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The Finale - A Bittersweet Goodbye For Now13 Aug 202400:08:21

Alright! Nancy Marshall here, and buckle up because this is it, the grand finale! It's hard to believe, but this is the very last episode of the PR Maven Podcast. Six years! Six glorious years of spilling the tea, cracking open some good PR wisdom, and sharing a laugh or two along the way.

You have always seen Nancy on the front but this all would have not been possible without my producer the fabulous Emma Quinlan.

We've had some real rockstar guests on this show. From industry titans to rising stars, each one brought their unique perspective and valuable insights. 

So, what's next? Well, this might be the end of the PR Maven Podcast, but it's certainly not the end of the road for yours truly. I've got a few exciting things brewing. In the meantime, all the past episodes are still up for your listening pleasure on marshallpr.com and all the usual podcast haunts. And do keep in touch on the Facebook group! 

This isn't goodbye, it's just see you later! With a heart full of gratitude, this is Nancy Marshall, signing off.

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

01:04 Final Episode Announcement

01:42 Reflecting on Six Years of Podcasting

03:09 Highlighting Popular Episodes and Guests

04:20 Awards and Recognitions

05:01 Gratitude to Loyal Fans and Listeners

05:34 Future Plans and Farewell

06:15 Final Thank You and Closing Remarks

How To Use Your Strengths To Develop Your Personal Brand, With Christine Tieri – Episode 14106 Aug 202400:41:00

What are your strengths and how can you use them to grow your personal brand? In this episode, Chris Tieri explains how to leverage your strengths to develop your personal brand. As a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Chris talks about how she discovered her passion for coaching, how to use your strengths finder results and how to build your personal brand around your strengths. Listen for Chris’s definition of a brand and what research can do to help.  

03:06 – A Career in Advertising 
05:58 – Transitioning From Agency Owner to Strengths Coach 
07:52 – Nancy and Chris’s Strengths 
10:15 – Chris’s Passion Project 
13:32 – How Chris Uses Strengths Finder for Her Clients 
18:03 – Effective Leadership Lessons 
22:44 – Definition of a Brand 
29:02 – How To Strengthen Your Personal Brand 
33:27 – How Research Can Help With Branding 
36:08 – Helpful Resources 

Related Episodes 

Growing Your Brand Through Public Speaking and Social Media ft. April Chavez – Episode 280 

How To Start Your Personal Brand, With Kit Huffman – Episode 190 

Episode 198: How To Combine PR and Personal Branding To Create Success for Your Business, With Amber Lambke 

About Chris     

Christine Tieri is a business and leadership brand strategist, national speaker and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Focusing on her own strengths of vision, ideation and strategy, Chris works with her clients to discover their unique strengths, make a meaningful impact on those they lead, and set up strategies to accomplish their wildest goals for success. A former ad agency owner for nearly 25 years, Chris knows a thing or two about brand building, strategic messaging and three-martini lunches. 

How This Magazine Is Growing In The Digital Age: Owner of Journey Magazines Carolyn Delaney - Ep 27704 Jun 202400:34:05

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, Nancy hosts Carolyn Delaney, founder and CEO of Journey Enterprises. Carolyn shares her transformative journey from leading IT departments to founding a media company dedicated to making recovery from addiction visible and reducing stigma through inspiring stories, resources, and community events. Journey Enterprises, primarily through its print magazine and various engagements, seeks to offer hope and practical insights into the multiplicity of recovery paths beyond traditional programs like AA. Carolyn discusses her deep-rooted mission to spread awareness and accessibility of recovery options, her vision for a world that celebrates recovery, and how personal branding and strategic PR have been instrumental in amplifying her message and building a supportive community around Journey's mission.

00:00 Introduction to The PR Maven® Podcast
00:43 Special Guest: Carolyn Delaney's Journey and Mission
01:57 Carolyn's Career Shift and the Birth of Journey Enterprises
05:39 The Impact of Personal Branding and The PR Maven's Influence
10:20 Utilizing Public Relations for Social Impact
13:55 Building a Community Around Recovery
23:09 The Power of Print in a Digital Age
28:05 How to Connect with Journey Magazine
29:18 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information


About Carolyn Delaney:

Carolyn Delaney is the visionary founder and CEO of Journey Enterprises, a pioneering media company dedicated to making recovery from addiction visible and accessible in everyday places. With a remarkable career transition from leading IT departments to championing recovery stories, Carolyn brings a wealth of experience and a deep personal connection to the mission. Her leadership at Journey Enterprises encompasses producing a celebrated print magazine, organizing community events, and engaging in vital speaking engagements to promote a message of hope and diminish the stigma around addiction. Having witnessed the transformative power of sharing recovery stories and resources, Carolyn aims to create a world where recovery paths are well-known and celebrated, inspiring others with her optimistic, mission-driven approach.

