If you see Sharon Linhart and Larry Holdren at the Capital Grille today smoking cigars, swilling scotch and generally cackling like they own the town, well, actually that’s just a typical Friday for the two of them. But there’d also be another reason: their firms were the big agency winners at last night’s PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards.
Using the proprietary and highly sophisticated Denver PR Blog formula to determine which agencies fared best (four points for the Grand Gold Pick, two points for a gold, one point for a silver), the results are:
1. Linhart PR (16 points) – One grand gold, five gold, two silver
2. Pure Brand (15 points) – Four gold, seven silver
3. Webb PR (8 points) – Three gold, two silver
4. GroundFloor Media (4 points) – Two gold
5. Downing Street (3 points) – One gold, one silver
6. Communications Infrastructure Group (2 points) – One gold
6. Communications Strategy Group (2 points) – One gold
6. Philosophy (2 points) – Two silver
9. JDK & Co. (1 point) – One silver
And the big non-agency winners were:
1. Pinnacol Assurance (7 points) – Three gold, one silver
2. Farm Credit (5 points) – Two gold, one silver
2. Kaiser Permanente (5 points) – One gold, three silver
4. Colorado State University (4 points) – Two gold
And, finally, congratulations to the Special Award winners:
• JKD & Co.’s Jane Dvorak (Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award)
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal: Charlie Scharmann/U.S. Army, Roger Shakely/Shell Oil Co. and Steve Berendzen/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Business People of the Year)
• Margaret Fogarty/Farm Credit and Carey Madsen/InView Communications (PR Team of the Year)
• EnCana’s Bridget Ford (Chapter Service Award)
• Linhart PR’s Ashley Frost (Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year Award)
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
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: PRSA
Annual dues for PRSA will increase $30 to $255 starting Jan. 1, 2012. PRSA Colorado dues will remain an additional $65 per year.
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
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.
Better get home early, get a good night’s sleep and prepare to be on your best behavior because “Ethics Month” for public relations practitioners starts tomorrow.
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.
Okay, PR experts. It’s time to give a little something back. PRSA Colorado is soliciting experts to help counsel non-profits as part of its annual “PR Boost” event. The event connects local non-profits with Denver PR experts for a morning of PR counsel and guidance tailored to the organizations.
PRSA Colorado ‘PR Boost’
7:30 – 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 7
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market Street, 5th Floor
Denver, CO 80202
And if you know a non-profit that could use some PR help, point them to the PRSA Colorado non-profit sign-up page.
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
Congratulations to JKD & Co.’s Jane Dvorak, who picked up what appears to be Denver’s only 2011 PRSA Silver Anvil award. JKD & Co. won the award for its “Eye-Spy the Orange Truck” campaign on behalf of client Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric.
You have to hand it to Pete Webb. His team either does really good work or they really know how to fill out an award nomination (I’m guessing both). Webb PR was the big winner at last night’s PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards. Using the proprietary and highly sophisticated Denver PR Blog formula to determine which organizations fared best (two points for a gold, one point for a silver), the results are:
1. Webb PR (13 points) – Six gold, one silver
2. Linhart (pronounced “len-hahrt”) (6 points) – Three gold
2. Pure Brand (6 points) – Two gold, two silver
4. Denver Art Museum (5 points) – One grand gold, one gold, one silver
4. Philosophy Communication (5 points) – One gold, three silver
6. CSG|PR (4 points) – Two gold
6. Colorado State University (4 points) – Two gold
8. GroundFloor Media (3 points) – One gold, one silver
8. JKD & Company (3 points) – One gold, one silver
8. JohnstonWells (3 points) – One gold, one silver
11. 104 West (2 points) – One gold
11. Carmichael Lynch Spong (2 points) – One gold
11. Children’s Hospital (2 points) – One gold
11. MWH (2 points) – One gold
11. MGA (2 points) – Two silver
11. Pinnacol Assurance (2 points) – Two silver
17. Bonfils Blood Center (1 point) – One silver
17. Cohn Marketing (1 point) – One silver
17. Dovetail Solutions (1 point) – One silver
17. First Data (1 point) – One silver
17. Galloway Group (1 point) – One silver
17. Kirshner Communications (1 point) – One silver
17. University of Denver (1 point) – One silver
17. Vail Resorts (1 point) – One silver
Also, congratulations to the big award winners:
• Denver Art Museum’s “Rolling Out the Gold Carpet: King Tut’s Denver Debut” (Grand Gold Pick Award)
• Mitchell Communications’ Sydney Ayers (Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award)
• Bonfils Blood Center President & CEO Tom Puckett (Business Person of the Year)
• MGA’s Raquel Fuentes, Sarah Rasmussen and Jennifer Watson (PR Team of the Year)
• Linhart’s Quinn Kelsey (Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year Award)
• CL Orwig & Associates’ Cherie Orwig (Chapter Service Award)
Filed under: PRSA
Colorado PRSA’s Young Professional Development Committee has started a book club for young PR pros. To kick off the club, we will be reading fashion PR publicist Kelly Cutrone’s If You Have to Cry, Go Outside And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You.
