Luxury real estate and hospitality agency Voca PR has added two new clients—legendary Denver Mexican restaurant Blue Bonnet and Brush Creek Ranch, a luxury ranch in Wyoming. Founded by Alana Morris, Voca also is celebrating its third anniversary this month.
Month: June 2010
Cohn Adds Senior PR Strategist, Wins New Client
Cohn Marketing has formally announced the addition of Brandy Radey as a senior PR strategist. Radey, who has more than a decade of experience in strategic planning, media relations, public affairs and community outreach, formerly was with PopSpring Communications and Schenkein.
Cohn also announced that it has been retained by New York-based L.M. Zuckerman & Company for brand development, brand expression and website redesign services. L.M. Zuckerman & Company is a wholesale coffee dealer, serving clients worldwide with a broad range of coffee types and qualities from sources that include Columbia, Brazil, India and Mexico.
Dovetail Service Project Benefits Denver Botanic Gardens
Dovetail Solutions employees, clients, friends and family took part in the agency’s 2010 annual service day at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The volunteers helped plant about 250 trees and perennials in the DBG’s Children’s Garden.
DFS Launches Support Group for Young Professionals
Denver Magazine PR director Katie Shapiro has co-founded Reel Social Club, a support organization for the Denver Film Society that targets young professionals in their 20s and 30s. The club “will introduce fresh audiences to the DFS and help foster an appreciation of film culture through exclusive parties, screenings and weekend trips.”
Reel Social Club will celebrate its official launch on Friday, July 16, at Casselman’s Bar & Venue (2620 Walnut Street). Featuring a private performance by Denver rock band Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, members will gain free admission and enjoy a sponsored bar. General admission tickets for non-members are available for $15 at http://www.casselmansdenver.com.
Denver PR Jobs
Among those hiring this week are VisiTech PR, Arapahoe Community College, CoBiz Financial, Enivornmental Protection Agency, Swedish Medical Center, The Fresh Ideas Group, US Department of Agriculture, JBS (Greeley) and Breckenridge Resort Chamber.
Cohn: Spirit Airlines Campaign Hits New Low
Jeff Cohn at Denver’s Cohn Marketing calls out Spirit Airlines for its “slimy brand marketing” that tries to take advantage of the Gulf oil spill.
Great Moments in Politics
If truth in political advertising existed, this is what every ad would look like:
(Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan)
‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award Winners Named
Congratulations to the 2010 Ernst & Young Rocky Mountain Entrepreneur of the Year award winners:
- Retail and consumer products — Trevor Tice, CorePower Yoga
- Healthcare — Jack McClurg, HealthTrans
- Services — Anita Padilla-Fitzgerald, MegaStar Financial Corp.
- Energy — Blake Jones, Namaste Solar
- Technology — Paul Ford, NetQuote
- Hospitality — Kevin Reddy, Noodles & Company
The Rocky Mountain region winners will move on to the national Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Palm Springs, Calif., in November.
Weise Elected to New Denver Ad Club Board
Weise Communications creative director and co-founder Jay Weise has been elected to the New Denver Ad Club board of directors. As a board member, Weise will provide strategic direction and consultation to the New Denver Ad Club.
Fox31’s Vittert Named Fox News’ Middle East Correspondent
Fox31 weekend anchor Leland Vittert is the latest Denver television news personality to make the move to a national spot. Vittert has been named Fox News’ Middle East correspondent and will be based in Jerusalem.
As the Denver Post’s Bill Husted points out, Vittert follows Bill O’Reilly, Phil Keating, Jeremy Hubbard, Tom Costello, Thanh Truong, Kevin Corke and Harry Smith as local personalities who have made the move to the national stage.
Three Leadership Lessons from Gen. McChrystal
Linhart’s Paul Raab examines three leadership lessons from the situation involving Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
5280 Names Westword’s Roberts ‘Top Blogger’
Congratulations to Westword’s Michael Roberts for being named Top Blogger in 5280‘s annual Top of the Town issue. His “Latest Word” blog is the first one I read every morning, and the first one I recommend to anyone looking to fill their RSS reader.
Great Moments in Journalism XXIX
A shout-out to Denver’s own Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle reporter Glen Richardson, who defended his use of fabricated direct quotes in an article on crime in the Lowry area by arguing:
“I’m not sure that it was misleading. It was, in a sense, probably embellished.”
(Hat tip: 5280’s Daniel Brogan)
Leno to Headline 2010 Children’s Hospital Gala
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.
CPR Appoints Jefferson Taussig as PR Manager
Colorado Public Radio has hired Lana Jefferson Taussig as public relations manager to direct social and traditional media outreach, organize various community and listener engagement programs, and contribute to other strategic marketing initiatives. Jefferson Taussig previously was director of communications at Project C.U.R.E. Before that, she led and supported PR efforts for several local and national accounts at Schenkein.
WILD Foundation Seeks PR Volunteer
The WILD Foundation is seeking a volunteer to manage public relations for its Fall Gala – “Faces of the WILD World” – on Sat. Oct. 23, 2010 at the Sleeper House (aka The Sculptured House) in Genesee. Responsibilities include:
- Creating buzz in the Denver/Boulder area for the event
- List event on community/media calendars
- Pitch pre-event article on WILD Foundation in September issue of high-profile Denver medium
- Compile mailing list for invites (we have already started a list of organizations and individuals)
- Other outreach
The position requires a commitment of approximately 8 hours per week. If you are interested, contact Susan Bruce at susan@wild.org.
Fabric Media Announces Two New Clients
Denver’s Fabric Media has landed two new clients:
- Bebo – Criterion Capital Partners hired Fabric Media to handle the media surrounding its acquisition of Bebo from AOL and will be retained as media counsel for the world’s fourth largest social network.
