by Minette Yao

Today’s generation is often criticized for having a short attention span.  According to some psychologists and neuroscientists, the explosion of social networking sites like Facebook, instant messaging, and blogging (especially compacted micro-blogging tools, like Twitter), is a detriment to society. The conventional complaint goes: with more and more people at their computers or in front of the television, we are quickly losing the ability to have real life conversations, and certainly not conversations about anything of substance. But wait.

Tonight in downtown, an event called Ignite Raleigh might just prove the experts wrong. Ignite is a sort of variety show—an evening of inspiring, creative, interesting talks and presentations—from members of the very generation accused. The idea is a bit like TED, another online draw that provides streaming videos (often around 20-30 minutes) of “riveting talks by remarkable people” (TED’s motto). The difference is that Ignite is local—attended, presented at, and lead by people interested in hosting and participating at one in their city or town. More importantly, the talks only last five minutes.

Individuals are allowed to share their passions at an Ignite event informed by the motto, “Enlighten us, but make it quick.” Presenters are given five minutes to talk, with 20 slides up for 15 seconds each. Talk about a short attention span!

This will be Raleigh’s second Ignite event, with a total of 15 presentations given within 2 hours (from 7-9pm) by community speakers and featured speakers alike (including a WRAL meteorologist and Miss NC USA 2010). The topics range from “20 Rules for Start-Ups”  to “Why the Triangle is America’s Hotspot for Way Cool Houses” to “NerdGirls Unite! Fact: Women Don’t Have to Be Lame.”

For those interested in opinions from the social media savvy, a few of these talks might catch your attention:

“What happens to your digital identity after you die?”; “All media is social. You are no expert. Go read McLuhan”; and “Anti-Social Media: Breaking Connections for Fun and Profit.”

… even if only for five minutes. The @Ignite Raleigh event is also all over Twitter (#igniteraleigh), if you just can’t focus for that long.

Photo source: Ted Leung

By James Schlegelmilch

This past Friday more than 150 participants at a Raleigh YMCA Youth and Government conference fell ill, with complaints of stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.  Originally five of the 150 needed to be hospitalized, while a sixth was taken to a local area hospital a day later.  The conference was intended to be a role-playing event where high school students from across the state were taught how public policy is developed.

The symptoms described by more than 150 of the 1,000 participants closely resembled food-borne illness.  The symptoms began to arise hours after the conference was treated to a catered dinner on Friday evening.  As of Saturday, the catering company, Centerplate, was unable to be reached for a comment at both their Raleigh N.C. office, and their Stanford, Conn. headquarters.

Good crisis PR dictates that in order to handle this type of a situation a leader must step forward and take ownership of the problem. It must appoint a spokesperson to tell the truth, tell it fast and the organization must take steps to correct the problem and let everyone know what those steps will be.  This event occurred on Friday evening, and calls placed to the company on Saturday were neither answered nor returned.

Centerplate should have appointed someone to handle media relations at the outset of this development. It was almost two days before the company’s vice president came forward, yet said only that his company has “very strict policies and procedures to ensure the health of our guests,” neither confirming nor denying any aspect of the story.  Centerplate finally got it right when, on Sunday, the spokesperson said that they are complying with the health department’s inquiry while conducting an internal investigation of their own.

Public record shows that the Centerplate kitchen had been docked 18.5 points during health department inspections over the past year, with their last inspection just two weeks ago.  Should more of the students need hospitalization, become even more ill or the company health record be brought to light, will Centerplate have the crisis PR skills needed to overcome such a predicament?

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Photo: SuziJane

By Kelley Brackett

Sunday’s Superbowl brought home big bucks, not only for the New Orleans Saints’ owner Tom Benson, but also for a North Carolina company, Five Point Productions.  For a second year, the Raleigh-based company gained national attention for a Doritos spot, “Underdog,” one of four ads to air.  The spot featured a Doritos’ loving Labrador, Rosie, who used her anti-bark shock collar to steal a bag from her taunting owner.   Kudos to both companies for capitalizing on user-generated content.

First, to the Doritos brand for putting a price tag on quality user-generated content.  Since YouTube’s unveiling in 2005, users have flocked to post videos that generate, sometimes thousands of hits per day.  Doritos, noting the trend, decided to capitalize on the phenomenon by asking individuals to submit content for Superbowl ads beginning in 2007 for its “Crash the Superbowl Contest.”  Fast forward to 2010, Doritos’ user-generated ad, “House Rules”, was hailed as the top spot by TiVo.

The Doritos brand is revolutionizing the marketing process by asking individuals to submit content for cash prizes.  Through relinquishing power to the audience, Doritos is tapping into the resource that knows them best–their consumers.  By asking fans to create content on small budgets, Doritos can take the backseat in the marketing process, while still reaping the benefits for a fraction of the cost. The brand has seemingly created a win-win situation by utilizing a unique marketing strategy.