“Known to those in the industry as the founder of People’s Revolution, Cutrone will be remembered to some as the tough boss to Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port on MTV’s The Hills. The book catalogs both her personal and professional successes. Her advice is applicable for those in every business. Helpful tips include: phone calls are better than emails, don’t blog about your job, and go outside to cry.”
The club will meet on the last Tuesday of each month. The first meeting is Tuesday, May 31, at 6 pm at Paris on the Platte. RSVP to haleyhennes@gmail.com.
Filed under: PRSA
If you’ve been thinking about joining PRSA, this is the month to do it: you’ll get your Colorado Chapter dues comped. Enter promo code FEB11. Not sure why you should join? Come to an orientation for new and prospective members Wednesday, Feb. 16, before the PRSA media roundtable luncheon. 11 a.m. Curtis Hotel lobby.
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.
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: PRSA
If you have been thinking about joining PRSA, now is a good time – you have one more week to get a free local PRSA Colorado membership. National PRSA will pay the chapter dues for a year for any new member who joins in September. More details are here.
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).
Filed under: PRSA
With “only 904 Society members hav(ing) become APR in the past six years, which represents a decline of more than 50% in participation by members over the two previous six-year periods,” it would appear it is headed toward irrelevancy.
Those numbers don’t surprise me. National PRSA’s attempts to gin up relevancy for the APR by requiring it to serve on its board only serves to underscores the situation. I’m perfectly fine with a CPA-like certification that requires a rigorous path and a corresponding level of respect within the public relations and broader marketing communities. But the APR credential isn’t that, and the most dictatorial holders of the certification should stop acting as though it is.
I have no doubt that my 15 years of public relations experience working with and for some of the most recognizable companies in the world has given me the knowledge and expertise I need to become credentialed. And as a PRSA Colorado board member, I more than meet the various requirements to remain credentialed. But I am not an APR. And the only explanation that I can give is to explain that when someone asks me to go jump through hoops for no reason, I just smile politely and say, “No thanks.”
(Note: If Gina, Jeff, Sydney, Sarah, Jon, Jane or any other APRs would like equal time, I’m happy to post it).
Filed under: PRSA
Congratulations to Linhart PR and Pure Brand, who placed 1-2 in PRSA Colorado’s trivia night last night at Scruffy Murphy’s.
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.
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.
Filed under: PRSA
Congratulations to MGA Communications’ Jeff Julin, Ayers PR’s Sydney Ayers and JKD & Company’s Jane Dvorak for being named to the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows, which was created in 1989 to honor the accomplishments of the best in the public relations profession and has more than 400 members.
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.
Filed under: PRSA
PRSA Colorado and longtime Denver journalist Jim Hooley are hosting a hands-on web video workshop where participants can learn how to produce, edit and share web video. The workshop will focus on scripting, shot selections, audio tips and tricks, basic video editing techniques and how to share videos online. The details are:
Web Video Workshop
2:30 – 5:00 p.m. MDT | Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Denver Press Club | 1330 Glenarm Place | Denver, CO 80204
Click here for more information.
