Filed under: Events
Weise Communications is a sponsor of the Second Annual Franchising in Health Care Conference in Denver in October.
GroundFloor Media’s Jim Licko and Alexis Anderson have spent the past few days blogging from the SXSW Conference in Austin:

If you are both a procrastinator and a fan of “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!,” today is your lucky day. PRSA is now offering two-for-one tickets to Carl Kasell’s keynote address at the PRSA Western District Conference in Denver next Monday.
PRSA Colorado’s annual Media Roundtable luncheon is next week, and it is a chance to connect with Denver media such as:
- Julie Dugdale, senior editor, 5280
- Amber Johnson, editor, The Denver Post’s Mile High Mamas
- Kelley Griffin, executive producer, Colorado Public Radio
- Kathy Walker, news director, KOA-850 AM
- Rory Schmalzried, executive producer of news logistics, 7News
- Dennis Huspeni, staff writer, Denver Business Journal
- Doug Hoffacker, assignment editor, CBS4News
- Greg Griffin, business reporter, The Denver Post
- Suzanne Brown, features editor, The Denver Post
- Curtis Hubbard, editorial page editor, The Denver Post
- Misty Montano, digital content manager, 9News
- Erika Napoletano, writer, Entreprenuer magazine & The Bitch Slap
Registration and Networking | 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon | Noon – 1:30 p.m.
NEW LOCATION: The Four Seasons Hotel | 1111 14th Street | Denver, CO 80202
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.
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…)
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
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
When
- October 19, 2011
- 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where
- Braun’s (24th and Blake near Coors Field in the Ballpark District)
What
- Representatives from three nationally recognized brands (Crocs, The Four Seasons Hotel, and Smashburger) will present the audience with a unique communication challenge.
- Teams of eight to 10 people (attendees) will have 30 minutes to collaborate, brainstorm and develop a solution.
- Each team will then have three minutes to pitch their idea in front of the audience.
- The brand representatives will select the three best pitches – one for each brand.
- Each member of the three winning teams will receive a prize from the brand they pitched.
- Note: Teams will be assigned randomly to foster networking and fresh thinking by bringing together groups of people with diverse skill sets and experience levels.
Why
- A fresh approach to networking
- Exposure to real brands and real brand challenges
- Opportunity to participate in an integrated brainstorming, planning and pitching exercise with a diverse team of communicators.
- Exposure to the approach, creative thinking, ideation and pitching style of peers.
- Opportunity to win big prizes
Registration
- $35 for PRSA Colorado Members
- $45 for Non-members
Registration has opened for PRSA CoLab, a full-day experiment in innovative thinking and discussion for Colorado’s public relations professionals. The hands-on, intentionally creative and challenging workshops will encourage and inspire participants to build chemistry with other industry professionals, test their limits and expand their capabilities. The CoLab will feature top speakers, energizing activities and a collaborative work environment.
PRSA CoLab
9 am – 5 pm, Thursday, Nov. 3
Denver Art Museum
If you are interested in learning first-hand what it takes to build one of Denver’s biggest and/or best PR agencies, plan to attend PRSA Colorado’s September luncheon. I am moderating an all-star panel discussion that features six of Denver’s most notable agency leaders:
- Jeff Julin, APR, Fellow | President, MGA Communications
- Pete Webb | Principal and Partner, Webb PR
- Laura Love-Aden | Founder and President, GroundFloor Media
- Sharon Linhart, APR | Founder and Managing Partner, Linhart PR
- Larry Holdren, APR | Partner, Pure Brand Communications
- Gwin Johnston, APR, Fellow | CEO and Founder, JohnstonWells
Send me an email or post a comment if you have a question you would like me to ask any or all of these agency leaders. And don’t be afraid to make them tough – they can take it.
Filed under: Events

5:30 p.m. (doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 24
Macky Auditorium
University of Colorado at Boulder
Tickets: $25 to $32
If you are interested in learning first-hand what it takes to build one of Denver’s biggest and best PR agencies, plan to attend PRSA Colorado’s September luncheon. I am moderating an all-star panel discussion that features six of Denver’s most notable agency leaders:
- Jeff Julin, APR, Fellow | President, MGA Communications
- Pete Webb | Principal and Partner, Webb PR
- Laura Love-Aden | Founder and President, GroundFloor Media
- Sharon Linhart, APR | Founder and Managing Partner, Linhart PR
- Larry Holdren, APR | Partner, Pure Brand Communications
- Gwin Johnston, APR, Fellow | CEO and Founder, JohnstonWells
Send me an email or post a comment if you have a question you would like me to ask any or all of these agency leaders. And don’t be afraid to make them tough – they can take it.