Five Point Productions answered the brand’s call by producing yet another winning ad, although it received second place, the group won $600,000 and national recognition.  With such award-winning creativity and local talent  found in our own backyard, maybe “Raleighwood” is a more fitting name?

Photo Source: mattieb

By Audrey Beckett

Valentine’s Day is the holiday that inspires perhaps the widest range of emotions. Some see it as a romantic holiday to look forward to while others find it depressing. A number of Raleigh area organizations have decided to make the holiday about more than dates, flowers and chocolate and use it as a chance to do some good in the community.

The following organizations deserve recognition both for the impact they are making in the community and the PR savvy they demonstrate by using this holiday as an opportunity to gain positive coverage and see optimal fundraising results.

Cameron Village

Cameron Village has partnered with WakeMed Heart & Vascular Associates to increase awareness about heart disease through the Love Your Heart campaign. From Feb. 1-14, customers spending $250 or more in same-day purchases at Cameron Village shops will receive a free gift as well as a certificate for a free total and HDL cholesterol test and blood pressure check at WakeMed. Cameron Village also features a home page link to information about heart disease and encouragement to speak with a doctor to learn more.

Arc of Wake County

The Arc of Wake County will host the No Hassle Valentine’s Ball on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Raleigh’s Cardinal Club. The ball will feature a dinner and dessert buffet, an open bar, dancing, silent and live auctions and complimentary flowers and chocolate. Tickets are $90 per person or $170 per couple. The Arc of Wake County is a nonprofit dedicated to helping those with developmental disabilities achieve their life goals.

Carolina Hurricanes

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Carolina Hurricanes are partnering with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that raises funds for childhood cancer research. Thursday, Feb. 11’s game against the Buffalo Sabres is St. Baldrick’s Night. The Hurricanes will give away 100 free tickets to individuals who shave their heads on the arena’s front lawn prior to the game in solidarity for children fighting cancer.

The holiday’s focus on love presents a unique opportunity for philanthropic efforts. Even organizations, such as the Carolina Hurricanes, who aren’t seen as catering to a romantic crowd, can find ways to optimize their community outreach efforts by scheduling them around Valentine’s Day.

These businesses’ unique events are examples of smart public relations planning. The ability to make the most of the opportunities at hand is a key component of good PR.

Photo Source: aussiegall

By Minette Yao

This past Saturday, Terlato Wines International concluded a National Brand Campaign Contest at Duke University, asking students for their expertise on marketing, “Do you have what it takes to develop a national brand communications campaign for Tangley Oaks Wine?”

The challenge was to develop a campaign that would increase name recognition of the Tangley Oaks wine brand, but their success coming out of this tactful contest was more than meets the eye.

This contest was certainly a win-win situation. On the one hand, students were given the opportunity to try their hand at crafting a marketing plan, and with a powerful motivator, “The Reward: The winning plan will be put into action by our corporate sponsor. Imagine highlighting a successful national campaign on your resume.” On the other hand? By asking students to get involved, Tangley Oaks not only successfully outsourced their PR strategic planning, they also engaged with a community of driven students and the larger Duke network; the competition was highlighted for alumni during the annual Fannie Mitchell Career Conference Networking Event. The winner was announced at a networking reception, while alumni and of-age undergraduates munched on crackers and cheese, to accompany their glass of Tangley Oaks Merlot or Chardonnay. Smart.

The wine group’s marketing team undoubtedly knew quite well what they were doing, nodding to two of the most popular trends in the media today: social media and social responsibility. The competition itself encouraged students to focus their campaign around social media outlets, in a way that would highlight the solid foundation of good PR the wine group was already involved in. One of these endeavors is a green partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation for the Tangley Oaks Plant-A-Tree Campaign.

Driving conversation by talking about the conversation is strategic. And in this case, Tangley Oaks returned the favor in more ways than one: Sponsoring an event for alumni networking, affording students the opportunity to develop a national brand campaign, and planting trees for the environment. A toast to them! Straight out of a lesson book for good public relations.

Photo Source: Tangley Oaks

By Kelley Brackett

Anticipation is building across the state, as the countdown to the reopening of the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) nears.  Upon its reopening, NCMA will be the nation’s largest art museum park at a sprawling 164-acres! As the museum nears its 60th birthday and its reopening on the weekend of April 24-25, art lovers young and old will be able to reunite in its newly renovated and expanded location on Blue Ridge Road.

