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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Lola Red Public Relations Hires President To Support Historical Agency Growth

Lola Red Public Relations Hires Reitan as President  
Lola Red PR, is adding a new leadership position to the fold as it experiences the strongest first quarter in its 12-year history. Former Carmichael Lynch Spong senior principal Maria Reitan joins Lola Red PR as president and chief strategy officer immediately. Reitan will report to agency founder and chief executive officer Alexis Walsko.

Reitan’s new role comes as Lola Red PR adds many new brands including Dirty Girl Mud Run and Sparkling Fruit2O to the agency’s roster of retail, food and beverage, beauty and home. The agency has been experiencing at least 25 percent growth year of year.

“Maria’s leadership, experience and strategic approach to growing clients and business make her the perfect partner as we move into our next phase of business.” says CEO, Alexis Walsko, “her talent and passion for marketing to women will be put to great use across our entire roster of clients.” Reitan will lead client business strategy, operations, and staff development along with the organization’s day-to-day activities. Walsko will drive new business acquisition and creative output.

“Lola Red PR is expanding rapidly and its potential is limitless,” says Maria Reitan. “I’m excited to be joining the agency at such a dynamic time in its evolution and look forward to helping drive success for our current and future clients’ business.”

Reitan brings 25-years of award-winning communications experience to Lola Red PR, having spent more than 10 years at Minneapolis-based Carmichael Lynch Spong where she established and lead the Lifestyle Marketing practice with a focus on marketing to women, boomers and youth. Her weekly marketing-to-women radio show, PurseStrings, is in its seventh year.

While at Carmichael Lynch Spong, Reitan lead public relations efforts for household brands such as MasterBrand Cabinets, Tempur-Pedic, Select Comfort, and Therma-Tru doors. With sister agency Carmichael Lynch, Reitan managed integrated advertising and public relations efforts on behalf of Trane and American Standard. Prior to joining Carmichael Lynch Spong in late 2003, Reitan spent 15 years at various major market TV stations across the country as a news director, producer and reporter, including Twin Cities’ WCCO-TV. Her work has been recognized with both the PR and news industries’ most illustrious awards, including the Silver Anvil and Emmy. Reitan was also named PR News
Journal’s Top 25 Women to Watch that same year.
Account Supervisor of the Year in 2010 and was among the Twin Cities Business

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Job - Account manager/media relations position available

Friday, April 25, 2014

Job - Gravie - Growth Team Member

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Job - The Basilica of Saint Mary - Marketing & Communications Intern, Summer 2014

Monday, April 21, 2014

@KonaMpls Ice South Teams with Minneapolis Parks

Kona Ice South Minneapolis announced today it will be one of the vendors for Minneapolis Parks. The start date will be announced as we get closer to the beginning of the season. Kona Ice trucks will appear at numerous park locations including Theo Wirth (beaches), Minnehaha Park, Cedar Lake (beaches), Lake Hiawatha, Pearl (Diamond Lake), Ft. Snelling (Neiman Sports Complex/Park), Bossen Field, Stone Arch (Mill City Park) and Bryn Mawr Meadows.

“It is an honor and privilege to bring our Tropical Shaved Ice Experience to our city parks, the top rated park system in America,“ said PJ Fiske, Owner and Vice President of Fun, Kona Ice South Minneapolis. “We look forward to bringing additional joy and fun to our Kona Ice fans! Also, we will be giving back a portion of our sales to Minneapolis Parks, which will go directly to future park improvements.”

Kona Ice is known across the country for giving back to communities with contributions over $16 million to date. Each Kona Ice franchise is locally owned and operated. Last year, the two Kona Ice trucks serving the immediate Metro area gave back over $15,000 to Twin Cities area organizations and schools.

“It’s a win for our parks and a win for Kona,” said Shane Stenzel, Manager of Permits and Events for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “We like to keep things fresh and Kona’s colorful truck, outstanding product, FLAVORWAVE, friendly staff AND the added bonus of a Kona Ice giveback was hard to pass up!”

