Among those hiring this week are Allied-THA, ABMP, Baptie & Company, Charles Schwab & Co., Gevo, Grand Junction Convention and Visitors Bureau, St. Anthony Hospital (part of Centura Health), Summit Business Media, Trimble Navigation, Trust America, VOCA Public Relations (part-time), Western Union, United States Olympic Committee (Colorado Springs), Cortez (Colo.) Journal, Montrose (Colo.) Daily Press and Nebraska Life (presumably somewhere in Nebraska).
Filed under: Jobs
Denver-based Sage Hospitality has named Jennifer Long as Director of Interactive Marketing and promoted Kate Davis to Public Relations & Social Media Manager. Long previously was with Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
Filed under: Linhart
Congratulations to Linhart VP Kelly Womer, who was named the firm’s sixth equity partner (joining Sharon Linhart, Paul Raab, Dawn Doty, Carri Clemens and Kelly Janhunen). Womer joined Linhart in 2009 and manages many of the firm’s corporate accounts, including Colorado Technical University, MWH, Polsinelli Shughart, and WhiteWave Foods.
Filed under: Politics
President Obama’s State of the Union speech is tonight, and Sarah Moss is out with the 2012 edition of her annual SOTU Bingo Card.
Filed under: Events
The Emergency Services Public Information Officers of Colorado (ESPIOC) is seeking speakers for its upcoming training conference (May 17-18, Estes Park) on the following topics:
Social Media and Beyond: Digital Communications for Emergency Services PIOs
Using social media, e-newsletters, text alerts, mobile sites, video, blogs, RSS, etc. to communicate consistently in good times and bad. This presentation should include how to choose from among the many digital tools out there, how to use them effectively, and how to maintain a professional brand across all platforms. Includes actionable tips and tools to immediately implement in your organization. Should be geared for an intermediate level user; most attendees have had training in basic social media and many usesome of these tools regularly.
Show Me the Results: Tracking and Measuring Your PR Efforts
Public relations is not just “nice to have” — it’s “need to have.” In times when budgets are tightening, PR remains one of the best investments you can make in your organization. But some people need convincing. Here are some best practices for tracking and measuring ROI for your in-house PR initiatives.
If you are interested in speaking, contact Andrea Burns.
Filed under: Wins
Barefoot PR has added four clients: Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Fascination St. Fine Art, and Young Americans Center for Financial Education.
Filed under: Linhart
Linhart PR SVP Paul Raab has been named to the board of Naturally Boulder, a non-profit organization that “nurtures and enhances the natural products industry in Boulder.”
JohnstonWells has been hired to develop a strategic plan for Mattson Development, a real estate re-development firm in Maine. Drew Morris, a former JWer, is the director of communications for Mattson.
Among those hiring this week are the City of Greeley, Colorado Conservation Voters, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Dairy Center for the Arts, Denver Water, EffectiveUI, GBSM, Mapquest, MillerCoors, Morris Visitor Publications, Rose Community Foundation, The Arthritis Foundation, University of Colorado Department of Alumni Relations and Communications, Vail Daily and Odney (Bismarck, N.D.).
Filed under: Public Relations
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter offers some practical, on-air advice on what people can do to stop random acts of violence: Don’t act like idiots and assholes.
Hat Tip: Eric Anderson (@Eric_A_Anderson)
GBSM has hired Russ Rizzo as a senior associate and Andrea Cunningham as an associate. Rizzo formerly was with Linhart PR and Cunningham joins GBSM after positions with Res Publica Group and Schneider Associates.
Filed under: Jobs
Barnhart Communications has added Alan Luu as account executive. Luu, who previously was with Moxie Sozo in Boulder, will work with Barnhart clients such as Wyoming Suicide Prevention, History Colorado and Wyoming Tourism.
Linhart PR has promoted Amanda Meyer to account supervisor and added Kathelin Buxton and Noel Runkle as account associates. Meyer joined Linhart PR in 2005 and manages programs for clients Colorado Technical University and UnitedHealthcare. Buxton and Runkle previously were part of Linhart’s JumpStart internship program.
Filed under: Jobs
Cohn Marketing has named Michael J. Barber as its Director of Digital Strategy. Barber has spearheading a number of award-winning digital campaigns, platforms and strategies, and he is a regular speaker at digital marketing trade shows such as BlogWorld, BOLO and the Alliance for Marketing Communication Agencies.
