Filed under: PR Moves
Denver Nuggets public relations director Eric Sebastian is leaving to accept a job as director of basketball operations for the University of Memphis.
Dovetail Solutions has added Midchix.com to its client roster. Based in Denver, Midchix is a boutique social networking community for women over the age of 40.
Among those hiring this week are Volume PR, Blue Mountain Arts, Bonnier Mountain Group, CIGNA, Mercy Regional Medical Center (Durango), National Governor’s Association, University of Northern Colorado (Greeley), Brewers Association and Otterbox (Fort Collins).
Filed under: Awards
Congratulations to CIGNA HealthCare public relations manager Kathryn Wilson, who has been elected to the Ohio State University Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. She will start her five-year term in September.
If you run into Penny Parker or Bill Husted today, you should buy them a drink (and then give them the receipt so they can expense it). Denver’s ESPN Zone, which has provided the backdrop for some of their lamest “sightings” ever – is closing. In honor of ESPN Zone, here is a brief retrospective of Penny and Bill’s work:
- “Adam Foote at ESPN Zone for lunch Wednesday.“
- “Broncos CB Dre Bly lunching at ESPN Zone.“
- “San Francisco Giants outfielder Aaron Rowand and starting pitcher Matt Cain both ate lunch at the bar at ESPN Zone Denver this afternoon.“
And although this one isn’t technically an ESPN Zone sighting, it remains my favorite:
Great news – GBSM’s Steven “Steve” Silvers, author of the Scatterbox blog, has returned home and is doing well following emergency double bypass surgery last week. Steve will remain out of action for three to four weeks, but doctors expect a full recovery.
Congratulations to Westword’s Michael Roberts, Joel Warner, Jared Jacang Maher and Kenny Be, all of whom picked up awards at the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies annual conference.
Filed under: Obit
Billy Mays, the television pitchman who helped launch Denver-based Orange Glo into a national brand, is dead. He was 50.
Dovetail Solutions has landed the Denver-based business consulting firm RAS & Associates as a client.
In spirit of Bike to Work Day, Cactus is throwing the most eco-friendly after party on the block – the 1st Annual Bike From Work Bash. Enjoy lots of freebies: snacks from Illegal Pete’s, cold spirits from Breckenridge Brewery and live tunes. Word on the street is that there will even be a a Revenge of the Nerds style trike relay and a free bike valet.
When: June 24, 2009; 5 – 8 p.m.
Where: Cactus Parking Lot (2128 15th St., Denver)
Cost: FREE
The Broadmoor has selected Vladimir Jones to promote its summer sale and photo contest in the Denver area.
Filed under: Andrew Hudson
Denver PR jobs guru/bassist Andrew Hudson made the front page of Sunday’s Denver Post Entertainment section as part of an article on Denver’s best jazz spots (guest-authored by KBCO’s Bret Saunders). Those of us who were in Denver pre-Coors Field remember what a great dive El Chapultepec was before LoDo existed (it’s still a great spot – just different now).
Among those hiring this week are Kaiser Permanente, Arrow Electronics, BAE, Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, Mercy Housing, ReadyTalk and tw telecom.
Filed under: journalism
(Hat tip to LocalTVNews)
Meterologist Nick Carter, who was let go from 9News for salary reasons in January, has landed at Fox31.
Who says Denver media doesn’t cover the local public relations scene? Denver Post gossip columnist business columnist Penny Parker offers an in-depth review of the bathrooms at SE2/Eric Sondermann’s new office. I smell Pulitzer!
Filed under: Denver Business Journal
Ernie Bjorkman is in the news again this week, but it isn’t a New York Times profile or a guest appearance on Oprah. He and his wife are listed in the foreclosures section of the Denver Business Journal, with U.S. Bank foreclosing on his home in Englewood that carries a $367,470 balance. I stand by my last comment on the subject:
Could someone please explain to me how former KWGN/Channel 2 anchor Ernie Bjorkman can make the rounds on national media talking about his financial struggles after losing his anchor job? Today it was the Oprah Winfey show. The guy made $250,000 a year and within five months of being out of work he has to borrow $1,000 from a friend to cover his car payment. Seriously?
