A Twin Cities business owner is selected for a top 2014-2015 teaching award at
Metropolitan State University.
Rose McKinney, a university College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) community faculty
member, received the Excellence in Teaching Award on Oct. 3. She was nominated from among
about 925 resident and community faculty.
“Rose McKinney is a highly respected, award-winning public relations professional who
has served in a number of executive roles in the industry for many years,” says Nancy Nentl,
marketing professor and MBA program director. “She has committed herself to fully bringing
the world of public relations to students in a very real way, and the value she brings to the
classroom is greatly appreciated.”
“It’s my privilege to work with the dedicated, adult learners at Metropolitan State who
bring real-world perspective to our courses,” McKinney says. “I enjoy sharing my career insights
and appreciate that they bring classroom content to the workplace the next morning. In addition,
I’m proud of our PR graduates and their many career successes.”
McKinney is founder and CEO of Pineapple RM, a Minneapolis strategic
communications firm focused on reputation management, including public relations. She was
recently inducted into the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows, an honor
bestowed on an elite group of senior-level practitioners who have significantly contributed to the
public relations profession. Locally, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Business Journal recognized
McKinney as a “Woman to Watch.”
A 28-year public-relations professional, McKinney was previously president of Risdall-
McKinney Public Relations, New Brighton. Before that, she was vice president of Karwoski and
Courage, a division of Martin Williams Advertising, Minneapolis.
McKinney has taught as a CAS community faculty member for 11 years. Her courses
include public relations principles and advanced public relations. McKinney has also taught
special seminars on communications topics, including brand messaging, and has been a featured
speaker on personal branding and job-search strategies for Metropolitan State’s mentoring
program. She often invites leading industry professionals to classes, in part to facilitate students’
networking opportunities.
She frequently develops community-based assignments so students obtain real-world
industry experience. McKinney is a six-time recipient of Metropolitan State’s President’s Circle
of Engagement, an award given by the university’s president to faculty who develop communitybased
curriculum with hands-on learning opportunities.
McKinney earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication with an
emphasis on public relations from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.
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Thursday, October 29, 2015
PadillaCRT Named Agency of Record for Smart Beer, New York's First Organic Beer Company
PadillaCRT announced that it has been selected as agency of record for Smart Beer, New York's first organic beer company. PadillaCRT, one of the top 15 independent public relations and communications agencies in the country, will create a comprehensive public relations and marketing campaign to launch Smart Beer, beginning this fall with its first beer, Organic Golden Ale.
"Smart Beer was created to fill a niche in the industry with a certified organic beer that could be enjoyed without compromising a health-conscious, active lifestyle," said Gabriel Heymann, Smart Beer founder and CEO. "We are pleased to partner with PadillaCRT because of the agency's experience delivering compelling campaigns for beverage and nutrition clients."
PadillaCRT will introduce the brand in the New York market through media relations, social media and outreach events.
"We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with Smart Beer to bring its unique product to the marketplace," said Lynn Casey, PadillaCRT CEO. "With our food and beverage industry expertise, and brand-building capabilities, we believe this collaboration will be a successful one for Smart Beer and for our agency."
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Travel Agent Marketing Tips
Many people mistakenly believe that the travel agent is dead. This decline in the necessity of the travel agent is a result of airlines cutting commissions and the advent of the mass market Internet travel agency, where nearly anyone can easily book their own trip online. However, the old-style travel agents are making a comeback today. This is because of the growing desire to deal with actual humans. Only a human can truly provide personalized quality service that online companies often fail to deliver. The only thing a travel agent really needs to possess today is the ability to market him or herself effectively.
Today’s travel agency needs to develop an effective and workable marketing plan. This entails knowing what your strengths are. Decide what your goals are for the year, figure out a plan to meet those core objectives and set out to accomplish them. Use a combination of email marketing strategies, traditional print and social media to get your message across to a global audience.
“As you decide your specific niche in travel, do not limit yourself to a specific location,” said Jeff Bernett of The Travel Academy, a flight attendant training school. “Many travel agencies today are based at home. Your clients do not care if you are located next door or several countries away. They only care that you can deliver a quality travel service at a reasonable price. Many customers today are even willing to pay premium in order to secure quality service. Do not be afraid to market yourself in all locations on the Internet. You might find that you have more clients out of your physical region and than within.”