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.
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)
How’s this for irony: A week after accepting PRSA Colorado’s “Business Person of the Year” award at the organization’s annual awards gala, Pinnacol Assurance CEO Ken Ross (allegedly) had to be restrained from attacking KMGH/Channel 7 investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski and threatened to break the reporter’s finger.
The confrontation (allegedly) took place at the famed Pebble Beach resort in California, where Pinnacol was hosting a controversial junket for board members and its top sales brokers.
From KMGH/Channel 7:
Following a golf round on May 13, Kovaleski asked Johnson about whether it was appropriate for him to be on the trip.
“What do you think the governor is going to think about you taking this kind of golf with you and your wife,” Kovaleski was asking (Pinnacol board chairman Gary) Johnson when Ross interrupted and prevented the board member from answering.
Ross, on the 18th hole, seemed very agitated.
“You point your finger at me again, and I’m going to break it,” Ross said while pointing his finger at Kovaleski. He turned to the camera and demanded that it be turned off.
“This has nothing to do with Pinnacol,” Ross said.
“It doesn’t?” Kovaleski asked. “Then why did your employees let us know you were here? Why are your employees outraged? You are spending a lot of money on a trip and you have board members who are appointed by the governor.”
CALL7 Investigators were tipped of to the trip by a source who had information from inside Pinnacol.
Ross, who was being restrained by colleagues, surged at Kovaleski.
“Please, don’t push me,” Kovaleski said.
If you see Sharon Linhart and Pete Webb at the Capital Grille today smoking cigars, swilling scotch and generally cackling like they own the town, there’s a reason: they were the big agency winners at last night’s PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards. Using the proprietary and highly sophisticated Denver PR Blog formula to determine which agencies fared best (two points for a gold, one point for a silver), the results are:
1. Linhart PR (10 points) – One grand gold, three gold, two silver
2. Pete Webb PR (9 points) – Three gold, three silver
3. Carmichael Lynch Spong (4 points) – Two gold
3. Pure (4 points) – Two gold
3. Philosophy (4 points) – One gold, two silver
6. Xstatic (3 points) – One gold, one silver
7. GroundFloor Media (2 points) – Two silver
7. Peri Marketing & PR (2 points) – Two silver
9. InView (1 point) – One silver
9. JDK – (1 point) – One silver
9. Vladimir Jones (1 point) – One silver
And congratulations to the Denver Art Museum, which if an agency would have placed third with 6 points (three gold). Also, congratulations to the big award winners:
• MGA’s Jeff Julin (Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award)
• Pinnacol Assurance President & CEO Ken Ross (Business Person of the Year)
• Red Energy PR’s Amy Sufak (PR Person of the Year)
• Subaru’s Rachael Tucker Dorr (Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year Award)
• Denver Art Museum (Nonprofit Award)
• Bonfil’s Julie Scott, Larimer Square’s Erika Sauerwein and Linhart’s Jennifer Tilliss (Chapter Service Awards)
• Applewood Plumbing & Heating/JKD (Small Business Award)
• Audubon Surgery Center/Vladimir Jones (Golden Spur Award)
PRSA Colorado will pay tribute to Joe Fuentes at its annual Gold Pick Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 6. Joe, who lost his battle with cancer in March, was a longtime PRSA Colorado member and well-known in the Denver PR and media communities. According to PRSA Colorado, “The tribute to Joe will include a video featuring many of his friends and colleagues reminisremembering the five attributes he displayed daily throughout his life, including: professional excellence, community, mentorship, family and ethics/integrity.”
Following the video, Joe’s widow, Christine, and her family will present the “Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year Award.” The award was renamed to honor Joe and will continue to be awarded annually at the awards ceremony. The tribute also will include a Coors toast in Joe’s memory as a nod to the 14 years he spent leading PR efforts for the Coors Brewing Company.