Filed under: Events
5:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 31
Whiskey Bar, 2203 Larimer St., Denver
(Free parking at Pure Brand)
Sponsored by Linhart PR & Pure Brand
Register
Cohn Marketing designed and hosted the first social media pavilion at last week’s RECON conference, which hosted more than 30,000 retail and real estate professionals in Las Vegas. The pavilion was located within the convention center and featured 18 screens streaming live social media activity from the conference, including Twitter hashtags, retail reporters’ handles, video, and foursquare check-ins.
Filed under: Events
The Denver and Boulder events featuring author Amber Naslund that were scheduled for this week have been postponed due to an illness. Information about the rescheduled dates should be available soon.
Elisabeth Monaghan has picked up the Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival as a pro bono client. The festival, which takes place this weekend at the Oriental Theater, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is led by producer Lynn Coleman.
Filed under: Events
Amber Naslund, nationally known communication and business strategist, vice president of Social Strategy for Radian6 and author of The Now Revolution, will be giving two Colorado presentations: Denver (May 12) and Boulder (May 13).
Naslund’s appearances — her first-ever in Colorado — are being hosted by the Mile High Social Media Club (MHSMC), Metzger Associates, PRSA Colorado and Redhead Writing.
At each event, Naslund will address the “Seven Shifts To Make Businesses Faster, Smarter & More Social.” Attendees will learn how to:
- Strip away silos and overgrown business processes and create a culture of NOW;
- Hire and empower a new type of employee who is adept at pattern recognition, human relations, and immediate analysis;
- Organize internal teams for maximum external impact, and empower every employee as a marketer, even if they aren’t;
- Listen at the point of need and answer the social telephone;
- Travel the “Humanization Highway” and respond effectively and persuasively to customer inquiries;
- Plan for, find and manage real-time crises; and,
- Redesign success metrics in a business world that’s increasingly instantaneous.
The cost for the event is $25 ($20 for PRSA members and students with valid student ID). All participants will receive a copy of Naslund’s book The Now Revolution: 7 Shifts to Make Your Business Faster, Smarter and More Social.
The Colorado Healthcare Communicators is hosting a media roundtable breakfast on Wednesday, April 27. The event will feature reporters, editors and producers including CPR’s Eric Whitney, 9News’ Misty Montano, 5280′s Lindsey Koehler, the Denver Post’s Michael Booth and former Rocky Mountain News business editor Rob Reutemann.
The dust has finally settled from last week’s announcement that the BMW Championship, a PGA Tour FedExCup series event, will be held at Cherry Hills County Club in 2014, so a quick congratulations to Webb PR for pulling it off in style. The announcement included a Denver trifecta: local legend John Elway, pro golfer David Duval and a bow-tied John Hall.
Filed under: Events
TEDxMileHigh’s first annual downtown Denver event begins at 3 p.m. today at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Filed under: Events
The South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce is inviting Denver public relations practitioners and agencies to join Conversation Starters’ Brian Olson at its B.I.G. (Be Involved, Give) Day on Saturday April 16. The SMDCOC needs 500 volunteers to spend the morning working with non-profits on everything from spring cleaning at Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado to getting the Botanic Gardens spruced up for the season.
Dovetail Solutions founder and CEO Andy Boian will discuss how to use community involvement to enhance brands at the Denver Metro SBDC/Denver Metro Chamber’s business seminar series on April 5. Details are:
DMSBDC/DMCOC Seminar Series
7:30 – 9:00 am, Tuesday, April 5
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market St., Denver CO, 80202
The Denver Press Club has named Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times best-selling author Anna Quindlen as the recipient of the 17th Annual Damon Runyon Award. Quindlen will accept the award at a banquet in her honor on Friday, April 29, 2011 at the Denver Marriott City Center.
