Minnesota Public Relations Blog

Job - Snow Communications is seeking to hire an Account Executive

2012-02-10T11:09:00.000-06:00

Snow Communications is seeking to hire an Account Executive

O’Toole and Giorgi Join Himle Rapp & Company

2012-02-09T10:09:00.001-06:00

Himle Rapp & Company, Inc. (formerly Himle Horner, Inc.) announced it has hired Allison O’Toole as Director and Elizabeth Giorgi as Senior Account Executive. Both will assist clients in public affairs, corporate communications, reputation management, crisis communications and grassroots.

O’Toole comes to Himle Rapp & Company from the office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar where she was State Director, managing the Senator’s four offices in the state as well as her Minnesota-based staff. O’Toole also served as the Senator’s representative throughout the state, communicating her policy initiatives to a wide variety of audiences. Prior to her work with Senator Klobuchar, O’Toole served as Chief Deputy County Attorney for Carver County and as Assistant County Attorney for Hennepin County. Her background in public policy, communications and her legal experience will be valuable assets for a variety of Himle Rapp’s clients.

O’Toole graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.

Giorgi comes to Himle Rapp from the University of Minnesota, where she worked as Assistant Director of Marketing in University Relations. Prior to her work in University Relations, Giorgi was Social and Multimedia Coordinator in the University’s Marketing Communications department. Giorgi has also worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Minnesota House of Representatives. At Himle Rapp, Giorgi will use her multimedia and government experience to assist clients in developing strategy and implementation, particularly in the areas of social media and online communications.

Giorgi graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Job - LifeTime Fitness - Events Coordinator

2012-02-09T09:15:00.002-06:00

LifeTime Fitness - Events Coordinator

Minnesota Online Marketing Agency aimClear® Adds Four Rock-Star Marketers

2012-02-08T10:39:00.000-06:00

aimClear, an internationally recognized online marketing agency, added four talented professionals to its powerhouse roster of holistic search and social media marketers. Kara Thornton and Ryan McGrath joined the St. Paul office, located on Mears Park in the Lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul. The Duluth office, situated at the crossroads of the city andthe Lake Superior shoreline,also grew with the addition of Quentin Oliver and Mike Marshall.

“Our rapid growth has been fueled by a number of client successes,” said Marty Weintraub, CEO of aimClear. “We’re thrilled to add these talented professionals so we can continue to meet the ever-increasing digital needs of our current and future clients.”

Kara Thornton, a respected Twin Cities interactive marketing executive, was named Strategic Business Officer. Thornton’s business-to-business (B2B) expertise will serve the agency well as she takes responsibility for managingits growing roster of international, enterprise-levelclients. She brings over 25 years of marketing experience to her role,with the past 14 years focused on interactive marketing in the business-to-consumer (B2C) and B2B space. Thornton joins aimClear from St. Paul-based 3M, where she was responsible for driving the blueprint for deployment of international digital teams, training marketing teams on interactive marketing best practices, leveraging social media brand reputation in local languages and championing the internal International Collaboration Community site.

Analytics heavyweight Mike Marshall joins the Duluth team from Houston, Texas. He brings a decade of account management and technical experience to his new role as Account Manager at aimClear. With a deep online marketing background and degree in economics from Texas A&M University, Marshall has utilized his analytical skills to become a strategic thinker and expert in Google AdWords optimization, website conversion tracking and social media marketing. Marshall joins aimClear from ClickPath, an online-to-offline ad-tracking company based in Houston.

Public relations and marketing strategist Ryan McGrath brings four years of experience developing and executing integrated marketing communications campaigns in the public and private sector to his role as Associate Account Manager at aimClear.He has worked with clients ranging from Fortune 500 to 1000, and B2B to B2C organizations in the manufacturing, healthcare, consumer goods and technology industries. Prior to aimClear, McGrath worked for a leading Minneapolis-based public relations and marketing agency in the manufacturing and technology practice. In his new role, He will help fuse traditional and online public relations with online marketing.

Quentin Oliver, a multi-disciplinary graphic designer known for his eye-catching print and web design, brings his unique talents to meet the creative needs of clients in his role as Graphic Designer. Oliver has extensive experience helping small-to-medium sized businesses boost brand awareness with new visual identities and developing more user-friendly layouts for organizations’ online visitors.Prior to aimClear, Oliver served as a freelance graphic designer through his business, Uniq Designs.

Thompson Joins Beehive PR as Director, Digital & Social Strategy

2012-02-07T10:59:00.001-06:00

Blaine Thompson has joined Beehive PR as director, digital and social strategy.Thompson has nearly 10 years of experience managing traditional and digital marketing programs, and leading campaigns for an extensive array of brands and industries.

