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Journalism a dying art…?

As many PR professionals do, the CIG staff often uses the terms “press release” and “news release” interchangeably. So the other day during a weekly staff meeting when the boss lady asked that we adopt the term “news release” across the board, it got me thinking…

For starters, I’ll go ahead and state the obvious – the way we send and receive information is changing rapidly and dramatically. Between the instant accessibility of information and the ability to tailor exactly what information you want, how and when you get it, many existing methods of communication are becoming obsolete, including the old fashioned newspaper printing press (where the term “press release” is derived). A sign of the times that became undeniable last year when Denver’s Rocky Mountain News closed up shop for good.

And just recently, the University of Colorado (CU) announced it would do-away with its School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

In this line of work, I’m constantly surrounded by new methods of gathering, researching and communicating information to the masses – cool new tools, emerging and innovative technologies, evolving trends in the industry. But it’s my belief that no matter how the methods change, the art itself does not.

CU’s Journalism school Dean Paul Voakes credits the decision partly with the fact that nowadays “more people keep themselves informed online.” Although the days of the old news press may be breathing their last breaths, journalism is not just defined by print media. Like all industries, it continues to evolve along with the tools of the trade. Despite all the blogs, Twitters and Facebooks in the world, nothing takes the place of good journalism and the ability to effectively report, write, edit and broadcast information – online or in print.

As CU sticks a fork in the J-school, I have to wonder what’s next. In a world of changing media, are we beginning to lose sight of the art itself, or could this be an opportunity for the industry to take the next evolutionary step?

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Posted by Megan Rees on 08/26 at 08:33 AM
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A bit of wisdom from the legendary John Wooden

John Wooden passed away earlier this year at the age of 99. Although famous as the former coach of 10 championship UCLA basketball teams, this simple man is remembered more for his ability to make each person he came in contact with feel special. He touched thousands of lives inside and outside the world of sports. Here are just a few of his thoughtful and inspirational “Woodenisms.”

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”

“Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.”

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

“Be prepared and be honest.”

“Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

“Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a do-er makes mistakes.”

“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”

“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings and the feelings of others before your own rights.”

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”

“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

“Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”

I hope that by sharing these “Woodenisms” you will be encouraged, entertained and enlightened. John Wooden was a great communicator, a remarkable motivator and the architect of many champion teams.

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Posted by Mary Ann Strombitski on 08/17 at 05:56 PM
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But… who cares?

While it seems the mass majority of people have caught on to social networking through sites like Facebook and Twitter, there are still some who maintain a “who cares?” mentality.

In fact, the other night during a dinner with my parents and in-laws, the conversation turned to the topic of Facebook and my father-in-law said just that – “who cares?”

As public relations professionals, it is our job to make sure your audience DOES care about what you post on these social networking sites. As the manager of these tools and behind-the-scenes “puppet master,” it is important to keep in mind that you are speaking on behalf of the organization, not as an individual. For example, it you think your post might be interesting enough for Failbook.com, it’s not meant for your organization.

Organizations and personal pages are meant to be separate, which is why these parameters are key to keeping your organization on the right side of a fine line:

1. Brief
Social media is for people on the go. They want to know all the details upfront to fit into the average eight-second attention span.

2. Timely
As an organization, it is your job to give your audience information as soon as it happens. In cases like Facebook and Twitter, the user chooses where they receive information and, if they chose you, you better give them what they want, when they want it – or they won’t stick around for long.

3. Informative
Unless you are involved in a political campaign, keep things objective. People want to hear the facts from your organization, not necessarily the opinions. It may sounds elementary, but stick to the who, what, when, where, how and why when it comes to your posts.

4. Positive
People want to be around positive energy. The same applies to social networking. If you perpetually post positive tips, trends and news, people will be more likely to follow you to get a dose of your positive energy. Facebook and Twitter should never be an outlet for complaints or negativity.

5. Error-free
Read twice, post once. A grammatical or spelling error can damage your credibility as an expert in your field or industry.

Beyond these five tips, perhaps the most important is to have fun with your posts and updates. Social networking sites are made for casual communication, so skip the formal jargon and you’ll avoid the “who cares” reaction.

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Posted by Liz Viscardi on 08/11 at 06:39 PM
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TMI is a reality

While it obviously depends on the unique nuances of each situation, I’d make the argument that it is entirely possible to share Too Much Information (TMI) with your audiences, damaging your relationship and causing more harm than good.

