They say all good things must come to an end and thus it is with a bittersweet heart I announce that today is the final post for Valley PR Blog. I know, don’t cry.

Valley PR Blog has been a true labor of love for us over these past 4 1/2 years, but truth be told we’ve all moved on to new jobs, new families and new priorities and we seem to have lost the spark. Our first post was actually on Dec. 10, 2006 about some new hires at a local PR agency, and over the years I think we’ve been pretty true to our mission, which was to “bring us all together.” In that time we’ve had 1,943 posts and you’ve made 4,992 comments!

The original team was myself, Dan Wool, Charlotte Risch and Angelo Fernando. Soon after Linda VandeVrede joined us and our little quintet had a nice run. We’ve had a lot of great guest bloggers over the years, from Barry Kluger to Abbie Fink, Tyler Hurst and David Eichler. And there were many more.

Thanks to everyone who made Valley PR Blog a part of their life. Maybe one of you will pick up the flag and carry on?

- 30 -

I find myself saying “seriously” quite often these days. Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler regularly lampooned the term so I don’t claim to have invented it.

But still, what word better conveys the sudden, staggering state of disbelief you feel when a client makes that last second request?  Or when a prospect thinks the creative for an ad campaign should cost $2,000? And the infamous intern who didn’t like sorting the highlighters? Not to mention the geyser of venom spraying from our elected officials.

Writing is how I process all which defies logic, reason, common sense or basic human empathy.  My goal is to evoke thought, discussion and change. To rattle the gilded cages of those who want nothing more than to keep people who think, look or love differently than them, out of their cage.

Everything in the world relates to marketing — and all the specialties, strategies, disciplines, tools and tactics we  fill our days with.  Sometimes you might think a post isn’t relevant to you. Look closer, it’s in there. The Mona Lisa is nice, but I’m more of a Jackson Pollock guy. There won’t be any guardrails like, “the reason this matters if you’re in PR is…”

• While maniacal about verbal grammar, in print I have no AP Style whatsoever. That’s one of the many reasons I surround myself with smart Cronkite alumni.

• Life is about perspective. I have been the client much longer than the client services provider.  I was another brick in the wall much longer than I’ve been the owner.

• People should always come before profit. Sam Alpert and I have walked that walk at DSPR for the last five years. I will challenge every boss in town to hop on the treadmill and sacrifice your $200 rounds of golf so you don’t have to lay someone off.

• I think the word boss is repugnant and, contrary to popular opinion, all millennials are not self-entitled slackers. I have dozens of case studies to support both views.

• 80% of my life, career and education has been spent outside Arizona. The Grand Canyon is beautiful. But if you profess that it’s the most beautiful place in the world and you’ve never been east of the Rockies or south of Rocky Point, I’m gonna call you on a major parochial violation.

• Humor is the greatest gift there is. When, not if, my words piss you off, remember that other readers at that moment are laughing — hopefully anyway.

• We all need to do a better job of sharing our oxygen, whether you think the climate is changing or not.  You can believe in whatever you want as long as you don’t believe you have the divine  right to extinguish mine.

• Life is too short to eat vanilla because you’re afraid what people might think if you like Phish Food.

• A positive attitude is nice but not when it’s delusional. As Arizona prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday isn’t it time we stop acting like we’re in our terrible two’s? Last I checked, horses stopped galloping down Central Ave decades ago.

• People in Phoenix are mostly nice — except behind the wheel. Our highways are more toxic than the roads of Istanbul, Boston and Bangkok.

• Agencies like Ogilvy and Edelman would have offices in Phoenix if they saw us as a viable investment, in other words, a world-class city. That requires a sophisticated economy with a highly educated work force and socially progressive culture.  Who’s starting that creative brief?

At the end of the day, most of us marketing communications professionals just sell stuff, services and space.  It’s the teachers, public servants and ace reporters at TMZ who make the world a better place, not us.

So laugh more. Enjoy the ride. It’s the only one you get.

That’s my perspective. Seriously.

D

Here’s his self-penned bio:

As the Creative Director and Co-Founder of David and Sam PR, David’s clients range from My Sister’s Closet and Mountainside Fitness to Dunkin’ Donuts and Scottsdale Medical Imaging. In 2010, DSPR won the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s IMPACT award and was a finalist for the WP Carey Spirit of Enterprise Award.

David is a member of The Phoenix Business Journal’s “40 under 40” class of 2007. He is a Chair of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism’s Endowment Board as well as having taught there. He is also on the Board of Directors for Free Arts of Arizona.

David’s comments and writing have been featured on E! Online, US Weekly, Forbes.com and MSNBC.com, O’Dwyer’s, PR News, All Business.com and Arizona Business Magazine.
After graduating from Wesleyan University (CT) David spent the first decade of his career in Hollywood, working with CAA, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, EA and Disney. The next decade brought myriad creative communications roles in silicon valley and then in Phoenix’s non-profit, government, and private sectors.

Fascinated by the role marketing plays in every facet of life, David’s favorite topics range from everything to, well, everything.

After receiving a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree in Journalism and Theatre from ASU, Courtney went on to study in the film school at Scottsdale Community College, where she focused on video editing and motion graphics. Courtney is an Arizona native, born and raised in Scottsdale. When she is not working, she is helping her parents with their restaurant in North Scottsdale. She is also the ultimate cheerleader for downtown Phoenix, where she now lives, eats, sleeps, and breathes. Courtney believes strongly in the power of sharing, strong visuals, and (of course) the oxford comma.

Courtney brings an interesting mix of media and PR experience which we think will provide a unique perspective on the issues. She’s also fairly new to the industry which is quite different from the rest of us here at Valley PR Blog so that should be interesting as well.