 

Get $200 off your first month of Pitchcraft using the code PRMAVEN.

https://pitchcraft.media/checkout/default

Free download about the top ways to build relationships with journalists.

https://youtu.be/_TjcEBpNuIU

This episode is sponsored by:

Pitchcraft - joinpitchcraft.com

How Marketing Can Help Overcome Challenges in Higher Education With Cheryl Broom - Episode 16828 May 202400:35:52

After beginning her career as a journalist, Cheryl Broom got her start in public relations as a public information officer. Her career led her to higher education, which has been her focus ever since. In this episode, Cheryl describes the types of clients she works with, the challenges they face and what role marketing can play to overcome those challenges. Cheryl also talks about the changes marketing has seen since the beginning of her career, including her work with diversity, equity and inclusion.    

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast  

01:32 Introducing Guest: Cheryl Broom 

03:12 Transitioning From Journalism to Public Relations 

07:11 Public Relations for Community Colleges 

10:31 The Role Marketing Plays in Bringing Students Back to College 

13:54 What Has and Has Not Changed in Marketing Over 20 Years 

19:36 Including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in PR 

25:14 Why Cheryl Focuses on Marketing Higher Education 

29:26 The Biggest Challenges Clients Face 

30:41 Helpful Resources 

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 146: Public Relations and Marketing in the Arts With Raffi DerSimonian 

Episode 11: Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI 

Episode 264: Conversion Rate Optimization Explained, With Marty Greif, President of SiteTuners 

 

About Cheryl 

Cheryl Broom is a national community college leader with a passion for student success and a deep commitment to serving her clients with integrity and passion. For 20 years, Cheryl has worked for and served community colleges across the nation on projects ranging from bond passages to complex marketing campaigns. A former television news reporter, Cheryl brings her knack for storytelling to everyday projects as well as to her presentations. An accomplished speaker, Cheryl has keynoted higher education conferences across the nation. You’ll also catch her teaching Communications 101 (the dreaded public speaking class) at community colleges across San Diego. In her free time, you'll find her lifting weights, spending time with her family and golfing. 

How To Build Your Own PR Business With Delaney Vetter – Episode 27621 May 202400:43:28

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, host Nancy Marshall welcomes guest Delaney Vetter, an independent PR strategist and copywriter specializing in the food and beverage and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector. Delaney shares her journey from a food-obsessed kid to a PR expert, her experience interning at a marketing agency in Portland, Oregon, and her unexpected transition to freelance work due to the pandemic's impact on the job market. With a focus on helping brands connect with their community and media through strategic, creative actions, Delaney discusses her passion for working with food brands, the importance of understanding a brand’s voice, and her personal enjoyment of exploring her Brooklyn neighborhood's culinary scene. The conversation also covers essential PR strategies, the significance of building relationships with journalists and clients, and leveraging personal branding in the PR field. Delaney’s approach to securing media coverage and her tips for PR professionals on effective pitching are highlighted, alongside a discussion on the power of word-of-mouth marketing and the invaluable role of research before pitching to journalists. 

00:00 Welcome to The PR Maven® Podcast With Delaney Vetter 

00:30 Meet Delaney Vetter: PR Strategist and Food Lover 

01:44 Delaney's Journey into PR and Freelancing 

06:56 The Art of Branding and Storytelling in PR 

13:07 Building Relationships in the PR World 

25:33 Effective Pitching Strategies for PR Success 

32:54 Delaney's Inspirations and How To Connect 

 

About Delaney 
Delaney Vetter is a beacon of innovation and strategic communication in the PR and copywriting sphere, particularly within the food and beverage and CPG industries. As an independent consultant, Delaney excels in elevating brands through her expert navigation of media relations, event curation and brand voice development. With a lifelong passion for the culinary world, she brings a unique blend of experience and enthusiasm to the table, making her the go-to specialist for food brands aiming to connect with new audiences. Delaney’s journey from a college intern at an integrated marketing agency, through the tumult of entering the job market during a global pandemic, to establishing herself as a sought-after freelance professional, highlights her adaptability, creativity and unwavering dedication to her craft. Whether she's hunting for the perfect croissant in Brooklyn or helping a client become a household name, Delaney's passion for her work shines through, making her a distinguished voice in the world of PR and brand storytelling.


