bswing, a Minneapolis-based product design and digital marketing services firm, today announced the appointment of as director of communications and development reporting to President Jen Alstad.

"We are delighted to have Rob join the bswing leadership team as head of communications and development," said Alstad. "Rob's background in integrated marketing communications and natural talent for increasing engagement through brand storytelling are a perfect complement to our team's capabilities and set bswing up for continued growth and success."


Previously Davis was the director of communications and external relations at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where he led a team in design and implementation of the college's new brand identity, grew media coverage from less than one million impressions to more than 25 million impressions, and created partnerships with Kickstarter, the Minnesota State Fair, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Prior to joining MCAD, Davis worked in Frankfurt, Germany for clients including Red Hat and Vignette. As a senior counselor for Haberman, Davis created a campaign to launch the Firefox web browser, managed public relations for Compellent ahead of the company's IPO, and was the brand publicist for a variety of consumer and technology companies.

Davis' creative work has been covered in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, and Wired; referenced in the 25th anniversary edition of Trivial Pursuit; and included in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. He is a graduate of Macalester College.

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You need to check out these new commercials by Carmichael Lynch. Hope they cheer you up!

Hope we all take a minute to remember those that have given their lives for our freedom.

Padilla Speer Beardsley has been engaged as agency of record by AIRBAC – a revolutionary new backpack company based in Hopewell Junction, NY that uses a patented technology to relieve the stress and weight of carrying a heavy bag.

Because of the numerous demands on entrepreneurs’ time and money, many small business owners neither are able to learn public relations on their own nor hire an outside public relations firm. As an opportunity for small business owners to learn the basics of public relations quickly, , has published the eBook “.” Skogrand is the chief communications officer for Skogrand PR Solutions, LLC.

“Many organizations struggle with how to successfully integrate public relations into their marketing mix,” said Skogrand. “My goal with this eBook is to help entrepreneurs learn small business public relations through straightforward tips and by analysis of real-life examples – and then be able to apply public relations strategies and tactics to help achieve their business goals.”

In “19 Tips for Successful Public Relations,” Skogrand covers topics such as: preparing for a newspaper or magazine interview, public relations plan elements, optimizing your online pressroom and more. Skogrand answers, “What is a press release?” and provides a press release example and a media advisory example.

“19 Tips for Successful Public Relations” is available for the , NOOK, and from www.skograndpr.com as a PDF.

The unit of Minneapolis advertising agency has launched an agency trading desk called OdinRTB for retail and consumer packaged goods clients, tying together real-time bidding (RTB) fueled by sophisticated analytics. The category focus makes driving brick-and-mortar, in-store transactions (not just online conversions) top priorities for OdinRTB, which was named for Odin, the Norse God of wisdom. Real-time bidding is a key feature of programmatic ad buying in the digital space.

Late July Organic Snacks, Barnstable, Mass., has selected Haberman to handle the fast growing, family-owned company’s social marketing expansion and new 2013 campaign.  Late July is celebrating its 10^th year of making great tasting organic, non-GMO snacks that the whole family can enjoy.

Clarity CoverdaleFury is proud to announce the hiring of new faces to the media and creative teams.

At the 35th annual Minnesota Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Classics Awards, Christina Milanowski of Maccabee Public Relations was named the Young Professional of the Year.

Christina Milanowski

1. Tell us a bit about your public relations experience so far.


I started my career as I think many PR pros do: tons of internships. While at the U of M, I volunteered my time for three different organizations and then another one just after college. Luckily that final internship at the legal company, National Arbitration Forum, turned into a full-time gig where I went on to lead all internal and external communications programs from launching an intranet to leading SEO efforts and overseeing crisis communications to pioneering social and blog channels for the company. After being laid off in the summer of 2009, I give great credit to the strong PR community – and you Brant – for helping to guide me into my next job. I’m so thankful to have landed at Maccabee Public Relations where I’ve blossomed from account executive to social media director/account supervisor. I’ve had the opportunity to blend traditional public relations, marketing and communications strategies with the new world of public relations involving YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus, corporate and thought leadership blogs, and content-driven inbound marketing.

2.  What role has PRSA had in your career success?


PRSA has benefited me so much; it’s given me many opportunities to network and learn from other PR professionals. I have been a member of Minnesota PRSA for more than six years, volunteered on multiple committees, and now lead the chapter’s Membership Committee. I was humbled to earn the chapter’s Young Professional Award this spring reinforcing and giving credit to the value PRSA has provided to me. Anyone working in the local communications capacity should consider joining – and see me with any questions.

3.  What best practices have you discovered to successfully integrate social media tactics into public relations campaigns?


Over the years, I’ve learned that social media, in its most basic form, is just another channel, but with its own bells, whistles and nuances. To successfully integrate social media tactics, you need to know your audience and how to engage with them; social media allows you to do this in real time and get immediate feedback in ways that continually transform. I believe we learn by doing, and this is one reason our agency is spending a lot of time building up our own blog (the , check it out!) and inbound marketing platform. The most exciting part for me is to see how other companies are using it successfully partnered with the ever changing channels and features. These are things that I translate for my clients – in different industries and corporate settings – everyday.

4.  What is your desired career path?


I want to make sure I’m continually learning. I have an intellectual curiosity that is, perhaps, why I’ve found myself so active in attending local PR events and why I’m enrolled in the St. Thomas Masters of Business Communication degree. Where I go from here isn’t exactly clear, but I hope to evolve and learn with my clients and my team at Maccabee. They have fostered my growth and continue to support my development in areas previously unknown. I love the freedom that a small agency like Maccabee provides to learn on the job and forge my own path. I have a lot of people to thank for the coaching and encouragement that has gotten me to where I am today. 

5.  Is there anything else that you would like to add?


I would like to thank the Minnesota public relations community! There are several people here to which I owe a great deal. We are an inclusive community that supports and challenges each other to improve and learn from one another. I owe it to PRSA for building my relationship with Brant and others, and am thankful for the opportunity to share in my successes.  

Follow Christina on or connect with her on .

-- / Skogrand PR Solutions, LLC