR: https://mnprblog.com/
Communications Conversations: http://www.arikhanson.com/
Idea Peepshow: http://www.fasthorseinc.com/blog/
For more info on how to use a social media to find a job, check out this article from Mashable (another great blog!) http://mashable.com/2010/10/30/facebook-jobs/

Chelsey Johnson
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment

• Six bloggers that advocate healthier lifestyles may be putting their readers at risk (no coincidence here).
• Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and health care reform
• How to ward off the flu this season
• The monthly column “Big Girl in a Skinny World”

Fleishman-Hillard Minneapolis announced the addition of as a managing supervisor to support its growing business across its healthcare communications practice.

Hays brings a breadth of experience in healthcare and pharmaceutical marketing, product launches, media relations, issues management, data and publication support, and consumer and physician events.

Before joining Fleishman-Hillard, Hays was vice president at the global public relations agency Porter Novelli in New York, N.Y., where she oversaw communications for two of the company’s key pharmaceutical clients, managing pre-market through post-launch communications programs for a pediatric central nervous system medication as well as issues counsel on behalf of a blockbuster over-the-counter pain medication. Her work has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America with a Bronze Anvil Award in 2006.

Previously, Hays provided media relations and grassroots outreach support for a national environmental nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. She holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University.

“We’re delighted to have Debra join Fleishman-Hillard,” said David Hakensen, senior vice president and general manager of the Minneapolis office. “She brings a critical skill set and range of experience that will serve our clients well.”

As a college senior I am often confronted by family, friends, and even random acquaintances about what my major is. The conversation goes a little like this…
Since beginning to pursue my major in public relations I have struggled with explaining to people what public relations really is. Confused looks and inaccurate assumptions have become a part of many conversations pertaining to my major. This got me to thinking. Does the general public know what we do? Or how they are even affected by our work?

Public Relations Definition
Defined by PRSA () “Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.” And defined by The first World Assembly of Public Relations Associations “the art and social science of analyzing trends, predicting their consequences, counseling organizational leaders, and implementing planned programs of action, which will serve both the organization and the public interest.”

Everyone is affected by Public Relations
Whether people know what public relations is or not they are affected by it everyday. Do you still take Tylenol when you have a headache? I know I do, or at least I’m not afraid to. And would that still be the case if not for how the public relations were handled in 1982 when Extra Strength Tylenol bottles were tampered with and poisoned? Johnson & Johnson took swift and aggressive action. They managed to maintain their relationship with their publics and regain its good image.

More simply do you ‘like’ your favorite restaurant on Facebook? Or perhaps you ‘follow’ them on Twitter? These are both ways in which public relations professionals connect their company with their publics in order to build a positive relationship.


If only I had a sufficient amount of time to go into this explanation the next time I’m casually asked “So what’s your major?” Until then…

What I’ve learned from my undergraduate degree in PR

It’s fall semester at the University of Minnesota and it’s becoming more and more clear that my time at the U is coming to an end. Freshmen gossip about their crazy nights in the dorms, while my fellow senior classmates thrust open calendars to schedule mock interviews (and real ones too!), resume building workshops, portfolio reviews, and networking events. Their lives are consumed in getting that perfect PR job, which can be seen in the post after post in the PRSSA blog roll. But my schedule has taken on a different set of objectives, ranging from practice LSATs (Law School Admissions Test), setting up coffee dates with past mentors and professors to request the ever-important letters of recommendations, and writing personal statements regarding my future as a law student.

Why not just be a political science major? Or history?
Well, let me be honest about this one. I have minors in both political science and history. BUT I wanted more. I wanted a field of study that felt applicable to the real world. Not a regurgitation of theories and famous dead philosophers and social deviants. And my studies in Public Relations have given that to me.

Communication
Being able to properly communicate is an incredible feat. Not being able to do this, quite literally is detrimental to your career prospects. PR tactics and strategies have truly provided a solid foundation for writing and communicating ideas in a thorough manner.

Social media
We are living in an ever-changing world in which technology is constantly creating new forums for discussions. PR is one of the leading fields to take on social media and create opportunities within this uncharted land. I seek to take this unabashed lull into new realms as I seek to crawl my way through three years of dry, black and white jargon. I will not forget this willingness to explore new opportunities as I one day seek a career as an attorney.