This episode is sponsored by: Pitchcraft - pitchcraft.media

Get $200 off your first month of Pitchcraft using the code PRMAVEN.
https://pitchcraft.media/checkout/default

Episode 147: How Innovation, Sustainability and Employee Wellness Build a Brand, With Rob Tod14 May 202400:52:00

Innovative products are not always immediately accepted by customers. This was the case for Allagash Brewing Company owner Rob Tod who explains his journey to success in this episode. After shifting customer tastes, Allagash was hit with another challenge – COVID-19. With seventy percent of their business coming from bars and restaurants, Allagash started to focus on employee wellness while riding out the COVID-19 storm. Rob also explains how supporting local grain farmers improved sustainability. Innovation, sustainability and focusing on employees comes together to build the brand and makes for great stories to share with the media.  

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast  

01:21 Introducing Guest: Rob Tod 

04:52 The Role Breweries Play in the Maine Brand 

08:11 Breaking Into the Beer Industry 

15:33 How Allagash Focused on Employee Wellness During COVID 

24:31 The Process of Becoming a B Corp Business   

38:42 The Role of Public Relations for Sharing Allagash’s Stories 

40:45 Allagash Brewing’s Awards and Where to Buy 

46:11 Helpful Resources  

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 133: Mental Health During COVID-19, With Lindy Graham, LCSW, Founder and Director of WellSpace Maine 

Episode 222: Will You Really Make Money by Doing What You Love? With Michael Katz, Chief Penguin at Blue Penguin 

Episode 134: Why Maine is Not Just Vacationland, With Katie Shorey, Director of Engagement at Live + Work in Maine 

 

About Rob    

After graduating from Middlebury College with a major in geology, Rob headed west. Following a couple of years in Colorado, he suspected his track would eventually lead him either back to geology or woodworking. Before heading down one of those paths, he took a detour to Vermont where he washed kegs at Otter Creek Brewery.  

While at Otter Creek, he happened upon the beers of Belgium. In these inventive and surprising brews, Rob saw an opportunity to give American beer drinkers an experience they’d never had before. He left steady pay and founded Allagash Brewing Company in 1995.  

The brewery has since grown from a one-man operation into one of the top 50 craft breweries in the United States (by sales volume) and has earned a spot on Maine’s Best Places to Work list for seven years running. Rob is the past chair of the Brewers Association trade group and received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer in 2019. 

 

This episode is sponsored by: 

Pitchcraft - pitchcraft.media

Episode 275: Public Relations Reimagined with Pitchcraft: A Deep Dive with Founders Kelsey and Derrick Ogletree07 May 202400:38:51

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, host Nancy Marshall welcome Kelsey and Derrick Ogletree, founders of Pitchcraft, a people-focused PR platform that aims to restore integrity and accountability in the media industry. Founded in 2021 and based in Florence, Alabama, Pitchcraft distinguishes itself by integrating a journalist's perspective into PR strategies, emphasizing relationship building among PR professionals, writers and editors. The platform offers membership to PR professionals, providing resources, content and community support to foster better connections and earned media placements. The founders discuss their journey from conceiving Pitchcraft during the pandemic to moving from Chicago to rural Alabama and the challenges they faced. They also highlight Pitchcraft's unique approach to PR, including focusing on lifestyle sectors, offering flexible payments and fostering a supportive community. Additionally, they share useful tips for crafting effective pitches and stress the importance of developing genuine relationships with media professionals. The episode concludes with a special offer for PR Maven podcast listeners and insights into the future of PR and media relations. 

00:00 Introduction to The PR Maven® Podcast 

02:07 Meet the Founders of Pitchcraft: Kelsey and Derrick Ogletree 

03:30 The Origins and Mission of Pitchcraft 

04:50 Pitchcraft's Unique Approach to PR and Media 

09:04 The Evolution of Pitchcraft: From Pandemic Idea to PR Platform 

12:43 The Future of PR 

15:50 Building Relationships in PR 

24:25 Crafting the Perfect Pitch: Tips and Strategies (continued at 34:15) 

29:10 What Defines Newsworthiness  

31:03 Walking The Line Between Being Helpful and Annoying With Journalists 

37:00 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Pitchcraft 

 

Get $200 off your first month of Pitchcraft using the code PRMAVEN.  