Bill Husted catches up with elusive Denver Post editor Greg Moore as part of his recurring “Bar & Grilled” column. Normally I wouldn’t be that impressed with a columnist scoring an interview with his own editor, but when was the last time you saw Greg Moore in public? Husted should enjoy this one for now, because I fully expect Penny Parker to up the ante with an exclusive with publisher Dean Singleton any time now.
Filed under: Wins
Internet marketing and social media firm Mango Media has picked up PaySimple, Alive at 25, Similasan USA, Albeo Technologies, Hammond’s Candies and The International Center for Performance & Health and The Healthiest Executive Competition as clients.
Filed under: GroundFloor Media
GroundFloor Media has joined Public Relations Global Network, an international network of 40 independent public relations agencies representing six continents.
Filed under: Twitter
How important has Twitter become? From today’s Washington Post:
“The State Department asked social networking site Twitter to delay scheduled maintenance earlier this week in order to avoid disrupting communications among tech-savvy Iranian citizens as they took to the streets to protest Friday’s reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. …
” ‘One of the areas where people are able to get out the word is through Twitter,’ said a senior State Department official in a conversation with reporters, on condition of anonymity. ‘They announced they were going to shut down their system for maintenance and we asked them not to.’ “
Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão, scheduled to open downtown in mid-July, has selected Linhart PR to handle its launch communications.
Denver jobs guru Andrew Hudson is hosting a “Reinvent Event” seminar and networking party on Wednesday, June 24. Click here for more information or to register.
Among those hiring this week are ColoradoBiz Magazine, JANUS, Arapahoe House, BAE Systems Information Technology, Donor Alliance and Skyworks (Irvine, Calif.).
Former Rocky deputy editor Gil Rudawsky has joined GroundFloor Media as a senior public relations manager.
Former Rocky reporter Jeff Kass has been named associate editor of Denver Magazine.
Filed under: Johnston Wells
Congratulations to JohnstonWells’ owner and chairman Gwin Johnston for being named a SAGE Counselor by the PRSA’s Counselors Academy.
Paula Berg, manager of Emerging Media for Southwest Airlines, is the featured speaker at next week’s PRSA Colorado luncheon. Berg will discuss her experience developing and managing Southwest’s corporate blog, “Nuts About Southwest.” Details are:
PRSA Colorado Luncheon
Wednesday June 17, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
The Curtis Hotel (14th & Curtis)
Click here to register
Maybe the Denver Post’s wire-heavy, two-page business section is more out of necessity than choice. In the past two weeks, two Post business reporters have announced their departures, and neither is being replaced. First up was energy reporter Gargi Chakrabarty, who announced she was leaving to join her husband in Boston. And now word comes that business reporter Elizabeth Aguilera will be leaving to accept a fellowship at USC (the good one).
Filed under: Linhart
Linhart PR’s Sharon Linhart has been elected to the Colorado Judicial Institute (CJI) Board of Directors. The CJI’s mission includes preserving and enhancing the independence and excellence of Colorado courts; furthering public understanding of the Colorado judicial system; and ensuring the courts meet the needs of the people.
- Metzger Associates picked up the Metropolitan Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure as a client.
- Vladimir Jones landed a project with the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) to handle marketing strategy, creative and media planning/buying to promote its Colorado ENERGY STAR New Homes Program.
I’ve written before about how sad it is to read the Denver Post’s two-page Business section on Mondays, but it hit a new low this morning: Two pages, five articles and zero bylines from any Denver Post business reporters. The only upside? No insipid Penny Parker column about “business” topics such as Carmelo Anthony’s girlfriend being harassed at basketball games.
Here again is the link if you would like to also subscribe to the Denver Business Journal.
Among those hiring this week are Xcel, Dish Network, Echostar, DWG & Associates, CSU Housing and Dining Services and Great Plains Communications (in scenic Blair, Neb.).
Linhart PR’s June “Inside Scoop” event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 16. Inside Scoop is a monthly information session for those looking for jobs at the agency or careers in the public relations field, and anyone interested in attending should RSVP to info@linhartpr.com.