“Anna Quindlen exemplifies the high standards of journalism and of writing that the Runyon Award is meant to honor,” DPC President Bruce Goldberg said. “We are looking forward to hearing what she has to say about both her career and about journalism on April 29.”
Previous winners include P.J. O’Rourke, Tim Russert, Bob Costas, George Will, Ed Bradley, Maureen Dowd, Ted Turner, Herb Caen, Molly Ivins, Mike Royko and Jimmy Breslin.
The 9/11 Freedom Rally is looking for pro bono support to help it with messaging and media outreach. The group is a nonprofit organization that is trying “to reclaim the date of September 11 each year as a time of honoring and helping instead of just mourning.” Sponsors include Best Buy, Harley-Davidson, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and American Family Insurance, among others. Email the planning committee or Randy Blauvelt if you are interested.
PitchEngine founder and CEO Jason Kintzler will discuss how businesses can expand beyond the traditional news release to a true Social Media Release at Metzger Associates’ next Social Media Breakfast. Kintzler is a former journalist turned PR guy who founded PitchEngine in 2008, and last year more than 100,000 pitches were shared by 30,000 organizations looking to get the word out to journalists, bloggers, consumers and other influencers. Details:
Social Media Breakfast
Friday, Feb. 25, at 7:45 a.m.
Metzger Associates
5733 Central Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
[Map]
RSVP to Lisa Metzger at 720.833.5920 or via email.
PRSA Colorado has scheduled its annual Gold Pick Awards Dinner and Ceremony for Thursday, May 5, 2011. Download the 2011 Call for Entries form to enter a public relations program or campaign for one of the 49 award categories.
Early entry deadline:
February 25, 2011 – Noon
Late entry deadline:
March 5, 2011 – 4 p.m.
Special Awards deadline:
March 25, 2011 – 4 p.m.
The PRSA Colorado Chapter Gold Pick awards program is aligned with the PRSA Silver Anvil awards program. Visit http://www.prsa.org/awards/silveranvil for complete details on the national awards.
Desperate for a laugh after a few days of subzero temperatures? Check out internationally syndicated cartoonist Leigh Rubin this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Denver Press Club. Rubin, the artist behind the cartoon Rubes, will discuss “maintaining creativity and staying inspired — all while having to meet the daily deadline that creating a daily cartoon demands. Of course, because it’s a cartoon program, he uses many visuals.”
The program is free, and a pre-program dinner at the Denver Press Club is $10.
The Colorado Healthcare Communicators are sponsoring a breakfast seminar on “The Art of Storytelling” on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 8 a.m. Led by former journalist and current PR practitioner Jerry Brown, the seminar will help attendees “find interesting hooks for the stories you want to tell.”
Philosophy Communication is promoting the Art Directors Club of Denver’s Paper Fashion Show for the second year in a row. Last year, Philosophy’s work led to double attendance with more than 600 paper patrons, a 35 percent increase in event sponsorship dollars, and a 100 percent increase in design teams.
Designers, art directors, marketers, advertisers, communication professionals and fashion enthusiasts who are interested in participating should register by February 18, 2011.
eBay’s Rolf Skyberg is the featured speaker at this month’s PRSA Colorado luncheon, where he will discuss how to control the destiny of your campaigns – and your business – by mastering the elusive patterns of growth and decline. Some of the topics Rolf will cover include:
- How to tell the difference between a fad and a trend
- When to respond quickly and when to simply “keep calm and carry on”
- What to do when the hype dies down
- How not to get bitten in your career
- How to get the most out of your team
The details are:
Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 11:30 a.m.
The Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis St., Denver, CO 80202
$35 for PRSA Colorado chapter members; $49 for guests and $30 for students
Marv Rockford and Steve Gray of Rockford Gray are headlining the November PRSA Colorado luncheon with a look at the best and worst public relations work of the year.
The Best and Worst of 2010 PR: Hit Me with Your Best Shot
Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 11:30 a.m.
The Curtis Hotel | 1405 Curtis St. | Denver, CO 80202
Filed under: Events
Trippe & Company is teaming up with the Arvada Chamber of Commerce to conduct a seminar to help business professionals create personal brands. “What is a Personal Brand and How Can It Move Me Forward?” will be held on Nov. 18 from 2:00-4:00 at Bread Winners, located at 7311 Grandview Avenue in Olde Town Arvada. The cost is $25 per person. To register, email info@trippecompany.com or call 970-389-3672.