Free download about the top ways to build relationships with journalists.  

https://youtu.be/_TjcEBpNuIU

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 135: How To Borrow Credibility and Build Relationships, With Beth Nydick, Publicity Strategist at Beth Nydick Media 

Episode 230: How To Infuse Storytelling Into Your Brand, With Mads Hanna, Founder of Curated Compass 

Episode 130: How Small Businesses Can Earn Media Coverage, With Sabina Hitchen, Founder of Press for Success  

 
About Kelsey and Derrick  
Pitchcraft was co-founded in 2021 by husband-and-wife team Derrick and Kelsey Ogletree, who live in Florence, Alabama, with their 1-year-old son Asher. Having grown up in small towns and with strong family values, they’re passionate about bringing people together in meaningful, authentic ways. Through Pitchcraft, they aim to help restore integrity and accountability to the media industry through putting people first. 

Kelsey, CEO of Pitchcraft, is a Medill-trained independent journalist whose work has appeared in many print and digital outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, AARP The Magazine and others. Derrick, COO of Pitchcraft, is a graduate of the University of Alabama who previously spent over a decade in corporate finance. 

 

This episode is sponsored by: 

Pitchcraft - pitchcraft.media

Episode 274: 680,000 Followers on Facebook but Only Earning $800 a Month! Hear From Lisa Steele, Founder of Fresh Eggs Daily, on Evaluating and Adjusting Your Marketing Strategy30 Apr 202400:32:02

In this podcast episode, host Nancy interviews Lisa Steele, the founder of Fresh Eggs Daily and a fifth-generation chicken keeper, about her journey from a career on Wall Street to becoming an authority on backyard chicken keeping and her recent pivot to the culinary world. Lisa shares insights into her childhood, her initial hesitance towards chickens, and how she turned her passion into a successful brand with a massive following, multiple best-selling books, and a television show. The conversation also delves into Lisa's strategic approach to personal branding, the importance of building a solid foundation beyond social media, her tips on avoiding burnout, and exploring new projects like a second cookbook and another season of her TV show. Additionally, Lisa talks about the significance of directly connecting with her audience through an email list and provides advice on building and maintaining a strong brand. 

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast: A Chat with Lisa Steele 

01:36 The Journey from Chicken Keeping to Cookbook Author 

03:31 Diving into the Culinary World: From Chickens to Cookbooks 

05:34 Personal Branding and the Power of Connection 

07:52 Navigating Business Success and the Importance of Pivoting 

08:35 Exploring Future Dreams and Expanding Horizons 

11:18 The Strategic Approach to Blogging and Social Media 

12:42 The Value of an Email List in Direct Marketing 

16:25 The Art of Avoiding Burnout and Embracing Change 

21:53 Considering the Future: Potential Sale and Brand Evolution 

26:20 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Lisa Steele 
 
About Lisa  
Lisa Steele is a fifth-generation chicken keeper, author, and founder of Fresh Eggs Daily. With nearly a million followers worldwide, Lisa has been dubbed the queen of the coop and is known for her expertise in raising backyard chickens. She has written several top-selling books on raising backyard poultry and recently released her debut cookbook, the Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook. Lisa's career transitioned from chicken keeping to the culinary world through her passion for natural preventives and herbs, and she continues to focus on product development and brand marketing. 

Episode 273: How DECD is Empowering Maine's Youth, With Kaylin (Kay) Kerina23 Apr 202400:33:11

This PR Maven Podcast® episode features Nancy's conversation with Kaylin (Kay) Kerina, the Maine Career Exploration program manager in Portland, Maine. Kay shares her journey from a varied career background to youth workforce development, emphasizing the importance of helping young Mainers find meaningful employment opportunities. She discusses her work in social justice, youth advocacy and community outreach, aiming to implement systemic change and support communities through a trust-based approach. The Maine Career Exploration program, part of the Department of Economic and Community Development, aims to connect 6,000 young people to work experiences in various industries, fostering passion and providing mentors. Kay also touches on her personal joy in gardening and how Maine employers and young people can get involved with the career exploration program. 

 

00:00 Welcome to the PR Maven Podcast with Kaylin (Kay) Kerina 

00:34 Kay Kerina's Journey: From Social Work to Career Exploration 

04:25 The Mission of Maine Career Exploration 

06:39 Personal Stories of Career Guidance 

09:12 Engaging Young People in Maine's Workforce 

11:30 The Importance of Passion in Career Choices 

19:35 A Gardening Detour: Kay's Personal Passions 

22:15 How Employers and Young People Can Get Involved 

25:00 Back to Business: Expanding Career Opportunities in Maine 

27:24 Tools for Productivity and Contact Information 
 

Related Episodes 

Episode 134: Why Maine is not just Vacationland, with Katie Shorey, director of engagement at Live + Work in Maine 

Episode 91: Why living and working in Maine will be valued more after COVID-19, with Edward McKersie, founder and president of ProSearch, Inc. and founder of Live and Work in Maine 

Episode 86: How your network can help during hard times, with Martin Grohman, executive director of E2Tech and host of the GrowMaine Show 

 
About Kay  
Kaylin (Kay) Kerina is the Maine Career Exploration Program Manager, with a background in social work, human services and alternative education. With over seven years of experience, Kay is dedicated to serving students with barriers to employment and advocating for youth in the community. Her work in Youth Workforce Development focuses on supporting youth to find meaningful work opportunities and implementing systemic change for the communities she supports. 