Filed under: Jobs
Congratulations to Business Wire’s Dylan Frusciano, who has been promoted to Group Vice President of the Central US, a position that includes overall responsibility of Business Wire offices in Denver, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Chicago, Cleveland and Minneapolis.
MGA Communications has added five new clients: Enerplus, National Scholarship Providers Association, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers Foundation and The Colorado Trust.
Filed under: Wins
Adrenalin announced it is completing branding work for the National Ski Patrol and the University of Denver, helping both sports organizations advance their marketing efforts.
Denver Post sports columnist Dave Krieger is leaving to join 850 KOA’s afternoon sports show. Krieger was one of a handful of Rocky Mountain News staffers who were picked up by the Post after the Rocky folded.
Filed under: KCNC
A tip of the hat to CBS4 reporter Paul Day, who is retiring after 40 years in the business. CBS4 has a tribute page that captures some of Paul’s more-noteworthy moments as a journalist.
Filed under: Jobs
MWW has hired Aliza Rothman as vice president of Consumer Lifestyle Marketing. Rothman, who will remain based in Denver, previously ran her own shop and before that was a VP at Turner PR. More details are here.
Filed under: KUSA
9News meteorologist Ashton Altieri is on to bigger and better other things. He has been named the weekday morning meteorologist at KXTV in Sacramento.
Filed under: Pure Brand
Pure Brand Communications has acquired Juice Communications, a 13-year-old creative marketing firm with deep financial services expertise. Bruce Goldberg at the Denver Business Journal has the details.
Among those hiring this week are Charles Schwab & Co., The Colorado Health Foundation, Downtown Denver Partnership, F+W Media, Governor’s Office of Information Technology, Mobile Accord, National Stroke Association, Newmont Mining, Prarie Mountain Publishing, The Denver Hospice, Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center, Colorado Springs Gazette, Craig Daily Press, Durango Herald and the Rawlins (Wyo.) Daily Times.
Filed under: Public Relations
Here is the list of the year’s biggest PR disasters that I shared during an interview with 850 KOA’s April Zesbaugh this morning:
CORPORATE
Penn State University
Two years ago, Tiger Woods was the gold standard for PR debacles. Last year, it was the BP Gulf Coast oil spill. This year, that “honor” belongs to Penn State. In a matter of weeks, the university went from one of the nation’s most revered to one of the most reviled following its response – or more accurately its lack of a response – to a horrible child sex abuse scandal that saw two administrators indicted, a former assistant coach arrested and football coaching legend Joe Paterno fired. Making the situation even worse from a public relations perspective, the university had access to grand jury information for months and was still unprepared to deal with the fallout.
Netflix
Netflix was riding high as one of the few positive business stories in 2011. Subscriber numbers were up and the stock continued to defy the bleak economy. And then Netflix got cocky. The company inexplicably surprised customers and Wall Street by announcing a huge price increase as part of a plan to separate its streaming and DVD-by-mail services. Consumers reacted by canceling their service in droves, forcing Netflix to quickly backtrack and abandon its plans. But the damage was already done. The company lost more than a million subscribers and its stock price has dropped 75 percent from its highs this past summer.
Bank of America
Banks have joined oil companies as the businesses that people love to hate, and Bank of America felt that wrath in 2011. Bank of America badly underestimated the populist outrage that existed due to the bank bailouts when it announced a plan to introduce a $5 monthly fee for its debit card users. Bank of America expected other banks to quickly join it in charging the fee, but consumer outrage spread almost virally, leaving the bank on its own as (more…)
Filed under: Crisis Communications
9News’ Anastasiya Bolton is looking into the details of a second non-profit organization affiliated with Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling.
Filed under: Johnston Wells
JohnstonWells announced that it has delivered 40 pairs of socks to the Delores Project, a homeless shelter for women, as part of its 40th anniversary celebration. As part of the ongoing celebration, “JohnstonWells has pledged to do something every 40 days from its 40th anniversary on Oct. 1.”
Filed under: Jobs
Amélie Company added Lexie Alcon as PR account executive, Andrew Hoffman as designer, and Brittany Tangsrud and Jean-Baptiste Deloffre as account executives.
