stars of pr hall of fame

Michael Kempner Founder, President, CEO, MWW

2013 Gold Award Winner:

Agency Professional of the Year

Bateman Group2013 Gold Award Winner: Boutique Agency of the Year (Specialty Practice)

2013 Gold Award Winner: Small Agency of the Year – Under $5,000,000

2013 Gold Award Winner: Technology Agency of the Year

FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY COMMUNICATIONS AGENCIES AND PROFESSIONALS2013 BULLDOG STARS OF PR AWARDS

COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY OF THE YEAR

HALL OF FAMEANNOUNCING THE GREATEST PR COMMUNICATORS

AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE YEAR

We thank this year’s team of Bulldog Awards journalist judges for their hard work, discriminating taste and commitment to

promoting excellence in media relations and publicity.

FINAL JUDGES

Chris Elliot, Author, Journalist and Consumer Advocate, National Geographic Traveler

Tom Hallman, Pulitzer Prize Winning Reporter, The Oregonian

Maria Stainer, Assistant Managing Editor/Continuous News Desk, The Washington Times

PRELIMINARY JUDGES

Kristin Bender, Reporter, Bay Area News Group

Steve Beale, Editor, Bulldog Reporter’s Inside Health Media

Paul Rosynsky, Reporter, Bay Area News Group

124 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607www.bulldogreporter.com1-800-959-1059

For more information about the Bulldog Reporter Stars of PR Awards,including entry deadlines, fees and submission requirements, pleasego to www.bulldogreporter.com.

© Copyright 2013, Infocom Group–publisher of the Daily ‘Dog, Inside Health Media, PR University, Media Pro and Media Pro PitchingAlerts.

Written by Talia Sinkinson

On the Cover:Grand Prize winner Communications Agency of the Year,Bateman Group and Grand Prize winner CommunicationsProfessional of the Year, Michael Kempner.

HALL OF FAMESummary of Winning Campaigns from the 2013 Bulldog Stars of PR Awards for

Outstanding Achievment by Communications Agencies and Professionals

Winners of the 2013 Bulldog Stars of PR Awards for Outstanding Achievement by CommunicationsAgencies and Professionals enter a pantheon of exemplary communications practitioners, andtheir campaigns summarized in this edition of The Bulldog Awards Stars of PR Hall of Famemagazine.

Winners were chosen exclusively by working journalists from hundreds of entries representing thevery beststrategic and tactical prowess that PR/corporate communications has to offer. Campaigns werejudged by a team of working journalists, who assessed them on the basis of their ability to achieveextraordinary visibility and influence opinion, as well as on their creativity, command of media andtechnology, and tenacity.

We now present to you the 2013 Bulldog Reporter Stars of PR Winners

STARS OF PR2013 BULLDOG

AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTBY COMMUNICATIONS AGENCIESAND PROFESSIONALS

2013 STARS OF PR HALL OF FAME 1

COMMUN I C AT I ONS AG ENC Y O F T H E Y E AR

If your PR agency didn’t grow revenues by one third this year, youmight be doing something wrong. Luckily, the PR pros at BatemanGroup are here to help. A 25-person firm headquartered in SanFrancisco, Bateman Group isn’t a traditional big-league player inthe communications world, but its team of innovators and content-creators has advanced the way we think about digital, mobile, techand green PR—and they have 19 newclients and numerous Bulldog Awardsto prove it. They’ve also gone bi-coastal, establishing a new permanent office space in Brooklyn,and saw a 95 percent employee retention rate in 2012. Needlessto say, Bateman Group is doing something very right.

To find out how Bateman Group rapidly established itself as aburgeoning leader in PR and social media communications, wespoke with its CEO and founder, Fred Bateman. Below, he unveilsBateman Group’s latest tricks for showing hard-headed clients howto drive coverage and keeping employees smiling. He alsodiscusses how he wins placement for products with no clout andwhy green PR isn’t as simple as it seems. Read on to discover howthis small, boutique agency won Bulldog Reporter’s 2013Communications Agency of the Year award—and how you can seeyour numbers skyrocket in just 12 months,too.

Much of Bateman Group’s success thisyear is due to savvy strategies for creatingcontent—from traditional press materials tobyline articles, e-books, infographics,studies and videos. What are you doing tostay on the cutting edge of content?

Bateman Group’s approach to strategiccommunications can be summed up in threeparts—it is 1) context aware; 2) data-driven;and 3) content-led. As part of our process onboarding new clients, we analyze the issuesand trends most relevant to their customers,partners and prospects, which is where weget the context-aware element. The hardestpart, by far, is getting our clients to be moredata-driven and to back up their claims withthird-party proof. It’s no secret that researchdata drives coverage today more than anything else. We try toconvince every client to issue some kind of a “state of theindustry” index report at least twice a year, if not every quarter, sothey get in the habit of regularly gathering data from their own

customer base or the industry at large. This extra bit of data canmean the difference between getting zero coverage on a productannouncement and blowing the doors off expectations.

The second most important cutting-edge strategy we use in contentPR is to shift away from the “one off” press release to take more ofa longer-term, campaign-based approach to our work. To do this,

we look at every news announcement,product launch, whitepaper and breakingindustry trend as an opportunity for our

clients to advance a specific campaign theme, versus thinking of itas a one-off event. Each element should advance the corporatenarrative or product storylines and move the whole campaignforward in some way and never be siloed or done in isolation. Thisis what we call our “total integrated approach.”

One example from this year where we did this particularly well wasfor our client App Annie. Based in Beijing and San Francisco, AppAnnie benefits from being in the business of data—mobile appstore analytics data, to be more specific. For the launch of theirservice for Google Play, we had a press release, compellingresearch data that played into the Google versus iOS wars and aninfographic with a timely pop culture reference based on the Game

of Thrones television show—re-imagined as “Game of Phones”—todrive mass awareness and appeal to a broad audience oftechnology and design enthusiasts. The results netted us twoBulldog Awards for Excellence in Media Relations this year, so thatsays it all!

G R A N D P R I Z EBateman Group

Bateman Group is a digital communications agency founded in 2004 to make a biggerimpact for a more select group of companies

2 2013 STARS OF PR HALL OF FAME

F OOD & B E V E R AGE

You pride yourself on your senior-level staffing model. How doesthis model play out, and what successes have you seen with it?

Our brand of strategic communications services is probably moredefined by our senior-level staffing model than anything else.Companies are demanding, and not getting, more senior-levelattention from their agencies, and this has been the case for the 10years we’ve been in business. Back in 2004, Bateman Group waslaunched with a basic belief—keep the client list low, but personalattention and employee retention high. The benefits to the businesshave been enormous and far outweigh whatever we sacrifice inshort-term profitability. First off, we’re able to make every client areference, with just a handful of exceptions. Most times, you cancall any current client on our roster without our knowledge and youwill hear a positive endorsement. Finally, our average clientrelationship is 4.5 years—a number unheard of in our industry—andabout 30 percent of our current clients are repeat clients. So I thinkthe benefits are pretty apparent.

What are the particular challenges to working in tech PR?

The biggest challenge is it’s still hard to get media coverage—evenfor companies considered hot by Silicon Valley standards. We’relucky in that we can pick and choose which brands we want topursue for new business, and we are finally at the point where weonly consider the number-one or -two leaders in a particularmarket—not the also-rans. But even for these companies withtremendous assets and pedigrees, it’s a constant struggle tosecure meaningful coverage for themthat moves the needle.

What media relations best practiceshave you established over the yearsfor working with journalists in thetech sector?

Our secret is persistence and thequality of the pitch itself, which wealways write to appeal to journalisticinstincts as opposed to aggravatethem like most of our competitors.

How have you mastered green PR?

I asked Tyler Perry, my businesspartner, GM of our Brooklyn office andthe senior lead on Recyclebank, thisquestion. Her response was, and Iquote: “I wouldn’t say we’ve masteredgreen PR, but we’ve certainly learned some best practices for thistype of communications.” I would tend to agree that we’re stillevolving and learning in green PR as it’s still a very new field, so

“mastered” is too strong a word. The key to good green PR isaligning your brand with a more altruistic mission, whether it’s theenvironment or any other social causes, and doing so authentically.As Tyler frequently points out, “greenwashing” is a reality as manycompanies jumped on the eco-band wagon as a marketing strategy,and both consumers and the media are wary of this type of effort.

As a result, communications strategies must be rooted inauthenticity, meaning there is real action behind your publicrelations efforts, and that action can be measured or tracked. We

advise our clients that if you are talking the talk, you mustbe walking the walk, and evaluate potential clients in thesocial good space with these parameters. [Click here for acase study on a Bateman Group-Recyclebank campaign]

How does Bateman Group “go green” beyond its work forclients?

Working in this space has raised our “eco-IQ” across theagency for sure, and we strive to employ environmentallyconscious practices across our offices. Plastic and paperrecycling is in both offices, and we compost in our SanFrancisco space. We try to purchase Energy Starappliances and employ energy-savings best practices suchas turning off the lights, using power strips and shuttingdown computers and televisions when not in use. A waterdispenser and extensive collection of glasses encouragesemployees to ditch the water bottles, and we try to limitprinting usage. When we do print, it is on recycled paper.One of the key messages that Recyclebank has taught us is

that small, individual actions can have a big collective impact.

COMMUN I C AT I ONS AG ENC Y O F T H E Y E AR

Bateman Group's new permanent office space in Brooklyn, New York

Fred Bateman, CEO and founder ofBateman Group


COMMUN I C AT I ONS P RO F E S S I ONA L O F T H E Y E AR

Think PR is all just charted territory? Think again. There areinnumerable new frontiers on the communications landscape, andMichael Kempner—founder, chairman, president and CEO ofMWW—is leading the way through unknown digital opportunities,unanswered CSR questions and unforeseen thought leadership inthe industry. Winner of Bulldog Reporter’s GrandPrize for Communications Professional of the Year,Kempner has helmed his agency from the glorydays of traditional media and the boom of Web2.0 to today’s social frenzy—and has used thepast year to saddle up for many more changes tocome.

“Matter more” is Kempner’s motto, and he puts the message towork when it comes to campaigns, clients, community service andthe communications industry at large. An expert blogger and PRthought leader with over 25 years of experience, he is the guy youwant to hear from on how to rise to the top in PR. Read on as hereveals the details of MWW’s latest breakthrough publishingprogram, his techniques for encouraging clients and staff to giveback—and what Gandhi’s got to do with it.

You started the first digital practice in 2005—before most otherpublic relations firms caught on—and you’ve expandedsignificantly since then. How has digital communicationschanged since then?

MWW had one of the first dedicated digital practices in theindustry. It was called “new media” in those days, and it was seenas something distinct—not integrated into our overall programming.However, it quickly became clear to me that soon we wouldn’t havea separate practice—that digital would be what we do. We tookwhat was a central part of the process and decentralized it andembedded digital and social experts into every account and everypractice group. So, while we still have a digital center, thepractitioners are embedded into each and every practice groupand client team. They are close to the clients, understand theclients and are seen as something totally interwoven into the fabricof the program.

Moreover, unlike most of the industry, we don’t operate in a seriesof geographic or practice area P&Ls, so there is no competitioninternally. Many traditional, larger firms may say they’re bringing thebest of their agency to bear for their clients, but what they’re reallybringing is the best of their P&L—because they don’t want to bringin other experts and reduce personal profit. At MWW, we only have

one P&L for the entire company, so we truly do bring the best ofour agency to bear and always think client-centric first and ourown internal mechanism second.

What innovative communications approaches are you and yourfirm engaged in right now?

We have shifted dramatically from a focus on currentmedia to earned, owned and paid content. Most ofour programs have all three of those elements, andthe owned piece is becoming larger and more critical.In fact, we are in the process of announcing a series

of innovative programs around the owned concept: We are not onlycreating our own content on behalf of our clients and pushing itthrough core channels, but we are also creating our ownchannels—our own media properties, our own ability to get coremessages out. We’re creating a digital publishing house on behalfof our programs, and it involves everything from creating thecontent—infographics or white papers, for example—to actuallycreating the media properties.

You vastly expandedMWW’s research andinsights practice this pastyear. What new toolsmake proving ROI easier,and how can PRimplement thesestrategies?

As more activity goesonline, it is becomingeasier to measureengagement and equallyimportant is the ability toperform active listeningthrough digital and socialchannels. You can reallyunderstand theconversation, and it helpsyou both frame theprograms you create andunderstand in real time thevalue of those programs.You can also course-correctalmost immediately as you

G R A N D P R I Z EMichael Kempner

MWW

Michael Kempner, founder,chairman, president and CEO ofMWW

4 2013 STARS OF PR HALL OF FAME

COMMUN I C AT I ONS P RO F E S S I ONA L O F T H E Y E AR

consider how you are communicating to your key stakeholders, whatthe message is and which platform is best for a given campaign.

Does social media primarily drive brand recognition or can itactually generate leads?

It can absolutely be used for both, separately or at the same time.It all depends on what you’re using it for, whether your strategy isbrand, consideration or purchase. They can happen at the sametime or they can be used separately. There are so many tools andso many ways to go about this today, and if you understand thetechnology and what it can do, you have to the ability to enact allthose different objectives and more.

Corporate social responsibility has taken center stage at MWW—and in the industry. How have you made MWW a moreresponsible business?

Even before “CSR” was a term, there was the idea of just doinggood things, and it was always part of our corporate ethos. When Iformed the company, it was just me in one room in Jersey City, N.J.,and it was part of who MWW was. Now, I ask my employees to thinkabout one thing every day: Is it the right thing to do? If they can sayyes to that—for their clients, their company, their peers and theircommunity— that’s what they should do.

Many clients understand that citizenship is imperative. It’s no longersimply “a nice thing to do”—it is critical for their customers, theiremployees and their communities. It’s very much top of mind inmany companies today, but there’s a wide gap between wanting todo something and doing it in a way that has impact. We help thembridge from the desire to the goal by helping them craft and createprograms.

How can PR work harder to give back?

We spend a lot of time thinking about how we can make an impactin our own small way. Over the years, our programs have becomemore sophisticated and we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about theactivities we should be doing internally and externally as MWW—charitable works, philanthropic efforts and the work we do for ourclients. One of the things that attracts people to MWW is thatethos: Many people want to work for a company that cares deeplyabout the communities it lives in. However, we don’t do it foremployee recruitment—we do it because it’s the right thing to do.

You have leveraged your expertise to become an industrythought leader. What advice do you have for others looking togain recognition and benefit the PR community?

It has always concerned me that leaders in PR (who are arguablyamong the best communicators in the world and teach people howto communicate) don’t communicate themselves. PR people are soafraid to have an opinion because they might upset someone, sothey tend to have no opinions. I’ve always believed that each of ushas a responsibility in whatever we believe in, as long as you’re notpreaching hate. We have an obligation as communicators and asleaders to, as Gandhi says, “Be the change that you wish to see inthe world." We have an obligation to create the change we seek,from both a macro, societal view and in our own industry, with ouremployees and in our craft. I would encourage any and all leaders,in PR and beyond, to become social CEOs, to build a socialplatform and to talk about what matters to them and thestakeholders they would like to influence.

What advice do you have for other PR pros looking to achievethe success and recognition you have?● If it was easy, everyone would do it. “You need to find a legaland ethical way to rise above the pack, and that means workinghard, working long and working smart, having a great attitude andbeing willing be learn. Putting in that extra effort is going to makeyou stand out from the crowd.”

● Seek quality over quantity. “One of the most important thingsyou need to balance is growth versus profit. It’s not about gettingbigger faster—it’s about creating and sustaining a great companyover the long term.”

● ● Opportunity today is unlimited: Use it. “The ability to usetechnology means you can be in many places at one time, andyou can multitask in a way I never could when I started out. Youcan have a voice as big as anyone in our industry; you can bea small firm and be as well-known and have as much share ofvoice as any of your larger competitors. You have the ability touse tech to drive brand, recognition and understanding of thequality of your work in a way that my peers when I startednever had. Don’t be afraid. Take advantage of the tech aroundyou and do great work, and you will have just as good of anopportunity as anybody to succeed.”


BOU T I QU E AG ENC Y O F T H E Y E AR ( S P EC I A LT Y P R AC T I C E )

G O L DBateman Group

Bateman Group is an integrated public relations and social mediacommunications firm founded in 2004 around a compellingvision—to make a bigger market impact for a smaller, more selectgroup of companies. The ideal clients are companies, regardless ofsize, solving real problems in ground-breaking and disruptive waysthat value content expertise, exceptional writing and guaranteedsenior-level attention above all else.

Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Brooklyn, BatemanGroup is distinctive through its approach to planning andmeasurement, ability to deliver excellent results, pursuit of clientsatisfaction and creative program execution. Practice areas includeadvertising and marketing; technology; enterprise and ITinfrastructure; IT security; mobile/wireless; greentech/sustainability.

Bateman Group has 25 employees in its two offices in SanFrancisco and Brooklyn, and it has maintained one the highestemployee retention rates in the industry with turnover at less thanfive percent from inception to date. The agency stresses strongteam orientation by working closely to deliver stellar work whileempowering employees at all levels and investing in staffprofessional development. Team-building is extremely important toits business results, and events include volunteering and amanagement-led annual retreat to reset goals for the year andcome together as a group. Base salaries at Bateman Group tend tobe 10-15 percent higher than at competing firms, but its bonusopportunities and generous benefits packages also set the firmapart.

One of the main differentiators between Bateman Group andsimilarly sized firms is its talent and account structure. The senior-level staffing model translates to teams being managed by two tothree members of the senior management team. This senior-levelattention is maintained throughout every client relationship—notjust during the pitch or times of crisis.

What’s more, the firm was built from the ground up as a contentcreation bureau—not just a media relations shop. Bateman Groupdelivers exceptional content consistently, and as a result, has oneof the highest client retention rates in the nation: The averageclient relationship stands at five years.

This year’s campaign highlights include “Game of Phones: GooglePlay Launch” for App Annie, which launched the mobile app storeanalytics company into the U.S. market and quadrupled revenue;“Share Responsibility for the Planet – Visualizing the Impact ofEco-Action,” a campaign for Recyclebank during Earth Month,which drove website traffic and average visit times to an all-time

high; and widespread coverage via a financial communicationscampaign for Qualys, the leading cloud security company, for thecompany’s IPO.

Notable achievements in the calendar year include revenue growthby 32 percent year-over-year, 19 new clients, 95 percent employeeretention rate, a permanent office space in Brooklyn, 10 new full-time employees, numerous industry awards and partnerships, probono work and other outstanding community relations initiatives.

S I L V E RFuse

Fuse is a youth marketing PR agency that specializes in helpingbrands connect to teens and young adults through sports, music,fashion, gaming and other youth culture interests. Fuse clientsinclude Mountain Dew, HGTV, Starbucks Doubleshot, Gatorade,SPEED Network, ESPN, POOF-Slinky, Harvard Business School, PepsiFood Service, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association, Amazonand the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Fuse is also home to Fuse Source, a nationwide network ofplugged-in teens and young adults that provides valuable insightsinto emerging youth culture trends, leisure activities and lifestyleidentifiers. Available for feedback on campaigns, concepts anddesign, as well as for general insights, the Fuse Source networkhelps shape marketing decisions and provides an understanding ofthe ever-changing preferences and behaviors of teen and youngadult consumers.

