MNPR Top 20: The Most Influential Minnesota PR Professionals on Twitter - 2012

A little more than a year ago, the MNPR Blog published the Top 20: Twin Cities Most Influential PR Professionals on Twitter. We have reassessed our methodology, incorporated additional tools, to update this list and also broadened the scope to include all of Minnesota since, after all, this is the Minnesota Public Relations Blog.

This list was compiled using a variety of ranking services including Twitter Grader, Edelman Tweet Level. I am sure there are many other influencers, but this is my best effort to use these tools and to give credit where credit is due. (If you'd like to take a look at the full methodology behind this list, it's described below.) 

Special thanks to Kary Delaria for her efforts in helping pull this list together. Hope you enjoy.

leeodden	Lee Odden
PatrickStrother	Patrick Strother
arikhanson	arikhanson
MinneapolisPR	Matt Grand
derickson	David Erickson
rmsylte	Ruth Marie Sylte
KaryD	Kary Delaria
mnpr	MN PR / Ryan May
sellabitmum	Tracy Morrison
cbetancourtPR	Christian Betancourt
jeffshelman	jeffshelman
heatherwestpr	Heather West
mjkeliher	Mike Keliher
AmandaOleson	Amanda Oleson
RoepkePR	Roepke PR
b_sorensen	Barb Sorensen
MissShannan	Miss Shannan Paul
jennasbennett	Jenna Bennett
tmaemarketing	Christian Del Monte
TimothyBurke	Tim Burke

Methodology: 

1) Using FollowerWonk, searched Twitter bios for any occurrence of  "public relations" or "PR" with "minneapolis" or "mpls" or "msp" or "mn" or "minnesota" or "minn" or "Twin Cities" or "St Paul" or "St. Paul." This returned 941 accounts which were then sorted by follower count (highest to lowest) and the top 50 accounts belonging to an actual PR professional or agency moved on to step two. (Deleted any that said "tweets from PR department" or "former PR" or "PR friendly" bloggers.). 

2) Assigned Hubspot Twitter Grader and Edelman TweetLevel scores (as of January 7, 2012) to each account in the top 50. Then, calculated an average of each account's three scores: FollowerWonk Influence, Twitter Grader, and TweetLevel. 

3). The 20 accounts with the highest average score were selected and ranked, highest to lowest, in the final list.

Get last years list here.

Job - University of Minnesota - Social Media Specialist

University of Minnesota - Social Media Specialist

Padilla Speer Beardsley Names Matt Kucharski as Executive Vice President, Agency Services

Matt Kucharski, a member of the integrated communications firm Padilla Speer Beardsley since 1989, has been named to the newly created role of executive vice president - agency services.

Kucharski’s responsibilities include overseeing the continued development of Padilla’s strategic planning, social media, research, crisis/critical issues and media relations offerings; spearheading new partnerships and opportunities to help Padilla continue to grow; and leveraging the firm’s global reach through its membership in the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s largest network of independent PR firms. 

Additionally, Kucharski will continue to lead the firm’s technology practice area, and conduct media and presentation coaching. The new position was created as a result of the firm’s steady growth and expansion of its services under CEO Lynn Casey, who has led the firm since 2001. During that time the firm expanded its creative, interactive, social media and research offerings. The company also recently hired 20-year industry veteran Gregory Tarmin to spearhead growth of the firm’s New York office. 

Kucharski has played a key role in several of the firm’s strategic initiatives, including refinement and growth of Padilla’s Communicating for Action^SM planning methodology, A4Ward social media model and BrandBuilder brand development process.  In addition, he currently serves as global chair of the Worldcom Public Relations Group and is an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota. 

“Matt will help Padilla capture the future for our clients,” said Padilla CEO Lynn Casey. “He will bring exceptional energy to every one of his responsibilities. Clients and staff alike will benefit from his strategic thinking, business savvy and communications expertise.” 

February BMA meeting - What's new in Search Marketing?