Networking
PR professionals could not be successful without their expansive relationships with people in the media industry and throughout the community. Never have I been more impressed by a profession in actively creating and maintaining relationships as I have been with the Twin Cities PR industry. This mentality will bring me opportunity, whether it finding a mentor, receiving advice, or even finding a career.

Cap and Gown Ordered, Gradation Here I Come
Looking back at my undergraduate choices, choosing to study Public Relations has created grounds for me to walk into law school with a different perspective. I love history and I love political science, but now, I truly feel like I can understand the principals of several communication professions in actively participate in the media driven world. So bon voyage PR, I may be leaving your presence for the next three years, but something tells me that you will reappear throughout my working career in one form or another.

Michelle Hersh
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment  

today announced the promotion of to senior vice president in the firm’s healthcare practice.


Since joining Weber Shandwick in 1998, Hemberger has worked with clients on strategic and integrated communications planning, media relations, corporate communications, internal communications and issues and crisis management.


“Barb has been an important leader in growing the healthcare business, and we are thrilled to announce her well-deserved promotion,” said Sara Gavin, president of Weber Shandwick’s Minneapolis office. “She sets the standard, delivering exceptional service and measurable results for clients.”


Hemberger has led communications efforts for such clients as the American College of Surgeons, Amedisys, Prime Therapeutics, Ecolab and Carlson Wagonlit Travel.


Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Hemberger worked in public relations for Carlson Companies. She also worked for Business Incentives, WCCO-TV, the Hamline University School of Law and was a reporter/anchor at two radio stations in Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

has been named senior associate in Carmichael Lynch Spong’s Minneapolis office. In her new role, Bonneville is responsible for providing creative and strategic ideas and excellence in execution for clients American Standard® and Martek Biosciences®.

Prior to joining Carmichael Lynch Spong, Bonneville worked as an account executive at Kohnstamm Communications in St. Paul, Minn. While there, she was a team lead and managed media relations for a variety of clients, with a focus on those in the food and health care industries. Bonneville also worked as an account executive at Roepke Public Relations in Minneapolis, Minn. She handled consumer products and health care accounts for clients in need of guidance with branding, design, legal, event and nonprofit work.

“We are very excited for Meghan to join the agency and expand our public relations talent,” says Julie Batliner, managing director. “She is an accomplished professional, and we are pleased to welcome her on board.”

Bonneville received her bachelor of arts degree in journalism and mass communications from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.

While declaring my public relations major at the end of my freshman year, I had no idea the amount of focus my classes would put on social media. To me social networking sites and public relations had no connection to one another, and I never thought that I would be taking a class that devoted half of the semester to discussing the latter. These sites were used by my friends to exchange photographs of vacations and to make plans for the weekend ahead.

Things have changed in the world of strategic communications and with these changes also comes the adjustment of curriculum at any school of journalism. Social networking sites have now become critical tools in many public relations and advertising campaigns and I do agree that it is important to educate future professionals about their benefits.

With that being said, I majored in PR because I wanted a profession that allowed me to interact face to face with new people every day. I wanted to learn how to create strong personal relationships with others and use those relationships to benefit my client. Sitting in my classes I often fear my future will consist of me wearing footed pajamas tweeting about my client. I want real relationships not just new Facebook friends.

While I find the topic of social media interesting and do see its benefits, I feel that traditional PR and the importance of building a social network offline are oftentimes neglected. Traditional PR is still extremely important if businesses want to succeed. In order to create awareness about a client, it is a necessary for PR professionals to come up with creative angles that will attract the media. The best way to know what the media likes or what a certain reporter would be interested in is by getting to know them. I found an interesting article from prdaily.com that discussed how Vanity Fair’s editor Michael Wolff does not respond to pitches unless it is from a friend or someone who has made the effort to get to know him. If you are just pitching to him along with the rest of your contacts list, your idea will go right in the trash. Sure this sounds discouraging however I feel it is part of the job.

We can’t just create pages and about upcoming products hoping that someone will notice. Traditional PR is still needed to come up with captivating ideas and personal relationships are what will get those ideas coverage. I’m not denying the power of social media but I can’t help but wonder if it is sometimes overemphasized in today’s classrooms.

Being close to graduation, there is one thing in particular that interests me most about public relations in our society, which is securing a job in the field.

I will be graduating next fall and am equally excited and terrified to start my professional career amidst uncertainties in the public relations field. The article, “Demand for Top PR Execs Up, While Entry Level Pay Is Low,” from PR News Online lays out a current scope of things when it comes to the PR profession.