Filed under: Wins
Emphasis Marketing & Communications has added Denver start up F³ Designs as a client. Emphasis will assist F³ with the launch of its debut product, an iPad case.
Filed under: journalism
Today’s passive-aggressive weather report is sponsored by KTLA:
Hat tip: Julie Scott (@jascott)
Filed under: SE2
Everybody talks a good game when it comes to authenticity and transparency, but SE2 has stepped its game up and offered readers of its annual holiday letter a behind-the-scenes look at the editing process:
Filed under: Weise
Weise Communications, an integrated marketing, advertising and public relations agency in Denver, has redesigned and relaunched its website.
Following recent questions about whether Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling misled firefighters and stole money intended for The Children’s Hospital Burn Center, the Colorado Attorney General’s office has filed suit against “Fired Up For Kids.” And the allegations are not pretty for Hamling. Among them:
15. In its solicitation materials, including materials sent to event sponsors as well as on its website, Fired Up For Kids has represented that it is a “Denver-based nonprofit organization” that donates all proceeds from special events and sales of The Colorado Firefighter Calendar to The Children’s Hospital Burn Center.16. Fired Up For Kids also has represented itself in public solicitation materials as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.17. In fact, Fired Up For Kids never received 501(c)(3) status from the United States Internal Revenue Service. Nevertheless, upon information and belief, Fired Up For Kids never paid taxes.18. Kirsten Hamling was the sole director of Fired Up For Kids and its founder. Ms. Hamling is also the sole signatory on Fired Up for Kids operating account, maintained at Wells Fargo Bank.19. Almost immediately after the incorporation of Fired Up For Kids as a nonprofit corporation, Ms. Hamling began making charges of a personal nature to the Fired Up For Kids operating account. These charges continued through at least July 2010. Charges included money spent at nail and hair salons, money spent on gym memberships, money spent at department stores, and money spent on airline tickets to California. These charges had nothing to do with Fired Up For Kids.
So, based on the allegations, it appears that Hamling may either have admit that Fired Up For Kids is a non-profit and she misused and/or stole money it, or that Fired Up For Kids is a for-profit enterprise and she never paid taxes.
Filed under: Public Relations
Congratulations to Kate Stabrawa, who has been elected a board officer as vice chair of The Ohio State University Alumni Association’s board of directors. Her non-Ohio State time is spent as an account director for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in Denver.
Filed under: Public Relations
GroundFloor Media has been named agency of record for ClickBank,a global e-commerce network that enables online entrepreneurs to sell and distribute digital goods. GroundFloor Media will help ClickBank raise its industry profile through a full range of strategic communications initiatives, including message development, social media andmedia relations programs.
Filed under: Johnston Wells
Michele Wells, the eponymous Wells in JohnstonWells, has filed suit against her old firm for an undisclosed sum, according to the Denver Business Journal. The DBJ doesn’t provide any details, but I’m guessing it is for the $36,000 she claims JohnstonWells owes her for work performed during her short-lived return to the firm last year (see the comments section of this post).
I’m running out of jokes to make about Linhart winning awards, so I’ll just share this one with you straight up: Linhart has been named a national finalist for PRWeek’s Boutique Agency of the Year. Winners will be announced on March 1, 2012, at the PRWeek Awards dinner in New York City.
Filed under: GroundFloor Media
GroundFloor Media has introduced what it calls an “Online War Room,” a secure, collaborative site that allows the firm and clients to strategize responses to various crises.
Filed under: Wins
Sprocket Communications has landed three new clients: Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, the Colorado Mammoth and PanTerra Energy.
Filed under: KUSA
9News meteorologist Ashton Altieri accidentally hits on the crew at the desk.
Filed under: Denver Post
The fallout continues over at the Denver Post following last week’s news about 19 staffers accepting buyout offers. Today, Michael Roberts at Westword reports that the Post has announced internally a number of new assignments, and one surprising one is that Steve McMillan is out as business editor, replaced by deputy business editor Kristi Arellano. You can read the rest of the changes at Westword’s “Latest Word” blog.
Filed under: Obit
Denver restaurateur and philanthropist Noel Cunningham passed away unexpectedly yesterday. Noel was the driving force behind restaurants Strings, 240 Union and Ciao Baby, but he was also known for his prolific humanitarian efforts. I got to know Noel through my involvement in AfricAid, and today is an incredibly sad day for Denver. Lori Midson at Westword has a fitting tribute to Noel.