Case in point – I was in a meeting with a client earlier this month, in which CIG had been asked to form a communications strategy to inform stakeholder groups of a policy change that would affect each and every one of them. The good news was we’d been brought in early – the policy decision hadn’t even been made yet! The bad news was rumors were rampant throughout the organization.

We were asked to help spread facts (which were few) and dispel myths (which were many). The client’s initial thought was the best way to dispel rumors was to be seen as very transparent. In doing so, they’d be seen as acting transparently, which would help to accomplish two goals:
1. share that no decision had been made, and
2. communicate the basket of alternatives that was still under consideration.

We agreed on the first point, but recommended against the second. Why did we take a position against communicating?

Our position was that it was better to share that no decision had been made and provide a rough timeline for when the new policy was to be approved and when it would likely go into effect. Providing TMI about possible outcomes would only serve to worry, confuse, and otherwise rile up a group of people who honestly didn’t need to know details of what might become policy.

We kept our powder dry and saved our breath; reserving it to help inform stakeholders of the outcome and ramifications of whatever decision is eventually made. In doing so, we kept from providing TMI, which helped us focus on our future messaging vs. defending the thousands of “what if?” questions that would doubtlessly have come in if we’d shared too much.

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Posted by Matt Wittern on 07/28 at 11:39 AM
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I love the circumstances cookies idea, I’d comparable to realize my personal with some carefully thought out fortune biscuits! Nice estimates thanks.
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  09/02  at  01:31 AM

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Simple survival tips for public speaking

For most people, the thought of public speaking sends shivers down their spines. According to national surveys, fear of public speaking surpasses the fear of illness, flying, terrorism and often the fear of death, among Americans.

So what if I told you there was a way to make it easier – a way to ensure your presentation goes smoothly and leaves your audience wanting more? Interested? Can you believe that all of this can be yours if you follow two simple words?

Hold on to your hat, here it is… Be Prepared.

Yep, it’s that simple. Being prepared and knowing your game plan before going into your presentation can relieve loads of stress and actually lend itself to an enjoyable experience.

Apple recently demonstrated what happens when even the top dogs aren’t prepared. When Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, gave a presentation introducing the new iPhone 4, I’d venture to guess he didn’t take much time to prepare. Otherwise, he probably would have had a backup plan for when his technology failed mid-presentation.

So how does one prepare for a presentation and avoid the awkwardness that was Steve Jobs’ presentation (which even led to a nice slam against Apple when Jobs asked the audience if they had any ideas how to fix the problem and someone yelled out “Verizon!”)? Here’s my sure-fire list of steps to follow in order to be prepared for any presentation:

1. Know your audience and know what they expect from you. Don’t walk into a room assuming you know who will be sitting out there. Before your presentation, determine what exactly your audience wants to hear about and who will actually be listening.
2. Know how much time you have – don’t run over and always allow time for questions and answers. Know when to end your talk.
3. Know what you are going to say and practice your presentation several times. Make sure when you are practicing that you are using your audio-visual equipment so you know how to work it before the day of the presentation.
4. Special Step for to Steve Jobs – When using audio-visual aids to enhance your presentation be sure all necessary equipment is set up and in good working order prior to the presentation. If possible, have an emergency backup system readily available.  Check out the location ahead of time to confirm the seating arrangements, whiteboard, blackboard, lighting, location of projection screen, sound system, etc. are suitable for your presentation.
5. Provide handouts – this way your audience can focus on what you are saying instead of trying to take notes. Handouts are also important if you have a complete audio-visual meltdown. Participants can still follow your presentation by hard copy.
6. If and when all else fails, remember the most important step is to be able to adjust and adapt. If you have prepared possible “what if” scenarios and have ideas for how to handle them, you will be comfortable enough that you can handle any crisis without getting overly anxious. Being prepared allows you to roll with the punches while keeping a smile on your face!

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Posted by Laurie Meza on 07/28 at 11:21 AM
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Develop the plan, work the plan, then ditch the plan (if you have to)

Like most public relations professionals, I am a planner. In PR, planning is the foundation for everything we do. It helps us think strategically, anticipate roadblocks and develop smart tactics for our clients.