The expansion has given NCMA the opportunity to redefine itself, a PR move that is often necessary, and prepare for another 60 years.  NCMA’s new, modern logo brings the museum into a new decade.  Designed by Pentagram Designs, Inc, the logo is reportedly inspired by the 362 signature coffers enclosing the new building.

The transformation will reveal a 127,000-square-foot building that will house the NCMA’s permanent collection and will include a larger exhibition space, complete with day lit galleries.  The museum is also “going green” as it will be surrounded by extraordinary outdoor gardens filled with large-scale sculptures.

NCMA is not only staying young by redefining itself, but also by showcasing its new branding in multiple facets of social media.   Follow along with 2,000 others @ncartmuseum, become one of its fans on Facebook, check out its newest pictures on Flickr, or read their blog Untitled.  As NCMA’s countdown to the opening celebration continues, social media fans can constantly be in the know, proving that an older establishment can change with the times.

NCMA receives a final nod for good PR in its efforts to reach out to the community. NCMA is requesting  North Carolinian’s photos of what makes the state home by sharing your favorite destinations and faces for an exhibit on display opening weekend.  Join the celebration April 24-25, and celebrate a cultural treasure of our fine state!

Photo: Everlasting Gallery

Launch Of Local Nonprofit Is An Inspired Success

by: Christa Fulenwider

(DISCLOSURE: Women On Board is an MMI client; it was a great event )

Women on Board, a program of the North Carolina Center for Women in Public Service, held their first event on Oct. 15 at the Meredith College Massey House.  In attendance were some of the Triangle area’s most esteemed women and business owners.  N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and president of AT&T North Carolina, Cynthia Marshall gave motivating speeches about the importance of women serving on elected and appointed boards.

Chair of the event, Virginia Parker of Paragon Commercial Bank, organized a successful launch event for the nonprofit.  The Massey House was the perfect venue for the event; the elegant and refined space provided an ideal forum, where attendees could connect with other leading women around the area while sharing a feeling of camaraderie.

The weather cooperated beautifully.  The front terrace was used as the greeting space and also provided a sanctuary to cool off, as the down stairs filled up with the warmth of excitement from business women, members and event sponsors.  A delightful, appetizing arrangement of food was laid out in the dining area, along with drinks in the study and formal living room for attendees to enjoy; also a video provided by Time Warner was shown on computers placed in each room.

As attendees continued to arrive, I watched as women from all backgrounds and generations connected with one another over mini-quiches and pinot grigio.  Old friends caught up, while new friends shared brief life stories with one another.   The roar of laughter quieted, and everyone’s attention switched to the grand staircase in the front hall, as Parker introduced the night’s speakers.

Cynthia Marshall gave an impassioned speech, acknowledging the importance of putting women in public service, while also thanking Elaine Marshall, N.C. Secretary of State, for her guidance and counsel.  A recent study showed that N.C. ranks 37 in a nationwide poll of women in appointed positions; that means women, who make up more than half of the United State’s population, hold only 29 percent of appointed positions in N.C.  According to Elaine Marshall that statistic is unacceptable – after all it is 2009.  

Parker closed the evening by thanking those who contributed their time and support to the cause and giving thanks to those who could attend, reminding them not to leave empty handed –donation envelopes and brochures leading them to the Women on Board Web site were waiting outside, along with a complementary tote.

Women on Board is a program of the North Carolina Center for Women in Public Service, established in April 2009 as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare women to seek and serve in elected and appointed offices, advocate for systems and infrastructure to facilitate women’s  involvement, and promote the value of women in governance.

The women continued to enjoy the rest of the night and exited eager to receive more information.  Needless to say Women on Board is ready to take off and if it’s anything like last night’s event it should be a lot of fun.

Concertgoers Stuck In Gridlock For Hours

by Christa Fulenwider

The U2 concert went on as scheduled on Saturday, Oct. 3; however, not all were in attendance.  Traffic was backed up for almost six miles on I-40 heading towards Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.  The estimated wait time for concertgoers was a staggering three hours.

The Irish rock band performed at Carter-Finley Stadium, the home of the N.C. State Wolfpack, on a stage that took workers four days to assemble and two days to load back onto trucks.  However, Wolfpack fans need not worry about their home turf; Live Nation, the concert’s organizer, paid for the field’s resodding directly following the event.

Along with the “cool points” Raleigh earns for being chosen as a host for one of the legendary band’s stops along the East Coast, the Triangle might have seen up to a $4 million boost in the economy, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau — a welcome upturn for local businesses.

The show was scheduled to go off without a hitch, but it was the lack of scheduling that resulted in the event now being labeled as the cause for one of the worst traffic jams in Raleigh history.  Fans were abandoning their cars along I-40 and walking to the concert, while others simply threw up their hands, turned around and headed home.  One woman, Carrie White, spent $250 on the tickets for her husband’s birthday and when they finally arrived to the stadium, White says they were told by a state trooper, “Too late. All lots are full. Go home and see you next year.”