The Denver Post is reporting that the Colorado Springs Gazette has let about a dozen employees go, including editor Jeff Thomas.
Filed under: blogs
One of the most interesting parts of publishing this blog is seeing the search-engine queries that bring people here. Here is a list of some of my (verbatim) favorites from this week:
- who does libby weaver hair
- steve silvers gambling ring
- adele arakawa net worth
- deborah sherman swinger
- katy sabin and drew soicher screwed
- what is the difference between a pr person and a lobbyist
- libby weaver bra
Filed under: journalism
The Greenville News:
(Hat tip: @PeterMacKellar)
Filed under: Denver Post
The list of Denver Post employees who have accepted the paper’s buyout offer has started to trickle out is out:
- Religion reporter (and obituary specialist) Virginia Culver
- Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Mike Keefe
- Gossip columnist Bill Husted
- Managing editor Jeanette Chavez
- Theater critic John Moore
- Fina arts critic Kyle MacMillan
- Librarian Jan Torpy
- Don Russell
- Lifestyles reporter Sheba Wheeler
- Sportswriter Natalie Meisler
- Senior editorial assistant Pete Names
- Designer Jackie Feldman
- Information graphic designer Jonathan Moreno
- Copy desk chief Joe Hudson
- Robert Smith
- Feature design director Jim Carr
- Denver Newspaper Agency (reprints) Joyce Anderson
- Photographer John Prieto
-
Reporter Jeff Leib
Update II: Michael Roberts at Westword has the complete list of the 19 staffers who are leaving, and offers some perspective on what their departures might mean for the Post.
Filed under: Wins
The Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Travel and Tourism Joint Power Board has named Cactus as its agency of record. A $1.2 million budget will support public relations, social media, and print, digital, outdoor and radio advertising.
Among those hiring this week are the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, the City of Boulder, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (unpaid intern), FCC Services, Financial Planning Standards Board, Medtronic Navigation, Oncure Medical Corp., Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, PlanSource, Rally Software, St. Julien Hotel and Spa, The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Western Union, NANA Development (Colorado Springs) and the Weld County District Attorney’s Office (Greeley).
dovetail solutions has been retained for a crisis project by Fort Collins-based construction firm The Neenan Company.
Filed under: Denver Post
Denver Post editorial page editor Curtis Hubbard offers his farewell to Mike Keefe, the Post’s Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist who, after 36 years and more than 8,000 cartoons with the paper, accepted a buyout.
The Denver Post has crunched the (Arizona Republic’s) numbers, and only Austin, Texas, ranks better than Denver among peer cities when it comes to economic indicators. So if you feel like we are in a recession, it must be your imagination.
One of the sad realities of newspapers continually cutting back the column inches they publish every day is the loss of some of the traditional services they provided, including obituaries. Many of you may know Don Shook, who prior to moving to Las Vegas spent 27 years in Denver with Channel 4, Coors and the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office. His wife, Maggie, passed away last month and Don was shocked to find that the Post wanted $1,600 to publish her obituary. Don fired off the letter below to the Post, but has yet to see it published or receive a response.
Dear Editor:
My wife of 37 years just got her dying wish, thanks to The Denver Post. Maggie passed away last week in our Las Vegas home after many years of pain and suffering. She made it absolutely clear that she wanted NO obituary notices; however, after 25 years of living in Golden, I was willing to risk her wrath on “the other shore” to share news of her passing with our considerable number of friends along the Front Range. She will indeed get her wish regarding your newspaper.
I built a modest obituary into the paper’s template, along with a recent photo that captures her nicely. To run it three days would be just under $1,600. Does The Denver Post expect me to singlehandedly save the organization from financial doom? With the recent news of yet morestaff reductions being sought, is the newspaper hoping to stave off closure of its daily publication by capitalizing on people at such a moment of profound grief?
Given your apparent lack of feeling for the community you purport to serve, perhaps the time may come when we all read of the Post’s own obituary. For the sake of your many fine employees, I hope not.
Donald Shook
There will be a memorial for Maggie next summer in Golden. If you are interested in reconnecting with Don, you can reach him through his PR firm in Las Vegas.