Fuse employs a staff of youth marketing experts recruited fromleading brands, agencies and universities. The agency's culture iscreative and energetic and employs progressive benefits andpractices that foster a positive and balanced working environment.In 2012, Fuse continued to build upon many key areas foremployees. This includes a robust training and staff developmentprogram in which staff need to log hours of key training areas,reading key industry outlets, participating in both on and offsitetraining opportunities and are evaluated during their annual review.

The agency also emphasizes a focus on community and charitywork. Fuse employees are given 16 hours of paid time off tovolunteer each year, and the company organizes at least onevolunteer opportunity each month. In addition, for the secondconsecutive year, Fuse has provided a $25,000 grant in services toa non-profit.

Fuse’s leaders have fostered a progressive workplace byencouraging an “open door policy” and lateral employee structure.Staff value rich health benefits, a laid-back, creative and dog-friendly workplace and perks that support a healthy work-lifebalance such as an on-site rec space featuring a skateboard ramp

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F OOD & B E V E R AGE

and basketball court, a season’s pass to Stowe Mountain Resortand winter “snow policy” that allows employees to get first tracksafter a big snowfall. Staff also receive an annual fitnessreimbursement, generous vacation time, comp days for weekendwork, and paid time off for volunteering.

This past year, Fuse exceeded new business and revenueexpectations—with 45 percent of growth from new business fromboth current and new clients. In the past three years, Fuse has alsobeen named to Vermont Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work inVermont, included in Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work listand been named to Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list, PRWeek’s TopAgency List, Promo Magazine’s Top Agency List and Sports BusinessJournal’s Top 20 Agency List. Fuse has been the recipient of industryawards for event marketing campaigns, digital PR and PRleadership.

B R O N Z EHellerman Baretz Communications

In the past year, Hellerman Baretz Communications (HBC) hasbroadened its horizons both literally and figuratively. The firm wasfounded 10 years ago by PR professional John Hellerman andformer attorney Spencer Baretz, who both recognized an opportunityto fill a hole in the market: Providing high-end communicationscounsel to the nation’s leading law firms.

In 2012, their vision became more real than ever: HBC hired its13th employee—a new high-water mark for the agency—moved intonew offices in both New York City and Washington, DC, andstretched its geographic reach all the way to Los Angeles, California.In 2012-2013 (to present), HBC gained 15 new clients andincreased revenues by 21 percent.

This growth in territory and numbers has been necessary to servicethe increasing demands of clients in the legal space. Far more thana PR shop, HBC provides strategic counsel on communicationscampaigns of all types, each designed with clients’ business goalsin mind. Staffed with numerous former journalists, former attorneys

and communications experts, HBC has positioned itself as the mostsophisticated provider of communication services to the legalindustry.

Achievements include client coverage in the NYT, Forbes, HuffingtonPost, AP, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, National Law Journal, severallocal radio outlets and a live television interview. HBC also executedpress outreach (including a press conference) and a social mediacampaign on behalf of a leading California plaintiffs’ firm. HBChelped a number of legal clients achieve significant industryhonors, and for its numerous successes on behalf of its clients,HBC has earned several honors of its own, including Best CrisisManagement Firm, Best Social Media Consultancy and Best PublicRelations Firm in a nationwide survey of National Law Journalreaders.

HBC prides itself on creative, non-traditional thinking that leads tosignificant results. A prime example of that approach has been itsinvolvement with the “Madison Avenue Insights” blog, whichpromotes the advertising and marketing practice at the Davis &Gilbert law firm. It is the latest in a string of standout blogs thatHBC has conceived and executed for law firm clients.

Over the last year, John Hellerman and Spencer Baretz continued todrive the conversations that are leading the legal PR field forward.Longtime proponents of the value of thought leadership for legalprofessionals, John and Spencer co-authored an influential articlein the New York Law Journal titled “Thought Leadership: A Game toShare with Your Friends.” Since then, Hellerman and Baretz havebeen asked to make many presentations to various chapters of theLegal Marketing Association—the dominant trade group in the legalspace.

Hellerman and Baretz formed numerous partnerships within thelegal marketing space—including partnerships with one of thenation’s leading LinkedIn instructors, a vendor of online analyticaltools tailored to the legal profession and the influential Chambersdirectory. Moreover, in the last twelve months, HBC has beenhonored with requests that reflect the high degree of confidencethat its clients and the legal community have in HBC.

BOU T I QU E AG ENC Y O F T H E Y E AR ( S P EC I A LT Y P R AC T I C E )


CONSUMER AG ENC Y O F T H E Y E AR

G O L DJSH&A

JSH&A is an award-winning lifestyle communications agency with anational reputation for multi-channel consumer marketingexpertise. Founded by Jonni Hegenderfer in 1989 as a one-womanshop in her spare bedroom, the agency has since grown to 20employees based in a vibrant office in Chicago. While JSH&A isconsidered a small firm by industry standards, its client rosterconsists of some of the best-known names in the world: TheHershey Company, Bosch Power Tools, ConAgra and Beam Inc.

Known for its expertise in consumer products and servicecategories, JSH&A understands the importance of position andplace in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. The agency has builtthree synergistic practice areas to help clients bring thatknowledge to life. The practice areas involve the factors that drivebrand choice and brand loyalty, social media strategies andcoaching clients on message development.

JSH&A regards itself as a tight-knit family and celebrated a 90percent employee retention rate in 2012. Unique to an agency ofits size, JSH&A employs a full-time digital and social mediadirector who supports the agency client team and educates clientson emerging trends and techniques with white papers andworkshops.

In addition to competitive salaries and benefits, JSH&A also usesan awards program to recognize outstanding work and hosts staffevents. The agency also places a premium on professionaldevelopment and requires staffers to participate in webinars,workshops and conferences designed to increase knowledge oftrends, practices and issues. Each staffer is also required to serveon at least one agency committee, such as Social Media or AgencyPR.

JSH&A is a member of the IPREX global network of independentpublic relations agencies and routinely call on—and are called onby—partner agencies for in-market expertise, assistance and newbusiness initiatives. JSH&A employees also routinely interact withPR programs at area universities and support causes that make animpact on its community. Each year, the agency matches employeedonations to a charity of choice and sponsors staff involvement involunteer activities.

JSH&A developed and executed a wide variety of notablecampaigns for clients in 2012. For The Hershey Company, theagency implemented the “Hop Down the Hershey’s Bunny Trail”campaign, in which the team enlisted a group of online influencersto raise awareness about Hershey’s East products and websites. Tofurther position Beam Inc. as a passionate industry leader, JSH&Ahelped Casa Sauza host a series of tequila round tables in the US

and Mexico. What’s more, JSH&A developed an annual mediaevent for Bosch, performed food blogger and social mediaoutreach for ConAgra and worked with Master Lock on a seamlessvisit from President Obama.

JSH&A gained four new clients in 2012, including Manwich, ReddiWip, Canadian Club and Staples and will continue to showcase itsteam’s creative and strategic thinking to maximize and growestablished relationships with clients.

S I L V E RFrench/West/Vaughn

French/West/Vaughan (FWV) celebrated its 15th anniversary witha record-setting year in which the agency increased PR fee billingsby 29% and tripled net income. FWV increased its headcount by20%, added nearly two dozen new clients to its roster and alsoopened its first West Coast office—building upon the headquartersoffice in Raleigh and satellite offices in NYC, Tampa and Austin,Texas. In addition, FWV placed stories about its domestic andinternational clients in virtually every major media outlet in theworld in 2012.

The agency’s client roster reads like a “who’s who” of marketleaders, including Wrangler, Swiss energy giant ABB, Singapore-based Gemesis Diamond Company, Justin Boots, Melitta Coffee,Moe’s Southwest Grill, the Royal Bank of Canada, the United StatesPolo Association, the V Foundation Cancer for Cancer Research, theInternational Gemological Institute and Soccer.com.

At the heart of all of FWV’s work for these clients are effectiveearned and social media strategies where the team treatsjournalists as partners and encourages consumers to becomecontent creators and evangelists for its brands. From a non-traditional base in Raleigh, N.C., FWV has grown over the past 15years to rank as one of the country’s 20 largest independently-heldPR agencies and the largest south of Washington, D.C.

2012 was the best year in the agency’s history, from both afinancial standpoint as well as via recognition from peers, with theagency winning more than 50 local, regional and national awardsfor PR work on behalf of clients, including being named firstrunner-up by the Holmes Report as its 2012 Small Agency of theYear.

In a year in which the agency experienced almost zero accountattrition, FWV pitched and won high-profile assignments from HoodRiver Distillers and its large portfolio of fast-growing spirits brands;SAS Institute, the world’s largest privately held software company;Teradata Corporation, a leading U.K. data analytics company;international defense and global stabilization contractor TigerSwan;


CONSUMER AG ENC Y O F T H E Y E AR

Strata Solar; a celebrity from Disney; NFL superstars; an NBAathlete; the Wilmington/Cape Fear Convention and Visitors Bureauand its area Beaches; NBA star Glen “Big Baby” Davis; NC StateUniversity; and global soccer retailer Eurosport and its Soccer.combrand.

Highlights of the year include FWV’s launch of an innovative four-week contest to reach fashion-forward females on behalf of long-time client Wrangler that generated 45 million impressions towardits female target. FWV took to the streets of Philadelphia to bringGerman coffee purveyor Melitta’s “Butler” grassroots marketingcampaign to life and increased sales 35 percent for the period.

The agency also helped a British electronics company (Gear 4) ownthe airwaves with a much talked about Angry Birds Speaker launch,celebrated Tony Lama’s 100th Anniversary of selling cowboy bootsand positioned Arian Foster as the “The Most Interesting Man in theNFL.” Finally, FWV helped Arena swimwear make a splash at theLondon Olympics, where numerous media outlets, including the L.A.Times and FoxSports.com named Arena as one brand that “won bigin London.”

B R O N Z EDeVries Global

DeVries is a 35-year-old New York-based company with nearly 200employees, specializing in integrated communications in theconsumer, lifestyle and better living space. Under its burgeoningglobal expansion, the company has created a worldwide networkamong six offices that provides a new level of service for its clients.The global expansion established offices in Asia and Europe,meanwhile drawing on talent from its headquarters. It is designedto service global brands, offering greater cross-market collaborationthrough a holistic international alliance.

DeVries is comprised of passionate specialists with unparalleledexpertise, and many of its brand assignments have spanneddecades (with the average tenure of a DeVries client as nine years).

The breadth of the agency’s expertise is focused on beauty,wellness, home, food and

Beverage, fashion and lifestyle, and retail.

In response to the rapidly evolving influencer landscape and theubiquity of social media, as well as an ongoing client need forcreative thought leadership and big ideas, DeVries created aCreative and Strategic Services team two years ago. Designed as acreative think-tank for the agency, the team has doubled in sizeover the past 18 months. The team pushes the boundaries ofconventional PR thinking through an understanding of culturaltrends, the social media space, ideas that resonate there and howthey can be measured. They work hand-in-hand with account teamsand have been an engine for the agency’s thought leadership—through participation on panels, drafting white papers and blogposts for prominent industry publications and refreshing thecompany’s social media presence.

In a year of extraordinary transition and change with the launch ofDeVries Global, the agency continued to nurture and expandexisting relationships with clients such as Campbell Soup Company,Procter & Gamble and Tyson Foods. New clients include PepsiCoand Durex. DeVries represents a small list of clients and alwaysputs client service, client relationships and organic growth first. Theagency is committed to maintaining primarily dedicated teams oneach piece of business. Very few people at DeVries work on anymore than two accounts at a time, which enables staff to becomemore deeply immersed in client business. The business model alsoenables employee satisfaction—rated between 83 and 99 percent.

DeVries was recognized for innovative ideas like “Downy Puts Mikein the Window for Clean Sheet Week,” “Tide ‘Loads of Hope’ Spreadsto Help Haiti” and “Pantene Goes Back to the 80s,” all of whichwere sparked by insights and ideas from the creative services team.During the year, DeVries’s organic growth netted out at nearly 70percent and experienced moderate top and bottom line growth.DeVries also expanded social media strategy and communitymanagement and a burgeoning U.S. Hispanic capability.


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G O L DMedia & Communications Strategies

Media & Communication Strategies, Inc. (MAC Strategies) is thecommunications catalyst that allows clients to fight and beatpowerful individuals or massive institutions trying to steal rights andcircumvent justice for self-serving agendas. Its efforts have helpedrepair reputations of clients who used MAC Strategies’communications prowess and relationship skills to yank their livesand livelihoods back from the brink of failure.

In general, MAC Strategies has provided crisis communications forcomplex, high profile cases with results that saved lives, began USgovernment investigations, repaired reputations, and helped rebuilddamaged businesses. In so doing, the agency has not only directlysupported clients’ cases but also enhanced the brand of law firmclients and large multi-national corporations needing help withCorporate Social Responsibility. MAC has used communicationstools involving congressional or local government lobbying, all levelsof media relations and social media, and have produced thehighest quality video production.

MAC Strategies shows versatility across different industries toproduce beneficial results for the client. It focuses in the areas ofcrisis communications, viral strategy, litigation public relations, andwebsite/SEO advancement. Clients range from law firms toindividuals needing reputation management, from very large multi-national manufacturers to food supplement farmers anddistributors, from professional services providers to Johns Hopkinshospitals, from aviation clients to wealth managers and authors.

MAC Strategies has six full and part-time employees, strategicpartners and vendors and yet has handled some of the most highprofile cases this year. Other public relations professionals andagencies come to MAC for advisement after seeing such greatresults.

For example, for client The Employment Law Group® law firm (TELG)in Washington DC, MAC Strategies provides a wide range ofservices, including media and government relations, case vetting,speaking opportunities and video production. MAC Strategies hasalso aided TELG in representing cases that have changed the waywhistleblower law is written and begun US Army and US Senateinvestigations into contractor abuses in Afghanistan, pushing forimprovements in whistleblower law, and advocating the role ofwhistleblowers at conferences and panels.

In another standout campaign, MAC Strategies was hired by aCalifornia architectural firm, after the CEO of the firm was unfairlycaught up in a San Diego DA’s investigation into pay-for-playdealings concerning public school officials in the state. Theagency’s efforts resulted in a drastic increase of positive stories,

better professional and employee relationships, negating legalliabilities, and actually a dramatic regrowth of business. MAC alsocreated videos and positive stories about the client’s work thatincreased the credibility and numbers of testimonials on the client’swebsite.

MAC Strategies shines a spotlight on big corporations defraudingthe government, whistleblowers who risked their careers and lives towin justice for themselves and, in some cases, strike a blow forfreedom, overcome massive government bureaucracy, and evenjournalistic sloth. Intrinsic in all client representation, whether forindividuals or businesses, has been its commitment to those whohire MAC Strategies.

S I L V E RMWW

When it comes to crisis communications, MWW believes that thebest defense is a good offense, which is why the agency developedCrisis Action Protocol (CAP), a proprietary methodology that focuseson proactive crisis management and encompasses vulnerabilityassessment, crisis planning and management. CAP includescommunications strategies that touch all corporate stakeholders,uses the media to a client’s advantage, and proactively managesthe rumor mill. This approach merges MWW’s strengths in brandand reputation management, internal communications, investorrelations, public affairs and authority positioning.

MWW’s crisis communications practice was one of the first to usedark websites, blog strategies and technology-based planmaintenance in managing crises and has created other innovativetraining techniques, such as real-world simulation exercises andambush media training.

With more than 60 years of combined crisis experience, MWW’scrisis counselors have supported a wide variety of organizationsacross numerous industries within nearly every practice group,including incidents triggering business continuity issues, propertydamage and injuries, CEO transitions and departures, consumersafety concerns, public protests, federal and state investigations, ITsecurity issues and data thefts, financial crises and negative mediaattention.

MWW’s preparatory services include in-depth vulnerabilityassessments, crisis plan evaluation and development, marketplaceintelligence, influencer targeting, spokesperson preparation andscenario-based response training. The agency’s leadership in digitalcrisis communications is particularly noteworthy. It includes creationand management of digital and social media tools to be leveragedin a crisis, as well as monitoring the online landscape during crisesand managing connections with critical constituencies through


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digital and social media channels.

MWW’s wide-ranging crisis communications experience, coupledwith its exceptional understanding of both traditional and digitalcrisis planning and response techniques, make it an ideal partnerfor any organization considering how best to respond when a crisishits. With major crisis clients, MWW has implemented time-effective strategies to ensure a positive outcome.

It is important to have a voice in the industry.

MWW’s blog “Return on Reputation” gives its executives a way tocommunicate with both industry professionals and the public andoffer their opinions and insights on current company or industrycrises. “Return on Reputation” highlights the latest crisis and

company reputation news. The discussion ranges from corporateissues to politics to pop culture and lifestyle. Led by CarreenWinters, EVP, Corporate Communications, with the collaboration ofseveral MWW employees, the blog provides readers with an opinionand summary of different corporate communication events.

Protecting clients’ reputations is a role MWW takes very seriously.As the landscape of communications has rapidly changed, thetextbook rules of crisis management no longer apply. Ten years ago,conventional wisdom held that the first 24 hours of the crisis cyclewere the most important. Now, the first 24 hours have collapsedinto the first 60 seconds. It’s no longer sufficient to be reactive.Rather, crisis management is about staying ahead of the issuesthat can make or break a company.

G O L DMWW

MWW does not view this era of continuous evolution of thecommunications landscape to be a challenge. Rather, the agencysees it as a unique opportunity: The flux of technology and digitalcommunication vehicles enables MWW to better demonstrate PR’simpact in helping brands and companies build and maintain trustand relevancy among core constituents. MWW’s award-winningdigital media practice is recognized for building and executingindustry-leading campaigns, as well as its strategic expertise indigital, social and emerging media.

MWW offers its clients a powerhouse team of digital media expertsin a variety of specialties, including social media and marketingstrategists in various industry-specific markets, creative digitaldesigners, media planners, programmers and analytics experts.

Despite the current economic downturn, MWW’s digital team hasquadrupled in size since 2011 in response to new business andorganic growth. Most notable new client wins in the last 12 monthsinclude Frontier Airlines, Zumba Fitness, Discovery Bay Games, Inc,Usamp and Walgreen Co. The agency has also experiencedincreased business with long-time clients Hillshire Brands andNikon, Inc.

As digital continues to democratize media, the team recognizes theneed for its clients to leverage the power of digital and socialstrategy, content creation, distribution and measurement. The factthat the consumer now outspends all brands drives MWW toengage clients’ audiences to become the ultimate programmers oftheir social networks.

MWW’s digital marketing team has taken a thought leadership rolewithin the industry by providing insights on the changing digitallandscape. This includes the development and publication of whitepapers and appointments at industry conferences and events. Inboth 2012 and 2013, MWW partnered with Social Media Week(SMW) and hosted a series of events in Los Angeles, Chicago, NewYork City and San Francisco designed to identify the messages andtrends that will inspire action and maintain relevance.

MWW leverages the power of digital and social strategy to helpclients engage and lead the conversation. In our age of real-time,direct communication, in which brands are defined by onlineinfluencers, communities of enthusiasts and voices of detractorsboth on and offline, we create compelling stories driven by powerfuldistribution, user-friendly design and continuous measurement tooptimize our client’s programs in order to best compete in real time.

MWW helps clients to matter more and be relevant in the digitalspace by developing specialized digital programs that createconversation and drive engagement, delivering business results forproducts, services and brands. The agency’s campaigns haveestablished best practices for the public relations industry andcontinue to define how to engage with online communities.

S I L V E RWaggener Edstrom

With a deep understanding of the dynamics of influence andstorytelling, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) considers digitalinfluence to be a core part of its DNA. The agency createsmemorable and measurable experiences to engage audiences from


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discovery to action, generating real business results for clients.

