15 years! – Congrats Laura Gross
Congratulations to Laura Gross. She is celebrating 15 years with the agency.
As the PR and Event Services Manager, Laura specializes in planning and coordinating special events such as tradeshows and gatherings for clients and the agency. She also supports the public relations and social media teams with crucial monitoring efforts and project management assistance.
Laura cares about the people who work here and is committed to the clients we service. She is a wonderful part of the Howard, Merrell & Partners family.
There is more information in the press release.
New Account Executive: Kayla Bourgeois
We have a new addition to the Account Management department, Kayla Bourgeois. In her role as an AE, she will develop and implement marketing strategies as well as manage the day-to-day advertising and communications activities for several clients, including Georgia-Pacific Professional and Barton College.
Kayla brings with her comprehensive experience in project management and digital media – a great combination. Before joining the agency, Kayla served as a project manager at Centerline Digital where she gained extensive knowledge across all media. She also worked as a broadcast technician at WRAL-TV and a video editor and quality assurance engineer at Oasys Mobile. Most recently, Kayla developed an initiative called “Rebuild Raleigh” to help raise money for the rebuilding efforts of Raleigh after the April 2011 tornadoes.
Please welcome this Appalachian State grad to the Howard, Merrell & Partners family! Check out the release on Kayla.
Welcome: Megan Arnold
Please join me in welcoming Megan Arnold to the agency! Megan is an Account Coordinator conducting PR and social media work on BASF Plant Science, CORDURA® brand and Butterball.
We recruited Megan all the way from Indiana — she’s a recent graduate of Vincennes University in Indianapolis. Megan comes to us with hands-on agriculture experience and an undergraduate education in marketing and multimedia. It’s a great combination.
She grew up on a family farm in Indiana, and has been deeply involved in agriculture from an early age — FFA, 4-H and most recently, Agribusiness Technology Association. Megan has also completed internships where she did web design work, PR and social media activities, and agriculture-specific research.
We’re excited to have Megan on board! Check out the press release on Megan.
Open Position: Account Executive-PR and Social Media
We are searching for a Public Relations and Social Media Account Executive to provide support to national and regional accounts. Will be responsible for helping to manage day-to-day public relations activities and social media efforts, as well as collaborate with other internal departments to execute fully integrated communications campaigns.
Experience executing social media programs for companies/organizations a must. Strong writing skills required — i.e. press releases, newsletter articles, press kit materials, bylined articles and blog posts. Attention to detail and knowledge of AP style is required. Experience in textiles, outdoor and/or the food industry is strongly preferred.
Must have previous experience in national media relations and corporate branding campaigns. Should be able to effectively multi-task, work in team environment, and communicate with clients, team members and vendors. Knowledge and experience with trade shows and event management is preferred. Candidate should be a creative thinker, independent worker and team player with strong organizational skills.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, at least four years relevant PR/Social Media experience (post graduation)
Send resumes to: sstyons@merrellgroup.com
Searching for An Associate Account Executive
We are looking for a Public Relations/Social Media Associate Account Executive to join our great team. Responsibilities include managing day-to-day public relations and social media activities, and collaborating with other internal departments to execute fully integrated communications campaigns.
Strong writing skills required — i.e. press releases, newsletter articles, blog posts, press kit materials, bylined articles. Attention to detail and knowledge of AP style a must.
Must have previous experience running a media relations program, pitching national and mainstream media, supporting corporate branding campaigns and managing social profiles. Should be able to effectively multi-task, work in team environment, and communicate with clients, team members and vendors. Knowledge and experience with trade shows and outdoor industry is preferred. Candidate should be a creative thinker, independent worker and team player with strong organizational skills.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, at least two years relevant PR / social media experience (post graduation)
Send resumes to: sstyons@merrellgroup.com
A PR Lesson Learned
We pride ourselves on trying to always do the right thing for our clients and for the agency. That means being smart, strategic and ethical. And, I am proud to say, we have nothing to be ashamed about.
With that said, it has been very interesting to read about how one of the largest and respected public relations agency’s in the world, Burson-Marsteller, made some very poor choices in an effort to meet its client’s goals and objectives of fighting Google. According to USA Today, Burson consultants “approached top-tier media companies and high-profile technologists, on behalf of an unnamed client, to seed largely unfounded allegations about privacy shortcomings in Google’s Social Circle service.”
But the word got out, and one blogger posted his email exchanges with Burson asking him to put his byline on an op-ed that the agency had ghost written.
And, most recently, Burson’s unnamed client was revealed — Facebook. Now spokespeople from Google, Facebook and Burson are in the news along with any one else connected to this PR effort gone bad.
There will be many discussions about this incident and what can be learned…as there should be. We will certainly talk about it here at our agency. What do you think?
Cohen to Speak at Business Marketing Association in Milwaukee
Social Media Manager Jeffrey L. Cohen will speak at the Business Marketing Association (BMA) meeting in Milwaukee, Wis. on May 12, 2011.
Cohen will address how “Social Media Has Changed B2B Communications” in the featured presentation of the evening. Through examples and case studies, Cohen will examine the real value of social media in a variety of business-to-business (B2B) companies. Using a practical approach to social media in B2B communications, attendees will leave with a better understanding of how social media can help their businesses.
For more details about the event, please visit BMA Milwaukee’s site.
Read the press release.
We are Looking for a Top Notch Account Exec
At Howard, Merrell & Partners, we’ve created an environment based on the belief that there are no challenges that can’t be met, no problems that can’t be solved, and no conventions that can’t be broken. Our drive, determination and unique methodology and approaches have created solutions that have sustained our agency for over sixty-five years.
Creating groundbreaking work that drives sales (and has resulted in more Addy wins than any other regional agency) is what we strive for – on every project, on every brand and on every client.
Does this sound interesting? Then we should talk. We currently have an Account Executive position open. More »
Senior Account Supervisor Joins Agency PR Team
The public relations team at Howard, Merrell & Partners is excited to welcome a new Senior Account Supervisor, Mariana Pinner, to its growing public relations team. In this position, Pinner is responsible for developing, managing, and executing business-to-business campaigns for clients including Southwest Windpower, Dixie, iTech and Georgia-Pacific Professional. Specifically, she will focus on promoting thought leadership, executing product launches, media relations, corporate communications and social media for each client.
Read more about Mariana Pinner.
Brenn Hill Joins Agency Interactive Department
Howard, Merrell & Partners announces the newest addition to its Interactive Department, Brenn Hill. As a web developer, Hill is responsible for developing web sites, web applications and banner ads, as well as mobile application development on the iPhone and iPad. In addition, he works to create motion graphics and interactive video.