It is crucial that you make yourself available. Today’s travel agent should not attempt to get by using a “9 to 5” mentality. Get active on social media. Monitor your postings, update your Twitter feed and let your clients know that you are available 24/7 while they are traveling. This will set you apart from the mass-market travel agencies that are often hard to contact.
Utilize referrals as much as possible. Encourage clients to tell their friends about you. Actively engage in page sharing campaigns on social media. The more you get your name in front of the public, the more likely they are to call you when their desire to travel hits.
Finally, be creative. You are in a very competitive business. Aim to do something a different with your business to be noticed. Host travel nights at a local wine bar and combine it with wine tasting. Advertise your brand at local high school sporting events or offer a small package at a local charity auction. Dare to be different and dare to get involved. The more noticeable you are, the more effective you will be at selling travel.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
MWMC - Marketing Automation Workshop
We know you've been hearing marketing automation buzzing around for a while now, but, really, what is it? Do your clients need it? We're bringing together a panel of three marketing automation experts who use the industry's top automation software to tell us their best practices, business cases, and advice on how to successfully implement this practice.
We will be hosted by marketing automation recruiting rockstars, Antenna! Join the conversation to learn more or provide your tips & tricks. See you there!
Agenda:
Hosted by: Antenna
Based in Minneapolis, Antenna is comprised of a community of marketers, operating at the hub of a vibrant and fast-moving community that includes Fortune 50 marketing organizations, ambitious startups and lots of inspiring companies in between. Antenna gives companies a better way to make marketing work. They engage the hard-to-find experts and skills needed to win customers and build businesses — from product launches to marketing automation to organizational change.
219 N 2nd St #300
We will be hosted by marketing automation recruiting rockstars, Antenna! Join the conversation to learn more or provide your tips & tricks. See you there!
Agenda:
4:30-5:00pm- Registration & Networking
5:00-6:00pm- Panel with Q&A
6:00-6:30- Networking
Refreshments will be provided.
Refreshments will be provided.
Panel:
Meet our Marketing Automation Experts!
"width="150"> , Marketing Automation Consultant, Antenna Consulting
A veteran in Marketing Automation, Christina's digital marketing experience spans industries including Software as a Service and Financial Services. She loves discovering insights that open eyes to new opportunities that come from an optimized marketing platform. Christina has spoken numerous times at the Minneapolis Marketo User Group – a networking group that she founded and led for 3 years, and is a Marketo Certified Expert (MCE). Now, as a full-time marketing automation consultant with Antenna, Christina focuses on optimizing tools and efforts for other companies. Her clients experience faster and more effective Marketing Automation through proper setup and execution of lead generation, nurturing, scoring, customer relationship management, segmentation, and customer lifecycle tracking.
, Senior Manager Demand Generation, Pitney Bowes
"width="150">With extensive experience in integrated marketing, lead nurturing, and marketing automation, Lorael creates and manages a three-tier demand generation multi-touch campaign strategy for driving pipeline for parcel shipping, ecommerce and location intelligence at Pitney Bowes. She's has previous experience in her roles at Silverpop, Volt, and Microsoft as well as being an avid community volunteer.
, Marketing Director + Automation Consultant, Relationship One
"width="150">Erin is the VP of Marketing and is responsible for the marketing output of Relationship One. Guzzling the marketing automation kool-aid since 2009, she brings her expertise in Eloqua, affinity for modern marketing and passion for customer success to support Relationship One in being known as the best marketing automation partner. Previous titles includes Eloqua Certified Consultant at Relationship One, Senior Marketing Specialist at McGladrey and Senior Media Planner at Haworth Marketing & Media.
Hosted by: Antenna
"width="150"> "width="150">
Based in Minneapolis, Antenna is comprised of a community of marketers, operating at the hub of a vibrant and fast-moving community that includes Fortune 50 marketing organizations, ambitious startups and lots of inspiring companies in between. Antenna gives companies a better way to make marketing work. They engage the hard-to-find experts and skills needed to win customers and build businesses — from product launches to marketing automation to organizational change.219 N 2nd St #300
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Lynn Franz has joined Weber Shandwick as senior vice president and head of strategy
Lynn Franz has joined Weber Shandwick as senior vice president and head of strategy. Franz comes to Weber Shandwick after 13 years at Mithun as senior vice president of strategic planning. Prior to that, she spent time in similar roles for Warner Music Group, Polygram and MartinWilliams.