Kona Ice patented FLAVORWAVE allows customers to “personalize” their shaved ice with up to ten flavors if desired for a one-of-a-kind treat. The Kona Ice menu serves up over 30 unique outstanding flavors.

Times, dates and locations will vary and Kona Ice South Minneapolis will post daily locations on Facebook () and Twitter ().

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Refreshing a Tried and True Brand: Spong is the new name for Carmichael Lynch Spong

After blazing a trail of success in the public relations industry for 23 years, Carmichael Lynch Spong is refreshing its identity to reflect even more possibilities down the road. Beginning today, it will be known as Spong.

The move is based on the firm’s core beliefs as well as its continued evolution, according to Doug Spong, president and founder. “Since day one, we’ve been creating ideas that help our clients defy gravity. We believe ideas are not the property of any one discipline, but are conceived through insight, born from strategy and brought to life through creative execution. Creating more white space for Spong through a refreshed identity allows us to reimagine our service offerings without limitation.”

Deeply rooted in public relations, the firm has evolved and grown through holistic, 360-degree thinking that smartly solves its clients’ problems. The refreshed Spong identity reflects the firm’s growing service offerings — from traditional public relations services such as earned media relations, brand journalism, reputation management and crisis/issues management, to relatively new offerings such as community management, paid, social, SEO/SEM and all things mobile — and provides the flexibility to add more as new needs and technologies evolve.

Both the Spong and Carmichael Lynch brands will continue to celebrate their sibling relationship under parent company Interpublic Group, and to share a common purpose, values and culture. What has changed with the Spong brand are the visual expressions of its refreshed identity, including a new logo mark and its applications in a new website, www.SpongPR.com, its social channels, business systems and signage.
“Given today’s overlapping disciplines of PR, advertising, digital, social, mobile and experiential marketing, the confluence of earned, owned and paid media is stronger than ever before,” Doug Spong added. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished for our clients and we’re excited for our future.”

Grounded in core principles
Since its founding in September 1990, the firm has been guided by three core principles: 1) to represent a select but envied portfolio of big name clients; 2) to attract like-minded achievement addicts who desire to produce their career-best work; and 3) to be the undisputed champion of best practices.

These principles have helped build the firm to what it is today. Over the years it has earned a reputation as a leader in best practices and grown to become one of the top-25 largest PR firms in the nation. It was named 2013 Creative Agency of the Year by national trade journal The Holmes Report and is a four-time PR Agency of the Year as awarded by PRWeek, PR News and The Holmes Report. No other PR firm has won  more Silver and Bronze Anvil awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Today Spong operates globally and represents a portfolio of blue-chip clients including American Standard, Arla Foods, Bath & Body Works, First Bankcard, Genuine Thermos Brand, GNC, H&R Block, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Lutron, MasterBrand Cabinets, Minnesota Public Radio, MOM Brands, Morina, Rapala, Sherwin-Williams, SUPERVALU, Trane and the University of St. Thomas. Spong and Carmichael Lynch also remain as committed as ever to integrated thinking and execution on behalf of the many clients they share, including new additions to the roster such as GNC.

A vision to inspire
The future of the firm will continue to be grounded in its core beliefs, according to Doug Spong. “Our vision is still to be the world’s most creative PR firm. Our mission remains to ignite and sustain momentum for a select but envied portfolio of clients. And our purpose will always be to inspire.”