That’s great for PR. The problem is I can’t seem to turn it off in my personal life. I like to think that a plan can help me anticipate life’s twists and turns as well. The summers of 2009 and 2010 have taught me a valuable lesson that also translates into our business – a plan is a great tool but flexibility is key to the best outcome.

Last summer at my house was labeled “The Craptastic Summer of 2009,” which started when my 5-year-old little girl was hit by a car while playing in our neighborhood. She spent most of the summer recovering emotionally and physically, and when she was better, she went to acting camp. There, she shared hats with other children (costumes, of course) and developed a wicked case of head lice that she spread to her sister. We spent the last part of the summer getting rid of it. That wasn’t supposed to happen.

So, my family looked forward to this summer with great excitement. I, of course, decided we needed a plan. My oldest daughter and I made a list of all the fun things we wanted to do while the weather was warm – swim, play in the fountains, see a movie in the park, have a sleepover, go camping, etc. There. We had a plan. What could go wrong? Well, in a timeframe of about three weeks, my grandpa passed away unexpectedly and then so did our 10-year-old puppy.

We were sent in a tailspin once again. But this year is different. Our life’s downs will not overshadow the ups. After two summers of unexpected sadness and frustration, I have learned a very important lesson in flexibility. A plan does not equal control over situations. It is a roadmap with twists and turns, and it needs constant adjustment to fit changing needs. This week, we are taking some time to mourn our family dog, but next week, it’s back to swimming and ice cream and making great summer memories.

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Posted by Kristi Estes on 07/21 at 02:43 PM
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Lady luck

“My husband is going to Vegas this weekend for a bachelor party.”

As you might imagine, when I told people this last week the responses I got ranged from “my friend’s husband went to Vegas for a bachelor party too. He got so drunk that he fell asleep at the gate and missed his flight,” “hopefully he’ll come back in one piece,” and “I bet he’ll have some stories! At least the ones he can share with you (wink, wink).”

Think about it, if I said he was going to Aspen, Portland, or even Los Angeles, a common reaction would have been “oh that’ll be fun.” So why did the mention of Vegas elicit such suggestive replies?  The answer: one powerful tagline – “What happens here, stays here.”

These five words have now become more than a tagline, they’ve become a lifestyle. The adult playground offers visitors a break from reality and that is exactly what its patrons are looking for. That, and the false sense of security that Vegas will keep all your secrets even after the slots, lights and drinks subside and reality rears its ugly head on Monday morning.

The tagline made its glitzy debut in 2002 by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and marketing firm R&R Partners. After introducing the new tagline, tourism increased consistently until the recession hit and it leveled off slightly. In fact, when the LVCVA toyed with the idea of phasing it out, they were faced with less than enthusiasm from the general public and the tagline was brought back.

Vegas is at the forefront of marketing and was named the number two brand behind Google, according to the “WHHSH Story.” So what makes this brand, and tagline, such a success? I’ll give you five reasons:

1. Short and to the point – Only five words but they make quite a statement.
2. Captures the spirit – Provocative and ambiguous, allowing the audience to let their imaginations run wild.
3. Memorable – Most people can repeat the tagline without much thought as soon as Las Vegas is mentioned.
4. Outside the box – The marketers weren’t afraid to take a risk and go an unconventional route.
5. Proven by results – Promotions that include this tagline continue to help boost tourism.

These same basic rules can be applied to every tagline, whether you’re the city of sin or a small organization with a need for a clearly defined brand identity.

My husband did, in fact, make it home, without missing his flight, in one piece and with interesting stories…at least the ones he’s told me.

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Posted by Liz Viscardi on 06/24 at 10:06 AM
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What is your communications philosophy?

Let’s look at the basics. I believe effective communications should be clear, concise, relevant and timely. Whether you are developing a full-blown strategic communications plan or a stand-alone piece for the Web, print or presentation, ask yourself these simple questions:

•  Who is the audience?
•  How do I want to influence their thinking?
•  What action(s) do I want them to take?
•  How can I share my message so it is clear, concise, relevant and timely?

These questions are central to communications planning, as well as the development of any tactical communications piece.

I also look at the three A’s – alignment, assignment and adjustment. Are my strategies and messages in alignment with the needs of my audiences and the communications goals? Have I assigned the right messages to change the thinking of my audience or to spur them to action? Once my plan or piece is put in place, I then ask what I need to adjust to meet the fluid nature of the current business climate. I prepare for the next wave.