Trippe & Company is teaming with the Arvada Chamber of Commerce to conduct an Internet marketing seminar titled “Adwords, Facebook, Twitter and Blogs – What Is Internet Marketing and Which of These Tools Work Best for My Business?” The details are:
Thursday, September 23 from 2:00-3:30
Bread Winners, 7311 Grandview Avenue in Olde Town Arvada
Cost: $10 per person
Register by emailing info@trippecompany.com or calling the ACC at 303-424-0313.
PRSA Colorado is hosting an all-star panel to discuss how can you keep your personal and professional integrity during a crisis situation while also keeping your company or client happy. Panelists include PRSA National Chair and CEO Gary McCormick and PRSA Colorado’s newest inductees to the College of Fellows – Sydney Ayers, Jane Dvorak and Jeff Julin.
The Importance of Maintaining Integrity in a Crisis
Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 11:30 a.m.
The Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis St., Denver, CO 80202
Click here to register (deadline is noon today).
Ignite Boulder 12 is tonight. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7. Tickets are a mere $10, and the speakers are:
Amy C. Christensen @expandoutdoors Stripping down on Kaua’i
Jeremy Tanner @penguin On Travel
Stephanie Lee Su-Ling @nuancechaser The Rationality of Fear
John Common @johncommon Beautiful Empty
Andrew Hyde @andrewhyde How To Build a Trail
Kendall Ruth @iamkendal Inconceivable or That Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think it Means
Jesse Weaver @jweav1 The Independence Day Theory: Why an Alien Visit may be Humanity’s Only Hope for Survival
Mary Kuehner @daisycakes Life Lessons of a Children’s Librarian
Rise Keller @vanillagrrl Baking at High Altitude: It’s All About Atmospheric Pressure
Sam Stauffer @redhead_wilma Take a Chill Pill: Dealing with Anxiety Disorders and other Mental Illnesses
Kate Brown @invinciblekate Lunch Lady Land – Food Activists on the Front Lines of the Childhood Obesity Battle
Danya Michael @theroseinbloom Fairy Tales as Education, or Why It’s OK to Read Harry Potter after High School
Emma Nicoletti @dollemma A Post Apocalyptic Experience without an Apocalypse: Working as a Waitress.
Joel Gratz @gratzo Hire a Meteorologist, Not a Stock Broker.
Have a gift for remembering useless information? Want to test your wits against your fellow marketing and PR professionals? Then Colorado PRSA invites you to Trivia Night on Wed., Sept. 1.
Colorado PRSA Trivia Night
Scruffy Murphy’s, 2030 Larimer St., Denver
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010
5:30 p.m. – Registration & Networking
6 p.m. – Trivia Begins – Don’t be late!
Click here to register. PRSA will pair up individuals that evening, and teams can have a maximum of six players. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Last-place team will be required to pay Paula Berg’s bar tab.
The Denver Press Club is hosting a 60th birthday party for Bruce Goldberg on Thursday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. The event will feature free appetizers and a cash bar, and Bruce requests no gifts other than donations to the DPC if you are so inclined.
Do you know a nonprofit that is looking for guidance on PR campaigns, traditional and social media, crisis communications and other communications issues? Let them know about PRSA Colorado’s annual PR Boost event on Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 7:30 – 10:30 a.m.
PR Boost brings together experienced public relations practitioners with local nonprofits to provide PR counsel and guidance specific to your nonprofit organization’s communications needs. Each attending nonprofit will be matched with a public relations volunteer for individual counseling sessions.
Click here to learn more or register.
Do you know a nonprofit leader whose public relations efforts need a boost? If so, let them know about PRSA Colorado’s 2010 PR Boost on Wed., August 18, which connects non-profits and PR experts for a morning of PR counsel and guidance specific to the organization’s communications needs. Each nonprofit will be matched with a public relations volunteer for individual sessions. A $25 registration fee includes breakfast and free event parking.