After blazing a trail of success in the public relations industry for 23 years, Carmichael Lynch Spong is refreshing its identity to reflect even more possibilities down the road. Beginning today, it will be known as Spong.
The move is based on the firm’s core beliefs as well as its continued evolution, according to Doug Spong, president and founder. “Since day one, we’ve been creating ideas that help our clients defy gravity. We believe ideas are not the property of any one discipline, but are conceived through insight, born from strategy and brought to life through creative execution. Creating more white space for Spong through a refreshed identity allows us to reimagine our service offerings without limitation.”
Deeply rooted in public relations, the firm has evolved and grown through holistic, 360-degree thinking that smartly solves its clients’ problems. The refreshed Spong identity reflects the firm’s growing service offerings — from traditional public relations services such as earned media relations, brand journalism, reputation management and crisis/issues management, to relatively new offerings such as community management, paid, social, SEO/SEM and all things mobile — and provides the flexibility to add more as new needs and technologies evolve.
Both the Spong and Carmichael Lynch brands will continue to celebrate their sibling relationship under parent company Interpublic Group, and to share a common purpose, values and culture. What has changed with the Spong brand are the visual expressions of its refreshed identity, including a new logo mark and its applications in a new website, www.SpongPR.com, its social channels, business systems and signage.
“Given today’s overlapping disciplines of PR, advertising, digital, social, mobile and experiential marketing, the confluence of earned, owned and paid media is stronger than ever before,” Doug Spong added. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished for our clients and we’re excited for our future.”
Grounded in core principles
Since its founding in September 1990, the firm has been guided by three core principles: 1) to represent a select but envied portfolio of big name clients; 2) to attract like-minded achievement addicts who desire to produce their career-best work; and 3) to be the undisputed champion of best practices.
These principles have helped build the firm to what it is today. Over the years it has earned a reputation as a leader in best practices and grown to become one of the top-25 largest PR firms in the nation. It was named 2013 Creative Agency of the Year by national trade journal The Holmes Report and is a four-time PR Agency of the Year as awarded by PRWeek, PR News and The Holmes Report. No other PR firm has won  more Silver and Bronze Anvil awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Today Spong operates globally and represents a portfolio of blue-chip clients including American Standard, Arla Foods, Bath & Body Works, First Bankcard, Genuine Thermos Brand, GNC, H&R Block, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Lutron, MasterBrand Cabinets, Minnesota Public Radio, MOM Brands, Morina, Rapala, Sherwin-Williams, SUPERVALU, Trane and the University of St. Thomas. Spong and Carmichael Lynch also remain as committed as ever to integrated thinking and execution on behalf of the many clients they share, including new additions to the roster such as GNC.
A vision to inspire
The future of the firm will continue to be grounded in its core beliefs, according to Doug Spong. “Our vision is still to be the world’s most creative PR firm. Our mission remains to ignite and sustain momentum for a select but envied portfolio of clients. And our purpose will always be to inspire.”
- See more at: http://spongpr.com/news-insights/press-releases/refreshing-a-tried-and-true-brand-spong-is-the-new-name-for-carmichael-lync#sthash.RH099BQT.dpuf
After blazing a trail of success in the public relations industry for 23 years, Carmichael Lynch Spong is refreshing its identity to reflect even more possibilities down the road. Beginning today, it will be known as Spong.
The move is based on the firm’s core beliefs as well as its continued evolution, according to Doug Spong, president and founder. “Since day one, we’ve been creating ideas that help our clients defy gravity. We believe ideas are not the property of any one discipline, but are conceived through insight, born from strategy and brought to life through creative execution. Creating more white space for Spong through a refreshed identity allows us to reimagine our service offerings without limitation.”
Deeply rooted in public relations, the firm has evolved and grown through holistic, 360-degree thinking that smartly solves its clients’ problems. The refreshed Spong identity reflects the firm’s growing service offerings — from traditional public relations services such as earned media relations, brand journalism, reputation management and crisis/issues management, to relatively new offerings such as community management, paid, social, SEO/SEM and all things mobile — and provides the flexibility to add more as new needs and technologies evolve.
Both the Spong and Carmichael Lynch brands will continue to celebrate their sibling relationship under parent company Interpublic Group, and to share a common purpose, values and culture. What has changed with the Spong brand are the visual expressions of its refreshed identity, including a new logo mark and its applications in a new website, www.SpongPR.com, its social channels, business systems and signage.
“Given today’s overlapping disciplines of PR, advertising, digital, social, mobile and experiential marketing, the confluence of earned, owned and paid media is stronger than ever before,” Doug Spong added. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished for our clients and we’re excited for our future.”
Grounded in core principles
Since its founding in September 1990, the firm has been guided by three core principles: 1) to represent a select but envied portfolio of big name clients; 2) to attract like-minded achievement addicts who desire to produce their career-best work; and 3) to be the undisputed champion of best practices.
These principles have helped build the firm to what it is today. Over the years it has earned a reputation as a leader in best practices and grown to become one of the top-25 largest PR firms in the nation. It was named 2013 Creative Agency of the Year by national trade journal The Holmes Report and is a four-time PR Agency of the Year as awarded by PRWeek, PR News and The Holmes Report. No other PR firm has won  more Silver and Bronze Anvil awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Today Spong operates globally and represents a portfolio of blue-chip clients including American Standard, Arla Foods, Bath & Body Works, First Bankcard, Genuine Thermos Brand, GNC, H&R Block, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Lutron, MasterBrand Cabinets, Minnesota Public Radio, MOM Brands, Morina, Rapala, Sherwin-Williams, SUPERVALU, Trane and the University of St. Thomas. Spong and Carmichael Lynch also remain as committed as ever to integrated thinking and execution on behalf of the many clients they share, including new additions to the roster such as GNC.
A vision to inspire
The future of the firm will continue to be grounded in its core beliefs, according to Doug Spong. “Our vision is still to be the world’s most creative PR firm. Our mission remains to ignite and sustain momentum for a select but envied portfolio of clients. And our purpose will always be to inspire.”
- See more at: http://spongpr.com/news-insights/press-releases/refreshing-a-tried-and-true-brand-spong-is-the-new-name-for-carmichael-lync#sthash.RH099BQT.dpuf