- ShortsHD – The world’s largest distributor of short films and global TV network operator has retained Fabric to handle its U.S. corporate PR in conjunction with the launch their HD TV Network in the states (ShortsHD) and celebrity driven digital releases.
Cactus Celebrates 20 Years
Cactus is celebrating 20 years of “Sharp Ideas” with the launch of its new website. In June 1990, Joe Conrad, Dianna Fritzler and John Skrabec formed Cactus Communications, and over the past two decades the agency has grown from a three-person start-up into a 47-person full-service agency.
Chicken Feature Lands Award for CPR Reporter
Congratulations to Colorado Public Radio (CPR) reporter Megan Verlee for her second-place award for “Use of Sound” from the 2010 Colorado Associated Press Broadcasters Association Contest. Verlee’s story, featuring sounds mixed by CPR Audio Producer David Fender, covered the changing nature of municipal ordinances for livestock in urban areas, with a special focus on her neighbor’s chickens living on a converted sun porch in northeast Denver.
Brand Iron Adds Two
Brand Iron has named David Bryson as brand executive and Justin Clark as a graphic/web designer. Bryson will lead the agency’s business development efforts, while Clark will be responsible for creative concepting and design.
Denver PR Jobs
Among those hiring this week are Volume PR, AAA Colorado, GeoEye, GHX, Tri-State and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors.
GBSM Hires Former Adviser to Colorado Governor
GBSM has hired Kyle Miller, a government and public affairs specialist who formerly advised Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, as an Associate. Miller most recently served as the Director for the Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery where he managed a team responsible for implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In his new position, Miller will help craft strategy and communications efforts for GBSM clients.
GroundFloor Teams with Barnhart for Wyoming Tourism Account
GroundFloor Media has been brought in by Barnhart to conduct a social media program for its client, the Wyoming Department of Travel & Tourism. The GroundFloor Social Media team (GFsM) will conduct a Digital Snapshot™, a customized social media audit, and develop a strategic social media plan for the Wyoming Department of Travel & Tourism.
PRSA Luncheon to Focus on Community Partnerships
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)
Ef Rodriguez to Join CP+B, Never Leave Boulder Again
Ef Rodriguez’s dream of never again leaving Boulder County is a step closer to reality. Ef has accepted a position with advertising giant Crispin Porter + Bogusky, where he will be the “Curator of Conversation” responsible for helping develop social media strategy for CP+B clients. In lieu of congratulatory emails or phone calls, Ef respectfully requests that donations be made to PRSA Colorado in his name.
Ef previously was part of Cherry Creek-based Turner PR’s social media team, and the good news is that his departure has opened up a spot at Turner. Angela Berardino, who leads Turner’s social media group, has formally posted that position (no phone calls, please).
Eight Steps to Creating a Better Communications Plan
GroundFloor Media has declared June “Revisit Your Communications Plan” month, and Jen Wills offers eight steps to creating a better communications plan.
Scream Soliciting Locals for Website Redesign
Scream is launching a new website this week, and the agency is inviting Denver locals, business owners, passers by and any wanna-be models to come down to be immortalized as part of the site’s revolving design. Scream will capture real people, real faces and real action that will appear on the site daily through digital photography and live streaming video feeds. Stop by the Scream studio (1501 Wazee directly across from Wazee Supper Club) on Thursday, June 10, from Noon – 1 p.m. All of the action will appear at www.screamagency.com when the site launches.
The 7 Deadly Sins of PR
Michael Synder of The MEK Group compiles the list.
Great Moment in Advertising?
Our advertising friends at the Denver Egotist debate whether Chipotle was trying to be clever or if it just screwed up. My money is on screw-up.
Weise Lands Regional Air Quality Council as Client
Weise Communications has been selected by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) to handle public relations for its summer Ozone season activities. The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is the lead air quality-planning agency for the seven-county Denver metropolitan area.
SE2’s Schlote Named to CU Denver’s DCLF Program
SE2’s Melisa Kotecki Schlote has been selected to the Denver Community Leadership Forum, a professional and leadership development program at the University of Colorado Denver.
Cactus Sponsors 2nd Annual “Bike from Work Bash”
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.”
Hughes & Stuart Wins Awards for Video Project
Denver PR Jobs
Among those hiring this week are Turner PR, VisiTech PR, Aurora Sentinel, Denver Public Schools, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, U.S. Dept. of Interior, Verizon, Apache Junction School District (Apache Junction, Ariz.), Ervin & Smith Advertising and Public Relations (Omaha, Neb.), and the State of Wyoming.
Linhart Promotes Janhunen
Linhart PR has promoted Kelly Janhunen to account director. Janhunen, who most recently held the position of account supervisor, joined Linhart PR in 2003 and leads several consumer marketing accounts, including Red Robin and Chipotle. In her new role, she will continue to oversee the planning, execution and evaluation of client programs.
In Memoriam
Sad, sad news – longtime Denver public relations practitioner Don Cannalte lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away Monday. Don was a Denver public relations institution, having served literally decades with United Airlines and the University of Colorado, as well as having founded Colorado Notebook.
He was elected to PRSA’s College of Fellows in 1994, served as president of PRSA Colorado and was awarded PRSA Colorado’s Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Don also was the husband of JohnstonWell’s Gwin Johnston and the stepfather of GG Johnston. Services will be this Friday, June 4, at 3 p.m. at the Eisenhower Chapel at Lowry.
Update: The Denver Post published Don’s obituary.
Everything You Need to Know About Foursquare in 1:58
If your eyes glaze over when annoyingly hip people like Paula Berg, Melissa Hourigan and Larry Holdren try to explain Foursquare to you, here’s everything you need to know about it in 1:58:
Denver Public Relations Blog 