Filed under: journalism
Calling ESPN “journalism” may be a bit of a stretch, but it wins a “Great Moment” award for taking the time to create a Wisconsin graphic that actually features Minnesota. (Hat tip: Darren Rovelle)
Filed under: KUSA
9News and investigative reporter Deborah Sherman have parted ways, and details are sketchy. Sherman broke her share of stories for the station over the past decade, but it was her involvement in Hampersgate that gave her the most attention.
Things are hopping at The Bawmann Group. The firm announced it has been retained by the Centers for Health and Public Safety, Kaiser Permanente-Colorado and the College for Financial Planning to provide a variety of marketing and public relations services such as web development, advertising campaign development, social media strategy and community outreach. TBG also was awarded a new contract by the State of Colorado to manage advertising and PR for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.
Additionally, TBG has added Kelly Heavey as account executive. Heavey is a University of Kansas graduate and most recently handled social media and public relations for the sustainability grant under the direction of the mayor of Lincoln, Neb.
GroundFloor Media has been named agency of record by Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, a self-serve, choose-your-own-toppings frozen dessert chain. GFM will provide strategic planning, traditional and social media strategy and execution.
Denver public relations agency LeGrand Hart appears to have shut its doors for good. The news is surprising since the firm ranked second in revenue in the Denver Business Journal’s 2007-2008 Book of Lists ($2.70 million in revenue). But it was second only to Schenkein ($2.72 million in revenue), so maybe we should expect the unexpected.
For old time’s sake, here is the ranking of agencies that appeared in 2007-2008, the last time the DBJ ranked public relations firms:
1. Schenkein ($2.72 million)
2. LeGrand Hart ($2.70 million)
3. JohnstonWells ($2.65 million)
4. PRACO/Vladimir Jones ($2.51 million)
5. MGA ($2.29 million)
6. Pure Brand ($2.13 million)
7. GroundFloor Media ($2.10 million)
8. Linhart ($2.09 million)
9. CTA Integrated ($1.86 million)
10. Turner PR ($1.65 million)
11. CLS ($1.56 million)
12. 104 West ($1.51 million)
13. Webb PR ($1.35 million)
14. Bawmann Group ($1.28 million)
15. Metzger ($1.10 million)
16. VisiTech ($1.10 million)
17. LawsComm ($1.07 million)
18. InterMountain ($1.05 million)
19. Catapult ($0.92 million)
20. Corporate Advocates ($0.83 million)
21. Volume PR ($0.83 million)
22. SJI Ltd. ($0.75 million)
23. October Strategies ($0.74 million)
24. Aiello PR ($0.70 million)
25. Capitol Solutions ($0.69 million)
Filed under: Denver
The high-end gambling ring that took down Denver Post sports columnist/reporter Jim Armstrong has claimed (partly) another victim: Steve Sander. Sander has resigned his seat on the Metro Denver Sports Commission board to “to prevent any misperceptions about the organization” that could arise from his name being linked to the gambling ring.
Sander also serves as director of strategic marketing for Denver, and a city spokeswoman told the Post that he will be allowed to complete the term of his contract that expires at the end of this year.
Nicole Yost has launched Fyn (pronounced fine) Public Relations, a full-service public relations agency based on Fort Collins. Fyn PR is the agency of record for the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Midtown Arts Center, Backbone Gourmet Grub & Brewhouse, Perfect Square and Fred’s Used Websites. It also manages PR for several project clients as well, including the upcoming Snow Sculpture in the Dark event put on by Engaging Loveland.
Filed under: Crisis Communications
Hard to believe, but apparently Penn State’s (lack of) response to its child sex abuse crisis is being guided by Ketchum. According to Ad Age, Ketchum was retained on Nov. 6, the day after former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested.
Filed under: KUSA
9News officially tapped Kim Christiansen to co-anchor its weeknight 9 p.m. newscast with Kyle Clark. Christiansen replaces Bazi Kanani, who has taken a job with ABC News in Nairobi, Kenya.
Among those hiring this week are the Colorado Dental Association, Colorado State University, Colorado Symphony, Linhart Public Relations, National MS Society (Colorado-Wyoming Chapter), Peak Vista Community Health Centers, the Town of Parker (Colorado) and the Roswell (N.M.) Daily Record.
Filed under: Public Relations
Lance Myers has launched Two Top Marketing, a hyphen-averse marketing firm that specializes in Denver food-and-beverage clients. Services include website development, social media and strategic consultation.