A few of their points got me thinking: hiring PR pros is in demand right now, which is great for the pros, but the job outlook is bleak at the entry level, and this is less than encouraging. Especially when many students come out of school with debt and are getting minimum wage, no matter how qualified they may be.

The top social skills needed in the PR profession are: social media, crisis communications and reputation management (in order). Writing, listening and problem solving are also high on the list, but what Lisa Ryan, senior VP at Heyman Associates, stresses as the most important skill if you are looking to get ahead is leadership. So what can I do to assert myself and prove my skills that I have learned in school?

The ability to hone our leadership skills in school is not always right in front of us and so it is up to us, as students, to take part in projects and organizations where we can define and hone leadership skills that will become so valuable to a company in our careers. Something else that has certainly stuck in my mind is the need to have a world view in communications. I realize that while I stay current on many things in the news nationally and internationally, I do not really have a “world view” in communications and this is something that I will need to explore.

So what more is there to say other than that the most important thing you can do for yourself is to gain experience which will set you apart. Experience, experience, experience! I am thankful to have a great internship where I can explore the publicity side of the business and intend to learn as much as I possibly can while I still have this position.

I love public relations, but for now, I am thankful to still be in school, getting ahead and preparing myself for the years to come as a professional.

Stacy Fahey
University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment

Once again students from the University of Minnesota will be contributing to the MNPR Blog as part of their Journalism 3279 class. They will be contributing not only to the MNPR Blog, but also to the Minnesota Student PR Blog.

I am always excited to hear from students and also to get your thoughts on their posts.

I hope you enjoy reading and that you will leave some good comments.

Read previous posts from University of Minnesota students here.

The Minneapolis office of today announced the promotions of Aaron Masterson and Andy Ybarra in the technology practice and Ranae Sandholm in the farm and food advocacy practice.

was promoted to account director in the technology practice. He joined the agency in 2000 and serves as the account lead for Honeywell Building Solutions (HBS) across Weber Shandwick offices in North America. As part of his role, he led the team that introduced the Honeywell Renewable Energy Scorecard analysis tool that helps organizations pinpoint the renewable technology with the greatest environmental and economic drivers, garnering significant coverage through national and trade media campaigns. Masterson’s accolades include receiving the PRWeek “PR Innovation of the Year” award in 2003 for his work related to the successful implementation and use of the company’s constituency management system with a key technology client. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, double majoring in advertising and English.

Andy Ybarra was promoted to account group manager in the technology practice. Ybarra joined the agency in 2004 and directs the public relations activities for Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS), Honeywell Security and LumaSense Technologies. In this role he manages communications programs across multiple industry verticals and coordinates the media relations campaign for HPS’ annual Honeywell Users Group conference. A native of El Paso, Texas, Ybarra holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M.

was promoted to account group manager in the farm and food advocacy practice. Sandholm joined the agency in 2008 and manages communications activities for Syngenta. In this role she organized the outreach program for Syngenta’s launch of Agrisure Viptera and orchestrated the communications programming of Syngenta’s annual sales meeting, hosting approximately 500 attendees. A native of Readlyn, Iowa, Sandholm holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Entries are now being accepted for the Minnesota PRSA Classics awards! Classics Elements awards recognize outstanding individual components or tactics of programs or campaigns that incorporate sound planning, execution and evaluation, and Classics Programs awards recognize outstanding public relations programs that incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. All Minnesota communications professionals are eligible to enter; you do not need to be a PRSA member.

Eligibility
The majority of an entry’s work must be completed between Oct. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2010. Programs tend to have a better chance of winning when they’re near completion and can be better evaluated against their initial objectives.

Deadline
Deadline for receipt of entries is noon on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. Each entry must be submitted according to the “How to Submit Your PRSA Classics Entry” instructions or it will be disqualified without a refund. There are no deadline extensions.

Element Changes for 2010
Please note changes in two Element subcategories for 2010. Instead of three Element categories for audiovisual tactics (previously known as 3A. Video-Programs, 3B. Video-PSA, 4. Audio), they are consolidated to one Element, 3. Multimedia. Instead of four subcategories for Media Kits (6A-D. Products, Services, Events and Other), the Element is separated by budget, Media Kits 6A. $15,000 and less, 6B. more than $15,000.

Watch the PRSA Classics 2011 webpages for complete details.