Filed under: PRSA
Nothing makes you want to drink as much as landing your first job in public relations and seeing first-hand how the PR sausage is made (except maybe trying to find that first PR job). So, either way, head on over to the Ginn Mill bar at 2401 Larimer Street this Thursday from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. to attend PRSA Colorado’s Young Pros Event. The event is celebrating the formation of PRSA Colorado’s Young Professionals group that is designed to be a go-to resource for all young pros looking for peer-to-peer networking opportunities, professional development and a nontraditional mentorship experience. Click here for more details.
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.
Larry Holdren and the good folks at Pure formally invite you to join PRSA’s annualish “Breakfast at Snooze” on Wednesday, March 24. Seating is limited, so register right away.
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.
PRSA has extended its deadline for early entries for its Silver Anvil awards until Feb. 16 due to the snowstorms on the East Coast.
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.
The early entry deadline for the PRSA Colorado Chapter’s Gold Pick awards is Feb. 26. You’d be foolish not to enter, especially after a recent study by Sarah Rasmussen found that you can raise your billable rates 138.75 percent for each Gold Pick you’ve won.
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)
The PRSA Colorado blog gets the answers from CBS4′s Misty Montano, KMGH/Channel 7′s Rory Schmalzried and 9News’ Nadia Gedeon.
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.
By Gina Seamans
Senior Counselor, JohnstonWells
My predictions for 2010 are drawn from my experience of leading the PRSA Colorado Chapter during 2009. They are geared toward the people, rather than the business. I predict that even more PR professionals will seek membership and involvement in strong professional organizations like PRSA, where they can receive professional development and connect with people who will help shape their careers. Our chapter will be invigorated by another year of membership growth, record levels of member involvement and demand for the strongest professional development schedule ever. All this invigorated activity is driven by three realities:
- The practice of public relations is evolving and smart professionals must stay on top of all points in the broad continuum of communication options.
- The job market is tight, so successful career movement depends on having an expanded network that can lead to meaningful introductions, referrals, and references.
- A successful professional must be willing to invest in themselves. This is the new normal, so professionals must grow and change, and be ready to move forward rather than look back.
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.
You would probably think there are dozens of public relations firms in Denver capable of “building external and internal awareness of the [University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine's] Palliative Care Program and undertaking a successful fundraising campaign to raise philanthropic contributions for its educational and research program.” But not everyone sees it that way, and that has PRSA Colorado President Gina Seamans seeing red.
In a post today on JohnstonWells’ blog, Seamans takes the UCD School of Medicine to task for trying to sneak through a sham RFP Notice of Proposed Sole Source (NPSS) when the school has already decided to give the business to the only firm they think it qualified to handle the assignment. And while Seamans is too polite to name that firm, I’m not. It’s Davis Branding & Marketing.
PRSA Colorado is taking its PR Boost program for nonprofits to Twitter. A panel of local PR experts, including Gina Seamans, Bill Green, Lisa Cutter, Jane Dvorak and Kristy Bassuener, will answer questions from non-profits tomorrow (Wednesday), Nov. 4, from 11-11:45 a.m. MST. Click here for information on how to participate in – or just follow – the Twitter conversation.
Filed under: PRSA
PRSA has launched its new Web site (or website, if you are Ef Rodriguez). PRSA says the new site offers better search and customization tools, as well as a simpler interface.
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.
Filed under: PRSA
PRSA Colorado has added nearly 20 new members through new corporate group members Qwest and Jeppesen. Contact PRSA Colorado president Gina Seamans if you want more information about the group memberships.
Filed under: PRSA
When I worked at the data and Internet division of US West, I was always annoyed that they let the engineers name everything. Inevitably, products had names like Integrated Services Digital Network, Digital Subscriber Line and Asynchronous Transfer Mode. The only thing marketing could do at that point was to start using the acronyms: ISDN, DSL and ATM.
Anyway, the tide is turning. PRSA is on a quest to develop a unit of measurement for what it is we do in public relations, so presumably we will get to name it. In fact, in the spirit of true public relations, I think we should just name the unit of measurement and not bother figuring out what it quantifies. After all, we’ll probably just change that on a client-by-client basis to reflect best on our campaigns.
So if you have a suggestion, preferably something catchy like ”buzzles” (as in, “Our last campaign generated 246,500 buzzles”), call Colorado PRSA President Gina Seamans at home post a comment on the PRSA blog.