PRSA Colorado is soliciting players and sponsors for its annual golf tournament (Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the Inverness Golf Club). Click here to learn more about playing, and email Julie Bielenberg to learn more about the sponsorship opportunities.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder
Featuring: Alex Bogusky, Jared Polis, James Mejia, 17 others
Click here for details
PRSA Colorado is hosting a free (that’s right, Ef Rodriguez, FREE) mentorship event on Tuesday, July 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Lobby (2191 Arapahoe St. in Denver). The event will include:
- Extended happy hour and complimentary appetizers
- An opportunity for attendees to connect with potential mentors/mentorees in an organic setting
According to PRSA, “A recent PR Tactics article found the most valuable mentor relationships evolve through everyday work interactions and civic and volunteer activities. We’re bridging the two and providing the resources and a fun environment for all PR pros, young and old, to nurture meaningful relationships and possibly, life-long friendships.” RSVP to Erin Collins.
I have a feeling it will end up more like Saturday Night Live’s version than Alex Trebek’s, but see for yourself this Thursday at 6 p.m. when I join the Denver Post’s Dan Haley, 9News’ Kirk Montgomery, PBS’s Cynthia Hessin, the Denver Business Journal’s Wayne Hicks and Pushkin PR’s Jon Pushkin, among others, at the Denver Press Club’s annual “Jeopardy Night.” The event is free and open to the public, so feel free to attend and heckle last year’s winner, Dan Haley.

The Children’s Hospital Foundation has snagged Tonight Show host Jay Leno for its 2010 Children’s Hospital Gala on Saturday, September 11, at the Hyatt Regency Denver. Originally, Conan O’Brien was scheduled to headline the event, but Children’s dumped him and pushed the event back 90 minutes when they heard Leno was available. Pure is promoting the event.
Creative Strategies Group’s Bruce Erley will discuss how to “create compelling storytelling opportunities for event sponsorships and community partnership initiatives that align with your organization’s strategic objectives” at PRSA Colorado’s June luncheon:
“Bring Strategic Sponsorships and Community Partnerships to Life through PR”
11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Curtis Hotel (1405 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202)
Time to break out the spandex – Cactus is celebrating “Bike to Work Day 2010″ with its second annual Bike from Work Bash on Wednesday, June 23 at 5 p.m. The Cactus soiree will feature “free beer from Breckenridge Brewery, wine from The Infinite Monkey Theorem, complimentary burritos from Illegal Pete’s, a bike check-up by Salvagetti’s, BMX stunts by the Yellow Designs Stunt Team, a bike polo demo by the Denver Mallet Mafia, free bike valet by Bike Denver, beats by DJs Pictureplane, poncie lifestyle and §creen§saver§ and live music by Zach Heckendorf.”
Click here for more information.
What do you get when you combine tequila, Boa Energy Drink, DJ Tower, cheese and Jennifer Lester? If you guessed “arrest warrant,” well, you’re probably not wrong. But the correct answer is Philosophy Communication’s 9th anniversary party tonight. Additional details are here.
Had enough of divisive politics? Do you love talk-show radio? Hate it? How’s your health care plan? Been to a tea party lately? The Denver Press Club invites you to laugh your buns off as THE CAPITOL STEPS perform Sunday, May 16, starting at 5 p.m., at the June Swaner Gates Concert Hall in the Newman Center on the University of Denver campus.
Tickets cost $45.50, and you can purchase them through TicketMaster (add a $6.75 service fee) or The Newman Center Box Office (no service fee), open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. All ticket orders must go through TicketMaster or The Newman Center Box Office.
ExecConnect, an exclusive group of business and community leaders launched by Andy Boian and Dovetail Solutions in 2009, has named Angela Lieurance, vice president of Development and Marketing at University of Colorado Hospital, as chairwoman. The group of local executives, community leaders and business owners has the mission “to harness the energy of the group’s valued relationships and related knowledge to further the prosperity of the Denver community.”
In its first year, ExecConnect has helped launch the Denver Bike Sharing initiative B-Cycle, held its first Distinguished Speaker event with acclaimed national author Brian Bagley, and hosted quarterly roundtables for members to dissect current events and issues.
Public relations and new media consultant Sarah Evans — the founder of #journchat who is one of Forbes’s 14 Power Women to Follow on Twitter — is the speaker at this month’s PRSA Colorado luncheon on Wednesday, April 21.