Before joining Beehive, Thompson was an account supervisor at space150, where he managed digital and social media campaigns for General Mills, as well as led customer research and digital strategies for divisions of 3M and OptumHealth. Prior to that, Thompson was at Atomic Playpen driving digital and social media initiatives for clients including the Minnesota Vikings, National Pork Board, Polaris and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. He also spent four years in the marketing communications group at Best Buy playing a key role supporting new store openings, Geek Squad and drive-time campaigns.

A graduate of University of Minnesota Duluth, Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in information design. He currently serves as the communication board director for the Labovitz School of Business and Economics for the University of Minnesota Duluth.

NOTICE INVITING PROPOSALS FOR WEBSITE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

2012-02-07T07:51:00.000-06:00

NOTICE INVITING PROPOSALS FOR WEBSITE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The City of Brooklyn Park invites prospective Respondents to submit Proposals for the design of a website for the City of Brooklyn Park and the purchase and implementation of a web Content Management System (CMS) along with website design, development and implementation services. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the conditions outlined in this Request for Proposals (RFP).

The City’s current web design does not meet the needs of our increasingly diverse community. As the second largest suburb in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area, Brooklyn Park is a leader in the region for delivery high-quality services and our website must be reflective of that status. The current CMS is inefficient for our purposes and the operability of the site is limiting. Furthermore, it is our desire to construct a website that is customer-focused with an emphasis on service delivery and communication connections rather than a repository of documents and/or data.

Proposals must be received at:
Brooklyn Park City Hall
5200 85th Avenue
Brooklyn Park, MN 55419

by no later than 4:30 p.m. (CST) via mail or in-person on February 22, 2012, at which time we will no longer accept Proposals. Late Proposals will not be accepted. Prospective Respondents are responsible for having Proposals deposited on time at the place specified and assume all risk of late delivery, including any shipping delays or handling by couriers or City of Brooklyn Park employees.

All inquiries and comments concerning this RFP must be directed to Michael Sable for response and sent via e-mail to: Michael.Sable@brooklynpark.org or phone at 763-493-8005. Responses to questions or comments provided by any other person, employee, or City office concerning the RFP will not be valid and will not bind the City.

Get the full proposal here.

Job - US Bank - Media Relations Internship

2012-02-07T07:50:00.001-06:00

US Bank - Media Relations Internship

Job - New PR/Social Media AE Sought by Maccabee Agency

2012-02-06T09:12:00.000-06:00

New PR/Social Media AE Sought by Maccabee Agency

Job - Lola Red PR hiring Assistant Publicist

2012-02-03T08:39:00.002-06:00

Lola Red PR hiring Assistant Publicist

Job - Pope Architects -- Marketing Intern

2012-02-03T08:39:00.000-06:00

Pope Architects -- Marketing Intern

Job - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) - Public Relations Coordinator

2012-02-02T13:00:00.000-06:00

Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) - Public Relations Coordinator

Job - RedEye - Marketing Specialist

2012-02-02T11:52:00.000-06:00

RedEye - Marketing Specialist

Job - City of Minneapolis - Graphics Designer II

2012-02-01T10:03:00.000-06:00

City of Minneapolis - Graphics Designer II

Job - University of Minnesota - Communications Intern

2012-02-01T10:02:00.001-06:00

University of Minnesota - Communications Intern

Honoring America’s Pastime: Carmichael Lynch and the National Baseball Hall of Fame

2012-02-01T09:46:00.000-06:00

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York has selected Carmichael Lynch as its strategic and creative advisor. The Hall of Fame, a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to the preservation of baseball history, seeks to further enhance its reputation as the preeminent destination of its kind.

“Being chosen to help promote the Baseball Hall of Fame is a high honor for an advertising agency,” says Mike Lescarbeau, chief executive officer at Carmichael Lynch. “This is a famous American icon that attracts visitors from around the world.”

“For nearly 75 years, generations of baseball fans have made the pilgrimage to Cooperstown to celebrate baseball’s history, its heroes and the unique role the sport plays in American culture,” said Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “As we near our 75th anniversary in 2014, we are connecting with a new generation of fans every day through the newest mediums and technologies in order to celebrate the game’s achievements and milestones like never before.”

The first Hall of Fame work from Carmichael Lynch will debut in early spring, just in time for Opening Day.

Job - Fast-Track Internship Opportunity at ghost communications

2012-01-31T12:50:00.001-06:00

Fast-Track Internship Opportunity at ghost communications

Campbell Mithun will host a live-streamed online conversation about the new Sharing Economy

2012-01-30T07:46:00.000-06:00

Campbell Mithun will host a live-streamed online conversation about the new Sharing Economy trend and its implications for marketers. The interactive Talkinar event includes a panel of experts from organizations currently tapping this “collaborative consumption” movement as well as agency leaders who will release results of Campbell Mithun’s just-completed quantitative Sharing Economy consumer survey. The agency partnered with Carbonview Research to conduct the national study.