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.
Filed under: PRSA
Okay, PR experts. It’s time to give a little something back. Click here to register.
| WHO: |
PRSA Colorado Volunteers | |
| WHAT: | PRSA Colorado members donating time and public relations expertise to area nonprofit organizations. |
|
| WHEN: |
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 | |
| 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | ||
| Lunch and snacks will be provided. | ||
| WHERE: | REI Flagship store, meeting room | |
| 1416 Platte St. | ||
| Denver, CO 80202 |
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.
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
The national PRSA finally posted the list of 2009 Silver Anvil winners, and there are two Denver connections. Denver-based MGA won a Silver Anvil in the Events and Observances category for its campaign “Refuge Roundup 2008 at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge,” and Centennial-based National Cattlemen’s Beef Association won in the Issues Management category for its campaign ”Better Safe & Savory Than Sorry.”
Additionally, Linhart PR received a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for its work with Rudi’s Organic Bakery.
Want to know who the winners were from last night’s 2009 Silver Anvil Awards? Me too. But the national PRSA won’t announce the list of winners until tomorrow, 48 hours after the event ended and cleverly buried on a Saturday. Nice.
Filed under: PRSA
PRSA Colorado is now taking registrations for its annual golf tournament, which will be held at the Arrowhead Golf Club on Aug. 21. The cost is $70 per player (foursomes get the PRSA discount rate of $280), and everyone who registers before June 15 gets one free swing tip from Gina Seamans. Register here.
The tables have been cleared, the floors vacuumed, the rented tuxedos returned, Elaine Ellis has posted bail and LoDo’s has agreed not to press charges, which can mean only one thing – The 2009 PRSA Colorado ‘Gold Pick” Awards ceremony is officially over. PRSA Colorado has posted the winners from Thursday’s event, and the Denver PR Blog has once again used a proprietary and highly sophisticated formula (two points for a gold, one point for a silver) to determine which agencies fared best:
1. Carmichael Lynch Spong (13 points) – Three gold, seven silver
2. Linhart PR (9 points) – Three gold, three silver
3. JohnstonWells (8 points) – One grand gold, two gold, two silver
3. Pure Brand (8 points) – Three gold, two silver
5. GroundFloor Media (7 points) – Two gold, three silver
6. Philosophy (6 points) – One grand gold, two gold
7. Xstatic (4 points) – One gold, two silver
8. 104 West Partners (2 points) – One gold
8. GolinHarris (2 points) – One gold
8. MGA Communications (2 points) – One gold
8. Room 214 (2 points) – One gold
8. SSA (2 points) – One gold
8. Cohn Marketing (2 points) – Two silver
14. Dressel-Martin MediaWorks (1 point) – One silver
Also, congratulations to the big award winners: Comcast’s Scott Binder and Goodwill’s Tim Welker (Business Persons of the Year), Denver Art Museum’s Ashley Pritchard (Rookie of the Year), Aurora Organic Dairy’s Sonja Tuitele (PR Person of the Year), First Data’s Cara Taylor (Chapter Service Award), Don Kirchoffner & Associates’ Don Kirchoffner (Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award), and Morris Animal Hospital (Nonprofit Award).
PRSA Colorado is out with its list of 2009 Gold Pick nominees. The organizations/agencies nominated are:
- 104 West Partners
- Bonfils Blood Center
- Carmichael Lynch Spong
- Cohn Marketing Group
- Denver Art Museum
- Denver Botanic Gardens
- First Data Marketing and Communications
- GroundFloor Media
- JohnstonWells Public Relations
- Linhart Public Relations
- Metropolitan State College of Denver, Office of College Communications
- Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
- MGA Communications
- Morris Animal Foundation
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- Newmont Mining Corporation
- Philosophy Communication
- Pure Brand Communications
- Rocky Mountain Health Plans
- Room 214
- SSA Public Relations
- University of Denver, University Communications
- Xstatic Public Relations
So far, Linhart leads the field with six nominations. If you know someone with more, let me know. You can register to attend the Gold Pick awards at http://www.prsacolorado.org/cde.cfm?event=257309.