By crafting its own software products and services and securing topdevelopers and analytical talent, WE builds strategy, relevance andgenuine value into integrated communications plans that includethe very important realm of digital. From in-house creative, ideationand experience design services to cutting-edge digital programs, WEcontinues to invest in the ideas, instruments and expertise thatsolve clients’ problems. Its in-house group of digital experts deliversa wide range of professional services including digital design, Webdevelopment, advertising, content creation, measurement, marketingand the latest in Web technology.

WE has been successful, in no small part because of its ability toanticipate and adapt to the natural and dynamic evolution of theindustry. The agency’s financial independence enables the team togrow intelligently and with purpose and to continue to invest indeveloping products and program. Notable achievements includeopening offices in Bangalore, India, and Delhi, India, as well as abranch office in Switzerland, adding new global affiliates, buildingits client portfolio and exceeding its goal of donating 1 percent ofits total fee income by contributing more than $1.4 million in pro-bono work, donations and employee volunteer efforts.

For employees, WE delivers an experience that spans beyond aspecific client or team, connecting its people with where the agencyis going and creating opportunities for them to directly impact thecompany’s future. WE offers options to help employees build theircareers—through a global exchange program, a Leadership Forumand WE Influence Institute.

Citizenship is a key priority for WE, and as such, WE is committed todeveloping and driving initiatives that engage employees and thatapply company assets while supporting charitable organizationsand communities where it can have an impact. The agency’s owncorporate responsibility and sustainability focus influences how itoperates in these communities and the kind of work its do. Forexample, WE recognized the value and opportunity to build the WESocial Innovation Practice, which helps clients analyze and addressthe ongoing challenges posed by economic and societal changes.

B R O N Z ELEWIS PR

Despite last year’s economic downturn and business uncertaintiesfor many agencies, LEWIS PR rose to the challenge, maintained itsquality of client work and re-invested alongside its worldwide officesand staff. With the agency experiencing its 17th consecutive year offinancial growth, LEWIS expanded its digital marketing branch,LEWIS Pulse, to six hub cities worldwide, offering comprehensive

services in digital strategy, social media, search engine marketingand Web development.

Highlights from the past year include ongoing social media work forvCloud team/VMworld 2012 and social media support for multipleMcAfee groups—both of which involved enormous increases infollowers, content-sharing and brand recognition via Twitter,Facebook and blog programs and event support. Over the past 12months, LEWIS also added over 150 new clients worldwide. Recentwins and major LEWIS Pulse clients include Cisco, eBay, MicrosoftSilicon Valley and Salesforce.

LEWIS Pulse unifies LEWIS PR’s brand strategy, social mediamarketing, SEO, SEM, design, production and Web teams fromaround the world. The team’s digital experience spans acrosstechnology, consumer, financial services, healthcare, sports andautomotive sectors. In 2013, the agency refined its list of digitalservices and capabilities to include design and production, SEOand SEM, branding consultation and social media marketing forevents, among other services.

Announced in March 2013, LEWIS Pulse now has best-practicehubs in Barcelona, Boston, Eindhoven, London, San Francisco andSingapore. These locations will coordinate with teams across all theagency’s offices to service clients globally. In addition, havingalready established a successful digital production unit in itsBudapest office, LEWIS is actively hiring further digital resources inother emerging markets, including its newly opened Bangaloreoffice. This strategy enables LEWIS to offer round-the-clock digitalcontent creation and monitoring, cost-effectively.

LEWIS currently employs 350 team members across its network ofoffices and plans to open 10 new offices within the next two years.LEWIS continues to expand its senior management team and isworking on further acquisitions in the digital space.

LEWIS Pulse has sponsored and supported several professionalorganizations and events within the PR industry and localcommunity—including participation as the official social mediapartner for the 6th annual LAUNCH Festival, collaboration with theSocial Media Club of San Francisco, and participation as theofficial social media partner for the Holmes Global Summit.

2012 also marked the global launch of LEWIS’ Kupambanainitiative, a not-for-profit foundation created by LEWIS PR tochampion the adoption of visual and creative arts incommunications. The foundation seeks to identify new artists,concepts and ideas in graphics, video, photography, illustration,music and fine art. It will help train students as well asprofessionals and will produce insightful research into appliedcreativity in communications.


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G O L DRogers & Cowan

At Rogers & Cowan, the world of entertainment includes launchingnew cable TV networks, managing publicity for high profilecelebrities and recording artists, domestic and internationaloutreach for leading films, film festivals and award shows andbuilding a roster of Hollywood influencers as brand ambassadors.

Rogers & Cowan offers many firsts, including the first PR agency toprovide clients with the ability to place their branded productsinside the powerful stories on the small and large screens and inthe hands of celebrities. The firm is the first to provide technologybrands a strategic communication platform as their products andservices converge at the intersection of entertainment, technologyand consumer marketing. In addition, Rogers & Cowan was the firstto create a social media group within an entertainment-marketingagency to navigate entertainment and consumer clients throughthe rapidly evolving online and digital landscape with innovativecounsel and measurable tactics.

Rogers & Cowan bridges the worlds of entertainment and brandseffectively, working on campaigns at the intersection of brands andentertainment. At times, clients hire the agency to executive theirentertainment strategy and at times the firm boards on theentertainment side to manage celebrity campaigns tied to a brand.The team develops creative strategies to utilize the talent orproperty to secure and maximize media coverage via traditional

and social media with or without their personal participation so thebrand is never lost in the conversation.

For example, Rogers & Cowan’s relationship with Microsoft came toa pinnacle during the recent launch and roll out of their industry-changing game and entertainment device, Kinect for Xbox 360. Theteam created a brand ambassador strategy for Microsoft focusedon creating personal and customized one-on-one relationships withtalent that fit the Kinect for Xbox 360 brand. As a result, theagency successfully created relationships and introduced Kinect toinfluencers in the film, television, music and sports industries,including David Beckham, Ryan Phillippe, Zachary Levi, ChristinaHendricks, Rita Wilson, Ashley Tisdale, Michael Cera and KellyRowland.

Rogers & Cowan has earned several high-profile accolades,including nomination in one of the PR industry’s top awardscompetitions, the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver AnvilAwards. The agency received recognition for its work on theinaugural 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, a seven-day, 500-mileprofessional cycling race attracting more than one millionspectators to the race and resulting in an estimated $80 millioneconomic impact to the state of Colorado.

Rogers & Cowan received SABRE, MarCom and Hermes awards forthe strategic social media blueprint and campaign executed for theglobal launch of Avon Voices, an online talent search with celebrityjudges. The agency also received Platinum and Gold MarCom andHermes Awards for various magazine, television and onlineplacements secured for clients.

S I L V E RLambert, Edwards & Associates

Lambert, Edwards & Associates (LE&A) was founded in 1998 witha vision to become a leading national agency with cross-functionalcapabilities in public relations and investor relations. While manyagencies specialize in one or the other, few have true expertise inthe technical aspects of investor relations while providing a fullrange of PR services. This is best captured by LE&A’s mantra: “ThePR firm that can read an income statement.” This blend of bottom-line business knowledge and public relations expertise has createdvaluable differentiation that has resonated in the marketplace.

LE&A is among the nation's top-15 investor relations firms, withclients across a variety of industries including automotive,consumer, retail, healthcare, industrial, business services and

technology. LE&A is well-known among portfolio managers andprofessional investors and specializes in serving small- and mid-cap companies with strategic investor relations counsel and hands-on execution—ranging from press release writing and presentationdevelopment to investor targeting, analyst outreach, non-deal roadshows, financial media relations and perception studies.

LE&A has posted 13 years of growth and earned numerous industryawards. More than half of LE&A’s current client base is comprisedof long-term clients, including publicly traded clients such as TheCoast Distribution System (NYSE: CRV), Crawford and Company(NYSE: CRD.B) Drew Industries (NYSE: DW), InternationalAutomotive Components (IAC), Inventure Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNAK), Mercantile Bank (NASDAQ: MBWM), Spartan Motors(NASDAQ:SPAR) and Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE:WWW).

In 2012, LE&A implemented a variety of highly successful IR andfinancially driven campaigns. These encompassed projects ranging


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from public company work to five major mergers and acquisitions,to the launch of one of the nation’s first equity crowd-fundingplatforms, RelayFund.com.

LE&A is an unusual hybrid of professional expertise gained in theglobal agency, corporate and Wall Street arenas. The experience ofteam members combines deep financial communicationsbackground, hands-on practitioner experience, as well as largeagency, investment banking and sell-side analyst experience. Theteam has been on the inside—running investor relations programsat major U.S. companies like Home Depot, Kmart and SpartanMotors—and has implemented integrated IR programs—working insync with the C-suite, finance, marketing/PR and legaldepartments. In the past year, LE&A has added new IR clients, andthis was supplemented by financial communications projects, crisissupport and M&A work for new private equity clients.

LE&A is deeply committed to the investor relations industry withdirect engagement with the National Investor Relations Institute(NIRI), the Detroit Chapter of NIRI and the Association of CorporateGrowth (West Michigan). As part of the firm’s commitment to give

back to the region, the staff at LE&A has also provided bothcommittee and board hours as well as more than $1 million in probono work over the last decade.

B R O N Z ECognito

Cognito is an international PR, digital and marketing agency thatspecializes in the financial services sector. From offices in London,New York, Los Angeles and Singapore, Cognito works with financialinstitutions, investment companies and system/data providers toimplement programs that help them improve their business' profile,reputation, marketing and lead generation. Cognito's research andtechnology division Cognito Analytics, enables companies to planand execute more informed business and communicationstrategies based on thorough industry information, research andanalysis. Cognito Analytics provides a suite of cloud-basedapplications that cover both traditional and social media.

G O L DHavas PR

When global advertising and communications services group Havasrebranded, the agencies in the global PR group becamereinvigorated and coalesced for one commitment: Getting to thefuture first.

Havas PR North America connects with clients, influencers andconsumers through storytelling and shares a way of working, acommon mindset and a strategic toolbox. The team has arelaunched website and a renewed energy as Havas PR worldwide.It is the ninth largest in global PR revenue, third most effective insocial media, Financial Agency of the Year, No. 2 Healthcare PRAgency of the Year, second-most-awarded PR agency in the world atthe Clios and among the most shortlisted networks at Cannes.

The past year was good for the group—especially considering thatthe global economy remains challenged in Europe. Havas’s NorthAmerican business strengthened in the second half of the yearposting good growth, and performance was strong in Latin Americaand Asia Pacific. The momentum is also strong following thesuccessful rebranding of Euro RSCG to Havas, and the company

continues to see new business wins. Major wins around the world inthe past year included Burger King (Russia), Coty Inc. (global),European Central Bank (France), Samsung (Poland), SiemansOSRAM (Germany), Staples (U.K.), Thomas Cook (U.K.), the UnitedNations Foundation (U.S. and global), Unilever Dove (Poland) andYahoo 7 (Australia).

Havas PR’s consumer, financial and corporate identity specialtieshave been instrumental in driving growth. The latter has continuedto be a strong area, as the team has built a very strong relationshipwith Coty Inc. since becoming its PR agency of record for corporatecommunications in late 2011. Havas continues to work closely withthe company as it gets closer to going public, successfully sees itthrough a CEO transition and embarks on a major corporatebranding project.

Havas PR has developed some very powerful initiatives for clientsand its agencies. Highlights include 120M Books, a digitalpublishing venture, through which the company launched its annualtrends report, as well as a winning bid to host a global youthleadership summit in Pittsburgh. For the Airfood project, HavasWorldwide Belgium mobilized French and German EU institutionalofficials, and Havas Worldwide Helsinki created a viral sensationwith its “Monsters” PSA for Fragile Childhood, with more than 2


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million views on YouTube alone.

Red Agency in Australia continues to shine in its support of thecharitable Foodbank organization, helping end hunger down under,and Havas PR UK stopped a new national tax dead in its tracks forits client Greggs the Bakery. Finally, Cake Group heated up theLondon Olympics with the ultimate after-party for clientvitaminwater and turned Volvo into the most popular luxury car onPinterest.

Marian Salzman, CEO of Havas PR North America, has beeninstrumental in the unification of the global PR practice and ischairing its steering committee, which includes the industry’s topleaders.

S I L V E RWaggener Edstrom

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) gives innovation a voice usingmethods that focus on impact and measurement. WE startsconversations and powers digital engagement with an award-winning combination of technological tools and human analyticalexpertise. A partner to and champion of international marketleaders since 1983, WE is a steward of bold ideas and the bravepeople who bring them to life. The agency relishes the chance tostep back and consider the people who will benefit in work, play orlife from the stories it tells for clients.

WE has been successful in no small part because of its ability toanticipate and adapt to the natural and dynamic evolution of ourindustry. The agency has continues to invest in developing productsand programs that reinforce the importance of innovation andmeasurement. Notable achievements include expanding its globalfootprint by opening offices in Bangalore, India and Delhi, India, aswell as a branch office in Switzerland. WE also acquired Patzer PRGmbH in Munich and made an equity investment in ShoutCommunications Korea. WE also added three new Global Allianceaffiliates in Brazil, the Philippines and Miami.

Building its client portfolio, WE added 140 new global clients—amore than 40 percent increase from 2011. Continuing to attracttalent through traditional and social hiring practices—including anincredibly successful recruiting program—the team helped generatemore than 225 new global, regular employee hires. WE alsoexceeded its goal of donating 1 percent of the total fee income bycontributing more than $1.4 million in pro-bono work, donationsand employee volunteer efforts.

For employees, WE delivers an experience that spans beyond aspecific client or team, connecting its people with where the agency

is going and creating opportunities for them to directly impact thecompany’s future. WE offers options to help employees build theircareers—through a global exchange program, a Leadership Forumand WE Influence Institute.

Citizenship is a key priority for WE, and as such, WE is committed todeveloping and driving initiatives that engage employees and thatapply company assets while supporting charitable organizationsand communities where it can have an impact. The agency’s owncorporate responsibility and sustainability focus influences how itoperates in these communities and the kind of work its do. Forexample, WE recognized the value and opportunity to build the WESocial Innovation Practice, which helps clients analyze and addressthe ongoing challenges posed by economic and societal changes.

B R O N Z ELEWIS PR

LEWIS PR is a global PR and digital communications agency. Inaddition to traditional media and analyst relations, LEWISspecializes in social media, digital marketing and creative services.It works with companies to implement integrated communicationsprograms on an international scale. LEWIS works with leading andemerging brands across multiple sectors, including automotive,consumer, government, healthcare, insurance, legal, non-profit,technology and telecom. LEWIS has 25 wholly owned offices acrossthe US, EMEA and Asia Pacific, with regional headquarters inLondon, San Francisco and Singapore.

LEWIS experienced its 17th consecutive year of global financialgrowth with record revenues. The agency’s international networkcontinues expand with plans to grow its digital marketing branch,LEWIS Pulse, across the globe and to also open 10 new globaloffices over the next two years.

Highlights from the past 12 months include a campaign to helpbuild awareness and launch Ultimate Ears (UE), Logitech’s range ofprofessional music accessories, to German consumers; a push for2KSports to raise awareness for the release of NBA2K12 inSingapore; and a campaign to lead Splunk, an enterprise dataplatform specializing in the collection, indexing and analysis ofmachine data in real-time, through one of the most notablysuccessful enterprise IPOs in 2012.

Over the past year, LEWIS also added approximately 150 newclients to its roster and announced its global expansion plans toopen 10 new offices within the next two years. Two new offices inBangalore and Kuala Lumpur have already opened in 2013. Theagency now has 25 wholly owned offices.

The agency saw significant growth in Asia Pacific with record


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regional revenues and celebrated 15 years of LEWIS Germany(retaining the status as the No. 1 German Tech agency). LEWISalso expanded its partner agency network, with a total of 28partners and added capabilities in Brazil and Russia to completeits BRIC presence.

Continuing its investment in digital communications, LEWIScompleted the integration of LEWIS Pulse (formerly Page One PR),a new digital marketing and social media services branch andannounced its expansion to six hub cities worldwide in March2013. LEWIS Pulse focuses on delivering integrated Web marketingand content marketing campaigns. New services offered include

branding and strategy, design and production, Web development,social media marketing, search engine optimization and searchengine marketing.

The agency also created the Kupambana Foundation, a not-for-profit global initiative to bridge the creative and visual arts with thecommunications industry. It aims to foster creativity in PR, whilealso supporting the growth of emerging artists. The Foundation alsofunds the training of students and professionals in art andindustry, produces research into applied creativity communicationsand partners with academic institutions across the globe.

G O L DRuder Finn

As one of the largest independent global communicationsagencies—with approximately 500 people globally and over 190professionals in the U.S.—Ruder Finn is uniquely positioned toprovide clients with global perspective, insights and resources, yetsmall enough to bring the exceptional client service, creativity andinnovation of a boutique agency.

As one of the only communications agencies co-headquartered inNew York and China, Ruder Finn brings a distinctive east-westperspective to global businesses. With an on-the-ground presencein Boston, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Basel, London,Brussels, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore,Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi, Ruder Finn provides the hands-on experience of a local boutique agency.

Over the last year, Ruder Finn has evaluated the industry andevolving needs of global clients. The agency has shifted focus toconcentrate on big-picture assignments with large multinationalcorporations where it can add value with its strong focus on globalstrategy, creativity and quality. Meaningful engagements with majormultinationals now represent 72 percent of Ruder Finn’s work, and53 percent of its work is with $1 million+ clients.

Ruder Finn has worked to expand in the regions that matter bycombining international resources with localized experience,allowing it to make the largest impact on behalf of clients. This year,Ruder Finn opened three offices in key locations around the world:Ruder Finn continued expansion in India, with new offices in NewDelhi and a new presence in Bangalore; on the West Coast, with theopening of an office in one of the fastest growing technology

markets globally—San Francisco; and in Brussels to support ourgrowing public affairs and government relations business in Europe.

Ruder Finn also launched a new global specialty offering in healthIT to help clients leverage emerging technologies and engage withstakeholders. In Health & Wellness, the agency further strengthenedits client base with significant new business wins, as well as theglobal expansion of existing accounts.

Over the last year, Ruder Finn has made several strategic hires togrow its expertise in building online platforms and mobileapplications—work that many communications firms outsource. Ithas also earned countless industry awards and celebrated a strongemployee engagement program.

S I L V E RCohn & Wolfe

On fire is the best way to describe Cohn & Wolfe. In the past twelvemonths, the agency expanded its global footprint with six newoffices in Asia, retained all of its top 20 clients, added 50+ newbrands to its roster, delivered bold campaigns that won 40 industryawards, solidified a marquee new leadership team and fostered acohesive culture driven by the agency’s mantra: Dig Deeper.Imagine More. To top it off, PRWeek named Cohn & Wolfe its 2013Large PR Agency of the Year and overall PR Agency of the Year.

A large part of the agency’s success stemmed from its focus onstrategic growth in Asia. Over the past two years, Cohn & Wolfetripled its size in Greater China - acquiring two leading agencies(impactasia and XPR) and opening six new offices across theregion: Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Hong Kong, Singapore andMalaysia, while merging offices in both Beijing and Shanghai.