As the lead of strategy for the Minneapolis office, Franz ensures that cultural, audience and brand insights are at the forefront of our ideas. Analyzing and interpreting data to isolate powerful strategies drives Franz each day; from that point onward, she works closely with our creative team and client leads to ensure brand ideas, experiences or content express the strategy.
Learn more about Franz here.
As the lead of strategy for the Minneapolis office, Franz ensures that cultural, audience and brand insights are at the forefront of our ideas. Analyzing and interpreting data to isolate powerful strategies drives Franz each day; from that point onward, she works closely with our creative team and client leads to ensure brand ideas, experiences or content express the strategy.
Learn more about Franz here.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Strub Joins Bellmont Partners as Account Coordinator
Minneapolis-based Bellmont Partners Public Relations is pleased to announce the addition of to the growing, full-service communications agency.
Emma joins Bellmont Partners as an account coordinator after a successful summer internship with the agency. As a digital intern for Bellmont Partners, Emma worked on a wide range of clients including the Brave New Workshop, Midwest Dairy Association, Uptown Art Fair and GradStaff.
“Emma brings solid publicity and digital experience to our team,” says Jen Bellmont, Bellmont Partners chief operating officer. “She will continue to benefit many of our clients who look to us for everything from media relations to social media and content marketing to event support.”
While attending the University of Minnesota, where she received a degree in Strategic Communications, Emma spent time interning for several non-profit organizations including Northrop, Theater Latte Da, Mixed Blood Theater, and the American Craft Council. She brings a broad range of skills to agency including event planning, media pitching and a strong passion for social media and digital marketing.
As the agency’s newest account coordinator, Emma will continue to support many clients including Midwest Dairy Association, the Brave New Workshop and GradStaff, as well as the agency’s newest client, Explore Minnesota Tourism.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
What to Know About False Advertising
False advertising is the practice of persuading consumers to purchase a product or service while inaccurately conveying their true worth or value. As a consumer, you have the right to what is called ‘truth in labeling,’ or the fair delivery of information necessary for you to make an informed decision before purchasing a product. Anything from complete misinformation to vague or misleading advertisements can be construed as false advertising, so it can be helpful to know exactly what to look for when shopping for a new product.
"There are few particular techniques you should be aware of when trying to spot a false advertisement," said Seattle lawyer, John-Paul Gustad. "Bait and Switch advertising occurs when a business advertises a product or service they do not actually offer, so that when you come into the storefront looking for the item or service in question, you are bated into purchasing more expensive or completely unrelated items. High-pressure sales techniques are also considered to be an illegal form of advertising. This is a situation in which the customer is pressured into purchasing products they do not want or need."
"Common forms of false advertising include deceptive form contracts, in which the contract contains fine print that is often overlooked but that makes enigmatic and obscure promises," said defense attorney, Mark Herman. "Artificially inflating prices to create the illusion of a great deal is another illegal form of advertising, along with failing to disclose the end of a promotional sale or the discontinuation of a product or service. Consumers are often entitled to monetary damages, and the business in question may be given an injunction to stop the advertisement or provide full disclosure of the advertised item."
Monday, October 12, 2015
Explore Minnesota Selects Bellmont Partners as Agency of Record for Public Relations Services
“Bellmont Partners has it all: strong media relations experience, knowledge of travel and tourism, proven results and a truly integrated approach to communications strategy,” said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota. “We’re looking forward to working side-by-side with Bellmont to continue building awareness for everything Minnesota has to offer.”
“With tourism being a $13 billion industry in Minnesota, Explore Minnesota is one of the most respected and visible organizations in our community, and we’re honored to be chosen to work with them,” said Brian Bellmont, president of Bellmont Partners. “We’re eager to help Explore Minnesota continue to bring stories and opportunities to media, bloggers and influencers and to help them experience and engage with our home state.”