The national PRSA finally posted the list of 2009 Silver Anvil winners, and there are two Denver connections. Denver-based MGA won a Silver Anvil in the Events and Observances category for its campaign “Refuge Roundup 2008 at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge,” and Centennial-based National Cattlemen’s Beef Association won in the Issues Management category for its campaign ”Better Safe & Savory Than Sorry.”
Additionally, Linhart PR received a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for its work with Rudi’s Organic Bakery.
Want to know who the winners were from last night’s 2009 Silver Anvil Awards? Me too. But the national PRSA won’t announce the list of winners until tomorrow, 48 hours after the event ended and cleverly buried on a Saturday. Nice.
Filed under: PRSA
PRSA Colorado is now taking registrations for its annual golf tournament, which will be held at the Arrowhead Golf Club on Aug. 21. The cost is $70 per player (foursomes get the PRSA discount rate of $280), and everyone who registers before June 15 gets one free swing tip from Gina Seamans. Register here.
Mango Media has hired Sabrina Comroe as Marketing Director. Comroe formerly was Director of Digital Media at 5280 magazine.
Filed under: Wins
Stefanie Jones PR landed Sport Dimensions as a client. Sports Dimension is a motorsports marketing firm in Denver that works with companies such as Shell Oil, Penzoil and Best Western.
Who has more credibility? Shagman or Tom Martino?
Among those hiring this week are the Colorado Association of School Boards, EchoStar, Jeppesen, ProBuild, ReadyTalk, Spectra, Teletech, Sports Authority and Westwood Colleges (you might want to read Al Lewis’ recent column before applying for that one).
- Pivot Communication won Memphis-based Correctional Counseling as a client. Correctional Counseling provides a wide range of treatment and training programs for offenders involved in the correctional system.
- Traction Communications added sun and sport performance eyewear company Native to its client roster.
GBSM is in the market for an associate to support the firm’s public affairs and public outreach work. Send your resume/etc. to Raleigh Decker. No phone calls. Details are here: GBSM Associate_Public Affairs – 52009.
Turner PR has hired Aliza Rothman as vice president of the travel/hospitality and real estate team in Denver. Rothman previously was Vice President of Ogilvy Public Relations in Denver and Vice President at Robinson Lerer & Montgomery in New York City.
Among those hiring this week are Children’s Hospital, Jeppesen, LiveWell Colorado, Sony Online Entertainment, the Sopris Sun (Carbondale), and Starz.
Filed under: Layoffs
Could someone please explain to me how former KWGN/Channel 2 anchor Ernie Bjorkman can make the rounds on national media talking about his financial struggles after losing his anchor job? Today it was the Oprah Winfey show. The guy made $250,000 a year and within five months of being out of work he has to borrow $1,000 from a friend to cover his car payment. Seriously?
KMGH/Channel 7 won’t renew longtime Denver news reporter and anchor Steve Saunders’ contract, and his last day will be Aug. 15. Saunders, the son of former Rocky Mountain News media critic Dusty Saunders and the widower of Emmy-award-winning Denver television news producer Pam Saunders, spent the past decade at KMGH, and was at KWGN/Channel 2 for eight years prior to that. Joanne Ostrow at the Denver Post has the details.
Congratulations to Dovetail Solutions, which recently won the Denver Business Journal’s Small Business Partners in Philanthropy award.
Filed under: PR Moves
Brand strategy and marketing communications firm Sterling-Rice Group has hired Jill Holmstrom as account director. Holmstrom previously was with Karsh/Hagan.
Filed under: PR Moves
CLS client Noodles & Company has hired Dan Fogarty as vice president of marketing. Fogarty’s responsibilities will include overseeing all marketing, advertising, public relations and brand development.
The advertising gurus behind the Denver Egotist have had enough of Chipotle’s new “Low Roller” marketing campaign, and they are fighting back with a new Web site: Cheapotle.com.
Denver’s second major daily could be the Los Angeles Times of Denver, if the Denver No Guts can beat the L.A. Lakers.