Things sure have changed over the years, including our cast of regular contributors. Today the majority of our posts are coming from myself, Charlotte, occasionally Angelo, and our newest regular Tyler. Linda has moved on, and Dan…well…Dan is a founding member and despite being too busy to post much these days he’s always welcome here. But I personally think it’s time for more fresh blood. So, are you interested in becoming our newest regular contributor?

If you think you have what it takes, send me a note at lengutman@gmail.com and make your best pitch. The only requirements are that you’re willing to speak your mind on our core topics of PR, marketing, social media and current events. Oh, and we’d like a commitment of 3-5 posts per week. Show me what you got Phoenix!

Over the last decade, as I felt more and more pain in the various body parts, in parallel PR became even more of a 24×7, online-focused profession.  Much as I’m intrigued by the dynamic PR activity in Arizona, and the ability to convey that activity through blogging, I’ve exhausted the medical and holistic solutions to the pain.   As I told my doctor late this summer, the unrelenting pain finally overrode my stubborn ego and my need to be relevant in PR.  The future course is simple – avoid computers. 

In retrospect, I’m so pleased that Valley PR Blog asked me to join their ranks in 2007.  I’ve enjoyed analyzing and dissecting trends.   I’ve even enjoyed the trolls, as they made me think harder about my analyses and the way I assessed and expressed issues.

There’s talent here in Arizona.  I’ve met vibrant, passionate PR people of all ages.  Yet on the eve of 2011, we still struggle as PR practitioners to get clients to understand that press releases by themselves are not a PR strategy, that PR is about building relationships.  It has always been a challenging job, but never more so than now, I believe.   We have to keep up with an ever-changing roladex of bloggers, analysts, media, consumers.

Thanks to Valley PR Blog, I’ve learned three key things about social media:

1) Be helpful.  Share information, don’t proclaim it.

2). There IS genuine wisdom in the crowds.   Put the issues out there for all to comment on.

3).  Be real.   You’ll meet more people like yourself that way.

I’m kicking 2010 to the curb, and embracing 2011.   It will be the most computer-free year I’ve had since 1984.  What will it bring for you, for me?

Jackie’s career spans more than a decade in communications, having served on all sides of the marketing, public relations and advertising desk. Prior to establishing Rainmaker Communications in the Phoenix market, Jackie held several senior level positions with local agencies and corporations including Best Western International Hotels, Barclay Communications, Crammer-Krasselt Public Relations and Off Madison Ave. Her agency experience has allowed her to work with such organizations as; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Westcor, Streets of New York Restaurants, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Take Charge America and Animal Planet TV. Prior to moving to Phoenix in 2005, Jackie held the position of Regional Manager of Public Relations and Marketing for Macy’s Department stores in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jackie began her career with General Motors as a Communications Analyst and thereafter joined Grant Thornton L.L.P., one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S., as a Marketing Coordinator. Additionally, Jackie is a member of the Phoenix chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the American Marketing Association where she serves as Vice President of Communications for the Phoenix chapter.

We look forward to Jackie’s contributions to the blog.

So while Charlotte adjusts to her new life as a mom, Valley PR Blog is very pleased to announce that Abbie Fink will be our special guest blogger for a while.

Abbie is vice president/general manager of HMA Public Relations, where she has been since 1993. Her varied marketing communications background includes skills in media relations, social media relations, special event management, community relations, issues management and marketing promotions for both the private and public sectors, including such industries as health care, financial services, professional services, government affairs and tribal affairs, as well as not-for-profit organizations.

She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America’s Counselor’s Academy and is vice chair of its spring conference. She has received awards from the PRSA, the Arizona Festivals and Events Association, International Association of Business Communicators and the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disability Affairs for her work in media relations and special event management.

Abbie has both a master’s degree in mass communications and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/public relations from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University. She has been an adjunct faculty member at the Center for the Advancement of Small Business at Arizona State University.

We welcome Abbie to the blog, and of course we’ll keep you posted on Charlotte’s big day.

Michelle and Dana are two of the brighest minds in PR and are well known in the Valley PR community. Michelle is president of Olson Communications and here are some of her achievements:

• 22+ years of experience, ranging from mid-size public relations firms to large, integrated advertising agencies
• Chair, Counselors Academy, national PRSA section for consulting firm leaders
• Past President, Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
• Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE)
• 2003 PRSA Percy Award winner for contributions to the public relations industry
• Founded OCI in 2002
• Graduate of Moorhead State University with Bachelor of Science in Mass Comm

Dana is vice president of Olson Communications and has an equally impressive resume:

• Immediate Past President of the Phoenix Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
• Accredited in Public Relations (APR)
• 10+ years experience in public relations
• Member of NAREE (National Association of Real Estate Editors)
• Past senior account executive at Lavidge & Baumayr Public Relations, Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Past account manager at Ohio-based Akhia Public Relations
• Graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland with a Bachelor of Arts in communications

Please welcome them to Valley PR Blog. As for me, I’ll be relaxing with a cold beer and a novel on the beach in Maui and will return to the real world on July 1. I know you’re jealous!

Valley PR Blog is pleased to introduce Scott Appel as a special guest blogger this week. Scott is vice president, Phoenix Office for Allison & Partners, one of the top PR agencies in the country with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego and South Carolina. At Allison & Partners Scott is responsible for managing the operations of and growing the Phoenix office. He also manages client services as well as develops and implements strategic initiatives and digital strategies for Phoenix accounts including Arizona Association of Community Managers, bulbstorm, Inilex and CarMD.

When he’s not working hard for his clients at Allison & Partners, Scott is the vice president of public relations on the Enterprise Network board of directors and is incoming president-elect for the American Marketing Association, Phoenix Chapter.

Scott can be reached at sappel@allisonpr.com.