What is your communications philosophy? Have you considered your next communications “chess move?” 

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Posted by Mary Ann Strombitski on 06/24 at 09:27 AM
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Great Moments in CIG History - Chapter 5

For many Americans, 2009 might have seemed a bit like the Wild West, with cowboys and outlaws vying for the upper hand. Depending on your political persuasion, President Obama was either hero or villain – Wyatt Earp or Billy the Kid.

Desperados claimed victory with near double-digit unemployment rates, but the new sheriff in town helped the market find its bottom in March and spent the balance of the year regaining its losses.

Even with the economy struggling to turn the corner in fits and starts, CIG stayed busy. We were fortunate to continue our work for many of the clients we’d served over the years, and were even able to add a few more.

In a coup that fits nicely with our goal of “global domination,” we secured several projects with Newmont Mining Corporation – one of the largest mining companies in the world. In an interesting twist, it turns out that Newmont’s offices are in the Palazzo Verdi Office Tower in Greenwood Village – a structure built by our long-time clients and friends at Kiewit Building Group. The Newmont projects were a refreshing change that allowed us to learn about a new company and industry, as well as flex our creative muscles.

We were also asked to bring our facilitation experience to bear to assist HDR Engineering on the I-70 Mountain Corridor’s Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, or DPEIS (you know how we LOVE acronyms in transportation…). We brought together key stakeholders from all along the corridor – from Golden to Glenwood Springs to Gypsum – to provide input through Issue Task Forces. Having spent the past several years focused on transit at RTD FasTracks, we were excited to work with some of our old friends at CDOT with whom we’d worked on T-REX.

Finally, 2009 allowed me to put my money where my mouth was in terms of re-investing in the business. I challenged my team to improve their skills and prowess in all areas – particularly social media. Knowing that 100 percent of economic recessions eventually come to an end, we worked hard to get smarter about the social media phenomenon that is revolutionizing the way we all communicate and how we serve our clients. This investment has already paid off, with several clients jumping into the social media arena with our help and, subsequently, seeing a healthy return on their new communication investment.

As 2009 turned to 2010, we turned to the future and began to set our sights on new adventures, including a wonderful opportunity to serve a new client, Denver Water. We also started planning our fantastic five-year anniversary celebration, just around the corner on May 13. Watch this space in the coming week for at least two breaking news items – an announcement on how CIG is about to grow again, and (knowing our guests) an amusing story or two about shenanigans that are likely take place at our anniversary party.

Fair warning if you plan to attend – there will be cameras on-hand and we’re not afraid to live blog and tweet the event if necessary. Paraphrasing Billy the Kid’s (played by former Breakfast Club jock Emilio Estevez) famous line in the movie Young Guns: “We’ll make you famous.”

**I want to offer a personal note of thanks to every one of you who made these first five years possible. Thank you for your trust, your support, your confidence and your commitment to our mutual success. Without you, this amazing ride never would have been possible and, to you, I will remain eternally grateful.

Here’s to the next five years and beyond!

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Posted by Karen Morales on 05/12 at 09:05 AM
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Great Moments in CIG History – Chapter 4

Ahhh, 2008. Who can forget it? Described succinctly by the hipper members of my staff simply as “the year the SHTF,” …at least in terms of the economy. As the prosperity of 2007 began to wane around the country, buzzwords like “credit crunch,” “stimulus package,” and “staycation” gradually crept into our collective vocabulary, along with the ominous big “R.” Unprecedented gas and oil prices, foreclosures, billion-dollar bailouts and a plummeting stock market marked the beginning of troubled times for many. 

However, despite the unyielding economic woes, 2008 was a historic year. U.S. voters ushered in Barack Obama as our first black president, watched Michael Phelps as he smoked Olympic world records (and later, bongs…) and begrudgingly acknowledged the Great Recession, as it settled in for an extended – albeit unwelcome – stay. 

In January, CIG recognized the first of several historic events of our own that year, with the joyful return of my very first team member, Laurie Meza, who eagerly rejoined the working world after an extended maternity leave following the birth of her twins.

Despite a downward shift in the economy, CIG continued to grow at a steady pace. We formed partnerships with two new clients – the City of Longmont’s Education Task Force and the Town of Timnath – extending our reach further north along the Front Range.