Filed under: Crisis Communications
The hits to Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling keep coming. KMGH/Channel 7 has an update on a story CBS4 broke about Hamling’s alleged theft of money intended for The Children’s Hospital. According to KMGH’s Lance Hernandez, “the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation has issued a cease-and-desist order” against her organization, Fired Up For Kids. And sources indicate that the amount of the alleged theft is at least $50,000.
Additionally, Hernandez talked to a firefighter who appeared in the calendar who says he is “betrayed and hurt that all calendar money may not have gone to burn victims.”
UPDATE: CBS4 News Director Tim Wieland says that no cease-and-desist order has been filed, but that future calendar sales and events are on hold pending an investigation. And according to the Denver Post, TCH has asked the calendar maker to stop using its name until that independent investigation is completed.
KMGH/Channel 7 investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski is leaving Denver to join KNTV/NBC in San Jose, Calif. Kovaleski’s crowning achievement in Denver, you may recall, was baiting Pinnacol Assurance CEO Ken “Paulie Walnuts” Ross into threatening to break his finger after Kovaleski surprised Ross during a junket to a Pebble Beach golf course.
Congratulations to Linhart PR, which was selected as the agency of record for Celestial Seasonings. Linhart will provide “strategic counsel and support for the brand’s tea and kombucha products through integrated brand campaigns, including digital strategy and engagement.”
Filed under: Public Relations
The migration from media to public relations continues. Former 9News and Fox31 reporter Ginger Delgado has teamed with former Gov. Bill Owen’s spokeswoman Amy Sampson to form Real PR Media, a boutique firm that offers media relations, crisis communications, branding and messaging, PR campaigns and video production services.
Filed under: Public Relations
A good rule of thumb for journalists: you probably aren’t going to win an Emmy asking sketchy characters, “Did you pee or poop on the bank?” And you probably aren’t going to get promoted out of Eureka, Calif., if you keep acting like a substitute teacher who can’t control her third-grade students.
(Hat tip: Andrew Hudson)
Denver’s Cohn Marketing has picked up four new brand-development clients: Galleria Dallas, Serramonte Center, Lerner Enterprises and RK Mechanical. And good news if you are involved in the retail real-estate industry – Jeff Cohn says he’s seen activity pick up in that sector over the past six months.
Filed under: Public Relations
A follow-up to yesterday’s post about a CBS4 investigation into Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling over missing money intended for The Children’s Hospital. Through her lawyers, Hamling has now explained that Fired Up for Kids actually was never a non-profit/charity and that she is under no obligation to donate the proceeds of its firefighter calendar to The Children’s Hospital’s burn unit. Classy.
Filed under: Public Relations
CBS4 investigative reporter Rick Sallinger is hot on the trail of Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling over missing money intended for The Children’s Hospital’s burn unit. Hamling is the founder of Fired Up for Kids, a non-profit that creates beefcake firefighter calendars that benefit TCH’s burn unit, but questions are now surfacing over whether she pocketed the money instead.
UPDATE: The Denver Post reports that the Denver District Attorney’s office is investigating.
Filed under: Jobs
Senku Marketing hired Kevin Maresca as account manager.
Among those hiring this week are the American Alpine Club, Avaya, CH2MHill, Colorado Public Radio, Colorado State University, Community College of Aurora, Great West Life, News Link, UBM Cannon, Western Union, Westmeath Communications and the University of Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.).
Filed under: Crisis Communications
It isn’t as juicy as the Denver Players Club scandal, but this weekend’s report of a high-end Colorado gambling ring has done what the Players Club scandal couldn’t do: name names. Among those who have been caught up in the ring are Denver Post sportswriter Jim Armstrong (who was fired Friday when his name surfaced) and Steve Sander, Denver’s director of strategic marketing and a member of the Metro Denver Sports Commission’s board of directors.
The silver lining for Denver Post colleagues is that Armstrong represents one less layoff that may come should the newspaper’s buyout program not yield results.
Filed under: Weber Shandwick
When I was a vice president at Weber Shandwick, I spent a lot of my time – 60 percent, if you believed my job description – having conversations with prospective clients, and I was always looking for a hook that would let me have a different kind of conversation with them than my competitors could have.