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Cohn & Wolfe is driven by its mantra – Dig Deeper. Imagine More(DDIM). Each year the agency celebrates and reinvigorates itsresearch-driven creative firepower at Dig Deeper. Imagine More.Day, a global employee think-tank session that supports differentcauses. Cohn & Wolfe’s first DDIM Day brought together 500+employees in 18 offices to create an award-winning globalcampaign, plus a dozen local programs, driving awareness andfunding for Project Kaisei’s ocean clean-up initiatives. Its secondDDIM Day challenged employees to identify a local children’scharity and, for just $1,000, create a campaign that taps children’simaginations in a way that impacts their lives and helps theorganizations that support them

It all comes down to a singular approach: Cohn & Wolfe’s purpose-driven creativity is driven from the inside out. By empowering itsemployees to dig deeper to find hidden patterns and connections,the agency delivers unexpected, imaginative campaigns that arerooted in unique insights about brands and their audiences. Thismethod has driven tremendous, measureable success for both itsclients and the agency.

B R O N Z EHavas PR

When global advertising and communications services group Havasrebranded, the agencies in the global PR group becamereinvigorated and coalesced for one commitment: Getting to thefuture first.

Havas PR North America connects with clients, influencers andconsumers through storytelling and shares a way of working, acommon mindset and a strategic toolbox. The team has arelaunched website and a renewed energy as Havas PR worldwide.It is the ninth largest in global PR revenue, third most effective insocial media, Financial Agency of the Year, No. 2 Healthcare PRAgency of the Year, second-most-awarded PR agency in the worldat the Clios and among the most shortlisted networks at Cannes.

The past year was good for the group—especially considering thatthe global economy remains challenged in Europe. Havas’s North

American business strengthened in the second half of the yearposting good growth, and performance was strong in Latin Americaand Asia Pacific. The momentum is also strong following thesuccessful rebranding of Euro RSCG to Havas, and the companycontinues to see new business wins. Major wins around the worldin the past year included Burger King (Russia), Coty Inc. (global),European Central Bank (France), Samsung (Poland), SiemansOSRAM (Germany), Staples (U.K.), Thomas Cook (U.K.), the UnitedNations Foundation (U.S. and global), Unilever Dove (Poland) andYahoo 7 (Australia).

Havas PR’s consumer, financial and corporate identity specialtieshave been instrumental in driving growth. The latter has continuedto be a strong area, as the team has built a very strongrelationship with Coty Inc. since becoming its PR agency of recordfor corporate communications in late 2011. Havas continues towork closely with the company as it gets closer to going public,successfully sees it through a CEO transition and embarks on amajor corporate branding project.

Havas PR has developed some very powerful initiatives for clientsand its agencies. Highlights include 120M Books, a digitalpublishing venture, through which the company launched itsannual trends report, as well as a winning bid to host a globalyouth leadership summit in Pittsburgh. For the Airfood project,Havas Worldwide Belgium mobilized French and German EUinstitutional officials, and Havas Worldwide Helsinki created a viralsensation with its “Monsters” PSA for Fragile Childhood, with morethan 2 million views on YouTube alone.

Red Agency in Australia continues to shine in its support of thecharitable Foodbank organization, helping end hunger down under,and Havas PR UK stopped a new national tax dead in its tracks forits client Greggs the Bakery. Finally, Cake Group heated up theLondon Olympics with the ultimate after-party for clientvitaminwater and turned Volvo into the most popular luxury car onPinterest.

Marian Salzman, CEO of Havas PR North America, has beeninstrumental in the unification of the global PR practice and ischairing its steering committee, which includes the industry’s topleaders.


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G O L DHill & Knowlton

Hill+Knowlton Strategies offers senior counsel, insightful researchand strategic communications planning throughout the world. Thefirm has 90 offices in 52 countries, and its clients represent 46 ofInterbrand's 2010 Top 100 Global Brands. Fifty percent of globalFortune 500 companies have chosen to work with the firm, and arelationship with WPP—one of the world's largest communicationsgroups—gives it an unmatched worldwide presence.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies prides itself on having an extremely globalscope, giving employees the ability to work seamlessly acrossregions, time zones, languages and cultures. Additionally, the firm’stalent is unprecedented and offers some of the most impressivethought leadership in the industry. H+K has been in the ideabusiness for over 85 years—longer than any of its competitors.

Hill+Knowlton has made great strides in terms of recruiting newemployees, establishing a strong foundation of training programsand emphasizing that talent should be promoted from within. H+Khas also made it a priority to recruit people from outside the publicrelations industry—specifically, people from business and lawschools and who have had a career in business. This allows H+K tofoster a dynamic, creative culture in which insights are drawn from avariety of perspectives and backgrounds.

The firm’s total global 2012 headcount is between 2000-2500employees, and it has 13 practice areas: Corporate advisory,change and internal, crisis, marcomms, public affairs, digital,research, sports marketing and sponsorship, technology, energy,health and pharma, sustainability (U.S.) and media relations (U.S.).

It was fitting that 2012 was the firm’s first full year as“Hill+Knowlton Strategies,” as the year contained several milestonesthat emphasized the strategic counselor role that H+K Strategiesplays for an increasing number of clients. Such milestones includethe integration of Dewey Square Group (DSG) into Hill+KnowltonStrategies family; Flight School, a crisis communications offering;and an elaborate expansion plan for Africa that will provideconsultancy services to businesses across the continent. Inaddition, as an effort to focus on critical and emergingmarketplaces, Hill+Knowlton Strategies elevated its China networkto region status in early 2013.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies fills the “fifth seat” for clients—bybecoming a strategic partner, providing them with wise counsel andby helping them connect with the public in meaningful ways. Theidea behind this is that when faced with significant decisions,companies traditionally turn to four advisors: Legal counsel,bankers, management consultants and accountants. Each of these

advisors is trusted to review his or her area of expertise, but nonefactor the public and public trust, into their final analysis. H+K’sexpertise about the public offers the opportunity to not only deliverexcellent client service, but also to forge a path to grow anddevelop into new areas.

S I L V E RCohn & Wolfe

On fire is the best way to describe Cohn & Wolfe. In the past twelvemonths, the agency expanded its global footprint with six newoffices in Asia, retained all of its top 20 clients, added 50+ newbrands to its roster, delivered bold campaigns that won 40 industryawards, solidified a marquee new leadership team and fostered acohesive culture driven by the agency’s mantra: Dig Deeper.Imagine More. To top it off, PRWeek named Cohn & Wolfe its 2013Large PR Agency of the Year and overall PR Agency of the Year.

A large part of the agency’s success stemmed from its focus onstrategic growth in Asia. Over the past two years, Cohn & Wolfetripled its size in Greater China - acquiring two leading agencies(impactasia and XPR) and opening six new offices across theregion: Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Hong Kong, Singapore andMalaysia, while merging offices in both Beijing and Shanghai.

Cohn & Wolfe is driven by its mantra – Dig Deeper. Imagine More(DDIM). Each year the agency celebrates and reinvigorates itsresearch-driven creative firepower at Dig Deeper. Imagine More. Day,a global employee think-tank session that supports differentcauses. Cohn & Wolfe’s first DDIM Day brought together 500+employees in 18 offices to create an award-winning globalcampaign, plus a dozen local programs, driving awareness andfunding for Project Kaisei’s ocean clean-up initiatives. Its secondDDIM Day challenged employees to identify a local children’scharity and, for just $1,000, create a campaign that taps children’simaginations in a way that impacts their lives and helps theorganizations that support them

It all comes down to a singular approach: Cohn & Wolfe’s purpose-driven creativity is driven from the inside out. By empowering itsemployees to dig deeper to find hidden patterns and connections,the agency delivers unexpected, imaginative campaigns that arerooted in unique insights about brands and their audiences. Thismethod has driven tremendous, measureable success for both itsclients and the agency.


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B R O N Z EWaggener Edstrom

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) gives innovation a voice usingmethods that focus on impact and measurement. WE startsconversations and powers digital engagement with an award-winning combination of technological tools and human analyticalexpertise. A partner to and champion of international marketleaders since 1983, WE is a steward of bold ideas and the bravepeople who bring them to life. The agency relishes the chance tostep back and consider the people who will benefit in work, play orlife from the stories it tells for clients.

WE has been successful, in no small part, because of its ability toanticipate and adapt to the natural and dynamic evolution of ourindustry. The agency has continues to invest in developing productsand programs that reinforce the importance of innovation andmeasurement. Notable achievements include expanding its globalfootprint by opening offices in Bangalore, India and Delhi, India, aswell as a branch office in Switzerland. WE also acquired Patzer PRGmbH in Munich and made an equity investment in ShoutCommunications Korea. WE also added three new Global Allianceaffiliates in Brazil, the Philippines and Miami.

Building its client portfolio, WE added 140 new global clients—amore than 40 percent increase from 2011. Continuing to attracttalent through traditional and social hiring practices—including anincredibly successful recruiting program—the team helped generatemore than 225 new global, regular employee hires. WE alsoexceeded its goal of donating 1 percent of the total fee income bycontributing more than $1.4 million in pro-bono work, donationsand employee volunteer efforts.

For employees, WE delivers an experience that spans beyond aspecific client or team, connecting its people with where theagency is going and creating opportunities for them to directlyimpact the company’s future. WE offers options to help employeesbuild their careers—through a global exchange program, aLeadership Forum and WE Influence Institute.

Citizenship is a key priority for WE and, as such, WE is committedto developing and driving initiatives that engage employees andthat apply company assets while supporting charitableorganizations and communities where it can have an impact. Theagency’s own corporate responsibility and sustainability focusinfluences how it operates in these communities and the kind ofwork it does. For example, WE recognized the value andopportunity to build the WE Social Innovation Practice, which helpsclients analyze and address the ongoing challenges posed byeconomic and societal changes.

G O L DFahlgren Mortine

Fahlgren Mortine is a nationally competitive firm headquartered inthe Midwest. Practice areas include corporate communications,media relations, marketing public relations, internalcommunications and public affairs. Its industry groups areautomotive, consumer products and services, education, healthcare,industrial/manufacturing products and services, professional andfinancial services, technology and travel and economicdevelopment. Its established integrated offering stands above thoseof agencies that have only recently brought paid, earned, ownedand shared disciplines together.

Fahlgren Mortine operates under the philosophy that the bestculture attracts the best people, and the best people attract thebest clients. In the last year, Fahlgren Mortine introduced Ohioansto the “Nocturnivore,” completing a nationally award-winningintegrated campaign to increase sales for the QSR; earned $12.1million in estimated media value for TourismOhio; helped increaseregistrations with the Ohio Donor Registry by 32%; executed media

relations to earn more than 7,600 articles and 8.4 billionimpressions for Myrtle Beach; and earned more than 20 millionimpressions for ScottsMiracle-Gro’s GRO1000 initiative to build1,000 gardens.

Fahlgren Mortine’s public relations group serves more than 75different accounts based in more than half the states fromCalifornia to Connecticut. Account retention rate in 2012 was 94.4percent. Last year, the firm won 49 new clients totaling roughly$2.6 million in revenue. Some of those include Nova SoutheasternUniversity, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Office of Tourism Ohioand West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

In addition, the firm’s pro bono and volunteer work impacts RonaldMcDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, Mid-Ohio Foodbank,Pelotonia, The American Diabetes Association and The BuckeyeRanch, among others.

Fahlgren Mortine has a staff of 49, based across 10 offices in fivestates and who thrive on succeeding in a very competitiveenvironment. Beyond traditional benefits, the firm offers employeesmovie nights, miniature golf tournaments and an annualGroundhog’s Day breakfast. HR programs help attract and keeptalent and preserve a healthy work-life balance through things like



unlimited personal time, a peer-to-peer-based recognition program,industry involvement and professional development programs. In all,Fahlgren Mortine only experienced a 9% employee turnover rate,and, in a recent survey of staff, 94% reported feeling loyal to theirteam or work group.

S I L V E RMakovsky + Co.

Makovsky has decisively entered the ranks of one most visible,admired and successful public relations agencies of any size in theUnited States. It is often recognized as an outstanding agency andhas garnered numerous industry awards for excellence, clientcampaigns and individual executives. This year, client retention was80 percent, and 90 percent of clients rated the agency positively.Revenue growth also rose 10 percent to a record $13.5 million.

Since its earliest years, Makovsky has committed to developing andsharing with clients and peers insight that fosters clear strategicthinking and sharp program action. The agency’s flagship whitepaper series, “Strategies,” provides a drumbeat of timely, practice-focused commentary on topics and trends of greatest interest toclients. Makovsky also regularly translates research findings andindustry insights into in-person events and led more than a dozenseminars and panel discussions this year.

Makovsky regularly sponsors proprietary research not simply as amarketing device, but as a means to guide client strategy and tomove the needle on major public policy debates in our focusindustries. Recent groundbreaking studies focused on the batteredreputation of the financial services sector, the battle for powerbetween CMOs and CCOs, the strength of “green” attitudes in theexecutive suite and a joint study with Stanford University oncorporate Web design.

This past year, Makovsky launched its new rebranding initiative,undertaken entirely by Makovsky's own digital branding group. AsMakovsky continued to focus on integrating an ever-expanding listof services—from traditional public relations to digital and socialmedia—it chose a more inclusive corporate descriptor: IntegratedCommunications. This focus on integrated communications—covering branding, websites, social media and digitalcommunications – resulted in more than 50% of new clientsretaining Makovsky for integrated programs in 2012.

Ken Makovsky’s active leadership guides the firm, and he hasreceived six individual honors, including the Grand Prize of“Communications Professional of the Year.” Ken is engaged in avariety of outside causes and is possibly the most visible andinfluential blogger in public relations today with his “My ThreeCents” blog.

Makovsky’s business strategy is captured in its value proposition,“the power of specialized thinking.” The agency was one of the firstspecialized “boutiques” and focuses today on a group of specializedhigh-growth industries—healthcare, financial services, branding,consulting and information technology—where it is recognized as aleader. It has grown at a rate of 188% over the past 8 years. Theagency opened a new energy practice in Washington DC in 2012,and annualized revenues in that practice are already above$400,000.

The firm also rests on the belief that transparency and openness inthe workplace will translate into loyalty and success. Employeeretention was 95 percent in 2012, well above industry norms.

B R O N Z EEric Mower + Associates

Eric Mower + Associates (EMA) is an $11.9-million publicrelations and public affairs agency operating within a digitallyintegrated marketing communications firm. EMA’s 50-person PR/PAteam is well-balanced in both consumer and business-to-businessPR and has specialized expertise in public affairs, crisis andreputation management, executive training and cause-relatedmarketing. EMA also has extensive experience in developing andmanaging PR campaigns with strong social media and onlinestrategies. In 2012, EMA’s PR and PA group saw an 18% increasein revenue.

EMA credits most of its work to long-term accounts. In fact, themajority of its growth this past year came through expandedrelationships with existing long-term clients. Among them are ThePicotte Companies, KeyBank, Ford Dealers of Western New York,Legrand/Pass & Seymour and Nucor Steel. New clients this yearinclude Breyers Toppings (Signature Brands) and Laughing Noodle(White Castle Concept Restaurant).

EMA operates two specialty groups—Contractors and New Moms—that build on the agency’s key areas of expertise to offer more valueto current clients, as well as position the agency for growth byattracting new prospects. EMA New Moms offers powerful retailstrategies to help accelerate buying among first-time moms, andthen develop and nurture relationships for years to come. EMAContractors has been talking to contractors, shadowing them onjobsites and watching how they buy and use products in electrical,plumbing, HVAC and construction.

Achievements in the industry include Hungry Pup Studios, a newexpress design studio for clients; a combination with Strata-GCommunications in Cincinnati, Ohio; a partnership with AstuteTechnologies; and the Market Ready Award as part of The StartupLabs Program—the program’s first launch in the United States.




G O L DMWW

MWW is one of the nation’s top midsized public relations firmsand one of the five largest independent global agencies. The pasttwo years have seen tremendous growth and momentum for MWW,beginning with the management-led buy-out from the InterpublicGroup of Companies (NYSE: IPG), ten years after the original saleof MWW to IPG. The company’s independence has fueledsignificant growth by enabling it to look beyond profit centers toprovide enhanced client service and offerings across a widespectrum of practices. It’s also offered the freedom to act with thesame entrepreneurial spirit that MWW was founded on by CEOMichael W. Kempner in 1986.

MWW is defining a new approach to PR in a vastly altered medialandscape—helping clients to be relevant, matter more and driveaction among influencers, customers, key stakeholders andemployees. Clients choose MWW, stay with the team and grow withit because MWW approaches clients’ business with the samepassion as they do and with the same entrepreneurial spirit uponwhich this agency was built.

MWW experienced 14 percent year over year growth and wasnamed Midsize Agency of the Year by the Holmes Report,International Business Awards, PR News and the Bulldog Stars ofPR Awards, as well as Top Places to Work in PR by PR News andBest Places to Work in New Jersey by NJBiz.

40 percent of MWW’s clients have been with the firm for more thanfive years (and several have remained with it since MWW’sfounding). The mission is to create relevance for clients and makethem “matter more” to their key stakeholders. The agency does thisby providing them with the best in strategic, integratedcommunications counsel and effective, measurableimplementation. MWW’s proprietary NetRelevance methodology isthe first to measure impact, rather than just input, to understand

how content and individuals drive the dialogue that ultimatelycontributes to purchase, recommendation or engagement.

This year, MWW has taken great strides toward implementing abottom-up management approach with the goal of creating a morecollaborative environment and retaining good talent. Recently,MWW has also created an official MWW CSR Committee andinstituted a day in which all employees participate in a day ofservice in their local communities.

As a newly independent agency, MWW invested significantly in thegrowth of a number of practice areas with key new hires, which inturn helped contributed to significant growth in business wins.Highlights included the launch of a new corporate identity,expansion of digital practice and the growth of research andinsights. MWW also launched a sustainable solutions practice,MWW Ventures and MWW Entertainment. In addition to the growthof these practice areas, MWW broke new ground by partnering withSocial Media Week (SMW), a global event that connects people,content and conversation around emerging trends in social andmobile media.

S I L V E RDeVries Global

DeVries is a 35-year-old New York-based company with nearly 200employees, specializing in integrated communications in theconsumer, lifestyle and better living space. Under its burgeoningglobal expansion, the company has created a worldwide networkamong six offices that provides a new level of service for itsclients. The global expansion established offices in Asia andEurope, meanwhile drawing on talent from its headquarters. It isdesigned to service global brands, offering greater cross-marketcollaboration through a holistic international alliance.

DeVries is comprised of passionate specialists with unparalleledexpertise, and many of its brand assignments have spanned

EMA’s unique perks and agency culture earned EMA widespreadrecognition in 2012. EMA seeks to hire diverse and skilledcandidates in the public relations and public affairs field, and in thepast year, the agency saw a 2% growth in staff. While notexponential, the number is particularly impressive, seeing as EMA’sturnover rate is one the lowest in the industry—around 7%. Manyemployees have also returned to the company.

EMA values its employees and strives to create a workplace in whichemployees thrive and grow. To recruit and retain employees, EMAprovides traditional benefits and strives to go the extra mile with anumber of unexpected perks, including social events, orientations,luncheons, visits with agency chairman, Eric Mower, robust mentoringand intern programs and volunteer opportunities.



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decades (with the average tenure of a DeVries client as nine years).The breadth of the agency’s expertise is focused on beauty,wellness, home, food and

beverage, fashion and lifestyle, and retail.