Later that summer, it was time for my small company to grow once again. With the addition of Liz Viscardi to the team, CIG embraced another milestone on the road to “global domination.” (Yes, that’s right, we think big here at CIG…) Providing great support for the FasTracks team, Liz, a fellow former member of the Kiewit crew, proved to be a perfect fit for both our clients and our culture.

It was also a historic time for Colorado, as the 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC) set up shop right here in our own backyard that August, bringing tens of thousands flocking to the Queen City of the Rockies. CIG worked with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) to plan and host a national transportation forum, Transportation’s Catch-22: Challenges and Solutions for America’s Backbone, which brought together several of the nation’s leaders, in town for the DNC, to share ideas and solutions for the rapid rise of oil prices and foreign oil dependence.

That fall, the CIG team trekked to beautiful Lake Tahoe to attend the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) annual conference where not one – but two – of our clients accepted national awards for their brand identity projects, designed and led by CIG. The City of Wheat Ridge won the Silver-Circle Award and the Longmont Downtown Development Authority took home the Savvy Award – a very proud moment for our clients and for us. 

As I’m sure you all remember, the final months of 2008 brought an intoxicating swirl of fear and hope, as the American people elected a new leader…  Fear of what might happen in the new year, and a new hope that came with the possibility of change. Regardless, people welcomed 2009 with open arms and CIG was among them as we braced ourselves for another year of opportunities and unknowns!

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Posted by Karen Morales on 05/07 at 02:27 PM
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Great Moments in CIG History - Chapter 3

The future was bright and our spirits were high as CIG rang in 2007. With the team we had assembled by the end of 2006, I was optimistic for the milestone year ahead as FasTracks continued making progress and our list of clients continued to grow. Although some clients were feeling the initial flutters of a turbulent economy, others were thriving and hoped to embrace new trends in public relations and marketing.

In the spring, we launched our Web site, cig-pr.com, and had started earnestly engaging in business development. We pursued several promising opportunities – including marketing and branding projects for both the City of Wheat Ridge and the Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) – which resulted in contracts and two wonderful, long-term clients for CIG. It wasn’t long before our team found ourselves in a familiar situation – enough work to expand once again.

What we really needed was someone who could hit the ground running, handling the more behind-the-scenes logistics of our client accounts, serving as support to the rest of the team. As much as I hate to admit it, coming from Bears country at the University of Northern Colorado, our search for such a resource led us again to the land of green and gold, home of the Rams – and two of our team members already – Colorado State University. It was there we found CIG’s first intern turned full-time employee, Megan Rees.

“How do you feel about dogs?”

It was the final and most important question of Megan’s job interview, which was conducted over soft tacos and green chili at El Azteca in the Republic Plaza food court. As you guessed, she answered favorably and after a ceremonial introduction to the “guardians” of CIG World HQ (aka my two sweet, albeit enormous and protective, flat-coated retrievers Lily and Becky); she secured her spot on the team.

It was a busy summer as we embarked on new projects, formed new partnerships and embraced new challenges. Construction season was in full swing as FasTracks celebrated another milestone – the first project construction-related activity on the West Corridor.

But as the days of summer came to a close, another season quickly approached – campaign season. Or as we later dubbed it – cocktail season. In 2007, we were excited to partner with our friends at CRL Associates on several local election campaigns for clients including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Xcel Energy. All of which were successful at the ballot, by the way…!

By the end of the year, we were operating at steady pace and all was well in CIG’s world. As we headed into 2008, however, many unseen changes loomed on the horizon. The economy was starting to appear unstable, with only the worst ahead and it was clear the nation as a whole was starting to squirm…

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Posted by Karen Morales on 04/29 at 07:36 AM
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Great Moments in CIG History - Chapter 2

Before I knew it, 2005 was over and the calendar rolled over to 2006. Suddenly, my little firm started growing faster than the number of congressmen being taken down by sex scandals that year – faster than any of us ever could have envisioned.

Apparently, once people heard we were in business, they decided to check us out. At CIG, we refer to that as “a good problem to have.” In 2006, our “good problem” was that the economy was strong and the relationships we’d built through the years were providing new business opportunities. So what was the problem? Well, first off, we’re public relations professionals, so there are never any “problems,” – just “challenges.” No, wait… make that “opportunities.”