So I was curious about the agency’s announcement last week of its new “content fusion” approach to integrated storytelling that promises to identify ”what stories can be told in which formats and where to drive those stories.”
After watching the video and reading the white paper, it is clear that “content fusion” is both brilliant and disappointing. It is brilliant because it give Weber Shandwick another proprietary hook to have unique conversations with a prospective client, and disappointing because it boils down to simply acknowledging that some stories are better told using video and graphics. Hardly innovative stuff, but you have to give Weber Shandwick credit for the fancy packaging.
Filed under: Public Relations
… and I am joining dovetail as president:
DENVER – November 2, 2011 – dovetail solutions today announced that it has acquired Story + Welch LLP, a Denver-based public relations firm that focuses on B2B, professional services and technology clients. The acquisition expands dovetail’s client roster and strengthens its ability to offer its signature Strategic Community Investment-focused communications approach.
As part of the transaction, Story + Welch co-founder Jeremy Story will join dovetail solutions as president, reporting to dovetail founder and CEO Andy Boian. Story has more than 15 years of experience developing and executing high-profile communications campaigns for organizations ranging from the Fortune-100 to private start-ups. Among the companies he has counseled over the course of his career are CIGNA, H&R Block, Sun, American Airlines, ExxonMobil, StorageTek, tw telecom and Faegre & Benson.
Among those hiring this week are 90octane (part-time), Adams County School District 50, Catholic Health Initiatives, Colorado AIDS Project Red Ball Event (intern), Financial Planning Association, Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, MillerCoors, OptumHealth (UnitedHealth Group), Raytheon Office of Economic Development (State of Colorado), SunEdison, Talk Shop, Trimble Navigation, Vail Resorts, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyo.), and Pulse (Las Cruces, N.M.).
Filed under: Linhart
Linhart Public Relations founder and Chief Bigwig Sharon Linhart has been named as a board member for the Council of PR Firms and the Americas Region of the Worldcom Public Relations Group.
Filed under: Wins
Sprocket Communications has landed two new clients: Orangetheory Fitness and the Girl Scouts of Colorado.
Filed under: Wins
Emphasis Marketing & Communications has added Ted’s Clothiers as a client. Emphasis will manage public relations for the 37-year-old men’s clothier, as well as maintain its social media presence.
Filed under: Public Relations
After 34 years in Lakewood, Heinrich Marketing has made the move downtown to Denver’s LoDo district. The firm has set up shop in a restored building at 2228 Blake Street, next to Breckenridge Brewery in Denver’s historic Ballpark neighborhood.
Guttau Public Relations announced today that it has added four new clients: Pamalya, Enduring Images, About Time Fitness and the Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Community Fund.
Among those hiring this week are Arrow Electronics, CenturyLink, the City of Commerce City, the City & County of Denver, Denver Public Schools, Devry University, Fresh Ideas Group, Fort Collins Coloradoan, Greeley Tribune, Hyatt, MWH, National Honey Board, University of the Rockies, Vi and Williams Corp.
Filed under: Salaries
CommPro.biz has crunched the U.S. Bureau of Labor numbers and concluded that Denver is the third-best city for “top paying PR jobs.”
Congratulations to Armada Medical Marketing, GroundFloor Media, Linhart PR, CSG and Welch Creative for winning awards at the 2011 Colorado Healthcare Communicators Gold Leaf Awards. Using the proprietary, highly sophisticated Denver PR Blog formula (three points for a gold, two points for a silver and one point for a bronze), the winners were:
1. GroundFloor Media (7 points) – One gold, two silver
1. Armada Medical Marketing (7 points) – Three silver, one bronze
3. Welch Creative Group (3 points) – One gold
3. Linhart PR (3 points) – Three bronze
5. Communications Strategy Group (2 points) – Two bronze
Also, congratulations to The Colorado Health Foundation’s Chuck Reyman, who was named the Colorado Healthcare Communicators’ “Professional of the Year.”
The CoLab (formerly the PRSA Chapter Retreat) will feature hands-on, intentionally collaborative workshops that will encourage and inspire you to build chemistry with fellow industry professionals, test your limits and expand your capabilities. You’ll develop a strategic mindset, strengthen your relationships and pick up practical tips.