UPDATE: Carmichael Lynch Spong is the new Gold Pick nominee leader with nine.
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.
The early entry deadline for the 2009 Colorado PRSA Gold Pick Awards is this Friday, February 27. Details are here.
In her first DBJ bylined article, PRSA Colorado President Gina Seamons makes the argument that investing in public relations during tough economic times can be a powerful competitive advantage:
“Businesses can’t afford to leave customers behind during the recession and then find new ones after the economy rebounds. The cost to acquire a new customer is five to 10 times greater than the cost of retaining an existing one, according to research by Bain & Co.”
PRSA Colorado is hosting a Gold Pick preparation workshop that will explain the new guidelines and categories that will allow Gold Pick entries to also serve as national PRSA Silver Anvil entries. The workshop, which costs $15, will take place next Tuesday, January 27, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at JohnstonWells’ new office downtown (1321 15th Street). Details are here.
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.
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.
This is the last week to register for the PRSA Colorado Chapter Member Retreat. Details are here.
PRSA Colorado’s Engage ’08 career fair for students is Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Denver’s Governor’s Ballroom. Topics will include “interviewing skills, resume tips, finding your niche and tips to impress your first employer.” The cost is $10, and details are 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).
Filed under: PRSA
China’s Ministry of Propaganda is alive and well. We feared things would slow down in Asia after the Olympic Games, but the same person responsible for promoting the Olympics (see buck-teeth little girls and CGI-aided opening ceremonies) is helping out on China’s space efforts. No need to worry, however. We expect that PRSA will soon send a registered letter to Premier Jiabao asking China to abide by the PRSA Code of Ethics in its space communications.
Is there anything sadder than having to submit your own YourHub article about an award you won?
Filed under: Awards, Denver Business Journal, Johnston Wells, PRSA, Xstatic
We gave you our assessment of last week’s PRSA Gold Pick awards earlier. Here is the Denver Business Journal’s take.
Apparently we aren’t the only ones following PRSA’s McCain-Obama pledge request. While we viewed the request as a grandstand, Steven Silvers at GBSM views it simply as hypocrisy.
We were amused when we first read that PRSA CEO (and MGA president) Jeff Julin sent registered letters to the McCain and Obama campaigns requesting that they commit to “a clean and fair campaign.” Julin’s letters read, in part, “The use of innuendo, incomplete information, surrogate messaging and character attacks, whether in political discourse or other forms of commercial free speech, raises serious concerns for our organization.”
These letters beg the question: Is Julin just grandstanding, or is he a pollyanna who is woefully ignorant of our country’s 200+ year history of brutal, negative campaigning. Think McCain and Obama are bad? Try Jefferson and Adams. Democracy has always been a blood sport.
But our amusement level went up today when we read Mark Harden’s Denver Business Journal follow-up article on Julin’s efforts. Apparently no one at either campaign is taking the letters seriously, and PRSA is now flailing about “trying to identify contacts [with the campaigns] who could run it up the flagpole.” Replace “run it up the flagpole” with “return our phone calls or emails” and that sounds about right. The lesson: Being irrelevant is bad enough, but proving it so publicly is worse.
PRSA Colorado has posted the winners from Thursday’s Gold Pick Awards, and we have used a proprietary and highly sophisticated formula (two points for a gold, one point for a silver) to determine which agencies fared best:
1. GroundFloor Media (10 points) – Three gold, four silver
2. JohnstonWells (9 points) – Four gold, one silver
2. Xstatic (9 points) – Four gold, one silver
4. Linhart (8 points) – Two gold, four silver
5. Carmichael Lynch Spong (7 points) – Two gold, three silver
6. Schenkein (6 points) – Two gold, two silver
7. 104 West (5 points) – Two gold, one silver
8. Pete Webb (4 points) – One gold, two silver
9. Bawmann Group (3 points) – One gold, one silver
9. Philosophy (3 points) – One gold, one silver
11. CCS (2 points) – One gold
11. Metzger (2 points) – One gold
11. VisiTech (2 points) – One gold
14. Cutter (1 point) – One silver
14. Vladimir Jones (1 point) – One silver
Also, congratulations to the big award winners: Colorado State University, Colorado Springs Utilities and WhiteWave. And to Xstatic’s Amanda Clark and Scott System’s Liz Pope, both of whom won 2008 Rookie of the Year awards.