A panel of experts will discuss how business-to-business marketers need to stay educated in search and social marketing

The Minnesota chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA-Minnesota) will host a panel discussion on the latest trends in search marketing. The session will be held on Feb. 14, 2012, at the MetropolitanBallroom & Clubroom in St. Louis Park, Minn. from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Featuring two local experts, the session will provide a case study with performance data, tactical insights from a marketing perspective including channel conflict, lead generation, social for B2B, LinkedIn and the latest on Google’s algorithm and the impact on social. Panelists include:

· Heather Hayes, Inactive Marketing Supervisor at Stratasys

· Nina Hale, Founder and President of Nina Hale Inc.

“Search can be a better tactic for B2B lead gen marketing,” said Hale. “With lots of channel conflict leads are easier to track with paid placement.”

Nina Hale and her team have been working with Stratasys for the past year on SEO and PPC. As part of the presentation the panelist will discuss how social media is impacting natural search results (SEO) and what Stratasys is doing to increase its organic search. Additionally, the panelists will discuss specific marketing challenges, what was done, and results, along with insights and learnings along the way.

Sponsored by Minnesota’sonly professional organization dedicated exclusively to the needs of business-to-business marketing professionals, the event will be held at the Metropolitanlocated at 5418 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis.

The program will run from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. with networking and continental breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. The cost of the event is $24 for BMA members and $48 for non-members. Attendees can register online at www.bmaminnesota.org through February 10. A limited number of walk-up registration is available.

About the Panelists:

Heather Hayes - As Interactive Marketing Supervisor for Stratasys, Heather Hayes is responsible for the company’s corporate and product web site strategies. She also manages and monitors the performance of the company's SEO, PPC and social media. Under Hayes’s direction, organic web site traffic has increased 30% and PPC conversions 58%. She specializes in merging traditional marketing with online marketing to increase customer interactions with the brands and ultimately conversions. Prior to her work at Stratasys, Hayes worked at Silicon Valley Bank and Evolved Systems. She has been optimizing web sites since 2004.

Nina Hale - With over 20 years of experience in marketing, Hale has spent the past 12 dedicated to eMarketing and specifically Search Engine Marketing. She holds an MBA from The Carlson School of Management in Marketing and Customer Service Operations, and a BA from Brown University in American Cultural Studies. Hale is individually certified in Advanced Search and in Reporting in Google AdWords, and has been certified in Google Analytics (GAIQ). Passionate about search and analytics-driven performance media, Hale opened her agency in 2005 as a solo consultancy which soon grew. In the late ’80′s, Hale specialized in traditional and new media when she started her career in computer animation production and radio advertising, then shifted to eComm and online media in the late 90′s. Hale holds a strong background in eComm merchandising, email marketing, and interactive strategy. Proud of her geeky past, Hale boasts that she spent much of 1984 in her parent’s basement chatting on prototype social networks via a coupler modem. In addition to managing her search engine marketing agency, she recently served on the board of the Minnesota Planetarium Society.

Job - StoryTeller Media & Communications - Account Director

StoryTeller Media & Communications - Account Director

Job - Washington County - seeking a public info specialist

Washington County - seeking a public info specialist

Job - St. Cloud State Director of Media Relations and Publications

St. Cloud State Director of Media Relations and Publications

Risdall Marketing Group hires Henderson

Risdall Marketing Group (RMG) announced that Tara Henderson has joined the agency as a vice president, account supervisor. In this role, Henderson will use her experience in planning and executing comprehensive marketing strategies to support clients’ business objectives, strategy and budget.

"Tara brings extensive knowledge and a great perspective to our agency from her experience in a variety of industries,” said John Risdall, vice chair and CEO. “Her broad skill set, including brand repositioning and identity, web development, strategic planning and customer research will come as a great asset to our clients.”

With 15 years of marketing experience, Henderson’s background spans a range of industries including travel and hospitality, financial services, retail and consumer packaged goods. Henderson joins Risdall from RAZR Marketing where she served as an account director for clients such as MoneyGram International and Experian. Henderson’s past client list also includes Carlson Hotels Worldwide, General Mills, Famous Dave’s BBQ, MGM Pictures and Walt Disney.