Episode 54: Achieving Success in Marketing and Your Career, With Michelle Hood16 Apr 202400:40:39

In this episode, Michelle Hood, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association and former CEO of Northern Light Health, talks about her career in academic, national faith-based and rural healthcare integrated systems. In addition to talking about her career, Michelle gives career advice on risk-taking, establishing a pattern of lifelong learning and having enthusiasm for your work. Michelle and Nancy also talk about marketing and PR including the doors that can open through social media, the importance of a brand promise and measuring success.  

 

04:35 Developing Leadership Skills 

08:39 Risk-Taking Advice for Young People 

9:42 Doors That Can Open Through Social Media 

15:05 Why Politics Can Be an Obstacle to Success 

24:14 How Digital Activity, Surveys and Patient Satisfaction Can Measure Success 

26:47 The Importance of a Brand Promise. 

34:12 Helpful Resources 

36:42 Establishing a Pattern of Lifelong Learning and an Enthusiasm for the Work 

37:38 A Parting Thought About the Privilege of Living in Maine 

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 71: Top 10 PR Maven® Podcasts of 2019 

Episode 223: Building a Strong Brand Community, With Gale Auclair, Senior Development Director for the Trek Across Maine 

Episode 99: How AI is changing the world of health care, with Piali De, CEO of Senscio Systems 

 

About Michelle 

Michelle Hood is executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association. During the recording of this episode, Michelle was the president and CEO at Northern Light Health in Brewer, Maine. At Northern Light Health, she focused on healthcare policy and design models at the state and national levels, positioning the system to be successful in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Michelle is the past chair of the Maine Hospital Association Board, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, Vizient New England Board and Health Insights. Michelle received a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and a Master of Health Care Administration from Georgia State University.  

Episode 184: Lessons of Intention From a Tiny Kitchen, With Annie Mahle09 Apr 202400:35:28

In this episode, Annie Mahle shares some of the lessons of intention she learned from working in a tiny kitchen on her windjammer and how those lessons can spread to your life overall. Annie defines what a tiny kitchen is and how working in a tiny kitchen inspired her to write a cookbook, “The Tiny Kitchen Cookbook:  Strategies and Recipes for Creating Amazing Meals in Small Spaces,” to help others with tiny kitchens. Annie also talks about how she has built her personal brand around intention, from using all the food in the fridge, to what she brings into her home, to her morning routine. In addition to discussing the benefits of PR, Annie shares how she puts together her social media calendar. 

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast 

01:47 Introducing Guest: Annie Mahle 

03:05 Getting Into Cooking Through Windjamming 

06:41 Cooking in Small Kitchens 

11:00 Annie’s Favorite Way To Cook 

13:29 A Personal Brand Focused on Intention 

19:59 PR Lending an Outside Perspective 

22:16 The Benefits of PR When Compared to Advertising 

25:48 Creating a Social Media Calendar 

27:35 Helpful Resources 

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 219: Growing Your Passion Into a Brand, With Cherie Scott, Founder and Owner of Mumbai to MAINE 

Episode 198: How To Combine PR and Personal Branding To Create Success for Your Business, With Amber Lambke 

Episode 212: The Difference Between PR And Advertising, And Where the Lines Are Fading 

 

About Annie   

Annie Mahle has been cooking professionally for over 30 years in her own kitchens and other people's kitchens. Annie trained at The Culinary Institute of America and owned and ran the Schooner J. & E. Riggin, a Maine Windjammer, with her husband.  In that tiny galley, she prepared three meals a day for guests all summer long. Her cooking, recipes and cookbooks have been highlighted on TODAY and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. Her food and the Riggin have been featured in the Food Network, Family Circle, Woman’s Day, the Boston Globe and more. Her award-winning cookbook, “The Tiny Kitchen Cookbook:  Strategies and Recipes for Creating Amazing Meals in Small Spaces,” has been well received in the tiny space community, but also in larger kitchens where home cooks are looking for healthy, smart recipes for two. 

