Valley PR Blog Says Goodbye

By on May 10th, 2011 In Valley PR Blog

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?

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Comments

Michael Pranikoff Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 8:43 am

Thanks for your contributions and your insights. I’ve enjoyed the posts that I’ve read on your blog.

Good luck to all of you and your future endeavors. I hope our paths will cross.

Michael Pranikoff
@mpranikoff

Shailesh Ghimire Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 8:43 am

Wow – gonna miss this blog. It was a great way to stay in touch with the PR community in the Valley. Hope someone picks it up.

Rachel P. Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 8:47 am

Len, thank you to you, Dan, Charlotte, Angelo, Linda and all of your guest bloggers for providing such a valuable resource for so many years. This site – and everyone’s witty, informative posts – will certainly be missed.

Mike Shaldjian Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 8:48 am

Congrats on a great run. We’ll miss it dearly, but I for one am grateful for the hundreds of hours each of you put into your blogs.

Much success to all of you in the future!

Ania Kubicki Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 8:58 am

Thanks for your work and dedication. Truly enjoyed it and will miss it!

kate Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 9:33 am

Wow, this is too bad, the blog provides valuable information in a fun and exciting format. I can’t believe that none of the bloggers would like to continue! It is too bad, I’m sad to see it go. Thank you for your work, it will be missed!

Aly Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 9:34 am

Thanks for bringing this community together! Sad to see you go, the Valley PR blog was a great place to check in every week to see what the haps were around town. I’ll miss it!

Joanna LeBlang Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 9:47 am

Len — I am so sorry to hear this. I really liked Valley PR Blog and will miss it. Would love to connect again over the phone one of these days, too. It’s been years! I hope all is well.

Sally Cooper Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 9:48 am

Thanks so much to all of you. It was a “must read” every morning and you will definitely be missed.

Pat Elliott Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 10:07 am

I too will miss VPRB and thank everyone for a great run! You truly did help bring us all together and will be missed.

For those who don’t know about it I would like to invite you to join the Phoenix PR Pros Group on Facebook, another place to share, collaborate and support each other.

Deb Krol Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 10:09 am

Hey there, DM me at dkrol@heard.org, I may be interested in taking it over. — Deb

Cathy Planchard Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 10:15 am

Thanks, Len, and all the team that helped get this off the ground and into the realm of a ‘must read’ for Valley PR pros. What an amazing run it was!

Diane Leifer Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 10:24 am

Great job – really appreciate all you hard work! You will be missed!

Jennifer Wolff Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 10:47 am

Thank you for all your hard work, insights and even the laughter you brought with this blog. I appreciate everything you have done and you will be missed.

Elizabeth Hillestad Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 11:01 am

Thank you all for your tireless work on the blog all these years. Sadly, I think I took it for granted! It was truly a great way to stay plugged in to the local PR Community. Deb, if you take it over, I will help dm me at ehillestad@triwest.com. Best to all!

Christine Marek Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 11:17 am

It’s sad how some great things must change. I’ll miss this blog so much. It has kept me in touch with old friends and new. I’ve met some great new contacts and learned more about the goings on in the Valley PR world. I sure hope there is an addition to this blog. Thanks for all those who contributed! You were appreciated.

Katie Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 11:58 am

Thanks for everything you’ve done for the Valley PR community! It was a great addition, and provided excellent education for many of us. It will be missed!

Daniel Moran Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 12:26 pm

Wow! So sad to hear. Thanks Len for creating the Valley PR Blog and to everyone over the years who helped keep it running.

It will be missed.

Tony Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 2:10 pm

Thanks for everything you have all done to advance our profession. You guys were THE go to source for industry news, best practices and real world, real-time. Thanks and we’ll miss you!

Brian Killgore Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 2:13 pm

You guys were a big help during my recent job search. Thanks for all your hard work and great information.

Abbie S. Fink Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 2:26 pm

We’re sorry to see you go. Like the others, VPRB was a must-read for our team. And I certainly enjoyed being the ocassional guest blogger.