Minnesota chapter of the Business Marketing Association Announces 2014 Leadership Team


The Minnesota chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) has announced its 2014 Board of Directors. Ready to lead the chapter is newly elected President Jennifer Zick, senior director of marketing at Magnet 360. Under Zick’s leadership, BMA-MN will focus on building a community of support and collaboration for Twin Cities-based business-to-business (B2B) marketing communications professionals through expanded programming and resources.

Zick succeeds Dan Joyce, global integration leader at Honeywell, who served as the chapter’s president since 2012. Joyce will continue to support BMA-MN in his new role as past president.

BMA-MN’s Board of Directors comprises 10 executive committee members and seven committee members who bring a diverse wealth of knowledge and experience in Minnesota’s B2B marketing community.

Executive Committee
·         President – Jennifer Zick, Senior Director of Marketing – Magnet 360
·         Past President – Dan Joyce, Global Integration Leader – Honeywell
·         Executive Director – Amy Sporre, Owner – Business Sidekick
·         VP, Events and Development – Camila Drahn, Account Manager – OnTrac International
·         VP, Membership – Marshall Gage, VP of Business Development – OppSource
·         VP, Sponsorship – Jim MacLachlan, President – Tartan Marketing
·         VP, Finance – Ben Conley, Senior Financial Analyst – Thomson Reuters
·         VP, Young Professionals – Andrew Herkert, VP of Sales – TruScribe
·         VP, Communications – Stephani Simon, President – Inprela Communications
·         Corporate Advisory Council Liaison – Patrick Petschel, VP, Account Services and Strategy – Schermer

Membership Committee
·         Membership Director – Bruce Volkart, Chairman – Volkart May and Associates Inc.
·         Membership Support – Bob Peterson, Research Director – SiriusDecisions

Events and Development Committee
·         Event Director – Joan Moser, President – Spoken Impact

Communications Committee
·         Communications Director – Emily Conley, Account Executive – Tartan Marketing
·         Social Director – Katie Wolfe, Senior Marketing Communications Manager – HighJump Software
·         Content Director – Laura Monn Ginsburg, Director of Marketing – Alternative Technology Solutions
·         Community Manager – Callan Young, Marketing Specialist – Siteimprove, Inc.