Episode 56: A Careers Worth of Tips Every PR Practitioner Should Know, With Chip Carey02 Apr 202400:59:30

In this episode, Nancy’s mentor, Chip Carey, shares his top tips from his 40+ year career in marketing and public relations. Find out why it is important to treat your hometown paper well, how to build relationships with reporters and journalists, and the benefits of telling a visual story and making it easy for the media to share those visuals. The most impactful tip for your career: don’t be afraid of change. Stay on top of changing technologies. Don’t be afraid to change how your brand is perceived. The ability to adapt and change will help you stay in touch with your audience. Speaking of audience, make sure you know who your customer is, so you don’t waste time and money targeting the wrong people. All this and so much more as Nancy and Chip reminisce and share special stories from their work together.  

 

00:00 Introducing Guest: Chip Carey   

01:52 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast 

02:53 How a Love of Photography Led Chip to PR 

07:32 How To Build Strong Relationships With Reporters and Journalists 

14:15 A Lesson of Making a Story Visual 

16:31 Why Social Media Shouldn’t Fall Under PR 

21:34 Chip’s Time at Sugarloaf and Jackson Hole 

29:17 The Battles Between Sugarloaf and Sunday River 

39:32 The Legend of Paul Schipper  

50:27 The Importance of Events in Attracting Media Attention 

55:31 Being a Student of the Game 

 

Related Episodes  

Episode 104: How To Grow an Already Established Brand With Karl Strand 

Episode 10: Bill Green, Reporter, Anchor and Executive Producer at NEWS CENTER Maine 

Episode 164: How To Adapt to Changing Customer Preferences, With Dana Bullen   

 

About Chip  

With 46 years of experience in the ski industry, Chip Carey has held positions at many ski resorts across the country. Carey worked at Sugarloaf for 26 years, filling roles in sales, marketing and public relations. He also took on a position at The Canyons resort in Utah, where he was responsible for the NBC Today Show live coverage for 14 days of the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002. For four years, Carey worked across a network of eight resorts as senior VP of marketing for the American Skiing Company using his wide range of skills to build brands and revenues. From his experience building Sugarloaf as a skiing destination, despite the mountain’s remote location, to the launching of new brands, Carey has been involved in many aspects of ski resort operation.  

The Power of Human Connection in PR ft. Tangia Renee Al-awaji Estrada - Episode 28130 Jul 202400:33:29

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, host Nancy Marshall explores the power of storytelling in PR and branding with Tangia Renee Al-awaji Estrada. Tangia, a PR and brand strategist and co-founder of BIPOC Podcast Creators, shares her journey from political science and community organizing to founding her own PR agency. The conversation covers the importance of personal branding, effective media relations, and the unique challenges of PR efforts within multicultural communities. Tangia emphasizes the need for genuine relationship-building and understanding the nuances of different communities. The episode also features insights on maintaining authentic connections and highlights the impact of the pandemic on Tangia's career trajectory. Additionally, the podcast episode includes a segment about Pitchcraft, a platform for improving media pitching.

00:00 Introduction to The PR Maven® Podcast
01:05 The Importance of Personal Branding
02:08 Meet Our Guest: Tangia Renee Al-awaji Estrada
03:57 Tangia's Journey into PR and Branding
06:38 Impact of the Pandemic on Tangia's Career
09:00 Building Relationships with Media Professionals
11:41 Challenges in PR with Multicultural Communities
14:54 Best Practices for Authentic Relationships
18:11 Pitchcraft: Enhancing Media Pitching Skills
20:27 Empowering Underrepresented Communities
25:00 The Power of Storytelling in Branding
29:47 Tangia's Recommended Resources and Contact Information
31:31 Conclusion and Farewell

Related Episodes 

Episode 140: Supporting Maine’s newcomers and diversity in business, with Alyne Cistone, founder and CEO of Global Tides Consulting LLC

Episode 125: Embracing humanity from building relationships to diversity and inclusion, with Fabiana Meléndez, senior publicist at Zilker Media

How Marketing Can Help Overcome Challenges in Higher Education With Cheryl Broom – Episode 168

About Tangia 

Tangia Renee Al-awaji Estrada is a dynamic PR and brand strategist, and international public speaker with a passion for storytelling and community building. As the Co-Founder of BIPOC Podcast Creators, Tangia is committed to elevating diverse voices and sharing stories that matter. Her work has been recognized by top publications such as USA Today, Bustle, NPR and more. She regularly shares both her public relations and podcasting expertise with national and global audiences.