Opportunities were many. We’d been fortunate enough to be collaborating with our old friends at Kiewit, who were serving as Construction Manager and Owner’s Representative on Cherokee Denver’s redevelopment of the former Gates Rubber Factory site. We also had the great pleasure of helping with some of the final Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project opening celebration. We also developed terrific new relationships with Adams County, Mapleton Public Schools and several private firms.

With our work on RTD’s FasTracks program in full swing, my colleague Laurie Meza and I found ourselves already busily humming along, so we brought on fellow T-REX veteran Kristi Estes in January that year, initially to head-up our non-FasTracks work. Later that year, Kristi joined the FasTracks team as well – taking over for Laurie, who went on a loooong maternity leave, to explore the wonders of raising twins.

Typical of how CIG rolled back in the early days, we worked out of a space graciously loaned to us at CRL, our homes, coffee shops, client’s offices, restaurants and yes, even our cars (I actually do recall driving up and down Broadway, my laptop on the console, angling for a free Wi-Fi signal). We had more work than staff members and – with the resources I had in place – I could see we needed to expand if we were to continue providing our clients the quality and customer service we demand and they deserved.

Our good problem, er, opportunity, was to hire another staffer who could manage the ever-growing list of clients and projects that were not under the FasTracks umbrella. Who could we hire to be in this role, and where might we find this person? As I’d done before, I went back to the well of former project colleagues and tapped Matt Wittern.

For me, the challenge of balancing client work while managing three employees, payroll, HR issues, invoicing, ordering office supplies, negotiating contracts, etc. – all the while trying to maintain a personal life – became too much. It was time to call in reinforcements. 

In June, my very dear friend Terri Atmore had flown out from Atlanta for my Big 4-0 birthday. It wasn’t long after (the very next day, in fact), that I roped her in and, within weeks, she became CIG’s new Office Manager, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, VP of Organization and Karen’s Personal Sanity Saver.

Within six months, CIG had doubled in size. Things were running smoothly and, by the fall, we had even more clients to enjoy. In December, I decided we all deserved a celebration, so we held the first-ever CIG Christmas party, which somehow ended with a limo ride to Polly Esthers. But, hey, that’s how we do things at CIG – we catch the tradewinds as they come and hope for a Disco at the end.

Everyone was feeling pretty good as 2006 drew to a close. We’ll call that the calm before the storm. Calm that didn’t last for long, because 2007 had a lot in store for us… 

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Posted by Karen Morales on 04/22 at 08:50 PM
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Great Moments in CIG History - Chapter 1

In May, CIG turns five and – in true CIG style – we’re not letting this birthday pass by without a celebration. What anniversary is complete without a commemorative nod to years past? And, let’s face it… after five years of clients, collaboration and, of course, cocktails, we’ve got a few stories to tell. Lucky for you, we’re willing to share a few with our friends and colleagues in a series we’ve dubbed: “Great Moments in CIG History!”

The year was 2005. Some of you may remember it as the year Steve Fossett broke a world record for around-the-world non-stop flight, or the year that Saddam Hussein went on trial. Maybe you’re the type that remembers it as the year Tom Cruise “jumped the couch,” so to speak, or that “Hollaback Girl” was the No. 1 song on the radio.

I remember it as the year an unlikely public relations firm – CIG – was born.

Unlikely, because I never intended on starting my own business. In fact, the thought had never even really crossed my mind. The T-REX project was just beginning to wind down and I was very happy, quite content in fact, to bleed Kiewit black and gold for many years to come. Following the tremendous success of T-REX, we decided to put together a team to pursue the FasTracks Public Information and Outreach Consultant project as a Kiewit venture, which I thought sounded like a great transition from T-REX. The “FasTracks Yes” Campaign had been a triumph and we began to put our proposal together with the understanding that Kiewit would supply the public information side of things and CRL Associates the public affairs side.

However, things didn’t exactly go as planned, as they typically don’t. The arrangement our team had began to unravel. Thus, a decision was laid out in front of me – leave Kiewit to work on FasTracks, or stay with them and abandon an opportunity to work on the largest voter-approved transit expansion project in the entire United States. To leave a job I loved with a company that was unconditionally supportive, for a chance to step into the dark abyss of small business ownership. This proved to be the single hardest decision I have ever made.

Well, I guess something about the instability and inconsistent pay sounded appealing to me, so I took the plunge and within days, CIG became reality. In July 2005, we started working on the RTD FasTracks Public Information and Public Outreach Consultant contract with joint-venture partner CRL Associates. I hired my first employee, Laurie Meza, and we set up CIG World Headquarters at Hacienda Morales, high above beautiful downtown Evergreen.