The Minneapolis office of today announced the hiring of Laura Aumann, Rebecca Lechner, Stacey Rammer and Sarah Van Nevel in the agency’s healthcare practice.

joined the healthcare practice as an account supervisor. A former broadcast reporter, Lechner worked at Weber Shandwick from 2004-2009 in the financial services group, primarily on the U.S. Treasury’s Go Direct campaign. In late 2009, she went to Live Smoke Free/Association for Non-Smokers – Minnesota to work as a program coordinator for a statewide public health outreach program. In her current role at Weber Shandwick, she brings expertise in strategic communications, public health communications, grassroots outreach, media relations and account management skills. Lechner has a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and is a current graduate student in the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health.

joined the healthcare practice as a senior account executive. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Aumann spent nearly three years working with a variety of clients in healthcare, consumer products, higher education and law. She began her career at GE Healthcare working with the public relations, marketing communications and community relations teams and also spent time in Chicago, working with Edelman’s healthcare group. Aumann graduated cum laude from Valparaiso University in Indiana with bachelor degrees in public relations and museum studies and has more than four years of experience in the public relations field. Laura provides daily account management, medical device and healthcare communications experience, national and local media relations implementation, message development and event/trade show support for clients such as Ecolab, Amedisys and the American College of Surgeons.

has joined the healthcare practice as a senior account executive. Rammer is rejoining Weber Shandwick from OLSON. Rammer previously worked in Weber Shandwick’s corporate, community and public affairs practice from 2006-2010 where she worked on clients such as the Mayo Clinic. Rammer brings public affairs for healthcare clients experience, which is an important component for clients such as Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, the Society for Cardiovascular Intervention and Angiography, and American College of Surgeons. Rammer holds a bachelor of science degree in business entrepreneurship from Saint Catherine University.

Upon completion of her internship, Sarah Van Nevel joined the healthcare practice as an assistant account executive, where she provides research, media relations and organizational support to a number of healthcare clients, including the American College of Surgeons, the U.S. Army Medical Department and Ecolab. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Van Nevel gained public relations experience through internships at the University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies, the Minnesota Center for Photography and Nemer Fieger. Van Nevel graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and mass communications.

Interested in becoming a more active member of Minnesota Women in Marketing and Communications? We have a few volunteer opportunities coming up for November's Learning Lunch:

Greeter: Represent MWMC by welcoming guests and or helping with registration.
Photographer: Capture the moment by taking pictures at the event that will be used in multiple media channels.
Writer: Draft a post-event recap for the Member to Member newsletter

Being an active member is a great way to meet new people and build lasting professional relationships. If you are interested in any of the volunteer opportunities, please contact Katie Fisher at .

has joined Beehive PR as an account supervisor. Kerr has more than six years of experience creating and implementing strategic marketing and public relations plans for nonprofit and business-to-business clients.

Before joining Beehive, Kerr was an account manager at Karwoski & Courage Public Relations, where she managed business-to-business dental health accounts, including 3M ESPE implants and Patterson Dental. Kerr previously managed public affairs and nonprofit clients at Strategic America, planning special events and securing high-profile media coverage for clients. At ZLRIGNITION, she contributed to a public relations campaign that received two PRIME Awards of Excellence from the Central Iowa chapter of PRSA.

A summa cum laude graduate of Creighton University, Kerr earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications.

The Minneapolis office of today announced four new hires across its consumer marketing, technology and digital communications practice groups.

has been hired as an assistant account executive in the consumer marketing practice upon completion of her internship. Camann plays an important role on several client accounts, including the U.S. Army, Amway Corp. and a national insurance company. Throughout a majority of her internship, she also assisted the 2010 Census team with strategic media monitoring and reporting. Prior to Weber Shandwick and while enrolled at the University of Minnesota, she completed internships with Maccabee Group, the university’s School of Journalism and assisted with event logistics for two non-profit organizations. Camann holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and journalism from the University of Minnesota.

has been hired as an assistant account executive in the digital communications practice upon completion of his internship. Stafki started in the agency’s consumer marketing practice and contributed to multiple client accounts, including Polaris Industries, Victory Motorcycles and the U.S. Army. Currently, he supports the execution and development of online engagement initiatives for the U.S. Army. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Stafki completed internships with KARE-TV, the Minnesota Zoo and the American Red Cross. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in communication studies.