Filed under: Denver Post
Maybe the Denver Post should have splurged and brought over a Rocky copyeditor or two …
9News business reporter/anchor Gregg Moss is leaving the station to take the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer position at Alem International Management. Mosss has been at 9News for most of the past decade. The station also announced that reporter Carrie McClure will not return when she takes maternity leave in June. Joanne Ostrow at the Denver Post has all the details.
- JohnstonWells landed law firm Faegre & Benson as a client.
- Pushkin Public Relations added the Medical Group Management Association as a client.
- Weise Communications announced the Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDC-D), Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC), St. Louis University Hospital and SALT Electric as clients.
Among those hiring this week are the Nurse-Family Partnership, Boulder County Commissioners, New West Physicians, South Suburban Parks & Recreation, Bethany College (Lindsborg, Kansas) and AmerenUE (St. Louis).
Filed under: Linhart
And in the process, political reporter Marshall Zelinger of Colorado Springs’ ABC affiliate gives a shout-out to Linhart PR’s Russ “Ratso” Rizzo.
Several of the more prominent backers of the ill-fated InDenver Times have stepped forward with a new, more streamlined approach: The Rocky Mountain Independent. Designed as a “daily online news magazine,” the Rocky Mountain Independent is backed by former Rocky Mountain News journalists, including Steve Foster, Cindy House, David Milstead and John B. Moore. Michael Roberts at Westword has the details (and so does Ed Sealover at the Denver Business Journal).
Filed under: Johnston Wells
JohnstonWells has selected the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation as its 2009 pro bono recipient.
Linhart PR has appointed Kelly Womer as vice president. Womer joins Linhart from her own Chicago-based independent consultancy, where she worked with clients such as McDonald’s and Aviva. Prior to forming her own consultancy, she was a principal in the Chicago office of Carmichael Lynch Spong.
Fresh off the success of InDenver Times, MediaNews CEO and Denver Post publisher William Dean Singleton told his employees that the company “cannot continue to give all of our content away for free,” and that the company will stop offering free online access to its 53 daily newspapers and will instead develop an online subscription model. Mark Harden at the Denver Business Journal has the details.
Filed under: Jobs
Denver PR consultant Steve Koenigsberg is featured in this month’s ColoradoBiz in an article that examines “what job seekers can learn from PR pros.”
Among those hiring this week are Scream, University of Denver, Fentress Architects, Jefferson County and Teletech.
Metzger’s Doyle Albee vs. HWH PR’s Lois Whitman. And if Doyle isn’t careful on May 19, Catfight II will be Doyle Albee vs. Lois Whitman’s attorney.
UPDATE: Techcrunch has picked up the catfight, and I’m glad to see that it is obvious to neutral observers who is on the right side of this catfight.
Filed under: Twitter
Revolut!on Magazine compiles the list and the reasons:
- Amazon.com
- Hewlett-Packard
- eBay
- McDonald’s
- Pepsi
- Vodafone
- EasyJet
- Gucci
(Hat tip to The Denver Egotist)
The tables have been cleared, the floors vacuumed, the rented tuxedos returned, Elaine Ellis has posted bail and LoDo’s has agreed not to press charges, which can mean only one thing – The 2009 PRSA Colorado ‘Gold Pick” Awards ceremony is officially over. PRSA Colorado has posted the winners from Thursday’s event, and the Denver PR Blog has once again used a proprietary and highly sophisticated formula (two points for a gold, one point for a silver) to determine which agencies fared best:
1. Carmichael Lynch Spong (13 points) – Three gold, seven silver
2. Linhart PR (9 points) – Three gold, three silver
3. JohnstonWells (8 points) – One grand gold, two gold, two silver
3. Pure Brand (8 points) – Three gold, two silver
5. GroundFloor Media (7 points) – Two gold, three silver
6. Philosophy (6 points) – One grand gold, two gold
7. Xstatic (4 points) – One gold, two silver
8. 104 West Partners (2 points) – One gold
8. GolinHarris (2 points) – One gold
8. MGA Communications (2 points) – One gold
8. Room 214 (2 points) – One gold
8. SSA (2 points) – One gold
8. Cohn Marketing (2 points) – Two silver
14. Dressel-Martin MediaWorks (1 point) – One silver
Also, congratulations to the big award winners: Comcast’s Scott Binder and Goodwill’s Tim Welker (Business Persons of the Year), Denver Art Museum’s Ashley Pritchard (Rookie of the Year), Aurora Organic Dairy’s Sonja Tuitele (PR Person of the Year), First Data’s Cara Taylor (Chapter Service Award), Don Kirchoffner & Associates’ Don Kirchoffner (Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award), and Morris Animal Hospital (Nonprofit Award).