Henderson holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in journalism with an emphasis in advertising from the University of Minnesota. Currently, Henderson is completing her master’s in business communication from the University of St. Thomas.

Broadhead announces four new vice presidents

Broadhead announces four new vice presidents appointed to lead the company and gear it toward growth.


Clifford Owen was recently named vice president/account director for Broadhead. Since joining Broadhead in 2006, Owen has led the agency’s West Coast business, including the Almond Board of California, Toro and Gevo. His previous experience includes Aventis, Bayer Animal Health, Case IH, Monsanto, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, New Holland, Pfizer Animal Health and Syngenta Seeds.

Kiersten Schroeder has been promoted to vice president/account director at the agency. Schroeder will focus on Broadhead’s growing government and trade association business, which includes USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and USDA Rural Development, and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. Previously, Schroeder led integrated communications for clients such as the United Soybean Board, Monsanto and Purina Mills. She also served as the director of delegate experience for the 2008 Republican National Committee.

John Walker is now vice president/creative director. As creative director since joining Broadhead in 2007, Walker leads a team of veteran creatives. With extensive experience in consumer-directed marketing across a wide range of industries, Walker’s portfolio encompasses countless successful campaigns for leading national consumer brands such as Best Buy, Hormel, Jennie-O Turkey, Northwest Airlines, Perkins Restaurants, Time Warner Cable and U.S. Bank.

Lannie Dawson has also begun a new role at Broadhead as vice president of engagement after serving as the media director at Broadhead. In her new position, Dawson will lead a team of engagement strategists to guide the agency and its clients to develop rich media campaigns. Her experience includes working on brands such as Cargill, Dekalb, E*Trade, Hoover, Kemps, Pfizer Animal Health, Polaris, Ralston Purina and U.S. Bank.

“These four individuals have been a key asset in our growth over the past few years,” says CEO/President Dean Broadhead. “In their new roles, they will play an even bigger part as we continue to grow and focus our clients on unique integrated marketing solutions.”

PRSA / PRSSA Pro-Am Day

Pro-Am Day (short for Professional-Amateur Day) is an annual mentoring event matching Twin Cities public relations professionals with PRSSA students in an effort to provide a day of job shadowing and networking for participating students to learn more about the public relations industry.

Schedule of events
Job Shadowing: 9:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at professional’s work place
Speed Networking: 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Weber Shandwick in Bloomington

How to participate
To participate in Pro-Am Day, please register by no later than Tuesday, February 21. Participation is free for professionals and $25 per student.
Hours for participation are flexible and most professionals meet with their student starting at 9 or 10 a.m. While in your work setting, students can:

• Review their resumes with you
• Attend meetings
• Talk with you about the work that you do each day
• Meet with other people in your business or communications department

Minnesota PRSA Fellows Fund
To help offset the cost of Pro-Am Day, students may apply to have their registration fee covered by the Minnesota PRSA Fellows Fund. Fellows Fund applications are due by no later than Tuesday, February 14. (Note: The e-mail address you provide on the application should be one you check frequently.)

Professional match notification
Students will receive notification of their professional match on or before Tuesday, February 22.

Questions
If you have any questions, please contact Becca Bijoch at becca@lolaredpr.com or 763-350-8593.

Job - Weber Shandwick - Intern - Public Relations

Weber Shandwick - Intern - Public Relations

Job - Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare - Digital Content Developer

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare - Digital Content Developer

Job - Kohnstamm Communications is seeking an Account Intern

Kohnstamm Communications is seeking an Account Intern

Job - Wanted! Social Media Intern for Miss Minnesota High School and Collegiate Scholarship pageant.

Wanted! Social Media Intern for Miss Minnesota High School and Collegiate Scholarship pageant.

