Big changes are afoot at one of Denver’s largest and most successful PR firms:

Sharon H. Linhart, founder and managing partner, is transitioning into a new role with our firm that she started 20 years ago, and Paul Raab has been named the new managing partner, effective today. Sharon will remain involved in client service and business development through year-end, while ensuring a smooth transition for our clients and team. Beginning in 2017, she will devote her attention to her long-time passion for community and philanthropic service, as well as corporate board service. Raab, who joined Linhart PR 10 years ago, will take on the leadership role of managing partner, while continuing to serve key clients and overseeing the firm’s long-standing commitment to excellence in client service, teamwork and business performance.

Our firm’s other three partners – Carri Clemens, Kelly Janhunen and Kelly Womer – remain in their current roles, and our entire team looks forward to tapping the power of communications to solve business challenges and find opportunities for our clients. Later this year, we’ll host an Open House to celebrate our past, present and future together!

Additionally, partner Dawn Doty is leaving the firm to teach public relations at the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Media, Communication and Information.

Linhart PR has promoted Elexis Mariash to account director and Ashley Campbell to account supervisor.

Mariash helps manage the integrated communications programs that support brand awareness, trial, sales and advocacy for several consumer clients, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Rudi’s Organic Bakery, while Campbell specializes in B2B communications, media relations, reputation management and stakeholder engagement for clients such as Johns Manville and MWH Global. She also leads the firm’s community awareness initiatives for Southwest Airlines in Colorado.

Congratulations to Linhart PR’s Sharon Linhart, who has been named chair-elect of WORLDCOM Public Relations Group, a leading partnership of global public relations firms. Sharon also has been elected as one of three new trustees to The Boettcher Foundation. In this role, she and the other trustees will be responsible for the oversight of the Boettcher Foundation, including supporting and preserving the vision and mission of the foundation.

Linhart PR has signed a long-term lease that will allow the agency to nearly double its space in the historic Baur’s Building downtown. The agency currently occupies about 10,000 square feet on the buildings’s second floor, and the new lease adds another roughly 8,000 square feet on the third floor. Linhart said the expansion was necessary due to growing client needs and continued staff additions.

Congratulations to Linhart VP Kelly Womer, who was named the firm’s sixth equity partner (joining Sharon Linhart, Paul Raab, Dawn Doty, Carri Clemens and Kelly Janhunen). Womer joined Linhart in 2009 and manages many of the firm’s corporate accounts, including Colorado Technical University, MWH, Polsinelli Shughart, and WhiteWave Foods.

Linhart PR SVP Paul Raab has been named to the board of Naturally Boulder, a non-profit organization that “nurtures and enhances the natural products industry in Boulder.”

Linhart Public Relations founder and Chief Bigwig Sharon Linhart has been named as a board member for the Council of PR Firms and the Americas Region of the Worldcom Public Relations Group.

Congratulations to Denver-based mortgage due diligence firm (and Linhart PR client) Allonhill, which made the first cut in The Wall Street Journal’s “Big Innovation, Small Business” contest that highlights companies that employed smart strategies to survive the current “Great Recession. Allonhill launched with a small team during the 2008 housing collapse and has grown to more than 350 employees and is projecting $36 million in revenue in 2011.

Allonhill and Colorado-based companies M&E Painting and Travelers Haven LLC are being featured on The Wall Street Journal’s small business blog. Readers can vote for their favorite stories through Friday, and the Reader’s Choice winner will be revealed in a special report in November.

If you are curious about how Southwest Airlines used social media to become one of the most-respected leaders in online communications, plan to attend Tuesday’s Mile High Social Media Club tweet-up from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Southwest Porch at Skyline Park (located at the corner of 16^th and Arapahoe in downtown Denver).

Former Southwest and current Linhart PR Digital Media Leader Paula Berg will interview Christi Day, who now runs Southwest’s online presence, and Rob Hahn of Southwest’s Customer Relations department. You can RSVP on Facebook or send an email to southwestporch@linhartpr.com.

Linhart PR has added Emma Garten, Andrew Peters and Noelle Robillard as account associates. All three started their careers as part of the firm’s JumpStart internship program. Linhart has added 10 team members since January 2010.

Linhart PR has promoted Chandra Brin to account executive. She most recently served as an account associate and joined Linhart in 2009.

Linhart PR has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Top Small Company Workplaces award, a nationwide award sponsored by Winning Workplaces and Inc. Magazine.

Happy 15th anniversary to Linhart Public Relations.

Linhart-client SmartCo Foods has pulled the plug on its Denver-area experiment after just five months.

In February, I accused Linhart PR’s Sharon Linhart of “talking a little veiled trash” when she was quoted in the Denver Business Journal as saying:

“In comparison to other firms, I’d have to say we’re doing very, very well.”

But give her credit – her agency is walking the walk. Linhart announced that it has hired Robin Zimmerman as an Account Executive, giving the agency 19 22 employees (six of whom have been added this year). As for Zimmerman, she will provide media relations and communications counsel for our consumer-focused clients like Crocs, Old Chicago, and ShopAtHome.com.

Linhart’s Paul Raab examines three leadership lessons from the situation involving Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

Congratulations to Linhart PR’s Dawn Doty, who has been made a partner at the pubic relations agency.

Linhart PR VP Dawn Doty was elected to the board of directors of the Women’s Wilderness Institute (WWI). Boulder-based WWI is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the courage, confidence and leadership qualities of girls and women.

Linhart PR launched the Denver location of Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao last night with a pre-opening party that included everyone from Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to Nuggets Forward (and Brazil native) Nene to my gal pal Penny Parker. The restaurant, located downtown at 15th and Wynkoop, officially opens tonight.

(Photo by Lori Midson/Westword)

Linhart PR’s Sharon Linhart has been elected to the Colorado Judicial Institute (CJI) Board of Directors. The CJI’s mission includes preserving and enhancing the independence and excellence of Colorado courts; furthering public understanding of the Colorado judicial system; and ensuring the courts meet the needs of the people.

And in the process, political reporter Marshall Zelinger of Colorado Springs’ ABC affiliate gives a shout-out to Linhart PR’s Russ “Ratso” Rizzo.