If you run into Pete Webb this weekend, make sure he buys the drinks. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has re-upped Webb PR’s three-year contract to promote CDOT’s anti-drunk driving and seat belt use campaigns, and the agency also nabbed several new accounts, including Colorado Department of Human Services, Jacobs Entertainment (owners of the Lodge and Gilpin Hotel Casinos in Black Hawk), Nobel Energy and Eagle County Ambulance.
Metzger Associates has promoted Sarah Engle to Chief Financial Officer. Engle, who is a CPA, has worked for Metzger as its controller since 2004.
104 West Partners won two Platinum and one Gold Hermes Creative Awards for its work on behalf of BitGravity, The March of Dimes Colorado Chapter and MX Logic. The Hermes Creative Awards recognizes outstanding work in the industry while promoting the philanthropic nature of marketing and communication professionals.
VOCA PR is sponsoring The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and the Empowerment Council’s “Fill the Purse Summer Cocktail Party” to increase awareness of girls’ dropout rate in Colorado and raise money to provide sustained funding for the Foundation’s work with girls and critical research and education efforts. The details are:
WFCO Fill the Purse Summer Cocktail Party
Tuesday, May 19 from 5 – 7 pm
Parallel 17 (1600 E 17th Ave., Denver)
Tickets are $30
RSVP at www.fillthepurse.org by May 15
The New Denver Ad Club invites students and entry-level job seekers to connect with Denver’s top marketing industry professionals at Connect 2009.
The economy might be in a funk right now, but the Denver talent market is not. Fresh, new ideas and the exuberant energy of youth abound. Our community of experienced, well-seasoned marketing professionals will offer themselves up to guide, advise and mentor students for an afternoon. Or perhaps a future job, if the chemistry is right. The details are:
The New Denver Ad Club Connect 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009, 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Johnson & Wales University
7150 Montview Blvd, Denver
College of Business Foyer
Who should attend
Second semester juniors and graduating seniors looking at careers in marketing, advertising, interactive, graphic design, public relations, account management and planning, media and related fields. Also, agencies and clients looking to help mentor these students with the potential of internships, entry-level jobs or simple advice and guidance.
Filed under: Denver
Denver has been named the eighth-best city for new college graduates, although Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Cleveland all rank higher than Denver, so clearly the methodology is out of whack.
- 104 West Partners won New York-based Daily Makeover, a leader in interactive media and virtual reality try-on technology.
- Pivot Communication was selected as agency of record for Castle Country Assisted Living, a nonprofit organization based in Castle Rock and Parker.
GBSM’s Steve Silvers, JohnstonWells’ GG Johnston and Denver Post Business Editor Steve McMillan are panelists at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s “Gold Program” event titled “Old Media. New Media. The Extraordinarily Changing Face of the Information Age” (I’m betting that neither Steve nor GG were responsible for naming the event). Anyway, the details are:
Thursday, May 28
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Denver Metro Chamber
1445 Market Street, 5th Floor
www.denverchamber.org/goldprogram
Dovetail Solutions has added Dave Farmer as the Director of Creative Services. Farmer formerly ran his own shop, Element 24.
Congratulations to Linhart PR, which was named a finalist for a SABRE award for its work with Red Robin.
Filed under: Webb PR
In today’s Denver Post, Pete Webb’s Pete Webb takes the Colorado legislature to task for the “disparaging … caustic and sarcastic” manner legislators treat citizens and businesspeople who testify.
Among those hiring this week are the Colorado Health Foundation, Dumb Friends League, DEX, Group Publishing, ITT, One Beacon Insurance, Reed Business Information, St. Mary’s Hospital (Grand Junction) and TaxSalelists.com.