Bellmont Partners is a full-service public relations and communications agency that thrives at the intersection of business, marketing and communications and takes a straightforward, strategic approach to achieving goal-oriented results. Named Public Relations Agency of the Year in 2014 by Ragan and PR Daily’s national Ace Awards, the Bellmont Partners team delivers big ideas, creativity and senior-level strategic experience, combined with the proven ability to drive results that have measurable business impact. Since 1996, the agency has worked with hundreds of organizations across dozens of industries to help solve their most complex marketing challenges.
For more information about Bellmont Partners being selected by Explore Minnesota, visit www.bellmontpartners.com.
Thursday, October 08, 2015
Monday, October 05, 2015
PadillaCRT Announces Agency Promotions
Max Sundermeyer was promoted from assistant account executive to account executive for the Environmental Sciences Practice. He has demonstrated excellent media relations skills for primary client BASF.
Claire Woit was promoted from assistant account executive to account executive for the Consumer Practice. She has made critical contributions to seven PadillaCRT clients, including one of 3M's divisions.
PadillaCRT announces employee promotions in its Minneapolis headquarters.
was promoted from account executive to senior account executive for the Technology Practice. She manages media relations and events for SAP Retail and SAP Consumer Package Goods clients.
was promoted from senior account executive to account supervisor in the Manufacturing Practice. She manages several segments of work for client Rockwell Automation and new work with 3M.
was promoted from director to senior director for the Business Development and Agency Marketing Team. She has been central to building growth strategies for the agency.
was promoted from senior director to vice president for the Investor Relations Practice. He has proven versatility of skills in financial services, technology, investor relations, crisis/critical issues and corporate communications. Primary clients include Patterson Companies and Cargill.
was promoted from vice president to senior vice president for the Human Resources Team. She champions the professional development initiative at the firm and establishes cutting-edge HR practices through her peer relationships with PR Council's HR Roundtable.
Leanne Stacey was promoted from project coordinator to senior project coordinator for SMS Research Advisors, a research subsidiary of PadillaCRT. She develops research tools and reports.
Friday, October 02, 2015
Carmichael Lynch Inc. names Batliner president of the company’s public relations division
Carmichael Lynch Inc. named Julie Batliner president of the company’s public relations division, Spong. As president, Batliner will report to Carmichael Lynch CEO, Mike Lescarbeau, overseeing Spong’s Minneapolis and New York offices. Spong founder Doug Spong moves to president emeritus.
With more than 20 years experience in the public relations industry, Batliner has been a catalyst for growth at Spong. During her 10 years at the agency she has been instrumental in a long list of new business wins, including Arla Foods, Formica Corporation, Jennie-O Turkey Store, The Schwan Food Company and U.S. Bank. She has also leveraged the trust of Spong’s existing clients, resulting in significant organic business growth.
“We have a great team, fantastic clients, and an unrelenting commitment to driving business results,” said Batliner. “I’m looking forward to leading the agency and engaging in new depths of collaboration.”
Batliner has raised the bar on client service at Spong by initiating a Client Relationship Management program while simultaneously building the agency’s social media capabilities into a world-class offering. She is also an outspoken advocate for innovation in the PR industry, regularly moderating leadership panels and providing frequent commentary for the likes of PRWeek and PR News.
Batliner has received unparalleled recognition for her individual achievements. In 2009, she was named a Forty Under 40 honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and again by PRWeek in 2011. She was also a finalist for PR News’ Account Director of the Year. She has taken home a multitude of PRSA Silver Anvil Awards, PRSA Big Apple Awards and SABRE Awards.
Prior to joining Spong, Batliner worked for global agency FleishmanHillard for many years.
“Julie has the respect and admiration of her team and her clients,” said Lescarbeau. “She inspires ground-breaking, award-winning work from everyone around her, and I couldn’t be more excited to have her as part of our leadership team.”
Gage Names Travis J. Lee Associate Director of Design
Gage, a Minneapolis-based engagement marketing agency, announced today it has hired Travis J. Lee as associate director of design where he will manage design, research and user experience (UX) for clients that include Microsoft, 3M and Thomson Reuters.