has been hired as an assistant account executive in the technology practice upon completion of his internship. He has supported a wide range of client initiatives with strategic writing, digital content management, research and influencer event coordination. His client roster has included Honeywell Building Solutions, Honeywell Process Solutions and Syngenta Seeds Inc. Hendricks came to Weber Shandwick following an editorial internship with Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and holds a bachelor of arts degree in English with a media studies concentration from St. Olaf College.

has been hired as a project manager in the digital communications practice. He will manage digital projects for Weber Shandwick and his clients, including Amway Corp., Toro, Opus, Mall of America and the IRS. Glatzel brings expertise in managing the development and execution of websites, electronic and interactive press kits, e-newsletters and e-mail campaigns. Previously, he was an interactive account manager with Constellation Web Solutions and before starting a career in digital he was a language arts and history teacher in Wisconsin and Seattle. Glatzel graduated from the University of Minnesota where he received a bachelor of arts and his post-graduate secondary education license.

Last week I attempted to answer the question: "What separates me from the competition?" This discussion included some of my strengths. One thing that I am really good at is managing big projects with lots of moving pieces. I can create a project plan in no time, as well as envision the resources it will take to reach our goal. I enjoy this, and I believe it is what I excel at.

This week's focus on weaknesses is a very tender discussion for me. For those of you that have experienced being laid off, you know the insecurities that quickly creep into your mind. Maybe I am not good at what I do? Maybe I need to rethink my career path? Will I ever find a job I love again?

But I committed to sharing a few of my weaknesses, so here we go.

An area that I struggle greatly with is attention to detail. There are very gifted and talented people who have eagle-eyes and can pinpoint every grammatical error they see. In PR it is critical to have team members who can write flawlessly. I am not that person. My strength is not performing detailed, mundane tasks like proof reading and editing. For me, writing takes time and intentionality and even then I still have tpyos typos.

Another weakness of mine is that I'm a natural procrastinator when my plate is not full. For example, one of the reasons I started this blog is because at the time my work load was light enough that I needed something to challenge me and keep me focused each day. I do best work when I have a lot on my plate. Juggling projects and deadlines forces me to stay focused and on task. Throughout my career this weakness has inspired me to complete my MBA, explore volunteer opportunities and participate in ongoing networking events. Rather than face daily procrastination, I will seek out whatever I need to, to ensure that I have enough momentum to keep moving me forward and engaged in my daily workload.

While I am not detail-oriented and can sometimes be a procrastinator, I am fearless in my style of leadership. I am not afraid to make quick decisions and take calculated risks. I am extremely good at reading other people and getting them to perform at their best. I'm passionate about helping people develop their careers and watching them succeed alongside me. Both personally and professionally, I am a team player. I don't believe in individual success.

I can only guess what my next job will look like. Until then, I agree with a fellow unemployed colleague who said it best when he said to me, "We will find jobs we love because we are damn good at what we do."

Read the rest of my unemployment journey here.

Celebrate the holiday season with a PRSA Meet & Mingle hosted by OLSON, a fast-growing agency recently named to the Metro 100 and Inc. 5000 lists.

Located at OLSON’s headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, this event will allow you to network with other public relations and advertising professionals while experiencing the fun environment this agency is known for.

Appetizers and beverages included. Parking is available for $4.25 in the pay lot across Hennepin from OLSON’s front door, and next to the Basilica. Metered street parking is available for $0.25 per half hour.

Twitter hashtag: #MeetMingle

has been promoted to chief human resources officer at advertising agency Carmichael Lynch. Since joining the agency in 2007, West’s role has included overseeing the human resources department and serving as an integral part of the agency’s management team. In her new role, West is charged with helping the agency achieve a unique and sustainable competitive advantage for attracting and retaining highly skilled employees.

Before joining Carmichael Lynch, West was a director of human resources for Anchor Companies in Minnetonka, Minn., where she oversaw a company-wide restructuring in addition to her supervision of all aspects of workforce management. Prior to that, she served as a director of human resources for XSYS Print Solution Inks in Plymouth, Minn., where she provided direction and guidance for all human resources employees and worked to consolidate the HR department for a merger occurring at the time.

“Sue is a hard-working professional and a great problem-solver,” says Mike Lescarbeau, CEO, Carmichael Lynch. “Through her consistency and dedication, Sue has proven that she is well-deserving of this promotion.”