Early-Bird Pricing through Oct. 27: Fees for PRSA Colorado members is $130 for full retreat, $50 for keynote lunch only, or $25 for Young Pros session only. Non-member fees are $170 for full retreat, $65 keynote lunch only, or $35 for Young Pros only. Student discounts available for $65-$85. Click here for details. (more…)
Filed under: Wins
Dave & Buster’s has selected Fitzgerald Petersen to re-launch the company’s brand and new design in Denver. The project includes media relations, implementation of social media programs and coordination of the VIP Launch Event at their Denver location.
Filed under: PRSA
Annual dues for PRSA will increase $30 to $255 starting Jan. 1, 2012. PRSA Colorado dues will remain an additional $65 per year.
Among those hiring this week are Aiello Public Relations & Marketing (internship), Ogilvy (internship), Newmont Mining, ProgressNow Colorado, Harrison School District Two (Colorado Springs), the Jackson Hole News & Guide (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) and the Sublette Examiner (Pinedale, Wyo.).
Denver Broncos VP of PR Jim Saccomano has turned to Twitter to call out a “reckless ‘journalist’” at the Sporting News for reporting that Broncos QB Kyle Orton has demanded a trade.
Next Wednesday, in lieu of its monthly luncheon, PRSA Colorado will host its first Brand Challenge – a networking, collaborating, creative thinking, pitching competition.
Representatives from Crocs, the Four Seasons Hotel, and Smashburger will present three unique communication challenges. Randomly assigned teams will have 30 minutes to develop a solution and three minutes to pitch their idea. Each member of the winning teams will receive prizes up to $100 in value.
In addition to food, drinks and great prizes, the event will be a great opportunity to:
- Visit with friends and colleagues
- Network with local PR professionals
- Learn about the communication challenges that major brands are experiencing
- Participate in an integrated brainstorming and pitching exercise with a diverse team of communicators
- Observe the creative thinking and pitching style of peers
- And, did we mention…prizes up to $100 in value from Crocs, the Four Seasons and Smashburger
REGISTER NOW: http://bit.ly/mVQsy5
$25 for Students
$35 for PRSA Colorado Members
$45 for Non-members
Filed under: Wins
Emphasis Marketing & Communications has landed Twisted Wardrobe and Twisted Yogurt as a client. Emphasis will manage public relations for their multiple locations, as well as maintain their social media efforts.
Filed under: journalism
The Times-News of Twin Falls (Idaho) gives a page-one fact-check to a press release from U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo. The paper’s verdict: “The release is accurate, although much of the data is represented to look scarier than it might actually be.”
Among those hiring this week are GBSM, HealthGrades, MillerCoors, University of Colorado Denver, Accurence, ACLU of Colorado, Broomfield United Methodist Church, Colorado Medical Society, Denver Film Society, Denver Health & Hospital Authority, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, DirectTV, Education Commission of the States (ECS), The Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado Springs), Phoenix New Times (Phoenix), Cabela’s (Sidney, Neb.) and The Garden City Telegram (Garden City, Kans.).
If you like to see Tom “Troubleshooter” Martino get kicked around, good news. He joins Michelle Bachman, former Congressman Anthony Wiener and President Obama as targets of the 2011 Denver Press Club Gridiron Show. Tickets are $20 each, and the show will feature Gov. John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Jim Benemann, Mike Landess, Cynthia Hessin, Bruce Goldberg, Ruth Darling-Goldberg and TaRhonda Thomas among others.
2011 Denver Press Club Gridiron Show
7 p.m., Friday, October 21
L2 Arts and Culture Center
1477 Columbine St., Denver
Purchase Tickets
InView Communications has added Lydia Chou as communications account coordinator. Chou formerly was with SSPR.
Filed under: Wins
Duo Marketing & PR has landed the Celtic Tavern LoDo and its sister pub Delaney’s as a client. Duo will manage public relations, including social media, for the the two locations.
Filed under: University of Denver
Michelle Honald from the University of Denver is looking for four PR panelists who can speak to her class on Wednesday, Oct. 12 (6:15 – 7:15 p.m.). She’d like panelists who can speak to their experiences in the government, non-profit, agency and corporate PR worlds (ideally one panelist from each area). If you can volunteer, please email Michelle.
Filed under: Public Relations
Ahhh, it’s like 2008 all over again … E.W. Scripps is relevant in Colorado and the Denver Post is threatening layoffs.
Filed under: journalism
(Hat tip: Andrew Hudson)