In response to the rapidly evolving influencer landscape and theubiquity of social media, as well as an ongoing client need forcreative thought leadership and big ideas, DeVries created aCreative and Strategic Services team two years ago. Designed as acreative think-tank for the agency, the team has doubled in sizeover the past 18 months. The team pushes the boundaries ofconventional PR thinking through an understanding of culturaltrends, the social media space, ideas that resonate there and howthey can be measured. They work hand-in-hand with account teamsand have been an engine for the agency’s thought leadership—through participation on panels, drafting white papers and blogposts for prominent industry publications and refreshing thecompany’s social media presence.

In a year of extraordinary transition and change with the launch of

DeVries Global, the agency continued to nurture and expandexisting relationships with clients such as Campbell Soup Company,Procter & Gamble and Tyson Foods. New clients include PepsiCoand Durex. DeVries represents a small list of clients and alwaysputs client service, client relationships and organic growth first. Theagency is committed to maintaining primarily dedicated teams oneach piece of business. Very few people at DeVries work on anymore than two accounts at a time, which enables staff to becomemore deeply immersed in client business. The business model alsoenables employee satisfaction—rated between 83 and 99 percent.

DeVries was recognized for innovative ideas like “Downy Puts Mikein the Window for Clean Sheet Week,” “Tide ‘Loads of Hope’ Spreadsto Help Haiti” and “Pantene Goes Back to the 80s,” all of whichwere sparked by insights and ideas from the creative services team.During the year, DeVries’s organic growth netted out at nearly 70percent and experienced moderate top and bottom line growth.DeVries also expanded social media strategy and communitymanagement and a burgeoning U.S. Hispanic capability.

S I L V E RInk Link Marketing, LLC

Ink Link Marketing is demonstrating in its debut year to be acritical “link” to media, community partners, corporate partnersand the public for its clients. Comprised of seasoned publicrelations professionals paired with young talent, Ink Link bringstogether experts from various fields to provide clients withexpertise blended with fresh thinking.

Ink Link took one of the nation’s largest steak-buffet restaurantcompanies from hiding from the media to basking in it. Buffets,Inc. was in the midst of its second bankruptcy filing when Ink Linkwas selected to represent them. Before Ink Link beganrepresenting Buffets, news of bankruptcy and store closures wereall the headlines read, but Ink Link introduced new programs andhelped generate feel-good news centered around communityinvolvement to support the military, bringing families together atthe dinner table, partnering with kid-friendly organizations likeScholastic Media, creating music promotions with popular countrymusic artists, and bringing the focus back to the food and specialtimes that the brand provides and guests have come to love andexpect. As part of this turnaround, Ink Link assisted Buffets inaligning with a reputable national charity, the Armed ServicesYMCA (ASYMCA).

In addition to retainer services that include standard PR andpromotions for external publicity, the agency was tapped to take

the lead on the development of a board communication, as wellas to design a premiere internal employee newsletter for Buffets.Aside from increased media and community exposure generatedfrom the PR and marketing efforts, Buffets attributes a majorcompany-wide success, in part, to initiatives from Ink LinkMarketing. Buffets recently reported that its third quarter ending inApril 2013 produced the most positive results that the companyhas experienced in seven years.

Ink Link was named agency of record by Buffets, Inc. in the springof 2012 and continues to serve as the company’s AOR today. Itsbrand portfolio includes Ryan’s, HomeTown Buffet, Country Buffet,Fire Mountain and Old Country Buffet. Ink Link has also beennamed agency of record for Primecard and has produced projectsfor numerous others in the restaurant and hospitality space. InkLink offers pro bono services to non-profit organizations likeWomen In Distress and Zoo Miami.

The firm provides on-site staffing to conduct research projects forits clients and has grown their services to include logistics andstaffing for grand opening events. Any company in its first yearexperiences a period of building its business and client base, andInk Link has grown its portfolio significantly since inception,starting with one client and now up to nearly half a dozen afterjust one year. The company forecasts doubling its revenue in year-over-year billings.

Ink Link’s principal and founder, Kimberly Miller, is activelyinvolved in the public relations industry as a current board


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G O L DVanguard

People-focused, socially responsible communications—that’s whathas driven the leadership and staff of Vanguard Communications ofFalls Church, Inc. for more than 26 years. The D.C.-based, Hispanicwoman-owned agency is a dynamic, energetic, full-service publicrelations firm where staff use their talents and powers for good.Campaigns built around boosting corporate bottom lines neverhave been and never will be in its portfolio. Instead, they choose tochampion sustainable agriculture through Farm Aid, children’smental health through the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices and Earth-friendly practices through the District ofColumbia Sustainable Energy Utility, among others. Vanguard’smost tenured accounts have been with the agency for almost twodecades.

Vanguard organizes to promote leadership and innovation amongits 32-person team, which results in continued growth and aparade of new opportunities in all the issue areas they care about.Each staff member contributes his or her gifts to expanding thefirm’s capacity in strategic planning and marketing, alliancebuilding, multicultural outreach, integrated media, policycommunications, online marketing, event management, branding,design and editorial, Web development and training and technicalassistance.

In July 2012, Vanguard released its inaugural Purple Paper report,“Evaluating Social Change,” developed in partnership with Americanand George Washington Universities, filled with advice aboutmeasurement to inform prospective clients, other communicatorsand its own staff.

Account teams form based on both competencies and convictions,and many of them congeal around issues that are important to thestaff’s personal community or professional interests—be they LGBTrights, graduation rates among youth of color or smoking cessation.33 percent of Vanguard employees have worked there for morethan 10 years.

Vanguard recognizes its employees through three award programsand has incorporated wellness time into the workday. What’s more,

nearly two dozen staff members volunteered at World EnvironmentDay’s (WED) Fair & Expo, a project of the United NationsEnvironment Programme, in June, and 20 staff members gave up avacation day to work from sunup to sundown at Farm Aid’s annualconcert in September, where they managed every aspect of mediarelations. These and other community service and employeedevelopment programs abound.

Vanguard is honored in the PR industry field—for who its teammembers are and for delivering for clients. Since 2000, Vanguardhas collected close to 80 awards, and more than 40 since 2005.

B R O N Z EMatter Communications, Inc

Matter Communications celebrated its 10-year anniversary onApril 1, 2013. Located in the seaside community of Newburyport,MA—as opposed to a “big city” footprint in Boston or New York—theprivately held company’s growth trajectory simply defies industryodds. In January, Matter announced 20 percent year-on-yeargrowth and a 20 percent addition to staff in 2012, becoming oneof the fastest-growing traditional/social media PR firms in theUnited States.

The company did $7 million in revenue last year and expectsanother 20 percent bump in 2013—mostly through referrals.What’s more, 2012 was the fifth consecutive year of growth ofnearly 20 percent, a remarkable accomplishment against thebackdrop of a multi-year economic recession that saw many smallPR firms lay off workers, slash benefits and, in some cases, drawthe curtains on their businesses.

Matter is going the other direction, significantly expanding itsNewburyport office and launching an additional small office inBoston’s Innovation District. How does a small-town PR firmcompete with multi-national conglomerates—and win more oftenthan it loses to become the agency of record for clients like CVS,Lojack and Verizon Wireless of New England?

In 2012, Matter attracted and hired the former managing director

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member of the PRSA’s Entertainment and Sports Sector and is alsoinvolved with a number of other professional and non-profit/community organizations. Kim’s demonstrated leadershipencourages her team to grow professionally and to be contributingmembers to their local communities.

Committed to creating future PR stars, Ink Link is grooming publicrelations specialists by offering employment opportunities to collegestudents and recent grads. The company has developed a corps ofdedicated specialists that span the globe and has alreadyestablished a satellite presence in Los Angeles and Chicago.


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G O L DAquaPR

AquaPR combines technologies, marketing and public relations toproduce measurable results for clients. Team members haveexperience working with some of the world’s largest brands andbuilding world-class technologies, and they bring that expertise tosmall and mid-size technology companies. The team leveragessocial media platforms as part of an integrated communicationsstrategy that builds brands, influences public opinion and drivessales. By focusing its client base in technology, AquaPR hasbecome a PR pioneer in using the next cutting-edge technology andsoftware. The team sets up processes that leverage technology andallow flexibility for its team members.

AquaPR has been leveraging “the cloud,” mobile technology andspecial software for years. As users rely more heavily on reviews inforums, blogs and on special interest sites, they pitch those arenas,when appropriate, for reviews and monitor communication(transparently) to help clients deliver positioning and messaging totheir target audiences.

In addition to being an agency that can successfully service theblurring line between marketing and PR, the AquaPR team acts asthe communications officer at numerous levels for companiesincluding the CMO and Vice President of Public Relations. By beingintegrated into clients’ teams, they are able to initiate cost-effectiveand creative campaigns. As the industry has continued to change,AquaPR has also worked closely with its clients to understand theimportance of content management.

AquaPR’s revenues increased by 20 percent over last year in a very

tight economy, and the agency’s revenues have seen 900 percentgrowth over the past five years. New clients include theBenchtopPRO, an affordable parts washer with cleaner that usesbioremediation to

clean tools as opposed to highly flammable and toxic solvents thatcreate hazardous

waste when used. Since launching the product in November 2012,the team has secured top-tier

product coverage including Popular Mechanics and DIYNetwork.com.

In terms of client retention, Wi-Ex has been a client for seven years,and this continued relationship is based on continuing to developstrategic and creative plans that result in media placements suchas the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

The AquaPR agency strives to provide its team members withflexibility so they can enjoy a work-life balance. This balance mayvary across team members but is structured to fit their individualneeds. AquaPR team members have in-house company and agencyexperiences beyond media and public relations that includemerchandise buyers, marketers, media buyers and productmanagers. Employee experience is enhanced by training andseminars, flexible healthcare and an internship program.

S I L V E RWireside Communications

Wireside Communications is an independent public relationsagency focused on high tech business-to-business

from SHIFT Communications in San Francisco, as well as SHIFT’svice president of marketing. Leaders from the nations’ biggest andhottest PR agencies are throwing down with Matter because theysee the opportunity to do daring things without being hamstrung byconglomerate overlords. The firm also boasts 97% employeeretention and 95% client retention.

In 2012, Matter took a chance and created its own in-housecreative services team, in house. Named Studio-C, Matter’s stableof clients reap the benefits of top-flight video, infographics andcollateral produced by folks who work hand-in-glove with dedicatedPR teams. The agency also created a Precision group, aimed atclients with targeted needs. Both the creative group and Precisionare growing faster than they can staff them.

Matter earned the honor of “Best Place to Work” from BostonBusiness Journal, because its people are empowered to provideunvarnished counsel to clients, entrusted to “do the right thing” and

encouraged to pour themselves a beer from the always-on-tap kegat the end of a hard-fought day.

Scott Signore is principal and CEO of Matter Communications,founded in 2003. Matter has grown from two clients and fouremployees to 60 employees and 55 clients today. In 2010, PRWeeknamed Scott one of the industry’s “40 Under 40.” In 2011, theBoston Business Journal named Matter a “Pacesetter” for growingmore than 20% annually for five straight years. In 2012, the BBJnamed Matter a “Best Place to Work.”

Scott is dedicated to many not-for-profit causes. Through financialcontributions, sponsorships and volunteerism, his generosity hasbenefitted Anna Jaques Hospital, Camp Sunshine, Feeding America,the Newburyport Education Foundation, and the Salvation Army. Inaddition, Scott holds a Board of Directors position at the JeanneGeiger Crisis Center and the Newburyport Youth Soccer Association.



communications. Wireside works with a limited number of nationaland international high tech businesses to maintain a high level ofstrategic and tactical results that closely align with clients’business objectives. The mission of Wireside is to ensure client-based public relations and marketing objectives are cost-effectivelyachieved. Qualitative and quantitative measurement is at the coreof the agency’s campaigns and is designed to align investmentwith ROI.

As a full service agency, Wireside provides a portfolio ofcommunications programs designed to effectively meet businessgoals including: Company positioning and messaging, strategicpublic relations planning, and tactical implementation, includingsocial media. The agency’s events services encompass contentdevelopment, sponsorship, marketing communications and publicrelations. Wireside is the only public relations agency in the UnitedStates with an award winning and dedicated (Internet Protocolversion 6) IPv6 PR practice. The agency is headquartered inRichmond, Va. and maintains a satellite office in Dresden,Germany.

In 2004, bootstrapping with her laptop and personal credit cardwithout any savings or private, personal or institutional loans orinvestors, Joya Subudhi founded the company as SubudhiConsulting Group (SCG). Utilizing her contacts, relationships andreputation in the high tech PR industry, as well as her volunteerwork on IPv6 technology, she quickly distinguished the agency as aleader in the field of high tech public relations.

Today, Wireside is profitable, has no debt, and representsmultinational Fortune Global 500 clients as well as universitiesand nonprofit organizations. In 2011, the agency initiated a fullrebrand to reflect the evolution of its brand attributes and brandpersonality since its inception as Subudhi Consulting. In April2012, the agency debuted its new brand at Ethernet Europe co-located with the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) in Munich, Germany.Wireside looks forward to continuing phase two of the rebrand in

2013 with further promotion of the agency via social mediaplatforms, development of an awards program, weekly postings oncompany blog “Fireside,” news releases and feature stories aboutthe agency.

Differentiating itself from competitors of similar size, Wireside hassince 2011 maintained a satellite office in Dresden, Germany tosupport high tech, cutting-edge German companies seeking tomarket their products and services in the United States.

Wireside’s account retention rates speak to an agency model thatvalues long term sustainability over short term gains. As a high endboutique agency, Wireside manages growth thoughtfully andconsciously so as to not dilute the quality of work and clientservice for which the agency is known. The execution of the firm’ssmart growth strategy showcases its dedication to quality andcustomer service in action.

Employee retention has also been steady since the agency’sinception and is reflected in numerous employees who have grownwith the agency. The workplace culture at Wireside is reflective ofthe collaborative spirit of the agency—while the work is fast pacedand challenging, the agency ethos is to be supportive andtransparent. In addition to offering flexibility within the 9-to-5framework, Wireside also has an agency dog – a black EnglishLabrador named Ridley who comes in every day helping to reducestress and promote a supportive atmosphere.

Wireside is committed to job creation by funding and mentoring anew generation of business people to work in this specialty field.With this commitment in mind, Wireside founded a competitiveinternship program. Wireside also conducts PR campaigns toeducate the IT industry on the importance of sustainability andenergy efficiency, using the firm’s skills to improve society anddoing pro-bono work for clients that benefits society and takes onpro-bono projects for non-profit organizations with green missions.



G O L DKonnect Public Relations

Konnect PR is a Los Angeles-based firm that specializes in creatingcustom campaigns that deliver unbeatable business results. Thefirm distinguishes itself by offering more than the traditional publicrelations agency: Each strategic PR plan is carefully tailored togenerate visible ROI, align with the overall brand objectives andaccommodate budget requirements. Konnect does not believe in aone-size-fits-all public relations strategy. Each client is treated as aunique entity.

With more than 80 years of collective experience, Konnect’sambitious, dedicated and enthusiastic professionals contribute awealth of knowledge from a variety of industries. Speaking acombined eight languages and having previously practiced publicrelations for well-known brands like Cheerios, Got Milk, GeneralMotors, Sunkist and many more, the agency utilizes diverseprofessional backgrounds, business insights and knowledge toprovide a holistic approach to media relations efforts. Konnect PRhas mastered media outreach for a large variety of consumerlifestyle products in the areas of food and beverage, baby andchildren franchise and fitness and wellness.

In 2012, Konnect PR experienced a client retention rate of morethan 96 percent with the majority of clients having been with theagency for more than two years. Konnect PR is a relationship-basedcompany and rarely takes on project-based work in order to ensurethat it keeps these relationships as a core focus. Creating a positiveimage in the public is crucial at all times, and the firm is dedicatedto increasing brand exposure for those it serves on an ongoingbasis. Longstanding clients include Rhythm Superfoods, Capriotti’sSandwich Shop, Sweet Leaf Tea and Sky Zone Indoor TrampolinePark.

Konnect PR is known for both the quality and quantity of presssecured for clients—in top-tier publications, as well as blogs, localmedia, specialty outlets and trade publications. Konnect PR acts asan in-house team for clients and provides reporting on key metrics

on media trends, activity analysis, exposure, ad value equivalencyand Web traffic alignment.

The firm has developed a series of best practices to ensure qualitypress for all of clients. One-hundred percent of pitches arecustomized for each of our media contacts, and in 2012, KonnectPR placed multiple clients in “TODAY,” “Good Morning America,” TheWall Street Journal, InStyle, Redbook, Forbes, “The Ellen DeGeneresShow” and USA Today, among many others, resulting in 4,400placements and more than 18 billion impressions.

Without a team of bright, ambitious, agile and autodidactic

individuals working together for the betterment of the company,swift growth (like the kind Konnect PR experienced in 2012) wouldnot be possible. A 90 percent employee retention rate reflects thatstrong teamwork and employee satisfaction is of the utmostimportance. Konnect PR also engages a number of initiatives tokeep employees motivated, including fun incentive plans, contestsand daily motivational techniques. There is an open door policyacross all levels of the organization, and cross-departmental work isnot only encouraged—it’s expected. Each morning, the entire teamgathers together for a meeting to continue the spirit ofcollaboration.

Konnect PR grew more than 95 percent from 2011 to 2012. In thisindustry, growth is generally dependent on client revenue andnumber of employees—and both Konnect PR’s client roster and staffcount more than doubled in 2012. This growth helped it to surpassthe million-dollar mark in revenue, forge relationships with newclients and expand its office space. Konnect PR also added a socialmedia department to deliver additional strategic insights to clients.That said, the majority of growth was a result of new businessacquisitions—with more than 20 new clients, ranging from fledglingstartups to major players in the industries it serves.

S I L V E RKYNE

Founded in 2009, KYNE is a privately held strategic healthcommunications agency headquartered in New York City. KYNE is inthe business of solving unmet health needs and acting as acatalyst, driving issues towards meaningful progress by aligning theright partners and leading them to genuine solutions.

Due to its experience in leading healthcare engagements withgovernment foundations and agencies, biopharmaceuticalcompanies and non-profit organizations, KYNE helps clients see allperspectives. The agency helps identify gaps in research, educationand communication and works with both public and privateorganizations to create partnerships that help address such gaps.

From identifying and rallying the right influencers and developingrobust multi-stakeholder campaigns, to providing ongoing mediastrategic communications support, KYNE has the skills to moveissues forward. KYNE creates partnerships and related programsthat achieve real change, leveraging its expertise to break downbarriers. Whether that’s helping reduce tobacco use in US, helpingreduce the number of preventable malaria deaths in Africa orcontributing to patient- centered healthcare, KYNE has craftedprograms and partnerships with the power to make a difference.

KYNE established its reputation as a public health advocate through



its leadership of key non- government organization and foundationengagements—particularly the United Against Malaria (UAM)campaign. KYNE’s NGO portfolio has since expanded to otherareas addressing unmet need—including safe surgery in resource-limited settings, Alzheimer’s disease and the improvement of healthsystems in the US. On the private sector side, KYNE representsclients who are developing strategic partnerships with a variety ofstakeholders in areas including oncology, cardiovascular disease,lupus and hemophilia. KYNE has also helped foster and growPfizer’s relationship with the CDC and CDC Foundation.

KYNE prides itself on being nimble and flexible—qualities that arereflected in the agency’s telecommuting and flex-work policy. Theteam coordinates schedules to optimize in-office time to meetclient, internal and personal needs. This flexibility underscores themutual respect of team members for one another, enhances staffengagement and promotes strong retention rates.

