PRSA Colorado ‘Brand Challenge’

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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

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are GBSM, HealthGrades, MillerCoors, University of Colorado Denver, Accurence, ACLU of Colorado, Broomfield United Methodist Church, Colorado Medical Society, Denver Film Society, Denver Health & Hospital Authority, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, DirectTV, Education Commission of the States (ECS), The Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado Springs), Phoenix New Times (Phoenix), Cabela’s (Sidney, Neb.) and The Garden City Telegram (Garden City, Kans.).

Tickets Available for the DPC’s 2011 Gridiron Show

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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

 

Denver Post Sponsors ‘Top Workplaces’ Award

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It looks like the Denver Business Journal is getting a little competition in the awards department – the Denver Post has partnered with WorkplaceDynamics for the 2012 Top Workplaces Award. Nominations are due October 28. According to Denver Post Business Editor Steve McMillan:

“The Denver area has a dynamic business environment with companies that have great stories to tell. We look forward to highlighting the metro area’s top employers and how they foster employee satisfaction.”

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are 104 West Partners (internship), 36 Commuting Solutions, Allstate Corporation, Amgen, Arrow Electronics, CH2MHill, Denver Athletic Club, Graland Country Day School, HealthGrades, Metro State, Rose Medical Center (internship), University of Colorado Denver, Junior Achievement USA (Colorado Springs), Peak Vista Community Health Centers (Colorado Springs), The Lawrence Journal World (Lawrence, Kan.), The Dodge City Daily Globe (Dodge City, Kan.).

The PRSA Colorado ‘Great Brand Challenge’

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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

Rock a ‘Stache, Help a Kid

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GroundFloor Media client Youth Opportunity Foundation‘s biggest annual fundraiser is Mustache4Cash/Color4Kidz. The concept is pretty simple – individuals sign up to color their hair or grow a mustache for about four weeks, and ask friends and family to “sponsor” their efforts along the way. All of the proceeds benefit at–risk youth mentoring programs in Colorado.

To get you in the mood, GFM’s Jim Licko has created a video extolling the virtues of rocking a ‘stache.

Allonhill Featured in WSJ Contest

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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.

PRSA CoLab

~ Jeremy Story ~ 2 Comments

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

 

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are Covidien, Denver Public Schools (internship), Development Counsellors International, Encana, Fearless Campaign, Gaiam TV, Huttner Group, Outdoor Industry Association, Starz, University of Colorado Denver, WhiteWave Foods, Honeywell (Colorado Springs), Daily Planet Newspaper (Telluride) and J.M. Waller (Fort Carson).

Johnston, Goldberg Inducted into DPC Hall of Fame

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Congratulations to JohnstonWells’ Gwin Johnston and the Denver Business Journal’s Bruce Goldberg for being two of six inductees tonight into the Denver Press Club’s 2011 Hall of Fame class. Gwin founded JohnstonWells as a single mother 40 years ago and built it into one of Denver’s most successful and well-recognized PR firms. And Bruce may be Denver’s favorite curmudgeon, recognized for his work as associate editor of the DBJ and his tireless support of the Denver Press Club.

Denver’s PR Agency Leaders

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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:

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.

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are Comcast Sports Group, the Cortez Journal, Habitat for Humanity Colorado, IHS, Mental Health Partners, MetroMix.com, Pacific Dental Services, St. John’s Cathedral, SurveyGizmo, The Colorado Statesman, US Department of Labor, Western Resource Advocates, Communications Strategy Group (internship) and Kansas State University (Manhattan, Kans.).

GroundFloor Media Celebrates 10 Years

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Congratulations to Laura Love-Aden and the team at GroundFloor Media. They are celebrating the firm’s tenth anniversary by expanding its award-winning “Get Giving” community donation program to award a total of $10,000 – $1,000 for each year of service – to four local charities: Dress for Success, Colfax Community Network, Underwearness and Morris Animal Foundation.

GroundFloor also celebrated the anniversary with a party for clients, employees and friends at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

 

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are the City of Boulder, the Delta-Montrose Electric Association, Google, ITT Techncial Institute, National Honey Board, Nimsoft, Northern Colorado Business Report, Rocky Mountain PBS, SendGrid, Sierra Nevada Corp., Sky Ridge Medical Center, The GLBT Community Center of Colorado and University of Colorado Law School.

Great Moments in Public Relations

~ Jeremy Story ~ 3 Comments

U.S. Congresswoman Congressional candidate Kate Marshall (R-Nevada) is making headlines with her latest press release, but not in the way she intended.

As Las Vegas Sun reporter Jon Ralston noted, “You don’t see this too often: A campaign puts out a statement by a candidate on an issue she has never talked about and then helpfully explains the political strategy at play at the end.”