Job - Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs - Communications and Public Relations Intern

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs - Communications and Public Relations Intern

Minnesota Business Marketing Association (BMA-MN) Announces Leadership for 2012

The Minnesota chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) has announced its 2012 Board of Directors. Lead by new President Dan Joyce, an executive at Honeywell, the chapter will continue to focus on supporting the Twin Cities’ robust business-to-business (B2B) marketing community through expanded programing and resources.

Joyce succeeds Chris Schermer, of SCHERMER, who served as president since the chapter was founded in November 2008. In 2011, Schermer joined the BMA National Board of Directors but will remain involved in the chapter leadership as Past President.

BMA–Minnesota’s Board of Directors is comprised of experienced business-to-business marketing professionals that reflectthe depth and diversity of Minnesota’s B2B Marketing community. In 2012, six new board members joined the organization’s leadership illustrating the continued growth of the organization among Twin Cities B2B marketing professionals.

“This is a top market with lots of great B2B companies and talent. BMA Twin Cities is made up of great people and top professionals committed to helping connect the B2B marketing community to people and resources,” said Dan Joyce, president, BMA–Minnesota. “The new board is passionate about creating a great organization to help members and guest learn, grow and network.”

Topics slated to be addressed in 2012 include: new search marketing strategies, in-person and virtual events, content management and online decision making.

Now entering its fourth year, BMA–Minnesota is the only organization in Minnesota dedicated solely to the professional development of B2B executives, marketers and communicators. With nearly 100 members, the chapter is one of the strongest in the nation. In 2011 more than 600 individuals attended the chapter’s B2B specific programming with 300 individuals attending three or more events.

Members of BMA–Minnesota's 2012 Board of Directors are:

· President — Dan Joyce, Honeywell

· Past President — Chris Schermer, SCHERMER

· Treasurer — Eric Peterson, Accordant Consulting

· Communications Vice President — Eva Keiser, The Plural I Communications

· Membership Vice President — Mary Schneider, Rust Consulting

· Professional Development Vice President — Nancy Gregson, Ergotron

· Directors — Jane Payfer, Ergotron; Ann McGuire, 3M; Stephani Simon, Orange Communications; LeeAnn Villella, Nina Hale, Inc.; Bruce Volkart, Volkart May & Associates, Inc.; Nick Wassenberg, Reeher LLC and Heidi Wight, Padilla Speer Beardsley.

For additional information about BMA–Minnesota and upcoming programming, please visit www.bmaminnesota.org.

Kohnstamm Communications is seeking Senior Account Executive

Kohnstamm Communications is seeking Senior Account Executive

Campbell Mithun (@cmithun) teams with Greater Twin Cities United Way (@UnitedWayTC) to use Twitter

Advertising agency Campbell Mithun will hire its 2012 Lucky 13 interns based on a job application of 13 tweets, while 13 non-profit Greater Twin Cities United Way agency partners compete via social-media vote to become the pro bono summer project tackled by the interns.  The 13-days of tweeting and voting will be documented in real time on the agency’s Lucky 13 website and will take place February 13 – 25, 2012.  A website app will allow applicants to register and track their tweeting progress; data visualization will present the tweeting / voting in real time to the public.

 

“The 13-tweet application gives our Lucky 13 applicants creative license within a digital forum to introduce themselves as they wish,” said Debbie Fischer, director of human resources at Campbell Mithun.  “We’re very excited to partner with the Greater Twin Cities United Way to provide our interns with a summer Case Study project that makes a real difference in our community.”

 

“Hiring interns using social media is innovation at its best and a win-win for United Way, our agency partners and Campbell Mithun.  We are appreciative that Campbell Mithun is leveraging the breadth and depth of United Way agency relationships,” says United Way marketing vice president Kathy Hollenhorst.  She continues, “The projects introduce the Lucky 13 program interns to the creative and nonprofit worlds while at the same time benefitting the winning nonprofit agency.  We can’t think of any other entity that is using this unique approach with social media.”