KYNE values input at all levels, and all team members are involvedat various stages in agency branding, strategic discussionsregarding business growth and priorities, new team member hiresand new office design. Open collaboration allows for teachingmoments at all levels.

KYNE recently launched KYNE GIVES, an internal CSR program,which encourages employees to give back to the community byparticipating in charity events, pro-bono work and by donating tocharities selected by employees. Through KYNE GIVES, the teamhas participated in several charity events including GMHC’s annualGala and The AIDS Walk. KYNE currently does pro-bono work forthe Butterfly Mission, a nonprofit organization aiding families andchildren with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the New York Tri-StateArea.

B R O N Z EChild's Play Communications

Back in 1988, Child’s Play became the first agency to specificallytarget the mom market—now 38 million strong. At the time, thisdemographic was generally ignored by agencies and brands, andmoms’ purchasing power was neither acknowledged nor pursued ina meaningful way.

Child’s Play has focused on innovation from day one, and it hasreally made a name for itself through its first-to-market concepts insocial media. Years ago, Child’s Play began launching proprietaryprograms such as the Team Mom network of mom review bloggers.

For this, the agency has won a number of industry awards—including Bulldog Reporter’s PR Innovation of the Year and SocialMedia Innovator of the Year awards. Other Child’s Play social mediaprograms include brand-specific blogger brunches, virtual focusgroups, an in-house research group and a new content-creationprogram.

The agency has launched other services to help companies reachmoms beyond the social media space: Disney has taken advantageof the Child’s Play party service, in which the agency coordinateswith moms to host brand-themed parties; The Insider MomNetwork program enables companies like National Geographic Kidsto sample products directly to new moms; and the agency pursuedpartnership programs for the first time, proactively bringing clientssuch as Reading Rainbow and the Wildlife Conservation Societytogether.

Child’s Play has maintained its reputation for integrity whilegenerating optimum results, whether through social or traditionalmedia. Recent clients include Heinz, toy maker GUND, “Peppa Pig”animated television series, the Wildlife Conservation Society andReading Rainbow. A highlight of the year: Reading Rainbowbecame the #1 educational app in the iTunes store within 48hours of the launch and the #1 best grossing app by the end ofthe week.

Child’s Play conducts ongoing research on the marketing andsocial trends that impact moms. The most recent effort is an in-depth survey of what moms want for Mother’s Day 2013, whichappeared in The Wall Street Journal. Based on its ongoingresearch, the agency writes a monthly post for Engage: Moms andalso shares findings in its quarterly newsletter and blog. Companyexecs speak frequently at mom marketing conferences, and theagency has partnered with Bloganthropy.org, a blog thatencourages philanthropy.

The family-targeted agency focuses on a culture friendly to parentsand makes hours reasonable for staff at all levels. The agencyroutinely hosts lunches and parties and recently expanded itsafter-hours adventures. To accommodate its growing staff, theagency moved to a bigger and brighter office space.

In the past year, Child’s Play took on major brands and retainedmany of its past clients. The agency also went global, increased itsstaff by 20 percent and invested in developing expertise in newfields, including apps and mobile. In recent years, Child’s Play hasnearly doubled revenues and, for the first time, hit the million markin 2012.



G O L DBateman Group

Bateman Group is an integrated public relations and social mediacommunications firm founded in 2004 around a compelling vision—to make a bigger market impact for a smaller, more select group ofcompanies. The ideal clients are companies, regardless of size,solving real problems in ground-breaking and disruptive ways thatvalue content expertise, exceptional writing and guaranteed senior-level attention above all else.

Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Brooklyn, BatemanGroup is distinctive through its approach to planning andmeasurement, ability to deliver excellent results, pursuit of clientsatisfaction and creative program execution. Practice areas includeadvertising and marketing, technology, enterprise and ITinfrastructure, IT security, mobile/wireless and greentech/sustainability.


One of the main differentiators between Bateman Group andsimilarly sized firms is its talent and account structure. The senior-level staffing model translates to teams being managed by two tothree members of the senior management team. This senior-levelattention is maintained throughout every client relationship—not justduring the pitch or times of crisis.

What’s more, the firm was built from the ground up as a contentcreation bureau—not just a media relations shop. Bateman Groupdelivers exceptional content consistently, and as a result, has oneof the highest client retention rates in the nation: The average clientrelationship stands at five years.

This year’s campaign highlights include “Game of Phones: GooglePlay Launch” for App Annie, which launched the mobile app storeanalytics company into the U.S. market and quadrupled revenue;“Share Responsibility for the Planet – Visualizing the Impact of Eco-

Action,” a campaign for Recyclebank during Earth Month, whichdrove website traffic and average visit times to an all-time high; andwidespread coverage via a financial communications campaign forQualys, the leading cloud security company, for the company’s IPO.


S I L V E RGroundfloor

Staffed entirely by seasoned industry pros, GroundFloor Media(GFM) is an award-winning marketing, communcations and PRagency specializing in communications, digital and social mediastrategy and crisis communication and reputation management.Laura Love started the agency in her basement in 2001 and hassince built it into one of the region’s most respected agencies,boasting a national client base, including BNSF Railway, Children’sHospital Colorada, Level 3, Oskar Blues Brewery, Qdoba MexicanGrill and USA Swimming, among many others.

Headquartered in Denver, with members located from coast tocoast, GFM is staffed entirely by senior-level professionals. Theoverall team has an average of 16 years’ experience apiece. GFMdoesn’t specialize in a particular niche industry, making it largely“recession-proof” and allowing it to work with clients from allindustries who simply have good stories to tell. In addition, GFM isa member of the Public Relations Global Network.

One of the most important aspects of GFM is its commitment togiving back. Since its inception, GFM has donated the equivalent ofnearly 15 percent of annual revenues back to the community—through contributions, pro bono PR, reduced billing rates fornonprofit clients and staff time committed to communityorganizations. Team members are also encouraged to participate insocial causes important to them and can volunteer or designatecash grants to nonprofits for which they volunteer. Love recentlytransitioned to the role of chief cultural officer and is spearheadingthe establishment of a company foundation focused on childrenand families, which will serve as a formalized extension of GFM’scommunity service.

Laura Love and new president Ramonna Robinson have built aculture based on celebrating accomplishments and encouragingcamaraderie. Employee appreciation is an integral part of GFM’sculture, and a new agency Facebook group facilities team members’



kudos and congratulations to others. The company offers generoustraditional benefits, as well as a flexible work environment, on-siteworkout room, a full-time team annual mountain trek and manyother activities.

GFM has experience steady growth overall throughout its 12 yearsin existence, and GFM has recently introduced a new digital andsocial media strategy service line, as well as expanded itscrisis/reputation management service. At the same time, GFM hascontinued to maintain a very strong stable of strategiccommunications clients as well. At the end of 2012, 40 of GFM’sclient base had been with the agency for three years or more.Going into 2013, 75 percent of its projected revenue for the yearcomes from returning clients.

GFM’s innovative spirit and expansion of services have led to theintroduction of a number of new products and services. Theseinclude a tool that allows GFM to customize training sessions thatmimic online crises, a social-mapping exercise geared towardonline brand managers overseeing multiple social channels,enhanced content optimization solutions and enhanced websitedevelopment. GFM has also won numerous industry awards, Lauraand Ramonna have both been previously named as finalists for theDenver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business award.

B R O N Z EInkHouse

InkHouse is an independent public relations and social contentagency serving technology, consumer, energy, real estate andfinancial services organizations. Founded in 2007, InkHouse wasan upstart agency with a unique point of view about social mediaand blogger relations, which gave the firm an edge in its earliestdays. InkHouse believes the greatest results are generated throughthird-party coverage and self-published content. Thus, InkHousebuilt not only a strong media relations group but also a uniqueContent Bureau, which creates, proliferates and curates contentthat ignites meaningful conversations for clients with their topaudiences.

InkHouse initially made its name through work with startups andventure capital firms such as Spark Capital and Charles RiverVentures. Offering inroads to the hottest startups, these firms arebehind companies such as Twitter, Foursquare and Tumblr, andInkHouse’s work with their investors has parlayed into biggercompanies for the agency’s client roster. Today, InkHouse workswith some of the hottest startups in the country as well asMassachusetts’ largest tech companies, including Raytheon, GEand Nuance Communications.

Despite the recession, the agency continued growing through thepast few years by keeping a focus on the changing medialandscape. The firm’s client wins have been critical, and during thepast year—the agency’s best year yet—InkHouse served more than40 accounts, winning 15 pieces of business—an increase of 39percent during this period alone. The agency expanded its offeringsinto the real estate market. In all, revenues grew more than 40percent.

With new client wins come an expanded staff, and InkHouse nowhas a team of 43 dedicated communications professionals, 10 ofwhom were hired since January 2013, increasing headcount byone third. The agency expanded its office space this year and hiredan in-house creative content manager and a graphic designer toadd to its creative offerings—design and video services—andsupport its Content Bureau.

The agency believes that success does not require 60-hourworkweeks. Having been through the grind of working for largenational agencies, InkHouse’s co-founders made a deliberate effortto create a culture of work/life balance and flexibility. InkHouse’sbi-weekly “Forced Office Fun” gatherings allow employees to relax,and in weekly staff meetings, the principals recognize an employeewho has gone above and beyond. In addition, InkHouse fostersemployee satisfaction and community service by encouraging theteam to, among other things, volunteer at the Greater Boston FoodBank and attend industry events and workshops.

The agency’s diverse client base offers employees the chance toview the PR and social content world across various company sizesand industries. InkHouse works with clients ranging from stealthystart-ups to some of the country’s most admired brands such asGE and Raytheon, as well as a number of top venture capital firms.

H O N O R A B L E M E N T I O NHellerman Baretz Communications

literally and figuratively. The firm was founded 10 years ago by PRprofessional John Hellerman and former attorney Spencer Baretz,who both recognized an opportunity to fill a hole in the market:Providing high-end communications counsel to the nation’s leadinglaw firms.

In 2012, their vision became more real than ever: HBC hired its13th employee—a new high-water mark for the agency—moved intonew offices in both New York City and Washington, DC, andstretched its geographic reach all the way to Los Angeles,California. In 2012-2013 (to present), HBC gained 15 new clientsand increased revenues by 21 percent.



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This growth in territory and numbers has been necessary to servicethe increasing demands of clients in the legal space. Far more thana PR shop, HBC provides strategic counsel on communicationscampaigns of all types, each designed with clients’ business goalsin mind. Staffed with numerous former journalists, former attorneysand communications experts, HBC has positioned itself as the mostsophisticated provider of communication services to the legalindustry.

Achievements include client coverage in the NYT, Forbes, HuffingtonPost, AP, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, National Law Journal, severallocal radio outlets and a live television interview. HBC also executedpress outreach (including a press conference) and a social mediacampaign on behalf of a leading California plaintiffs’ firm. HBChelped a number of legal clients achieve significant industryhonors, and for its numerous successes on behalf of its clients,HBC has earned several honors of its own, including Best CrisisManagement Firm, Best Social Media Consultancy and Best PublicRelations Firm in a nationwide survey of National Law Journalreaders.

HBC prides itself on creative, non-traditional thinking that leads tosignificant results. A prime example of that approach has been its

involvement with the “Madison Avenue Insights” blog, whichpromotes the advertising and marketing practice at the Davis &Gilbert law firm. It is the latest in a string of standout blogs thatHBC has conceived and executed for law firm clients.

Over the last year, John Hellerman and Spencer Baretz continued todrive the conversations that are leading the legal PR field forward.Longtime proponents of the value of thought leadership for legalprofessionals, John and Spencer co-authored an influential articlein the New York Law Journal titled “Thought Leadership: A Game toShare with Your Friends.” Since then, Hellerman and Baretz havebeen asked to make many presentations to various chapters of theLegal Marketing Association—the dominant trade group in the legalspace.

Hellerman and Baretz formed numerous partnerships within thelegal marketing space—including partnerships with one of thenation’s leading LinkedIn instructors, a vendor of online analyticaltools tailored to the legal profession and the influential Chambersdirectory. Moreover, in the last twelve months, HBC has beenhonored with requests that reflect the high degree of confidencethat its clients and the legal community have in HBC.

G O L DWaggener Edstrom

With a deep understanding of the dynamics of influence andstorytelling, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) considers digitalinfluence to be a core part of its DNA. The agency createsmemorable and measurable experiences to engage audiencesfrom discovery to action, generating real business results forclients.

By crafting its own software products and services and securingtop developers and analytical talent, WE builds strategy, relevanceand genuine value into integrated communications plans thatinclude the very important realm of digital. From in-housecreative, ideation and experience design services to cutting-edgedigital programs, WE continues to invest in the ideas, instrumentsand expertise that solve clients’ problems. Its in-house group ofdigital experts delivers a wide range of professional servicesincluding digital design, Web development, advertising, contentcreation, measurement, marketing and the latest in Webtechnology.

WE has been successful, in no small part because of its ability to

anticipate and adapt to the natural and dynamic evolution of theindustry. The agency’s financial independence enables the teamto grow intelligently and with purpose and to continue to invest indeveloping products and program. Notable achievements includeopening offices in Bangalore, India, and Delhi, India, as well as abranch office in Switzerland, adding new global affiliates, buildingits client portfolio and exceeding its goal of donating 1 percent ofits total fee income by contributing more than $1.4 million in pro-bono work, donations and employee volunteer efforts.

For employees, WE delivers an experience that spans beyond aspecific client or team, connecting its people with where theagency is going and creating opportunities for them to directlyimpact the company’s future. WE offers options to help employeesbuild their careers—through a global exchange program, aLeadership Forum and WE Influence Institute.

Citizenship is a key priority for WE, and as such, WE is committedto developing and driving initiatives that engage employees andthat apply company assets while supporting charitableorganizations and communities where it can have an impact. Theagency’s own corporate responsibility and sustainability focusinfluences how it operates in these communities and the kind ofwork its do. For example, WE recognized the value and



opportunity to build the WE Social Innovation Practice, which helpsclients analyze and address the ongoing challenges posed byeconomic and societal changes.

S I L V E RBateman Group

Bateman Group is an integrated public relations and social mediacommunications firm founded in 2004 around a compellingvision—to make a bigger market impact for a smaller, more selectgroup of companies. The ideal clients are companies, regardless ofsize, solving real problems in ground-breaking and disruptive waysthat value content expertise, exceptional writing and guaranteedsenior-level attention above all else.

Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Brooklyn, BatemanGroup is distinctive through its approach to planning andmeasurement, ability to deliver excellent results, pursuit of clientsatisfaction and creative program execution. Practice areas includeadvertising and marketing, technology, enterprise and ITinfrastructure, IT security, mobile/wireless and greentech/sustainability.


One of the main differentiators between Bateman Group andsimilarly sized firms is its talent and account structure. The senior-level staffing model translates to teams being managed by two tothree members of the senior management team. This senior-levelattention is maintained throughout every client relationship—notjust during the pitch or times of crisis.

What’s more, the firm was built from the ground up as a contentcreation bureau—not just a media relations shop. Bateman Groupdelivers exceptional content consistently, and as a result, has oneof the highest client retention rates in the nation: The averageclient relationship stands at five years.

This year’s campaign highlights include “Game of Phones: GooglePlay Launch” for App Annie, which launched the mobile app storeanalytics company into the U.S. market and quadrupled revenue,“Share Responsibility for the Planet – Visualizing the Impact ofEco-Action,” a campaign for Recyclebank during Earth Month,which drove website traffic and average visit times to an all-timehigh, and widespread coverage via a financial communicationscampaign for Qualys, the leading cloud security company, for thecompany’s IPO.


B R O N Z ERainier Corporation

In 2013, Rainier Communications celebrated its 20th year as ahigh-tech public relations agency, marking the milestone with theadditions of new clients, employees and an expandedheadquarters. Founded by engineer-turned-marketer SteveSchuster, Rainier has held true to its mission to be “technology’smost credible voice.” The agency’s success can be attributed inpart to long-standing relationships with its clients and the mediaand a reputation for technological credibility, professionalism,creativity and high standards (for itself and its clients).

Rainier has helped more than 200 clients worldwide garner realbusiness results, including revenue growth, new funding and morethan 45 mergers and acquisitions. The agency has also developeda strong business presence in the Israeli high-tech community andhas introduced more than 50 startups from that nation to the U.S.market. Rainier’s PR expertise includes technologies such asembedded systems, digital advertising, semiconductors,telecommunications, storage, security, mobile/wireless, cleantech,software and applications.

Over the past two decades, Steve has led Rainier as its visionaryprincipal, navigating the agency through tectonic changes in thetechnology marketplace and multiple periods of economicdisruption. Throughout, Steve has never lost sight of his vision togive technologies a highly strategic and credible voice in themarketplace. The result has been world-class PR campaigns forthousands of technologies, with Rainier helping companiestransform their inventiveness into business successes.

Steve’s philosophy has always been to hire individuals he respectswith deep technological and PR knowledge, while striving to learn



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from them as well. He is dedicated to building a team ofindividuals that can always deliver on the promise of Rainier’smission, and he leads by example by setting high standards for hisown work, and pushing himself and the agency to think big onbehalf of its clients.

Rainier once again expanded its team in recent months to supportits growth, and the new employees join a staff known for its stayingpower: More than half of Rainier’s employees have been with theagency for more than 10 years. Earlier this year, the agencydoubled its space in its Boston-area office to accommodate recentand expected expansion. Rainier’s exceptionally high rate ofemployee retention has also resulted in long-term clientrelationships. While the industry-average client/agency relationship

is approximately 18 months, Rainier has retained numerous clientsfor 5 or more years, and some for more than a decade.

Rainier continues to serve as the most credible voice forcompanies launching technology products and services in new oremerging domains, in addition to more traditional technologyfields. Likewise, Rainier’s expertise in social media comes from itsearly adoption of now commonplace channels and gives Rainier’sclients an additional competitive advantage. Some of the world’sleading technology companies—including global brand leaders—have turned to Rainier after failing to find what they were lookingfor in larger, better known agencies. This is because Rainier trulystands out from other technology PR agencies.

G O L DMichael W. Kempner

MWW

When Michael W. Kempner, founder, president and chief executiveofficer of MWW first started his agency in 1986, he envisioned abusiness that would do more than just provide superior clientservice—it would make a difference in its communities, industry,and in some small way, the world. Every client program, employeeinitiative, and innovation for more than 25 years has been amanifestation of that vision, from MWW’s social media leadershipto its commitment to the environment. As a result, MWW hasbecome one of the largest and fastest growing firms worldwide,making it among the most sought-after agencies by clients acrossall categories.

This vision is also what led Kempner to spearhead a management-led buy-out of MWW from the Interpublic Group of Companies(NYSE: IPG) in December 2010. As the media and businesslandscape continued to rapidly change, what may have beenobstacles for some, Kempner saw as an unrivaled opportunity toreturn the firm to its innovative and client-centric roots and theentrepreneurial spirit upon which MWW was founded. The buy-outoccurred ten years following the original sale of MWW to IPG andreturned the firm to its status as one of the largest independentpublic relations agencies in the world.

Kempner is one of the few true entrepreneurs among large firms.While many CEOs have moved up the ranks to their current positionin their firm, Kempner has been there since the very beginning

when MWW had just one client, one office and one employee. He’sstill as hands-on as ever, making the difference for MWW’s clients,agency growth, and staff. After the buy-out, the firm experienced anoverall growth of 14% and was named Midsize Agency of the Yearby the Holmes Report, International Business Awards, PR News andthe Bulldog Stars of PR Awards and also named 2012 Top Placesto Work in PR by PR News and 2013 Best Place to Work in NJ byNJBiz.