Unfortunately for her, the explanation was clearly intended for her rather than for the media. Here’s the text of the press release:

Kate Marshall Issues Statement of Support for Israel as Violence Escalates

Reno, NV – As violence continues to escalate in Israel, Kate Marshall released the following statement this morning in support of the nation:

“The past several days have proven very challenging for the people of Israel. Last Thursday gunmen from the Gaza Strip entered Israel and launched coordinated attacks against a tourist bus and other vehicles en route to the seaside city of Eilat. The terrorists murdered eight people and scores more were injured.

In further escalation of violence, terrorists operating within the Gaza Strip proceeded to fire hundreds of rockets into southern Israeli cities. Rockets fells on homes, a religious school, and other civilian targets. One man was murdered, many people were injured including children, and among the injured casualties was a four month old infant.

…

I am proud to consider Israel a friend and I reiterate my unwavering support for its fundamental right to exist and the absolute necessity for Israel to secure its people from outside threats. I stand ready and willing to assist Israel in defending itself against all acts of terrorism.”

Background: Israel has been in the news lately, and will be even more in the news with Beck’s “Rally to Restore Courage” in Jerusalem. In an R district, it will be useful to express support for Israel and demonstrate some foreign policy prowess while it is a timely topic – especially for people who are likely paying attention to Beck’s event.

###

PRSA Colorado Taps Six All-Stars for Panel Discussion

~ Jeremy Story ~ 8 Comments

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:

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.

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are the American Diabetes Association, the City and County of Denver, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Downtown Boulder, Janus, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, North Metro Fire Rescue District, Southeast Business Partnership, The Geological Society of America, Xcel Energy, Pure Brand (internship), Turner PR (internship), National CineMedia (internship), CSU College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (Fort Collins) and Blackhills Corp. (Pueblo).

Turner PR Hiring Two Interns

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Turner PR is accepting applications for two unpaid internships to support the agency’s travel public relations team in Denver. Duties include media relations outreach assistance, drafting press releases, story pitches, creating and updating media lists and editorial calendars, tracking coverage by monitoring local and national media, researching industry trends, etc.

Qualifications should include students or graduates majoring in journalism, communications or public relations, excellent writing skills and understanding of AP Style, strong internet research skills, great communication skills with the ability to multi-task and work in a deadline-oriented environment. Turner will work with schools to ensure class credit is received, if applicable.

If you are interested, email cover letter and resume to Ashley Taufen (no phone calls).

Colorado Non-profits Need Your PR Help

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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.

JohnstonWells Teams with LUNGevity Foundation

~ Jeremy Story ~ 2 Comments

National lung cancer charity LUNGevity Foundation is teaming up with JohnstonWells for a 5K walk/run at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 5. The event, Breathe Deep Denver, is being produced by a steering committee led by Gwinavere Johnston that includes U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, Don Kirchoffner and Associates’ Don Kirchoffner, former Rocky Mountain News Business Editor Rob Reuteman and City and County of Denver marketer Steve Sander. Those interested in sponsoring or volunteering for the event should visit its website.

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are the Aspen Art Museum, BENTEK, City of Aurora, Colorado PERA, Comcast, Correctional Healthcare Companies, eBags, Granby Ranch, Interweave (Beadwork), Jeppesen, Jewish Family Service of Colorado, KVCU Radio, Metropolitan State College, National MS Society (Colorado-Wyoming Chapter), National Stroke Association, Swallow Hill Music, University of Colorado at Boulder, Pikes Peak Community College (Colorado Springs), SRAM (Colorado Springs) and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

USA Swimming Foundation Picks GroundFloor Media

~ Jeremy Story ~ 1 Comment

The USA Swimming Foundation has selected GroundFloor Media to lead the communications efforts for the national Make a Splash Tour with Cullen Jones, presented by ConocoPhillips, as well as national water safety awareness. Through the tour, Jones, a survivor of a near-drowning incident at age five and the first African-American male to hold a world record in swimming, is visiting six cities this summer to address the importance of water safety in an effort to reduce the number of U.S. drownings, particularly among minority youth.

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are 5280, the Colorado Municipal League, Colorado State University Alumni Association, Colorado State University Career Center, Denver Health Hospital Authority, Denver Public Schools, ITT Technical Institute, National Conference of State Legislatures, National MS Society, Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, Parkview Medical Center, Rio Tinto Minerals, Starz, Team Player Productions, Telemundo, The Colorado Springs Gazette, The Daily Sentinel, The National Cannabis Industry Association, Tuff Shed, University of Colorado at Denver, VMware and Woodward Inc.

SE2 Adds Associate, Expands Multicultural Capabilities

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Policy and social marketing firm SE2 has added Abraham Morales as Associate and Multicultural Specialist. Morales’ addition will allow the firm to offer broader multicultural services to clients.

“Given that Hispanics account for more than half of the U.S. population growth in the past decade, it was only natural for SE2 to continue to grow its areas of expertise,” said SE2 Principal Eric Anderson. “The firm’s in-house capacities now go beyond translation of materials to the development and implementation of culturally relevant and appropriate communication strategies.”