With a background in community organizing, media relations, public policy and campaigning, Tangia brings a unique perspective to her work as a PR professional. She understands the power of storytelling to shape perceptions, build brand awareness, and create meaningful connections with audiences. Her strategic insights and expertise in media relations have helped countless clients and community initiatives achieve their business goals and secure high-profile media coverage.

Tangia is a natural leader and mentor; her passion for empowering others is evident in everything she does. She has a talent for building relationships and creating collaborative partnerships, and she is committed to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities in the media and PR industries. She holds a degree in political science from Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management from Regis University.

Tangia is also the creator of That’s What She Did Podcast, a show that amplifies the voices of brilliant women. The podcast was named by USA Today as a top show to listen to for Women’s History Month.

Episode 272: Crafting Words That Sell: The Art of Copywriting with Stephen Church26 Mar 202400:48:44

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, host Nancy Marshall speaks with Stephen Church from Copywriter Pro, covering a wide array of topics from Stephen's background in psycholinguistics and his journey from teaching English globally to entering the family retail business and eventually founding Copywriter Pro. They delve into the significance of Freelance Writers Appreciation Week, Stephen's deep dive into SEO and commercial copywriting and their collaboration on the PR for the commemorative china for Prince William and Kate's royal wedding. The conversation navigates through Stephen's perspectives on the British Monarchy, the evolution of SEO, and the nuanced challenges of copywriting. Stephen emphasizes the importance of clarity, conciseness and compelling content, highlighting the indispensable role of understanding and communicating the benefits of products or services. They also explore the potential impacts and utilities of AI in copywriting, stressing the need for authenticity and human touch in creating engaging and effective copy. The discussion concludes with Stephen's recommendations for aspiring writers and a reminder of the essence of continual learning through reading. 

 

00:00 Welcome to The PR Maven® Podcast with Stephen Church 

00:51 Stephen Church: A Journey from Language Lover to Copywriting Pro 

02:16 The Royal Wedding China: A PR Success Story 

05:41 Stephen's Take on the Royal Family and The Crown 

11:26 Diving into the World of Copywriting with Copywriter Pro 

13:28 The Art and Challenges of SEO and Copywriting 

21:44 The Power of Copywriting: Insights from Maya Angelou 

23:32 Local Business Success: Leveraging Nancy's Marketing Techniques 

25:14 Back to the Podcast: Continuing the Conversation with Stephen Church 

25:41 The Royal Connection: From Weddings to Speech Writing 

26:37 The Art of Letter Writing and Its Personal Touch 

27:35 AI in Copywriting: Threat or Tool? 

32:56 Maximizing LinkedIn: Strategies for Effective Networking 

36:56 The Essence of Effective Copywriting: Clarity, Conciseness and Compelling Content 

41:50 The Importance of Reading for Aspiring Copywriters 

44:05 Connecting with Stephen Church and Wrapping Up 

Mentioned

Episode 20: Michael Katz, Chief Penguin at Blue Penguin Development

Episode 222: Will You Really Make Money by Doing What You Love? With Michael Katz, Chief Penguin at Blue Penguin

Infographics

15 Copywriting Tips

11 LinkedIn Profile Tips

6-point recipe for SEO success

 

About Stephen 
Stephen Church is a seasoned copywriter and the founder of Copywriter Pro, a company dedicated to helping growth-minded businesses attain more and better-quality clients through clear, concise and compelling words for their websites. Church's profound love for language and its impact on behavior steered his educational path toward psycholinguistics at university. Prior to his venture into the corporate world, Stephen had an extensive career as an English language tutor across various countries, including Madrid, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and London. In the early 1980s, he returned to the UK to join his family's long-established retail business, where he quickly adapted to the digital era by launching a pioneering e-commerce site. However, it was Copywriter Pro that truly allowed Stephen to merge his passion for language with professional pursuits. Beyond his professional achievements, Stephen maintains a keen interest in the royal family and significant events, despite his candid stance on the institution itself. His connections and endeavors, from promoting commemorative china for royal weddings to engaging in thoughtful discourse on modern monarchy, reflect a multifaceted individual with a deep appreciation for both history and the evolution of communication. 

Episode 198: How To Combine PR and Personal Branding To Create Success for Your Business, With Amber Lambke19 Mar 202400:39:49

How can you combine PR and personal branding techniques to make your business successful? In this episode, Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains, shares her business success story. Amber explains how the topic of grains was missing from conversations, how she helped start Maine Grains, and how she uses speaking engagements to start conversations and inspire others within the industry. In addition, learn who the famous Maine Grains customer is, and how Amber has been on her baking show! 