In her time away from work, West serves as a human resources panelist at her alma mater, the College of St. Benedict and its partner school St. John’s University. She is a member of the Human Resources Management Committee for the American Association of Advertising Agencies, as well as an active participant in professional organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management and Employment Law Institute. She also is vice president of the Minnesota Chapter of Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and has been recognized by both the local and national Spinal Muscular Atrophy organization for her fundraising achievements as auction chair, a position she has held since 2001.

West earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the College of St. Benedict.

The Minneapolis office of Weber Shandwick today announced the hiring of four new employees in the financial services practice.

joined the financial services practice as an account supervisor, working on government and financial services accounts and industry thought leadership activities. Before joining Weber Shandwick, Lewis worked for the Maccabee Group, where she worked as a senior counselor for the past four years. Her previous work experience also includes working with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life in Washington, D.C. and at Bennett Media Group, a boutique agency in the D.C. area. A Chicago, Ill. native, Lewis graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

joined the financial services practice group as a senior account executive, working on government, financial services and insurance accounts. Before joining Weber Shandwick, Morgan worked for Linnihan Foy Advertising where she developed printed materials, web content, earned media coverage, promotions and special events. Morgan’s prior experience also includes working as a technical writer, an independent communications consultant, an adjunct English instructor at Bismarck State Collage and a reporter and editor for several newspapers in North Dakota. A Littleton, Colo. native, she received a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from Dickinson State University (N.D.) and an MA in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Upon completion of her internship, Katherine Hannon joined the financial services practice as an assistant account executive. Hannon is an integral member of an award-winning national campaign to promote electronic payments for federal benefit check recipients, supporting partner outreach, materials development, strategic media monitoring and reporting and media relations. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Hannon spent time as a public relations intern at OLSON, the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Charities Review Council. A native of Edina, Minn., Hannon graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. While at the U of M, Hannon was also president of the university’s PRSSA chapter.

was hired as an assistant account executive in the financial services practice upon completion of his internship. Grauman is a valued member of several teams, working on several reporting and measurement initiatives, media monitoring, crisis preparedness, coordinating website updates and video production. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Grauman worked for the Hastings Star Gazette where he was a reporter covering Hastings City Hall and other community news. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Grauman received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. While at UMD, he served as news editor/reporter for the University of Minnesota Duluth Statesman and as an on-air host for KUMD-FM.

C.E.L. Public Relations is passionately committed to the betterment of business, family and the community. Clients are often drawn to the full service-marketing firm because of this commitment and they stay because they experience the value it brings to their business.

For more than twenty years, clients have trusted C.E.L. as their marketing partner, bringing their message to the marketplace in a Creative, Effective and Lasting way. Led by co-owners Cindy Leines and Kari Logan, each member of the C.E.L. team touches every project that comes through the firm, bringing a perfect storm of creativity and expertise to each client.

C.E.L. helps clients strategically plan, implement and ultimately grow their business using effective public relations. They do it with strategic planning, branding, media relations, graphic design, web design, social media and a drive to positively impact people’s lives and the life of the communities they live and work in. The firm has won numerous industry awards and consistently ranks in Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal’s list of Top 25 PR Firms.

From re-branding a historic Minneapolis event and securing 62 television segments over a three day period to creating a tradeshow promotion that drew a line of 300 people, the firm gets results and clients get a big return on their investment. Clients have described them as good interpreters, creative strategists, effective writers, talented designers, and media mavens. Together, the team created an award-winning campaign that spread across the country and parts of the world. C.E.L. clients have appeared on Good Morning America and on the cover of national trade magazines.

C.E.L. began implementing “Real Time PR” with the launch of their Social Media Incubator™ in 2009. The sister company helps small and midsize businesses strategically unleash the power of social media tools, while researching and developing best practices. There is a strong focus on ROI and growth with this cost-effective social media solution.

Through hard work and commitment to core beliefs, C.E.L. works with a myriad of clients – both for-profit and nonprofit. This Minneapolis-based agency serves clients who are in arts & entertainment, health and education, technical learning, home services, hospitality, financial service, and retail services – all based on strong values of service.

Cindy Leines CEO says, “In a world of identity theft, consumer fraud and Wall Street rip off, where Bernie Madoff ‘made off’’ with peoples life savings, businesses have an obligation to be true to the people they serve. We believe that if we work ethically and stay true to our value system, we help others succeed and by doing so, create our own success.”