Lee joins Gage from Adobe where he served as a senior UX strategist. Previously, he worked under contract as an associate creative director and UX lead for SapientNitro and 3M. Lee earned his BFA in multimedia design from University of Wisconsin-Stout.
“Travis’ combined experience in UX and design are uniquely suited for Gage where we are developing programs and initiatives that are squarely in the intersection of marketing, technology and customer experience,” said Michael Sichmeller, vice president, Customer Experience Design, at Gage. “Bringing in someone of Travis’ caliber and diverse experience will be crucial in how we continue to drive value for our clients.”
Thursday, October 01, 2015
aimClear® Boosts Staff in Digital Marketing and Production
aimClear®, an award-winning digital marketing agency, added six marketing professionals to its team of integrated search and social media marketers. Imelda Khoo, Daniel Morrison, Trisha Marczak, Chris Davis, Meghan Kimber and Christine Brickzin bring global experience to the Duluth and Saint Paul offices.
“We’re excited to have such a diverse group of skilled professionals join our team. The addition of these talented marketers allows us to continue to service our growing clientele with best in class marketing,” said Laura Weintraub, CEO of aimClear.
Imelda Khoo joins aimClear as the vice president of account management. Khoo brings over 16 years of experience to the digital marketing and production teams. Prior to aimClear, Khoo served as a senior account director and strategist at Babcock & Jenkins, where she managed client relationships, directed cross-functional teams and developed fully integrated digital strategy.
Daniel Morrison joins aimClear’s client services department, bringing a decade of digital marketing experience. Before joining aimClear, he was a manager of media analytics at Ampush, where he developed social media advertising for a variety of brands.
Trisha Marczak brings more than eight years of journalism, editorial and digital marketing experience to her new position as copywriter at aimClear. In addition to writing advertisement copy for search and social clients, Marczak is a senior editor for aimClear blog. She was previously the marketing manager at Citon Computer Corp.
Chris Davis joins aimClear as a social account manager. Davis develops paid social strategies for clients, including highly targeted customer audiences and online advertisements. Davis previously served as a digital marketing specialist at Senske Services.
Meghan Kimber and Christine Brickzin join aimClear as production managers. Kimber served as a distribution analyst at Maurices and Brickzin comes to aimClear from Navarre Corporation. Both will serve integral roles in the production of digital marketing campaigns for aimClear clients worldwide.
PR with Panache! Strengthens Creative Team with Addition of Ed Tech Editor Chris Piehler
PR with Panache! (PRP), an award-winning, Minnesota-based PR firm focused on the education marketplace, is thrilled to welcome Chris Piehler as the firm’s newest modern-day storyteller.
In his 19 years of magazine experience, Piehler has written and edited for a wide range of consumer and B2B titles including Racquet, The Golfer, Chance, Moving Pictures, and Orthodontic Products. Most recently, he spent three years as the editor of the esteemed K-12 ed tech publication THE Journal, where his work included writing, editing, presenting at conferences, and hosting webinars and custom events.
“We are excited that Chris has joined our team to support the continued growth we are seeing with existing and new clients,” said Sue Hanson, PRP’s founder and managing partner. “The education industry marketing channels are becoming more diverse and demand new levels of expertise to maintain effectiveness. As PRP’s Lead Storyteller, Chris brings yet another creative layer to our team, allowing us to deliver the best storytelling, strategic marketing, and public relations results for our client family.”
As PRP’s Lead Storyteller, Piehler will manage all of the firm’s writing and editing projects, from blog posts to whitepapers. A published playwright and stand-up comedian, Piehler has been telling stories his whole life, and looks forward to bringing excitement and a sense of joy to his role at PRP.
“Over the past few years, I’ve been so inspired by the ways that technology is transforming education,” Piehler said. “I look forward to supporting our entire client family in telling their ed tech stories in the most engaging, meaningful way possible, whether that’s a timely press release, a story to be published, or a meticulously planned in-person event.”
PR with Panache! was recently awarded the title of education’s best PR firm by EdTech Digest, an honor that we share with our entire team of storytellers. For more than 20 years, PRP has been telling the stories of our education clients, because at the end of the day, what is more memorable than a great story?
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