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Taps Orapin’s Hendrickson

~ Jeremy Story ~ 2 Comments

Orapin Marketing + Public Relations’ Rhiannon Hendrickson has been elected to represent the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and serve as a member of LLS’s national Board of Representatives. Hendrickson is a member of the Rocky Mountain chapter’s Board of Trustees and provides pro bono PR and marketing services for the chapter’s annual Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign.

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are Adperio, Aspen Times Magazine, Colorado Municipal League, Denver Human Services, Development Counselors International, EMC, LoDo District, National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, SendGrid, Southeast Business Partnership, National Jewish Hospital, UCAR, VisiTech PR, KOAA/NBC (Colorado Springs), KDNK-FM (Carbondale) and the Emporia Gazette (Emporia, Kans.).

Murdoch, ‘Annoyed by Negative Headlines,’ Retains Edelman

~ Jeremy Story ~ 2 Comments

If you have been breathlessly waiting to hear from Rupert Murdoch after FedExing him your latest brochure, bad news: he picked Edelman. This seems like a good opportunity to point out the value of giving PR a seat at the table in order to head off trouble, or at least engaging a PR firm earlier than 11 days after becoming the biggest story in the world, but those lectures generally are lost on the people who need them most. Sigh.

Turner PR Adds SAE

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Turner PR has added Ryan Whaley as a senior account executive. Whaley joins Turner PR from Vail Resorts, where he was part of the communications teams at Breckenridge Ski Resort and Keystone Resort. Prior to Vail Resorts, Whaley spent eight years as a professional boat captain which allowed him to work at multiple resort destinations.

 

Ogilvy PR Expands Its Denver Office

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For years, Ogilvy PR has had a quiet, under-the-radar presence in Denver. The small office, which was led by Amy Messenger before she took over the firm’s technology practice, seemed to focus largely on tech, but most of the work appeared to be for national clients. Recently, however, Ogilvy has made a push to grow its office in Denver, and with a headcount of 20 they have now become one of the larger agencies in town.

The most recent additions to the Ogilvy team in Denver are:

  • Tara May, senior vice president
  • Kate Wilson Stabrawa, account director
  • Kabira Hatland, vice president
  • Melanie Taylor, vice president
  • Kylee Decker, account supervisor
  • Olivia Watson, account executive
  • Sarmishta Ramesh, account director
  • Lauren Clancy, assistant account executive
  • Paris Mackey, assistant account executive

MHSMC Hosts Southwest Airlines Tweet-up

~ Jeremy Story ~ 1 Comment

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 16th 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.

The Public Relations Losers of the Week …

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… are Leigh Sullivan and Troy Guard, the (for now) husband-and-wife owners of TAG and TAG | RAW BAR. When a decision is made to divorce, the aggrieved and non-aggrieved parties usually run to lawyers as fast as they can. But Sullivan and Guard are racing just as fast to any media outlet that will quote them to try to gain the media edge in their divorce. So far, they’ve hit Lori Midson at Westword and Bill Husted at the Denver Post.

Here’s some free public relations advice: quit publicly tearing each other down, get the divorce and try to act like grown-ups. Trust me – it allow your baby you keep mentioning to Google your names in 10 years without shame, and the assets you will soon be dividing up (for example, two restaurants) will be worth more if you quit making Denver wince at the mention of your names.

Great Moments in Marketing

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Fox8 in Cleveland has the details on a guerrilla gorilla marketing campaign that turned into a crime scene. The money quote:

“I noticed a kid in the bushes. Then he just emerged, dressed up as a banana, and sprinted as fast as he could at our gorilla (mascot),” said Brandon Parham, the manager. “The kid just speared our gorilla. … The kid was in mid-air, flying. He just looked like a Spartan from that movie ‘300,’ except he was a banana.”

Denver PR Jobs

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Among those hiring this week are The American Institute of Architects (Colorado Chapter), CoBank, The Colorado Trust, Elitch Gardens, Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority, IHS, Jackson National Life Insurance, KMGH-TV, ProBuild, Quantum Corp., Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Starz, State of Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration, Turner Public Relations, HACH (Loveland), Keystone Resort (Keystone) and Winter Park Resort (Winter Park).

Adrenaline Announces New Clients

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Adrenaline has announced a slew of new clients, including retail marketing intelligence and consumer research firm Leisure Trends Group, National Ski Patrol, performance cycling companies Reynolds Cycling and Pactimo, USA Wrestling, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the Central Hockey League’s 2012 All Star Game and Deer Trail Assisted Living in Rock Springs. Adrenaline also announced that it is performing pro bono work for the National Alliance for Accessible Golf.

Motive Wins Awards for Work with Mt. Dew, Qdoba

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Denver-based Motive has picked up a couple of awards for its work with clients. The agency was named the 2011 Grand Ex Award winner by  trade publication Event Marketer for its DEWmocracy campaign for Mt. Dew. The campaign used social media to drive the entire campaign and it resulted in a new flavor of Mt. Dew being offered to consumers. Motive also won a Communicator Award in the Marketing Effectiveness category for its work on the Qdoba Burrito Boredom campaign.