As a public relations firm, we decided one of the first things we needed was a logo and brand identity (mainly so we would have something to put on a business card). I enlisted the help of my longtime friend and colleague Michelle Carnes and Communication Infrastructure Group was born.

Now, you might think that a veteran communication professional would appreciate the power of brevity. Not always. My original e-mail address was .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

After a few months of giving that out over the phone, coupled with the escalating probability of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, we decided to shorten it up to cig-pr.com. Looking back, I can hardly fathom how we survived that first year, with me doing my own bookkeeping and serving as the HR, Billing and Client Services department at the same time.

Survive we did, and sure enough, next thing you know, it was 2006…

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Posted by Karen Morales on 04/15 at 08:42 AM
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Plan to Fail?

A client of mine, Kiewit Building Group, has a phrase by which they live:

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

I always thought it was just a clever turn, never realizing the value of living by that credo until it came to building a nursery for my new son in our upstairs bedroom. Due to a lack of effective planning, I ended up putting in a lot more work than really should have been necessary.

Exhibit A – drywall texture. Due to inadequate foresight, I had to bust out the drywall texture gun (which is a total pain to setup and also clean) two extra times. Why? I neglected to share my vision of a nursery wrapped in beadboard and topped with chair rail with my wife (aka “the Foreman”), and instead went about texturing the ceiling and walls over 33 inches. Much to my chagrin, the Foreman vetoed this vision and I had to re-texture everything.

The next “oops” was because the 1980-style closet doors I had “demoed” on day one turned out to be an odd size vertically. Again, the Foreman noticed this after I had already textured and painted. I had to build a soffit/header-type thing, drywall, re-texture and paint before hanging standard-size closet doors.

These issues are just a couple examples of wasting time and money by failing to effectively plan. I assure you, there were plenty more on this project.

Conversely, when the time came to renovate our family room, I developed a detailed 36-step plan complete with timeline and responsibility matrix to complete the project. Although the Foreman made fun of me, the plan (as well as communicating my vision with her), allowed me to finish the project with minimal effort wasted by reacting to unexpected developments. 

The point I’m trying to make is true in the construction industry as well as the communication industry (and any industry for that matter) – if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Taking the time up-front to plan your moves will save you headaches, time and money.

Next time, take the time and plan to succeed.

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Posted by Matt Wittern on 04/14 at 09:33 AM
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The Ugly Sweater of Marketing

Have you ever attended an ugly sweater party? Typically hosted around the holidays, ugly sweater parties have gained rapid popularity in recent years for offering guests an excuse to put aside their cocktail attire and sip eggnog in the comfort of a hideous, yet festive, holiday sweater. You know the kind of sweater I’m talking about, the kind that pairs itself perfectly with mom jeans, complete with beading, appliqué, glitter and sometimes even battery-operated lights. When it comes to these sweaters, the more embellishments the better, but that’s not the rule of thumb when it comes to any marketing campaign.

In a recent New York Times article, Keds embellished its history stating it was “the original sneaker” with the hope that this would boost brand recognition among a younger demographic.  According to its Web site, Keds claims the term “sneakers” was coined in 1917 to describe the quiet rubber soles of its shoes. However, after further investigation of the lofty claim, the article reported that people had been using the term informally since the late 1880s. 

It may be a technicality, but there are a lot of brands out there that can claim to be the “original” of something, but they have to put their money where their mouth is. It’s simple – unless you are 100 percent confident in your claim, don’t make it. Any gray area could be dismal to your reputation.

Due to its lack of factual evidence, Keds’ claim has been challenged by several individuals who researched the history of sneakers and found evidence, dating back to 1887, contradicting the footwear giant’s assertion. As a result, Keds modified its campaign Web site, OriginalSneaker.com, explaining it was “the first sneaker brand, which popularized the term ‘sneaker.’ ”

Marshal Cohen, a researcher for the NPD Group, said, “With the reach of social media, the minute an ad campaign is challenged or can’t be substantiated, social media is going to spread that like wildfire. Before you make a statement, you have to be sure you can justify it and live up to it.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. So keep on embellishing the clothes in your closet and the honest facts in your campaigns.

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Posted by Liz Viscardi on 04/07 at 10:16 AM
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