It hasn’t always been an easy road. The public relations industryhas faced a number of challenges over the last 25 years, includingthe rise of social media and the recent economic downturn. But nomatter the challenge, Kempner has seen opportunity to transforman industry that has traditionally been slow to move. He started thefirst digital practice in 2005, before other public relations firmscaught on. He has also championed MWW Ventures, which is aprogram aimed at trading public relations services for equity instart-ups poised to innovate the industry.

Kempner doubled down on MWW’s digital practice in 2011, hiringmore than 15 key digital strategists, analytic specialists andcreative professionals to provide clients with the full spectrum ofdigital services, including mobile and social media. In addition tokey hires, MWW has been able to provide insights on the changingdigital landscape, including white papers on the impact of socialmedia changes. MWW also partnered with Social Media Week(SMW), a global event that connects people, content andconversation around emerging trends in social and mobile media.

From 2010-2013, MWW partnered with the Network for TeachingEntrepreneurship (NFTE), a non-profit organization that helps youngpeople from low-income communities build skills and plan for


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successful futures. MWW’s creative team provided the direction andvision to develop the branding and collateral materials for the 2013“Dare to Dream” Annual Gala.

MWW significantly expanded its research and insights practice,highlighted with the hire of vice president Doug O’Reilly, a topresearch talent with more than two decades of experience. UnderO’Reilly’s guidance, MWW built new methodologies and tools thatsupport all of MWW’s practice areas. O’Reilly also led the creationof NetRelevance, MWW’s proprietary methodology for measuring abrand’s trust and relevance among stakeholders.

Kempner truly believes that at the heart of MWW’s success are itsemployees, the 207 communications professionals and supportstaff who together deliver award-winning communications counseland programs on behalf of clients, and who collectively strive tominimize the firm’s environmental impact and enhance itscontributions to the community.

MWW has been named a “Top Place to Work in PR” by PR Newsfour times in the past five years.

CSR has been at the very heart of MWW’s core values sinceKempner’s founding in 1986. To further MWW’s efforts, an officialMWW CSR Committee was established, with representation fromeach office dedicated to finding and implementing new ways thatMWW can make a difference and give back to its communities.Initiatives include CommunityWorks and Group Green.

A frequent lecturer on a variety of public relations, managementand marketing issues, Michael has authored numerous articles onmarketing, financial transactions and crisis communications.

Kempner’s years of experience in Public Relations and strategiccommunications have given him extensive insights into the industryand a viewpoint unique from that of many other industryprofessionals. Through his blog, “MWW Straight Talk,” Kempner isable to express his views and opinions on a diverse range ofindustry hot-topics, breaking news and MWW accomplishment.Michael also became a regular contributor to the Huffington Post,where he leads discussion on leadership, relevance and industryhot topics, among others.

Kempner was recently honored as PR Weeks’ Public RelationsExecutive of the Year and by the Stevie International BusinessAwards as Communications Executive of the Year and InternationalCommunications Executive of the Year. Kempner was also awardeda Lifetime Achievement Award by PR News for his two decades ofcontributions to the public relations industry and his leadership ofMWW and was inducted into the Public Relations Hall of Fame in2009.

S I L V E RMelissa Waggener Zorkin

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Melissa Waggener Zorkin, founder and CEO of Waggener EdstromWorldwide (WE), has built a career typified by her commitment toexcellence, innovative thinking and making a difference in hercommunity and the world. This commitment has resulted in nearly30 years of success for WE. Associated with some of the greatestinnovators of our time in technology, bioscience, social innovationand healthcare, her agency has helped tell the extraordinary storiesof some of the world’s leading brands.

Through her vision, WE has grown from a two-person operation intoone of the world’s largest independent communications firms, withrevenues greater than $118 million (2012), and more than 850employees in more than 80 markets around the world, includingAfrica, Asia, Australia, Europe and the U.S.

Melissa is known for forging partnerships with the most innovativeminds in business. From serving on the board of Mercy Corps tochampioning poverty reduction, technological advancement andeducation in Africa and beyond, Melissa demonstrates that for-profits can champion global social changes. By building socialinnovation—the intersection of good business and doing good—intoWE’s foundation, Melissa sees to it that her company and herclients tackle some of the world’s biggest problems together.

Melissa has also applied her passion toward making socialinnovation, a term she defines as “doing rather than talking,” ahallmark of the culture at WE. She often speaks in support of thiseffort and took the stage at TED University about the confluence ofstorytelling and increasing the impact of innovations. In addition, atTED 2013 she was selected to join one of the inaugural TEDChallenges led by Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance. Theirgoal is to help tackle the issue of tracking and tracing vaccines toreduce waste and get more vaccines into the hands of those whoneed them most around the world.

Melissa leads WE’s agency-wide charitable efforts by personalexample, serving on several nonprofit boards and activelysupporting a multitude of philanthropic efforts aimed at battlingpoverty and oppression, including Mercy Corps, NetHope and theHalf the Sky movement.

In 2012, the agency joined a prestigious group of partners tosupport Lean In, a nonprofit organization founded by Facebook COOSheryl Sandberg with the goal of providing women with theencouragement and support to achieve their goals. The broadermessage of empowerment is relevant to everyone, especiallyMelissa, who has been instrumental in practicing and advocating


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this. In the workplace, she has sponsored the company’sLeadership Forum program since 2008, a program designed todevelop the future leaders of the company. And in Ethiopia, Melissaimplemented a four-year program, the “Empowering EthiopianWomen and Girls for Peaceful Change project,” in partnership withMercy Corps and the Batonga Foundation, to aid approximately450 underprivileged but entrepreneurial girls, women and theirfamilies.

WE gives back to the local global community through severalcitizenship programs initiated by Melissa, contributing more than 1percent of our gross revenue to support the communities in whichwe live and work, and offering our employees up to 16 hours tocontribute to causes about which they are passionate. In 2012, theagency exceeded its goal and contributed more than $1.4 million inpro-bono work, donations and employee volunteer efforts. Melissaalso recently donated more than $25,000 to help aid with relief ofthe famine crisis in Africa and has been recognized by the AdakumEducational Foundation for her efforts in helping build a library andcomputer lab at the L&A Memorial Academy in Accra, Ghana.

Under Melissa’s guidance, WE also supports The LAGRANTFoundation, an organization that provides ethnic minority collegestudents who aspire to become communications professionals withscholarships, career workshops, professional development,mentoring and internships. WE also hosts regular programmingevents for the organization. In addition to financial support and thecommitment of time and expertise by WE leaders, the agency hasbeen fortunate to welcome LAGRANT scholars to the WE family inboth full- time and internship positions over the past few years.

Melissa also seeks to enrich and strengthen the communicationsprofession, and is honored to be a member of the Arthur W. PageSociety. In the fall of 2004, the Council of Public Relations Firms—the national trade association for the U.S. public relations industry—named Melissa as a board member among representatives of otherleading PR companies.

B R O N Z EKen Makovsky Makovsky + Co.

Like few in the business today, Ken Makovsky combines qualities ofboth hands-on agency entrepreneur and respected industry leader.He has built and actively manages one of the most visible, admiredand successful public relations agencies in the United States,honored last year as Mid-Size PR Agency of the Year.

At a time of transformation in the communications field, Ken has

provided insight and vision through his seven-year-running blog “MyThree Cents.” This widely acclaimed blog truly transcends the realmpublic relations, cited last year by Chief Executive Magazine as oneof the top 10 must-read blogs by CEOs. Ken’s management stylehas been described by the words “decency” and “integrity.” Notsurprisingly, last year he received the Grand Prize asCommunications Professional of the Year.

Ken Makovsky enjoys the reputation today as one of the premierstrategic and operational leaders in the public relations industry. Hereceived the 2012 Gold SABRE for Outstanding IndividualAchievement, one of the industry’s highest awards. This is one of sixindividual honors bestowed upon Ken in the past two years,including the Grand Prize of “Communications Professional of theYear” cited above.

Over the past eight years, Ken has driven the agency’s revenuegrowth by 188%. In the past year, revenues rose 10%. The agencyachieved 80% of its forecast goals, winning more than $6 million innew business—including prestigious new assignments from Merck,Mercedes, Sprint and Cisco. In 2012, Makovsky closed nearly oneout of every three sales leads. In other words, every time a prospectmade contact with the agency, there was a greater than 30%chance they would ultimately become a client. It’s an extraordinarysuccess ratio likely unsurpassed in the industry.

Among other achievements, Makovsky’s client retention was 80%,striking in a still unsettled economy, and more than 90% of theagency’s clients rated the agency “good” to “exceptional” in sixmetrics that define success, including overall performance, value forbudget and creativity. Staff retention was 95%, well above industryaverages.

In 1979, a young public relations executive secured a hard-foughtbridgehead in the hyper-competitive New York agency marketplace,worked relentlessly since then to create what has become aconsensus Agency of the Year. Ken is recognized today not as anarrowly focused, “just-do-it” entrepreneur, but as a pioneer ofagency management practice, a champion of higher education andhuman rights, and a model of personal “decency and integrity” inthe words of Paul Holmes.

Ken is a leader in a variety of human rights, higher education andeconomic development causes, in addition to industry associations.These include: Washington University Arts & Sciences NationalCouncil and founder of the “Minnie Makovsky Scholarship inMusic”; Columbia Journalism School’s First Amendment BreakfastSeries; Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communications -Advisory Committee for Independent Study Degree; Arthur W. PageSociety - Advisory Panel; Institute for Public Relations – Co-Chairman of the Board; Council of Public Relations Firms - Board ofDirectors; Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce - Board


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S I L V E RJenny Moede

Waggener Edstrom

Jenny Moede, president, North America region, oversees WaggenerEdstrom Worldwide’s (WE) five specialty practices in North America,including brand strategy and marketing, healthcare, public affairs,technology and social innovation. Jenny also manages the agency’sDigital Influence and Insights division, which includes the Insight &Analytics and Content teams. Jenny serves on the Agency ActionBoard, the senior executive advisory team responsible for guidingagency strategy. Before joining WE in 1994, Jenny worked inWashington, D.C., at Edelman, providing media relations and publicaffairs support to clients nationwide.

With more than 20 years of experience, Jenny has representedcompanies and nonprofit organizations at all stages of businessdevelopment. Jenny started her career at WE on the Microsoftcorporate team, developing proactive campaigns and programs inthe accessibility, kids and learning, and community philanthropyspaces.

Jenny’s many notable achievements include: Founding of WE’sHealthcare Practice in 2001, showcasing her entrepreneurial spiritand building it into a thriving business focused on innovativecompanies in the life sciences, including the biopharmaceutical,medical device, genomics and health IT sectors; increasing year-over-year revenue by 18 percent and pre-rent profit by nearly 45percent across six practices in her first year as executive vicepresident of WE’s North America region; experiencing an annualgrowth rate of 30 percent for the Healthcare Practice through ahealthy combination of new business and organic growth;developing and launching Microsoft’s “Able to Work” initiative in the’90s to connect technology accessibility with a workforce outcome.

She was also promoted to president, North America, in 2012 andnamed 2012 PR Professional of the Year: Agency by PR News and

was recently named one of 25 recipients of the Portland BusinessJournal’s Women of Influence Orchid Award. She earned thePRWeek Healthcare Campaign of the Year award, Silver BulldogAward and SABRE Award for a media relations campaign on behalfof AVI BioPharma in 2004. Finally, she received both a TotemAward and a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the PRSA.

A fabulous mentor, problem-solver, decision-maker and anobserver of patterns, Jenny is the driving force behind WE’s NorthAmerica team. She represents nearly two decades ofexperimentation, growth and diversification at the agency. Whatbegan as an idea to establish a healthcare practice has evolvedinto the management of a group of successful businesses thatwork with clients in healthcare, energy, telecomm, aerospace,technology, sustainability and other sectors. Jenny runs thesebusinesses with a few simple goals: Match the right people withthe right jobs; empower them to unleash their creative, strategicselves to grow the client portfolio; create durable, efficientprocesses that promote quality service without burden; engageleaders in a clear business vision; and foster collaboration thatallows for scale in both capability and volume.

She does this in partnership with the practice leads and a group ofcommunications professionals who live and work across thecountry. Most important, people love working with Jenny. Sheinspires, is a fabulous mentor, and takes a “roll up your sleevesand get it done” approach. Jenny is a “glass half full” person whoabsolutely embodies what the agency stands for: She is respectful,well-respected, passionate, honest, authentic and committed toturning innovation into impact.

Jenny participated in the Arthur W. Page Society’s first FutureLeaders Experience. She also mentors young professionals enteringthe workforce and engages with her Carleton College alumninetwork. She also spent time in the classroom reading andteaching science when her children were younger. She is avoracious reader who pays close attention to scientific researchand theory in the healthcare and environmental fields.

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Member; The American Jewish Committee - Chapter AssociationTask Force and National Board of Governors.

The firm’s consistent recognition as a “Best Place to Work” agencyhas much to do with the community service ethic Ken hasestablished within the firm. Causes Makovsky supported during2011 include: National Wear Red Day, Skip Lunch Fight Hunger,

MillionTreesNYC, Yorkville Common Pantry, New York Blood Center,New York Cares, Toys for Tots, Children’s Aid Turkey Drive, NationalMultiple Sclerosis Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,Scleroderma Foundation, American Heart Association, March ofDimes, City Harvest, Arthritis Foundation and the ChristianChildren’s Fund.


D I G I TA L C OMMUN I C AT I ONS P RO F E S S I ONA L O F T H E Y E AR

G O L DChad Latz

Cohn & Wolfe

In the past eight years, the public relations field has becomeincreasingly intertwined with digital and social media tactics. Manybrands cannot imagine rolling out a new product, program ortagline without a firm digital strategy in place. As this evolutionoccurs, knowledgeable and trusted digital leadership has become akey part of agency life. At Cohn & Wolfe, Chad Latz has flawlesslybrought the agency to the forefront of digital thinking—integratingonline tactics into every client campaign and ensuring that all Cohn& Wolfe employees, regardless of practice, have a firmunderstanding of constantly evolving digital tools.

As President and Global Digital Practice Head, Chad leads thestrategic development and growth of the agency’s worldwide digitaland social media practice. His responsibilities include cultivatingclient relationships, developing social media perspectives, providingsenior counsel to key clients, new business development andmanaging a global team of digital stars. He also launched theDigital & Creative Experiences Group, an employee team comprisedof experts in graphic design, online user experience, videoproduction, animation, infographics and more. The group’s worksignificantly expanded Cohn & Wolfe’s capabilities to createcompelling content and brand experiences for our clients.

Early on, Chad was committed to building digital knowledge, skillsand capabilities within the entire agency—not just his team. In2011, Chad launched an agency-wide ‘Digital Intelligence Series’,boasting a mandatory 30-course curriculum to train all globalemployees and established a dedicated portal for 24/7 on-demand

access for questions. To keep the leadership team at the forefrontof digital concepts and platforms, the series also features ‘Train theTrainers’ sessions—where employees outside the Digital practice cancontribute their own knowledge of emerging trends.

Chad hosts bi-weekly Global Practice meetings with the DigitalLeadership Team to ensure that everyone is on track for continuedacceleration. He also hosts Global Digital Summits, flying in theglobal Digital Leadership Team to discuss innovations within thepractice, as well as in the industry as a whole.

Critical to Chad’s success has been his focus on talent. In the pasttwo years, he has added more than 10 digital leaders, includingGabrielle Lovering, Head of Digital and Social Media, UK; Mark Burr,EVP, West Coast Digital Leader; Brooke Hovey, EVP, Digital, NorthAmerica; and Tony Lederer, SVP, Digital. These additions have beenkey growth drivers for the agency around the globe.

With his abundance of knowledge on digital tactics and bestpractices, Chad has a strong presence in publications across thepublic relations industry. Chad has authored multiple blog posts forthe PRWeek site, including a four post series last spring on theSXSW Interactive festival, and was featured in a PRWeek MasterClass article on incorporating offline experiences into social mediastrategy. He’s contributed articles on industry trends and news,spanning from the rise of 3D printing to the passing of icon SteveJobs, as well as contributing to Medical Marketing & Media onengaging patients and doctors online. In addition to hiscontributions in print, Chad has ensured that the Cohn & WolfeDigital practice has a strong presence at industry events, such asSocial Media Week in New York and Hong Kong. In 2013, Cohn &Wolfe partnered with client Bazaarvoice and parent company WPPto host a live stream event kicking off the 2013 SXSW conference.


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G O L DErin Morrissey

Konnect Public Relations

Erin Morrissey has the uncanny ability to develop a variety ofairtight, relevant pitches for any and every client she serves,making her a favorite among her media contacts. Reputableeditors, journalists and producers from the likes of Forbes, CNBC,USA Today, MSN, Fox News, U.S. News and World Report andFortune not only respect Erin’s talent—they also look to her as acredible resource. She pours over the news daily, findingopportunities for her clients that most would miss.

Erin’s results speak for themselves. One of her clients, VivoPools, isa growing pool maintenance franchise. Even seasonedprofessionals might look at something as mundane as a pool carecompany and struggle to identify innovative ways to effectivelyposition such an organization in front of the media. Erin, howeversees beyond this. A voracious news hound, she refuses to everpass an idea along to a member of the press unless it isabsolutely relevant to his or her readership. For instance, when Erinsaw gasoline prices begin to spike last August, she immediatelymade the connection to the fact that VivoPools is a mobilebusiness with a fleet of vans servicing customers across thenation. She knew that Gary Strauss, a respected editor at USAToday would be interested to learn how mobile businesses arehandling such price increases. The result was a placement forVivoPools on the front page. Erin has secured placements forVivoPools in many more outlets: Most recently, VivoPools wasfeatured in Fortune.

Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, another one of Erin’s accounts, isa walled trampoline playing court franchise based in Los Angeles.Erin knew that it wouldn’t be easy to get the company into NewYork Times, but she also knew that it would do wonders for thegrowth of the company. As the Olympics inspired Americans acrossthe nation, Erin leveraged the event by engaging a journalist at theTimes, telling her that the Olympics are inspiring adults to spice uptheir workouts, trying new things like trampoline and gymnastics.While the editor was initially interested, Erin took the time to speakwith other businesses and clients of these facilities to providehuman interest appeal for the article. This piece took more than

five months to complete and countless hours of work for Erin,collaborating with the editor from the New York Times. (In fact, Erineven helped the editor complete a separate story in order to createthe time needed to write this piece.) The result was a full-pagespread featuring Sky Zone. Many other placements resulted.

Erin keeps the relationships she creates. She has worked with hercontacts multiple times, which has resulted in a variety of storiesfor her clients. While booking a client in an A-list publication isquite a feat in and of itself, she has repeatedly booked multiplestories with the same publications due to the strength of hermedia relationships. For instance, Erin placed S.H.A.P.E.S. BrowBar, Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park and Fatburger inEntrepreneur all with the same key contact at the publication.

Erin’s success not only stems from her creativity and intelligence,but also from her innate desire to help others. She genuinely wantsto make her clients, colleagues and media contacts successful.This endearing quality is apparent to all who meet her, whether byemail, phone, text or in person. She is just as eager to help one ofher fellow publicists at Konnect PR pitch one of their accounts, asshe is to work on her own. In fact, she is often brought in to adviseher colleagues on other Konnect clients in terms of how best toposition them in business outlets.