Guests will watch the conversation via live-streamed video and can participate via online chat or #talkinar on Twitter.

Topic: The Sharing Economy: Are Marketers Missing Out?

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Time: 1-2 pm (CST)

View invitation / register: http://bit.ly/xWspab

To participate: On event day simply visit www.cmithun.com/talkinar

“What better way to learn about the Sharing Economy than to share in an interactive discussion with people representing all sides of this movement?” said Campbell Mithun president Rachael Marret. “Marketers have for the most part observed this trend from the sidelines; it’s time to understand it and identify implications for our clients and our industry.”

Panel of Experts

The following discussion hosts will provide from-the-trenches points of view and respond to questions and comments from online Talkinar participants:

· Lee Aase, director of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Social Media: Lee will address how sharing information on a business-to-business platform supports Mayo Clinic's brand objectives.

· Ellen Apel, marketing manager, NiceRide MN: Ellen will offer the viewpoint of an organization powered by consumer sharing.

· Micki Krimmel, founder and CEO, NeighborGoods: Micki will participate remotely in the live chat, sharing an expert POV about the consumer-sharing reality.

· Lynn Franz, director of strategic planning, Campbell Mithun: Lynn will present new proprietary consumer research on the Sharing Economy and reveal insights important to marketers.

· Rachael Marret, president and director of integrated client services, Campbell Mithun: Rachael will guide the discussion and weigh in with the marketer's perspective.

In addition, the conversation will include video comments from Vijay Iyer, vice president of corporate communications at OnStar (sponsor of RelayRides) and Kyle Coolbroth, founder of CoCo (co-working and collaborating space).

Job - Siemens Energy Sector - Marketing Intern

2012-01-30T07:45:00.000-06:00

Siemens Energy Sector - Marketing Intern

Job - The Toro Company - Marketing Internship

2012-01-30T07:43:00.000-06:00

The Toro Company - Marketing Internship

Job - Row 27 Studios - Sports Marketing Intern

2012-01-30T07:36:00.000-06:00

Row 27 Studios - Sports Marketing Intern

Job - Apple Valley Auto Dealer seeking Social Media Intern

2012-01-30T07:34:00.001-06:00

Apple Valley Auto Dealer seeking Social Media Intern

BEDD Head Media Launches New Integrated Twin Cities Agency

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

BEDD Head Media announces the opening of its new agency, which will offer a combination of media buying, promotions and event marketing. BEDD Head media is co-owned and managed by Bruce Evans and Dan DeJaeger, formerly of Marketplace Events, who bring together more than 20 years of combined marketing and event experience.

Evans and DeJaeger collectively were responsible for marketing more than 20 Home and Garden Shows in 17 markets around the country. BEDD Head Media specializes in securing value-added media buying and developing unique promotions that ensure clients will get the most return for their advertising investment. In addition, BEDD Head Media’s experience with producing major events allows the owners to offer exclusive insight on event operations, on-site management, celebrity management, seminars and more.

“We are excited to bring our expertise to our clients to provide effective solutions to all of their marketing needs,” said Evans, co-founder of BEDD Head Media. “From media buying to event management and promotions, our unique services and creative ideas offer our clients a one-stop-shop.”

Evans and DeJaeger will continue to contract with the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show and Marketplace Events consumer shows across the country. In addition, other clients include Founding Fathers Brewing Company and the Lakefront Music Fest.

Prior to joining Marketplace Events in 2006, Evans worked at ShopNBC where he was responsible for all corporate promotions and consumer marketing. Evans has also worked at top Minneapolis advertising agencies working on several national accounts including: got milk?, MoneyGram, St. Paul Companies, American Heart Association, Cost Cutters and Washington Mutual. Evans graduated from Minnesota State University – Moorhead, with a degree in Mass Communications.

DeJaeger started at Marketplace Events as a marketing intern and quickly moved into a role vital to the company. As Marketing Manager, DeJaeger was responsible for all creative development and execution, including production of TV and radio spots. DeJaeger was most recently lead contact for eight markets in the U.S. and was responsible for all creative development for the 21 U.S. Home and Garden shows. DeJaeger received a degree in business and marketing education from the University of Minnesota.

Job - MNPR Blog Internship

2012-01-28T14:04:00.002-06:00

MNPR Blog Internship

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

2012-01-26T07:35:00.000-06:00

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

2012-01-26T07:33:00.000-06:00

University of Minnesota - Social Media Specialist