Evans will share successful ways to create online media relationships and shed light on balancing social media with traditional PR tactics, including:
• What motivates both local and national journalists in the online world.
• How to define online media targets and objectives.
• How to pitch in 140 characters or less.
• Time management tricks to help you manage the growing number of tools at your disposal.
Click here to register or for more information.
Friends and family of Denver public relations executive Don Cannalte – including his wife Gwin Johnston – “gathered Wednesday on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora to fete him for ’50 years of leadership and dedication to the public-relations profession.’” Penny Parker at the Denver Post has the details.
Filed under: Events
Denver-based interactive marketing agency Location3 Media is hosting a free educational seminar for local non-profits in May. The three-hour workshop will help non-profits learn how to use paid and organic search, social media and web analytics to gain exposure, donations and volunteers. The event is limited to 50 individuals. More information is available here.
PRSA Colorado and the Denver Press Club host “Bad Press Release Theater” tomorrow (Tuesday) night from 6-10 p.m. Improv performers include Steve Koenigsberg, Lisa Cutter and Elisabeth Monaghan of PRSA, and Cynthia Hessin, Adam Goldstein and Bruce Goldberg of the DPC. The PR folks will play the part of media pros, and vice versa. Details are here.
GroundFloor Media VP and Managing Partner Ramonna Tooley will headline PRSA’s monthly luncheon with a presentation titled, “PR in a Digital World: What’s in your Toolbox?” Tooley will present some of the digital PR strategies her team recommends to clients to stay competitive in a digital world and share examples from a variety of industries including nonprofit, food and beverage, and sports and entertainment. Details are:
PR in a Digital World: What’s in your Toolbox?
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. MST
The Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis St., Denver, CO 80202
PRSA Colorado Members: $35; Students: $28; Non-Members: $49
Click here to learn more or to register.
PRSA and Linhart are sponsoring a Tweetup on Thursday to welcome new PRSA members. Door prizes include two roundtrip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines. Details are:
5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4
Cru Wine Bar, 1442 Larimer Street (in Larimer Square downtown)
PRSA Colorado has lined up more than a dozen Denver journalists for its Media Roundtable next Wednesday, January 20. Among the journalists attending to discuss how they select stories in this new media environment will be the Deuce’s Greg Nieto, Denver Post’s Vikki Migoya, 9News’ TaRhonda Thomas, CBS4′s Gloria Neal and Misty Montano, 850 KOA’s April Zesbaugh and Colorado Biz’s Mike Cote. Click here for more details.
Filed under: Events
The mostly annual True Spin Conference, which bills itself as a national conference on communications for Progressives, is Jan. 21-22 in Denver. In addition to Denver’s own Jason Salzman, speakers include representatives from GLAAD, the Center for Media Justice and ProgressNow. The conference costs $400 to attend if you register by Tuesday, Dec. 15. Click here for more details.
Tomorrow is the deadline for reduced-cost tickets to the annual PRSA Colorado Holiday Party at Dazzle Lounge on Thursday, Dec. 10. Click here to get details and purchase tickets.


Today is the deadline to purchase tickets to the Denver Press Club’s 2009 “Gridiron Show.” Among those who will be on stage are Bruce Goldberg, John Hickenlooper, Bill Owens, Andrew Hudson, Mike Landess, Cynthia Hessin, Reggie Rivers, Neil Westergaard, TaRhonda Thomas, Gregg Moss and Steve Saunders.
The details are:
Denver Press Club’s 2009 Gridiron Show
Friday, Oct. 23 (silent auction at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6 pm and entertainment at 7 pm)
Marriott Center City
1701 California Street, Denver, CO 80202
Click here to purchase tickets

Come see some of Denver’s biggest names in politics and media, onstage in the Denver Press Club’s annual Gridiron Show – a hilarious night of political and cultural satire and songs. The details are:
Denver Press Club’s 2009 Gridiron Dinner
Friday, Oct. 23 (silent auction at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6 pm and entertainment at 7 pm)
Marriott Center City
1701 California Street, Denver, CO 80202
Click here to purchase tickets
Dig out your copy of Mr. Boston’s Bar Guide to find the most difficult drink around: Philosophy Communication principals Jennifer Lester and Jennifer Miller will be guest bartenders at the Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm, on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 6 – 8 p.m. All tips will benefit HomeAid Colorado, a nonprofit that builds homes for Colorado’s temporarily homeless, and Teaching Humane Existence (T.H.E.), sponsor of The Watch House project, a residential campus facility for repeat sex offenders.

