Filed under: Events
The Denver Triathlon has been postponed until September due to a lack of entrants. And, judging by the communications from the organizers, the postponement likely is step one (with step two being the official cancellation later this summer):
“Hi everyone, I sort of ignored FB yesterday to make sure I replied to everyone’s emails. If you have any specific questions I want to answer them. In an effort to be transparent, I had to postpone this race as we almost had more police officers working than we had registrants. After a wonderfully reviewed race last year we have seen a major drop in registration to the point that it was cancel or postpone. We had to chose one or the other and while it isn’t fun for anyone we didn’t want to cancel.”
Following the “Rocky” Road
Former Rocky Mountain News Staffers Share Their Stories Four Years Later
After 149 years and 311 days, the Rocky Mountain News published its final edition on February 27, 2009. As the four-year anniversary of its closure approaches, PRSA Colorado reflects on this stark example of the ever-changing media landscape in our own backyard. A panel discussion will feature former Rocky reporters David Milstead, Sam Adams, Penny Parker and Chris Walsh, and will be moderated by Andrew Hudson.
Details
11:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Four Seasons Hotel
1111 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202
Register

PRSA Colorado is hosting the Second Annual Brand Challenge - a networking, collaborating, creative thinking and pitching competition – on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Wynkoop Brewery.
Representatives from Colorado organizations, including Visit Denver, Colorado Ski Country USA, and RiNo Arts District, will each present the audience with a unique communications challenge. Teams of 10 people will have 50 minutes to collaborate, brainstorm and develop a solution. Each team will then have five minutes to pitch their idea in front of the audience. The brand representatives will select the best pitches– one for each brand. Each member of the winning teams will receive a prize. Teams will be assigned upon arrival – first come, first serve.
Filed under: Events
When done well, stunt marketing can be a beautiful thing. The team at Sprocket Communications took advantage of last week’s “Park(ing) Day” to make a statement and get some media coverage while doing it.
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.
Denver Press Club’s 2012 Gridiron Show
7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12
L2 Arts and Culture Center
1477 Columbine Street, Denver, CO 80206
Tickets: $20
Filed under: Events
Congratulations to Erin Rist and the team at Goodwill Industries of Denver, which recently received a “Best Corporate/Non Profit Event” award from the Denver chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES) for its inaugural Good Exchange for Change Fashion Show and Clothing Swap event.
The event, which sold out, featured local fashion designer Mondo Guerra of Project Runway fame and included a fashion show with designs by students from Goodwill’s youth programs.
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.