Regardless of the channel, if it has relevancy to the clients sheserves, Erin is all over it. She immerses herself in current eventsand business news, reading, viewing and listening to everythingshe can get her hands on. Erin’s media relationships span over avariety of outlets - print, television and online. Because she is soinvolved and entrenched in the news, she serves as a valuableasset to her colleagues and clients.

Babiators, a line of aviator-style sunglasses for babies andchildren, is a longstanding Konnect PR client. When discussing howto position the brand for business publicity, the team brought Erininto the discussion to contribute insight. She collaborated with theteam to develop a strategic plan of attack, telling them what topitch, how to pitch and, most importantly, who to pitch.

Erin dedicates herself in everything she does, while remaininghumble and genuine. Her integrity and character charm the mediaand her sincerity gains their trust. She is truly the definition of amedia relations professional.



S I L V E RBill Bourdon

Bateman Group

Bill Bourdon, SVP and General Manager of Bateman Group’s SanFrancisco office and a partner in the firm, is the kind of exceptionalPR professional capable of attracting clients, employees andindustry influencers in equal measure. Throughout his careerspanning almost two decades, Bill has inspired and led the teamsbehind many of Bateman Group’s award-winning campaigns. Inaddition to being a superior PR strategist, Bill’s people-focusedmanagement style has been most responsible for Bateman Groupmaintaining a 95 percent employee retention rate since the firm’sinception—something unheard of in the PR industry and especiallyin the hyper-competitive San Francisco/Silicon Valley market.

In the last 12 months, Bill has driven an increase in BatemanGroup’s revenue 32 percent. Bill has grown the firm’s headcountfrom 15 employees to 25 and has been an instrumental part of thefirm’s expansion to Brooklyn, N.Y. Bill currently oversees BatemanGroup’s marquee accounts and in addition, he was the main PRstrategist behind the Qualys IPO. He serves as a mentor forGreenstart, a unique combination of venture capital firm and designstudio for clean tech and green tech startups. In this capacity, Bill isthe PR advisor for Greenstart’s high-profile network of experts indesign, sustainability, business and venture capital who mentor thehand-chosen entrepreneurs in the program.

Bill began his career in technology PR with legendary Neihaus RyanWong, where he was an account manager on the Netscape team,finding himself smack dab in the “browser wars” with Microsoft. Twoyears later, Bill moved to Blanc & Otus, where he played a key roleon the firm’s security and enterprise software accounts. After Blanc& Otus, Bill accepted a position as an account director for boutiquecreative services agency, A Good Seed Production, where heconceptualized and produced high-end films and multi-milliondollar experiential events for clients including Cisco Systems,Cadence and Sun Microsystems. After this, Bill was a co-founderand vice president of marketing for Zoup-ah!, a children’sentertainment startup where he directed all marketing and PRprograms and led negotiations with U.S. broadcasters such asDisney, PBS and Discovery Channel.

Bill has been able to blend his unique experiences throughout hisvaried career to provide clients with unparalleled expertise. Clientsrely on Bill to drive strategy, tackle difficult communicationschallenges, forge and negotiate influential partnerships and overall,to meet their communications goals, whatever they may be. One ofBill’s core strengths as a communications professional is his ability

to be a “connector”—at Bateman Group he has been able to drawon his past experience working in entertainment, creative servicesand marketing to assemble a diversified network of creativepartners, including Emmy Award-winning film makers, cartoonists,infographic artists and brand and creative design agencies. He hasalso been responsible for driving the agency’s content-firstapproach to PR and influencer relations which has set the firmapart in the marketplace and attracted brands to the client roster.

Bill is also a founding member of the local association ofindependently owned and operated boutique PR agencies in theSan Francisco Bay Area. Bill has also taken an active role in leadingindustry discussion by helping drive an event series of paneldiscussions that includes expert commentary from leaders in thefield. The most recent panel discussion that Bill moderated focusedon a discussion on the role of communications for Venture Capitalfirms, which was attended by more than one hundred venturecapitalists, marketing and communications professionals andmembers of the media.

Outside of retained client work, Bill is very active as a boardmember and advisor to an internationally recognized nonprofit,WeOwnTV, a collaborative media project focused on teachingfilmmaking techniques to a group of young Sierra Leonean ex-combatants and survivors of that country’s civil war and allowingthem to share their experiences and creativity with the world. Billhas played a major role in the project’s ongoing fundraising anddevelopment.

The highest commendation for Bill’s nomination is his leadershipstyle. Bill is an incredible mentor to his teams. Bill’s approach tomanagement is to be an active coach, helping to identify, nurtureand motivate rock star talent at all levels. He is also an invaluableclient counselor, blending his expertise from in-house roles andagency roles spanning multiple technology areas and targetaudiences to give recommendations that clients can trust.

B R O N Z EHope Nicora

Bhava Communications

Hope Nicora’s mantra, “You have to treat the media as if they are aclient,” is a key ingredient to her secret sauce of success with thepress. Hope’s strong relationships and strategic prowess withbusiness, technology and trade editors have landed Bhava clientsin hundreds of publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal,CNBC Squawk Box, New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, to TechCrunch,GigaOm, PandoDaily, WIRED Magazine and InformationWeek. With



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G O L DMarian Salzman

Havas PR North America

Marian Salzman has a lot on her mind, and she tells it toaudiences across many blogs—a list that currently includesCNBC.com, Forbes.com, the Huffington Post, us.havaspr.com,prosumer-report.com and mariansalzman.com, among others. Onething she thinks about a lot these days is branding, and for thepast eight months Salzman has been sharing her views on her “LifeIs a Brand” blog on Forbes.com’s CMO Network. “This is the Age ofthe Personal Brand,” says Salzman in one post. “Never before havepeople of all stripes had to—or wanted to— work so hard to selltheir own unique service proposition.”

Here is how Salzman, CEO of Havas PR North America (@havaspr),is working to sell her USP as a branding and PR professionalonline: Her main objective when blogging is creating conversational

momentum—for consumers, brands, businesspeople, clients(current and prospective) and her industry. Another goal of theresearch, thoughts and analysis she conveys is to inform her workand @havaspr’s work for clients and agency initiatives; as oneexample, she cross-posts most of her Forbes.com columns onHavasPeaks.com, the site of the agency’s new CEO brandinginitiative that Salzman developed in 2012. For Salzman, blogging isa smart, strategic and favorite way to get conversations started—ontrends and interests, both business and personal, and oftentimesblurred between the two.

Salzman “blogged” before blogs existed. She has appeared as anexpert on TV news programs and written print columns on a widevariety of subjects for two decades. So a natural evolution wasbecoming a blogger. Salzman often thinks in blog posts, and sheseeks out the very best audiences online for her thoughtleadership. If she’s not pitching posts to CNBC, CNN and others, orwriting on the agency blogs she established or on her longtime

more than 12 years of experience in enterprise and consumer techPR and AR, she has mastered the art of positioning and haslaunched companies from stealth, orchestrated successful productlaunches and managed ongoing PR/AR communications programsfor companies ranging from startups to public enterprises, acrossmultiple markets and disciplines.

Hope has followed her passion for PR and media relations from in-house to agency positions, leading her to Bhava Communications.As a member of the Bhava team since the agency’s early days,Hope has contributed significantly to building a strong, credible andhighly sought after media relations program for Bhava, workingclosely with business press, analysts, bloggers and industryinfluencers to shape opinions and secure high impact coverage inclients’ target publications. Additionally, Hope serves as a mentor tomembers of the Bhava team, helping them grow their mediarelations skills and relationships and finesse their clientmanagement skills. She has worked closely with agency founder,Elizabeth Zaborowska, to build a results driven media relationspowerhouse frequently sought after by the portfolio companies ofSilicon Valley’s top-tier venture firms and growth-stage companiesnationwide.

With great personal integrity, Hope has a dogged commitment tomaking things happen, no matter what it takes, for her clients andfor reporters. She deeply respects reporters and realizes they

deserve as much consideration as her clients, and passes thislesson on the Bhava’s team first hand. She builds trust with everyinteraction and impresses the media with her willingness to beflexible and creative—and consistently deliver what they need. Shehas spent the last 12 years steeped in enterprise and B2Btechnology and can support clients across a wide range ofdomains.

Her approach in all her interactions, whether with media, analysts,clients and teammates is founded in authenticity, directness and apassion for achieving the best that can be achieved. With her talentfor creating a relationship of trust with reporters, analysts and otherinfluencers, Hope secures a constant stream of quality coverage forher clients and, as a dedicated team player, empowers herteammates, as well. Some of Hope’s accomplishments from thepast 12 months include the Cloudera 2012 Competitive MediaLaunch and Pure Storage August 2012 Product and FundingLaunch.

Hope helped to found the Capitol Hill Arts Center, also known as“CHAC,” a non profit performing and visual arts center for the Seattlecommunity. She was a founding board member, oversaw productionand rallied the community around the events. She has a passion forart and performance and brought her PR skills to center stage forCHAC, helping them put on “some of the most exciting theater inSeattle,” according to local reviews.


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Huffington Post outlet (three-plus years and running) or any numberof regular industry blogging gigs she periodically accepts, she isinventing channels for her thinking. That’s what she did withForbes.com’s CMO Network.

Salzman publishes about a blog post a week, but the number risesat different times—especially at year-end, when her annual trendsreport debuts. She’ll riff on one idea for different audiences, too.She once blogged about football (does it have a future, given itscorrelation to brain injuries?) for the broad readership at HuffPostand spun it for the industry audience at Aol/Adweek’s Fuel theFuture (what would a football-less future mean for marketing?),then for Stamford’s readers (many of whom might have aconnection to local young people playing football).

For the PR and corporate communications profession, one notableexample of the past year is Salzman’s series of posts that appearedon various industry outlets after she returned from judging duties atthe Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. With a head fullof ideas about how PR professionals can reinvent the business, sheopened a discussion along various themes, including that insightstools must be developed to go beyond the tactic to big, bold ideasthat change the landscape and move the needle.

On her most prolific outlet for 2012-13, Forbes.com, Salzman’srange of thinking is broad. She looks at the world through apersonal branding lens, covering topics from what business cardssay about you to the rebranding of Lance Armstrong, andplacemaking and Hurricane Sandy to whistleblowers and celebrities.

Also important: Leading by example for her staff, whose agencyblogging won a gold from Bulldog Reporter’s Digital/Social PRAwards for Best Blog for an Agency/Consultancy in 2012.

Salzman uses branding (personal and CEO) and other themes as aspeaking topic, which increases visibility for the agency and helpsinform its paid and pro bono work—and opens a conversation forpeople everywhere. Her posts also become marketing turf for@havaspr and its parent company, Havas, by promotingcompanywide initiatives.

S I L V E RKen Makovsky Makovsky + Co.

At a time of continuing transformation in the communicationsindustry, Ken Makovsky’s “My Three Cents” stands as likely one ofthe most visible and influential blogs in the PR industry today.Disseminated in national media such as Forbes.com, BloombergBusinessWeek’s Business Exchange and Bulldog Reporter, “My Three

Cents” is perhaps the only blog to attract significant and consistentreadership beyond the public relations industry.

It was cited by Chief Executive Magazine as one of the top10 must-read blogs by CEOs. Ken’s original, colorful and insightful analysis ofall and sundry has raised awareness of the PR and communicationsimplications of major national issues.

“My Three Cents” is more than a soapbox for one man’s opinion. Itserves a central role in Makovsky’s “power of specialized thinking”branding strategy. The agency’s success (this year nominated for 13awards) is directly based on both the blog and the vision addressedby it.

Since its launch in January 2006, “My Three Cents” has appearedconsistently twice a week—a total over 500 individual commentarieson a range of social and business issues related to communicationand reputation management. It does the heavy lifting in proving thedepth of the agency’s specialized industry knowledge—which is a keypart of its business strategy—as well as its reputation building in theage of digital communication.

There are two strategic principles behind the blog: Thoughtleadership and the power of public relations. “My Three Cents” isnow Makovsky’s primary thought leadership tool. It is based onKen’s conviction that a successful mid-sized agency can’t be allthings to all people; it must build specialized expertise in a fewselect industry niches (at Makovsky these include healthcare,branding, energy, financial and professional services, andtechnology). That strategy is captured in the company’s brandidentifier “The Power of Specialized Thinking.”

The energy and financial resources that Ken has put into “My ThreeCents” confirms his belief in public relations—and its power as abusiness building tool equal to other tangible, financial investments.Ken has supported the blog both in good times and bad.

Much of the power of “My Three Cents” lies in its originality andunpredictability of subject matter—approaching social andcommunications trends in an oblique and original fashion. This ispart of the reason the blog has been able to transcend theboundaries of public relations. For example, over the past 12months Ken has tackled Dove’s viral ad campaign, the SEC andsocial media, priority number one for CEO’s, sexism and thecomputer revolution, and Chinese social and business trends.

Recognized prior to 2012 as perhaps one of the most visible andinfluential blogs in the PR industry, Ken Makovsky’s “My Three Cents”has now become one of the first blogs to transcend the world ofpublic relations and move into the business mainstream. It is nowfeatured regularly by Forbes and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.In 2012,“My Three Cents confirmed its position as the flagship of Makovsky’sthought leadership campaign, a powerful contributor to why theagency was recognized four times in 2012 as Agency of the Year.


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G O L DShelby Fox

Konnect Public Relations

As one of the first members of the Konnect PR team, Shelby Foxactively pursues press opportunities for a number of clients whileimpressively managing Konnect PR’s franchise division. Shelby’sability to understand the needs of clients and create a strategicplan of action is unmatched. She is forward-thinking and proactive,often providing innovative solutions and results before the clienteven asks.

What makes Shelby a great leader at Konnect PR is that she is agreat publicist. While it may appear difficult to take on the roles ofpublicist and manager simultaneously, Shelby excels in thisenvironment. From crisis communications to complex mediapitches and coaching clients through major press opportunities,she leads by example by handling multiple initiatives seamlesslyand without hesitation.

Receiving two promotions since her start at Konnect PR three yearsago, Shelby has put her natural leadership skills to work headingup the franchise division that serves ten client brands as well asthe franchisees of each of these brands. Shelby is immersed in theworld of franchising, making her a valuable asset to her team aswell as her clients and media contacts. She understands theindustry in a way that few do and utilizes her deep pool ofknowledge to guide her team, helping them create innovativepitches, interesting opportunities and thought-provoking content fortheir clients nationally and locally.

When dealing with franchisors and franchisees, there are alwaysnew location openings, development deals and transitions, andShelby leads her team to properly multi-task and stay focused onresults. With so many moving parts in each franchise client’scampaign, issues are bound to arise. Rather than just takingcontrol and solving the problem, Shelby turns every moment into acoachable moment, guiding employees to discover solutions ontheir own by listening and creating an exchange of ideas.

In today’s media landscape, a publicist must be flexible, confident,efficient and capable of utilizing whatever means necessary to getthe job done. Shelby is a pro. She does not take “no” for ananswer, always seeking new avenues for connecting with themedia. Recently, she secured placements for several Konnect PRclients by engaging with members of the media via Twitter.

Beyond the guidance she provides for her team directly, Shelby isinvolved in a variety of Konnect PR initiatives including marketing,recruiting and training. These initiatives fall outside the realm of her

roles as both a publicist and a manager, yet she manages toflawlessly execute these special projects without allowing any ofher other work to suffer. Her passion and enthusiasm for KonnectPR shines through as she continues to exceed expectations.

Shelby has helped market Konnect PR by crafting and executingstrategic plans for industry trade shows including themedevelopment, onsite appointments, travel arrangements, teamagendas and much more. From these well-executed trade shows,Konnect PR has garnered a number of prospective clients and canattribute the acquisition of at least five new clients as a directresult from these trade shows. Shelby has created pressopportunities for Konnect PR in trade publications as well asnational outlets. Additionally, she is responsible for introducing newclients to the firm.

In a small but rapidly growing firm like Konnect PR, leaders areexpected to be flexible, always willing to take on new tasks andexperiences. Shelby has accommodated this growth anddemonstrated her flexibility by actively recruiting and hiring top-tiertalent for the organization. In addition to her responsibilities as apublicist and department leader, she also meets with a number ofjob candidates using her expertise and experience to make thebest choices in hiring.

As Konnect PR grew, Shelby wanted to ensure that the companydid not lose its unique spirit and culture. She took it upon herselfto propose and develop an ongoing team building initiative tofacilitate interdepartmental relations. Shelby solely plans andexecutes every aspect of these events.

S I L V E RLynn Gardner

HISTORY

The past year proved both incredibly challenging and hugelyrewarding for HISTORY. The fruits of PR’s labor paid off as theoverall strategies designed and employed for the company’sprogramming and network initiatives resulted in brand buzz, greatcoverage and maximum exposure—all beneficial to business goals.Over the past few years, HISTORY has successfully evolved from amiddle-ranked purveyor of historical documentaries to a top-fourrated factual entertainment powerhouse brand. The PR teamhelped grow audience delivery in all key demos, with the launchesof “Hatfields & McCoys” and other new series, including HISTORY’sfirst hit drama series.

The HISTORY PR team is an example of a small team of highlymotivated publicists that does it all. By executing carefully planned


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tent-pole campaigns for big events, the team built momentum andmassive brand exposure with media and outside influencers forreality, event specials and first scripted projects. Through adeptmultitasking, the PR team generated excellent coverage for the“Hatfields & McCoys”—from launch directly through the Emmys,including a hugely successfully Emmy party—all the while neverlosing support for weekly series premieres.

’s leadership approach gives her team a clear sense of missionwhile also helping each to develop personal potential. She has builta creative, passionate team that collaborates across departmentsof the company and with outside producers and companies. Lynnstresses independent critical thinking to build the strongest team inthe business and create an environment that encouragescommunication, motivation, outspokenness, strong relationshipsand accountability for delivering positive outcomes.

Lynn’s advice, insight and counsel are sought out by the entireHISTORY senior team. Lynn and her team serve all aspects ofHISTORY internally and externally, ensuring consistency and opencommunication. Lynn’s team develops and manages HISTORY PRoutreach for all departments and spearheads upfrontcommunication for ad sales efforts. Lynn’s advice has led to majorindustry features, trade panels and speaking exposures for thenetwork president, executive VP of programming and SVP ofmarketing, as well as countless industry trade stories. For executive

expertise and industry promotion campaigns, Lynn develops allstrategic communications, positioning, talking points and remarksdesigned to incorporate every aspect of the company.

To promote HISTORY’s first dramatic mini-series Lynn devised amulti-month, three-tiered communications strategy, which includeda broad star-driven TV premiere campaign through all phases ofproduction, specialized pitches to niche targets, and an industryand trade campaign promoting HISTORY brand leadership. For everymajor tent-pole event for “The Bible,” “Vikings” and “Hatfields,”Lynn’s team created dual concurrent PR campaigns. These involveteasers, pre-premiere and premiere/review phases for major outletsand targeted editorial pitches for niche outlets.

Lynn and her team have developed and executed creative corporateand trade communication strategies and overseen all program-based consumer press efforts, talent relations, awards strategy,conference planning and a portfolio of networks. From a mediaperspective, Lynn enhanced a diverse programming lineup andhelped move HISTORY squarely into the entertainment arena as amajor force in the industry.

Lynn is indefatigable in her ongoing efforts to ensure that seniorHISTORY leaders gain industry recognition for their expertise andachievements. Lynn’s personal achievements were recognized withher own promotion to Senior Vice President in the fall of 2012.

124 Linden StreetOakland, CA 94607www.bulldogreporter.com1-800-959-1059

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