Congratulations to Metzger Associates, whose client The Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure raised more than $2 million this past weekend at its annual Race for the Cure event.
Filed under: Events
Fresh off his capitol dome-licking demonstration, Denver sports author Rick Reilly will be the keynote speaker at the Asian Pacific Development Center’s Gala Dinner on Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. Reilly will be joined by his 20-year old daughter, Rae, who was adopted from Korea as an infant. Details about the event are here.


Come see some of Denver’s biggest names in politics and media, onstage in the Denver Press Club’s annual Gridiron Show – a hilarious night of political and cultural satire and songs. The details are:
Denver Press Club’s 2009 Gridiron Dinner
Friday, Oct. 23 (silent auction at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6 pm and entertainment at 7 pm)
Marriott Center City
1701 California Street, Denver, CO 80202
Click here to purchase tickets
Filed under: Events
B2B technology marketing strategy and design firm Market Creation Group is showcasing its expanded office by hosting a bra art exhibit to benefit the Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The networking event and exhibit will be held in the Art District on Santa Fe from 6-9 p.m. this Friday (Oct. 2) at the MCG studios, 910 Santa Fe Drive, Studios 11 and 12, as part of the district’s First Friday Art Walk.
The Second Annual PRSA chapter retreat is Friday, Oct. 16, at the Curtis Hotel. Events include morning sessions for young professionals, a luncheon with keynote speaker Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary, afternoon workshops covering topics for all types of professionals, an all-day resource fair, and a cocktail and networking reception. The early registration deadline ends Oct. 2. Click here for details.

What do Mayor Hickenlooper, Reggie Rivers, Cynthia Hessin, Fred Brown, Gregg Moss, Steve Saunders, former Gov. Owens, Bruce Goldberg, Andrew Hudson, Neil Westergaard, Tom Clark and I have in common? If you guessed something to do with the federal investigation into the Denver Players prostitute ring, well, I can neither confirm nor deny that. But I can confirm that we will all be at the Denver Press Club’s annual Gridiron Show on Friday, Oct. 23.
Click here for more information.
Filed under: Events
PRSA ‘Something to Tweet About’
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
Click here for details
Ignite Boulder 6
6 – 10 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
Click here for details
Asian Pacific Development Center Gala featuring Denver author Rick Reilly
6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Click here for details
PRSA Colorado Chapter Retreat Featuring Dana Perino
8:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
Click here for details
Filed under: Events
The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s “2009 Business Excellence Forum” is Wednesday, August 26. The keynote speaker will be communications expert Dr. Audrey Nelson, and break-out sessions will be:
- Twitter for Business, led by Melissa Hourigan of Digital Idea Media
- Leveraging Social Networking, led by Bonnie Griffin Kaake of Innovative Consulting Group, Inc.
- Social Media 101, led by social media coach Yvette Francino
- Social Networking Etiquette, led by Kimberly Lucas of Goldstone Partners
PRSA Colorado has landed former White House press secretary (and Denver native) Dana Perino as the keynote speaker at its 2009 Chapter Retreat in October. Registration links will be available on the PRSA Colorado Web site soon.
Former 5280 Deputy Editor Cara McDonald will share writing/pitching tips in a special PRSA “Lemonade and Learning” session from 4:00 to 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 17. Details are here.
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

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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
Linhart PR’s Sharon Linhart has been named a co-chair of the 2009 Girl Scouts of Colorado’s annual Women of Distinction event. As a co-chair, Linhart will help plan the festivities for the annual Girl Scout fundraising program that recognizes outstanding women in the business and philanthropic communities.
PRSA is sponsoring a luncheon next week that will examine Denver’s changing media landscape, and what implications it has for the city generally and public relations professionals specifically. The panel will include:
- Jeanette Chavez, managing editor of the Denver Post
- Darrell Proctor, online content channel manager for Examiner.com, in charge of content for the business and finance, careers and workplace, and gadgets and technology channels
- David Milstead, former reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, representing InDenverTimes.com
- Jim Anderson, Colorado Associated Press news editor
- Sharon Linhart, founder and managing partner of Linhart Public Relations
If you are interested in attending, the details are:
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street
Registration and Networking: 11:30 a.m. – Noon
Luncheon: Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Click here to register
Damon Runyon Award Dinner
Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m.