Now entering its sixth year, BMA-MN 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 2014, BMA-MN will be offering skill-building sessions on topics including how to communicate effectively with executives, tips on launching and responding to industry game-changers, and how to enhance customer communication efforts through omnichannel marketing.

For additional information about BMA-MN and upcoming events, please visit www.bmaminnesota.org.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Job - Champion Promotions - Public Relations and Brand Marketing Associate Entry level

Job - Pope Architects - Communications / PR Intern

Friday, April 11, 2014

New work from Clarity Coverdale Fury empathizes with smokers who want to quit

Clarity Coverdale Fury released a new campaign for longtime client QUITPLAN® Services this week. The campaign follows 18 months of research on how tobacco users want help to quit. It acknowledges that they know they should quit and want to quit, and highlights how QUITPLAN Services provides free quitting support while leaving the lecturing and judging behind.

The “No judgments. Just help.” multi-media campaign coincides with the launch of new service offerings, including tools like text messaging and emails. To reflect the idea of “all new,” the campaign uses stop-motion animation, a different production style than QUITPLAN Services has used before. The hero characters in the spots experience the types of judgments that are part of the daily life of smokers, and QUITPLAN Services comes to their rescue with help like free phone coaching and a free starter kit of nicotine patches or gum.

“It’s no secret that almost 70% of smokers want to quit and have tried multiple times to break the habit. Our research uncovered that smokers are frustrated by failed attempts and feel they’ve tried everything,” said Clarity Coverdale Fury Associate Director of Brand Development, Molly Hull. “QUITPLAN Services has broken the mold of what traditional tobacco cessation programs have offered by giving tobacco users the kinds of help they really want, which includes being able to access services using their cell phone. This campaign promotes that ground-breaking help, which also happens to be free for Minnesotans, in a way that smokers really related to in focus groups.”

The campaign departs from the focus on health effects that is prevalent in tobacco cessation advertising, instead relating to the social pressures tobacco users experience. The message of the campaign, “No judgments. Just help.” encourages people to try to quit again, an effort that is more likely to be successful if they get help.

“The current smoker has been beat down. Beat down by television. Beat down by the public. By their doctors, family and friends. And while everyone means well, it was time to put shame aside as a tactic. It was time to be positive,” said Clarity Coverdale Fury’s Associate Creative Director, Emily Hoyne. “Tobacco users do not need reasons to quit. They need to be inspired that they can quit.”

The new campaign includes two TV spots, radio, print, out-of-home and online components, including many elements in Spanish. 

A sample of the work can be viewed here.

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Job - Uptown Association - Project Coordinator

Buckneberg has been promoted to Senior Account Executive at Maccabee

has been promoted to Senior Account Executive at Maccabee, the Minneapolis-based public relations and online marketing agency. Buckneberg handles marketing communications, media relations and corporate communications for a variety of Maccabee clients in the financial services, technology, education, commercial real estate and professional service industries. She also currently serves as Volunteer Social Media Manager for Le Sueur County Emergency Management.
 
Prior to joining Maccabee, Buckneberg served as a Communications Specialist with the law firm Gray Plant Mooty and as PR Specialist with Delta Airlines’ MLT Vacations.    

Twice-named one of Minnesota’s “100 Best Companies To Work For,” Maccabee is a national public relations and online marketing firm providing clients with exceptionally strategic and creative media relations, social media strategies, inbound/content marketing and corporate communications counsel from its headquarters in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis. Learn more about Maccabee atwww.maccabee.com andwww.maccabee.com/blog,  and find us on FacebookTwitter,LinkedInYouTube and Pinterest.



Monday, April 07, 2014

Job - Weber Shandwick Minneapolis – VP-Consumer

Friday, April 04, 2014

Job - Marvin Windows and Doors - Social Media/Channel Marketing Intern

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Job - Honeywell - Public Relations Specialist

Job - Honeywell - Content Specialist

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