So who is to blame for the parking lot on 40 East? Concertgoers are pointing to state Highway Patrol as the reason for the traffic standstill, while Highway Patrol officials have suggested that it was a lack of planning on the ticket holder’s part that caused them to miss the event.

As a season ticket holder for N.C. State football, I can attest to the headache event traffic can be.  However, I cannot imagine waiting on the interstate for three hours!  I have been attending Wolfpack games since I was a little girl and even given the task of navigating through traffic once I had my driver’s license, but never have I been stuck for that long.

Carter-Finley Stadium can hold over 57,000 fans, and it is not uncommon to have two events (one at Carter-Finley and one at the RBC Center) held on the same day, so what was the problem here?  Don’t forget the fact that Carter-Finley borders the State Fairgrounds, where there is ample space to park.  So where is the missing link?

The state Department of Transportation warned travelers of expected heavy traffic along I-40 due to the event early on Saturday, the Highway Patrol beefed up their numbers and McLaurin Parking (which handles many big events in Raleigh) opened their gates four hours prior to the show’s start.  But with all of this preparation, fans still were unable to find a place to park.

From a PR standpoint, I have to side with the fans.  After reading reports of concertgoers and hearing the alleged remarks made to fans like Carrie White by state troopers, I can’t help but think that the state wasn’t up to par on Oct. 3.  When asked for their opinion on what was to blame for Saturday’s debacle, the Highway Patrol responded saying that it was not poor planning that caused the congestion, but too many people trying to come to the concert all at once.  To be honest, this statement has to make you laugh.  The logic here is just plain ridiculous.  State officials want to blame fans for showing up to an event at the appointed time?

Now granted, State fans are known for their tailgating, which puts the majority of fans in the parking lots hours prior to kick off.  Nevertheless, I do not believe that the state utilized its resources to handle such a large event like U2.  One major component that was missing on Saturday was the Wolfline Buses, which play a vital role in the traffic flow at State games.  While normally governed by the student government association, I have to wonder why state officials did not think to rent those buses or something similar for the blowout concert.

It can be agreed that someone dropped the ball on this one; however, no one is stepping up to the plate to take on the responsibility.  Instead everyone from the Highway Patrol to the N.C. Department of Transportation is passing the blame around to one another.

Unfortunately for locals around the area, it is mishaps like this that make Raleigh a big question mark in the entertainment venue industry.  Is Raleigh just another small-time Southern town masquerading itself as an up-and-coming metropolis?

Photo via “baldiri,” Flickr Creative Commons

Governor Purdue Discusses Stimulus

Note: The Council for Entrepreneurial Development and The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences are both clients of MMI Associates, Inc.

In a speech at North Carolina’s Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Biotech 2009 event yesterday, Governor Bev Perdue said she would appoint a “Czar” to monitor and invest money the state receives from the $789 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress. Gov. Perdue also said she wants to double the size of our state’s biotechnology industry. Let’s hope the Czar she appoints looks with a friendly eye toward biotech.

The Congressional stimulus bill provides $10 billion for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which in turn awards grants to startups, research universities and investigators at nonprofits all over the country. In North Carolina, NIH has awarded grants to multiple startup companies, universities such as Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, and nonprofit organizations such as The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. But the NIH funding needs to be supplemented with biotech initiatives on the part of state leaders.

Political leaders in our state need to formulate pro-biotech policy decisions, provide expanded funding for biomedical research and tax relief for individual or corporate investors who back biotech. We face strong competition in this area from California, Maryland and Massachusetts. The new Czar can either make it difficult for biotech to expand in North Carolina or be proactive. Biotech has brought billions of dollars into our coffers and has the potential to lead the state out of recession. The impact of biotech employment in North Carolina is huge. Lawmakers need to do all they can to cultivate and protect the industry.

UNC vs. N.C. State @ RBC Center Sat. 1/31

The Tar Heels travel 20 miles east to face ACC rivals the Wolfpack this Saturday at 3:30.  Good luck getting a ticket (you can try your best here).

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Annuals @ Cat’s Cradle Sat. 1/31

Annuals play this Saturday at the Cat’s Cradle.  If college athletics aren’t your cup of tea, check out this Raleigh-based band for an excellent show.

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Hurricanes vs. Atlanta Thrashers @ RBC Center Sat. 1/31

Stick around the RBC Center after the basketball game to watch another heated division battle. The ‘Canes need a performance like last night’s wild finish against Tampa Bay to stay in the playoff hunt. Click here to buy tickets.