 

The “13 Tweets” Twitter application process

Applicants have thirteen 140-character tweets to introduce themselves to Campbell Mithun.  Phases include:

1.      January 13, 2012: Registration opens on www.lucky13internship.com.  Eligibility: Applicants MUST be a college student with a graduation date between fall 2011 and summer 2013.

2.      February 13-25, 2012: Candidates submit application in the form of 13 tweets.  Each tweet must include both the primary #L13 hashtag and a secondary hashtag to indicate their discipline of interest:

• Account Management: #CMam
• Account Planning: #CMap
• Media: #CMcpm
• Creative: #CMcr8
• Technology: #CMt3ch

 

3.      March / early April:  finalists will be interviewed; internship offers will be made.

Job - Adsoka - Graphic Designer

Adsoka - Graphic Designer

Job - Looking to Hire Today! Paid Internship at Liberty Tax

Looking to Hire Today! Paid Internship at Liberty Tax

Job - VEE Corporation - Marketing/PR

VEE Corporation - Marketing/PR

Job - Gage Internship

Gage Internship

Job - Haberman - Modern Storyteller, Account Executive

Haberman - Modern Storyteller, Account Executive

Job - Haberman - Digital Advertising Strategist/Digital Connection Planner

Haberman - Digital Advertising Strategist/Digital Connection Planner

Job - Humanetics Corporation - PR Director (Part Time)

Humanetics Corporation - PR Director (Part Time)

Job - HR Green, Inc. Marketing Coordinator (Part-time) | St. Paul

HR Green, Inc. Marketing Coordinator (Part-time) | St. Paul

Job - FAME - PR Account Executive / Senior Account Executive

FAME - PR Account Executive / Senior Account Executive

GoKart Labs Hires Montgomery as Director of Digital Solutions

GoKart Labs, a Minneapolis-based digital innovation company focused on optimizing client businesses through creative marketing initiatives, web and mobile applications, announced that it has hired Christopher “Monty” Montgomery to lead their technology practice as Director of Digital Solutions. 

“Monty’s digital solution architecture experience strengthens the GoKart Labs development team and brings additional options to our clients,” said A.J. Meyer, co-founder of GoKart Labs. “His passion for disruptive problem solving and his depth of knowledge in the technology space make him a perfect addition to the team.”

In his new role, Montgomery will be responsible for leading the GoKart Labs team of agile developers; curating emerging technologies; and providing direction and recommendations to GoKart Labs’ clients via their Innovation Audit – a focused process delivering an overarching strategy to unify the digital footprint.

Montgomery has 15 years of software development experience, including solutions architecture, international systems development and team management. Previously, he worked at OLSONdenali, where he created the digital platform to handle the world’s largest hotel loyalty program serving more than 23 million members.

Launched in 2009, GoKart Labs incubates, accelerates, and optimizes digital initiatives through passionate employees who integrate business, technology, analytics and marketing expertise to deliver measurable results.

Job - Fasthorse is hiring their next Great Superstar!

Fasthorse is hiring their next Great Superstar!

Broadhead Adds Industry Veteran Jody Estensen to Management Team

Broadhead, a Minneapolis-based marketing agency, announces the hiring of Jody Estensen as vice president/account director at its Minneapolis office.


A seasoned agency and corporate veteran with experience working at Best Buy, Target and on accounts such as Starbucks, Ralston Purina and BMW, Estensen joins Broadhead to lead the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. account. She will also help to direct the company in its new-business ventures.

Estensen has played a pivotal role in many award-winning campaigns for her clients, even those of the four-legged variety. A relatively unknown German shorthaired pointer featured in a 2002 Purina ad went on to vanquish the competition three years later at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

“Jody’s client background reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ in both consumer and ag marketing arenas,” says President/CEO Dean Broadhead. “I’m excited to have someone of Jody’s talent and expertise on board as we continue to expand our client base.”

Job - Weber Shandwick - Social Media Specialist/Community Manager

Weber Shandwick - Social Media Specialist/Community Manager

Job - Bloomington Symphony Orchestra - Public Relations / Communications Intern

Bloomington Symphony Orchestra - Public Relations / Communications Intern