(Our apologies to Liz Pope for initially omitting her award, and our thanks to Kristy Bassuener for pointing it out).
Filed under: PRSA
The PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards were last Thursday, and still no media coverage of the event and no list of winners on its Web site.
Dust off your tuxes and/or cocktail dresses — it is PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards night.
GroundFloor’s Laura Love reminds us that PRSA Colorado is hosting its inaugural chapter member retreat on Friday, Nov. 14. Details are here. Register by the end of this month to get the best deal.
There has been some grumbling around town today after PRSA Colorado notified seven unlucky Gold Pick entrants that their submissions were lost prior to being judged. PRSA Colorado is refunding the entry fee and promises to evaluate any entries that are resubmitted.
PRSA Colorado Chapter President Amy Johnson contacted each of the seven entrants personally, and Gold Pick Award co-chair Maggie McMonigle says they have been understanding. But some of those responsible for assembling the original entries aren’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of recreating them. Said one of those affected, ”Naturally I am pretty angry since I spent countless hours putting my entry together and simply don’t have the time to duplicate those efforts again this month.”
- The Denver Press Club is holding an open house this Friday, May 9.
- PRSA Colorado is sponsoring PR Boost: Giving Nonprofit PR a Leg Up this Saturday, May 10. Volunteers are still needed.
- The New Denver Ad Club is sponsoring The 3,000 Faces of Eve: Recognizing the Dynamic Realities of the Female Market on May 13. Women executives from CBS, First Data, CP+B and Thomas Taber & Drazen will “discuss, deliberate, explore and dispute how, why, when and where women are marketed to.”
- The Jewish Family Service of Colorado is hosting a luncheon May 13 featuring Frank Deford, who graces the pages of Sports Illustrated and is a contributor to HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.
Filed under: PRSA
The mayor of Tucson, Ariz., has declared tomorrow “Public Relations Appreciation Day.” Feel free to take the day off to celebrate.
This morning’s Denver Post has a Q&A with Jeff Julin, president of Denver-based MGA and currently chairman of PRSA. Credit reporter Steve Raabe for asking some tough questions about how the public relations industry is perceived and why PRSA has been accused of staying on the sidelines in the Edleman/Wal-Mart debacle. Unfortunately, in the abbreviated Q&A format, the responses are mostly just sound bites.
Congratulations to Denver-based VisiTech Public Relations, which is a finalist for a PRSA Silver Anvil award for its work with Polycom. It may be a bittersweet honor, though, because we hear Polycom dropped VisiTech a couple of months ago as part of an agency review.
Filed under: PRSA
Occasionally, as a service to our valuable readers, we take emails that we receive and, well, we’ll just say it: convert them from delusional ramblings and random threats to more thoughtful, well-reasoned statements. In response to our recent post about the PRSA awards judging, the following thought has been expressed by a number of readers, albeit some more eloquently than others:
Five years of experience DOES NOT make someone “senior” level.
The actual emails supporting that concept ranged from, “Would five years make you a senior architect or lawyer?” to “Suggesting that five years of experience makes you ‘senior-level’ and qualified to judge industry awards just reinforces PR’s image as facile publicists and event planners.” Ouch.
A reader emailed us that the Denver Business Journal has dropped its annual ranking of Denver PR agencies because it no longer trusts the numbers provided by the agencies and is tired of hearing complaints from those challenging other agencies’ numbers. Representatives from PRSA and several of the larger agencies in town are reportedly going to meet Thursday to discuss how they can change DBJ Publisher Neil Westergaard’s mind.
Filed under: Denver, Denver Business Journal, Events, PRSA, Public Relations
MGA Communications President Jeff Julin has started his one-year term as chairman and CEO of PRSA.