Sports writer, author and Colorado native Rick Reilly will attempt to cheat death by accepting the Denver Press Club’s Damon Runyon award. PRSA members can receive the Denver Press Club member rate when they purchase tickets online at http://www.blacktie-colorado.com
PRSA Western District Conference
April 22-24 in Newport Beach, CA
The conference program, registration, hotel information, and things to do are posted at http://www.westerndistrictconference.com.
2009 Gold Pick Awards
May 7, Ritz Carlton Hotel, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Register today for PRSA Colorado’s 2009 Gold Pick Awards. Register before Monday, April 27 to take advantage of early registration prices: http://www.prsacolorado.org/cde.cfm?event=257309.
PRSA Colorado is a hosting a March 18 lunch event/panel discussion that will examine how public relations has played a prominent role in trying to minimize the loss in consumer confidence during the recent financial and peanut-recall turmoils. Linhart’s Paul Raab will moderate, and the panelists are GolinHarris’ Mitch Head (who works with the U.S. Peanut Board) and Charles Schwab’s Sarah Bulgatz.
More information/registration is available here.
Linhart PR’s February “Inside Scoop” information session for those considering careers in PR will take place Wednesday, Feb.18, at 4 p.m. Reserve a space by emailing info@linhartpr.com.
GroundFloor Media’s inaugural “Get Connected” panel discussion takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and will focus on communicating difficult news to key audiences during challenging times. Panelists will include Gil Rudawsky, deputy metro business editor of the Rocky Mountain News; Lynn Kimbrough, communications director, Denver District Attorney’s Office; Ken Keymer, former president and CEO of VICORP Restaurants Inc. and former president of Noodles & Company; and Jim D. Leonard of Faegre & Benson. Email GetConnected@groundfloormedia.com to get the details. Space is limited.

PRSA Colorado is hosting a panel discussion January 21 on remaining relevant during an economic downturn (details here). Panelists will be Tom Hoog, senior counselor to the Chairman at Hill & Knowlton; PR employment consultant Andrew Hudson; and Smooch Repovich Reynolds, founder & CEO of The Repovich-Reynolds Group.
PRSA Colorado is holding its annual Holiday Party on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Magnolia Hotel (17th & Stout), and the agency with the most attendees will win a free happy hour for up to 20 people at Harry’s Bar. To qualify, email Dana Berry (dberry@magnoliahotels.com) with your list of agency attendees by this Friday. More information is here.
Didn’t sign up to attend the PRSA Colorado Member Retreat? Efrem Rodriguez from JohnstonWells will be live blogging the event, and keynote speaker Dave Taylor is tweeting the event.
Andrew Hudson’s JobsGobble seminar Wednesday has sold out, but there are still a few spots open for the evening networking party. Register here if you are interested.

PRSA Colorado has added a panel to its Member Retreat titled, “How Do We Survive and Thrive in this Economic Recession.” Targeted at senior-level public relations/communications practitioners, the panel features GroundFloor’s Laura Love, the DBJ’s Scott Bemis, Andrew Hudson, Qwest’s Sheila O’Neill and Steele Street Bank’s Matt Baldner. Registration for the event has technically closed, but if you hurry you can probably still sneak in. Register here.
Filed under: Events
The Mile High Social Media Club’s next meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at The Whiskey Bar. Details are here.
This is the last week to register for the PRSA Colorado Chapter Member Retreat. Details are here.
Filed under: Events
Registration is underway for the Thin Air Summit, a Denver new media conference that provides hands-on learning sessions and discussion panels presented by nationally-recognized and local New Media Professionals. The conference runs Nov. 7-9, and you can register here.

Warm up those video cameras — the Denver Post’s Bill Husted is reporting that a few as-yet-unnamed PRSA Colorado members will join Gov. Bill Ritter, Mayor John Hickenlooper and others as performers at the Denver Press Club’s annual Gridiron Show on Sunday, Oct. 26 (tickets are here).