When we launched HMATime in January 2008, we were paid a high compliment when Dan Wool posted on the Valley PR Blog that we were the first Phoenix agency to start a blog.

He added the caveat that “the real test will be if HMA is still blogging in a year.” Being somewhat competitive we took that challenge to heart.

Charlotte Shaff pointed out in January 2009 that we had, in fact, made it a year. And we were just as proud.

We know the pressure to provide good content on a regular basis. And to have done it with an all-volunteer “staff” is even more impressive.

Dan, we will continue to live up to your challenge to keep blogging and welcome the regular VPRB subscribers to check us out. We’d be happy to be the forum to continue this community and if anyone of you have a desire to keep blogging, keep us in mind. We’d be happy to have you as our guest.

Stephanie Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 2:34 pm

VPRB helped me so much when I was starting out in the industry just a year ago. It told me the who’s who, kept me up-to-date with hyper local PR news and was my go-to job search resource. Of course, nothing on the Internet ever truly goes away, but I hope that Valley PR bloggers continue to do what has been accomplished here!

PR Primer: Au Revoir, Valley PR Blog « Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 2:46 pm

[...] In case you didn’t get the memo, the Valley’s premier source of local industry news made its final post today after four and a half [...]

Katie Stringham Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Say it ‘aint so!!! I love Valley PR Blog. I’m so sad!!

Jennifer Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Oh — say it isn’t so! But just like a great sitcom, it’s better to go out while you’re still at the top of your game. It’s been a good run and I know *many* have benefited from the info and insights shared here. Thank you, VPR bloggers!

For anyone looking to stay connected to the Valley PR scene, I second Pat Elliott’s recommendation (above) to request to join the Phoenix PR Pros Group on Facebook: PhoenixPR@groups.facebook.com.

Courtney Craig Says:
May 10th, 2011 at 5:07 pm

Sorry to see you go. I feel like VPRB encompasses everything PR is about; sharing knowledge, telling stories, and helping people. Thank you so much for putting this together in the first place and keeping it going as long as you did. Also, thank you for letting me be a part of it. VPRB helped me out so many times. ;(

Jim Veihdeffer Says:
May 11th, 2011 at 1:04 am

Presumably all the VPR blogger friends are now in Blogger Jail (what the Saudis call sijin). I shall be returning to AZ in July with bail money saved up from not blowing my paychecks on wine, women and song and am therefore prepared to buy any Valley PR blogger an adult beverage of your choice for all your hard work over the past few years.

It seems like the least I can do to repay you folks for interesting and entertaining news and commentary.

Kari Mather Says:
May 11th, 2011 at 11:14 am

It’s the end of an era! I looked forward to every post I received via email. I don’t want it to end! All the best to your fabulous group.

Cynde C Says:
May 11th, 2011 at 6:31 pm

This blog will certainly be missed. It was the easiest and quickest way for me to stay informed in the midst of the craziness that is life.

Thank you for all of you have lent to our PR community with this blog.

James Archer Says:
May 12th, 2011 at 2:44 pm

VPRB has been one of the most successful blogs in the Valley, and I’ve often used it as a role model when explaining to people how to do it right. You guys did a fantastic job, and made a really great impact in the local industry. :-)

Ward Andrews Says:
May 12th, 2011 at 2:50 pm

Enjoyed the run, great blog.

Kathy Sacks Says:
May 12th, 2011 at 3:12 pm

Len–you are awesome. A true advocate for the evolving landscape of PR. Thanks for your time and energy invested into this blog. Love the ending to your blog -30-. Old school shout-out. Made me chuckle.

Susan Says:
June 25th, 2011 at 1:36 am

Sad to see you go Mr Len… been a great ride

Neil Schneider Says:
July 11th, 2011 at 5:06 pm

First the Space Shuttle program and now this???? OH NO! Congrats to all who played. I liked your light (dry) sense of humor.

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joe Says:
August 12th, 2011 at 10:47 am

Sorry to see you go.

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