Pete Webb PR hired Sarah Oehler as an account manager, and Jody Gavin and Portia Berrey as account coordinators. Oehler joins Webb from SNO Public Relations, Gavin from The Hoffman Agency, and Berrey from Univision.
Filed under: Twitter
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Denver’s Tennyson Center for Children will receive a $5,000 gift from Noble Energy if it can hit 1,000 Twitter followers by the end of today. So go to http://twitter.com/tennysoncenter and click on “follow.” There are kids who desperately need your help.
Volume PR and Linhart picked up hardware at the BMA Colorado Gold Key awards. Volume won a Silver Key award for its work with its client The Alternative Board, and Linhart nabbed a Silver Key award for its work with client MWH’s hydropower practice.
Vladimir Jones has signed COMPA Ministries. VJ will help generate awareness of the non-profit organization serving the homeless, under-employed and at-risk in the Denver area. The part paid/part pro-bono scope of work is focused on positioning the organization to have greater fundraising potential in order to ultimately help more people in need.
Filed under: Jobs
Congratulations to Rachel Benedick, who officially has been named vice president of sales and services for VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. Benedick has been in the position on an interim basis since September 2008.
Filed under: Denver Post
Now that it isn’t engaged in a circulation war, the Denver Post has decided to drop delivery to “outlying” areas of Colorado, which it defines as ”far western, southern and eastern parts of Colorado” such as Grand Junction, Durango,Trinidad, La Junta, Lamar and Burlington. Aldo Svaldi at the Post has the details.
Filed under: GroundFloor Media
GroundFloor Media has joined Public Relations Global Network, an international organization of independent, owner-operated public relations agencies that collaborate to serve clients.
Aldo Svaldi at the Denver Post says the paper is satisfied with its post-Rocky circulation numbers, but Michael Roberts at Westword says Svaldi’s article is “journalistically appalling.” One thing is for sure – it is going to take six months to a year for the Post to truly understand what percentage of Rocky subscribers it held on to. Any analysis now is like trying to project a pitcher’s ERA during the first inning of the first game.
Filed under: PRWeek
As PRWeek distributes its last weekly edition before switching to a monthly, the New York Times notes:
“(PRWeek) is now in the embarrassing position of all businesses that choose a too-specific moniker — think of the chef who christens his restaurant ‘8 Jones’ after its street address, only to perplex customers when 8 Jones later moves to 14 Chestnut Street.”
First, the good news: The Denver Post is now the 11th largest newspaper in the U.S., thanks to Scripps’ decision to shutter the Rocky (and the JOA’s ability to automatically switch Rocky subscribers to the Post). The bad news? The Post is already down 17.4 percent compared total Rocky/Post subscribers, making it tough for the Post to maintain its goal of keeping 80 percent of Rocky subscribers.
Mark Harden at the Denver Business Journal and Michael Roberts at Westword have examined the numbers and what they mean.
Among those hiring this week are the University of Colorado Denver, American Sentinel University, Denver Public Schools, Echostar, Jeppeson (three positions) and Pendum.
National CPA firm Clifton Gunderson has selected Chicago-based Clarus Communications to handle public relations in Colorado. Clifton Gunderson was formerly represented by LeGrand Hart.
Filed under: Crisis Communications
The truly great PR blunders are self-made, as Apple showed us this week. As the company prepared to publicly celebrate the one billionth download from its App Store, it managed to change the focus to how it ever could have allowed the Baby Shaker application to get approved. Apple finally hit the billion downloads mark early this morning, but every article written about the achievement will now mention the Baby Shaker controversy.
Filed under: Jobs
Cherry Creek North has posted its soon-to-be-vacant Marketing and Communications Director position.
Filed under: INDenverTimes
Michael Roberts at Westword confirms that INDenverTimes was only able to hit six percent of its goal of 50,000 subscribers. I knew they wouldn’t get 50,000, but I thought they’d do a lot better than 3,000. Ouch.
Filed under: Rocky Mountain News
Today marks what would have been the 150th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain News.