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven® Podcast 

01:26 Introducing Guest: Amber Lambke 

03:02 Why Maine Grains Was Started and the Growth of the Company 

06:22 How PR and personal branding techniques helped build the brand 

11:59 Training employees to represent your brand and company 

13:19 How the Kneading Conference inspires others 

20:49 Maine Grains’ 10th anniversary  

28:39 Amber's Appearance on Martha Stewart’s baking show 

30:13 Advice to entrepreneurs on using PR and personal branding  

33:42 Helpful Resources  

 

Related Episodes  

Episode 219: Growing Your Passion Into a Brand, With Cherie Scott, Founder and Owner of Mumbai to MAINE 

Episode 201: How To Change Your Leadership Style for the Better, With Kevin Hancock, Chairman and CEO of Hancock Lumber 

Episode 68: What It Is Like To Be An Entrepreneur In Maine, with Julene Gervais, Producer and Host of Greenlight Maine 

 

About Amber    

Amber Lambke is co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains, Inc., a gristmill housed in a repurposed jailhouse, which has spurred the revival of grain production in Maine. A driving force behind Maine’s sustainable foods movement, she has been a leader in bringing economic vitality back to Skowhegan, Maine, by reviving the region’s grain growing and processing industry. She was also the founding director of the Maine Grain Alliance, a nonprofit geared toward preserving regional grain traditions from earth to table.   

 

Bonus Q&A 

1. Amber, Maine Grains has continued to grow and flourish through the pandemic and beyond. How are you managing the growth to ensure quality and consistency of the brand? 

We use a SWOT analysis process to continuously assess where our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are.  The goal of course is to use our strengths to create opportunities and reduce threats, while mindfully addressing weaknesses.  We know that our strong brand creates new opportunities for sales channel development in the face of increasing competition in the freshly milled flour category.  We will continue to grow and flourish by creating value-added products and baking mixes that make baking at home and eating delicious and healthy, while grains become even more convenient and accessible.  We are also focused on developing and retaining talented staff and consultants who work with us to be able to implement our growth goals and remain consistent and current with our brand look, feel, and messaging. 

2. How are you staying focused on Maine Grains while also helping the Skowhegan area grow its economy and offer more opportunities to residents and visitors? 

Collaboration is critically important both for growing Maine Grains, and helping the surrounding Skowhegan community grow. Collaboration increases the audience for our business while helping to achieve mutually beneficial goals. I have to be careful about over-committing my time, but try to participate on committees, boards, and gatherings where I can learn new connections, stories of impact, or lend my experience and expertise.  The cross-pollination of ideas is critical to maintaining a ‘big picture’ perspective and seeing the impact of our collective hard work on the economy and vibrancy of Skowhegan.

3. How has public relations helped Maine Grains become more well-known statewide, nationally and even internationally? 

Public relations in business is really the art of good communication.  I believe that good, clear communication that moves people is at the root of successful businesses, change-making, and movements around the world. For those of us in business, good communication in PR is critical. I'm often asked to speak at conferences and on panels to help inspire people.  We can all do great things in the world if we are inspired and understand why our participation matters. 

Episode 164: How to Adapt to Changing Customer Preferences, With Dana Bullen12 Mar 202400:35:32

From running the rental shop at Sugarloaf to becoming president of Sunday River, Dana Bullen joins Nancy to talk about his career in the ski business. While it may have been all about the snow when he started his career, Dana describes how people also take their experience into consideration, from the food to guest services. It all comes back to the snow at the end of the day, so Dana describes the importance of snowmaking and how Sunday River shares the snow conditions with its audience. 

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast 

01:40 Introducing Guest: Dana Bullen 

05:06 How Dana knew he wanted to be the president of a ski resort 

07:20 Building the Sunday River brand  

10:27 Adapting to Changing Marketing Techniques 

14:48 Dana’s Personal Brand 

19:35 The importance of snowmaking at Sunday River 

24:02 How Sunday River promotes snowmaking 

26:39 Training team members to achieve a common vision 

32:01 Helpful Resources 

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 104: How To Grow an Already Established Brand With Karl Strand 

Episode 249: Spreading Inclusion and Acceptance Through Storytelling, With Lisa and Scott Wentzell and Heidi Bullen 

Episode 56: Chip Carey, Retired Chief Marketing Officer at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 

 

About Dana 

With more than 30 years of ski industry and management experience, Dana Bullen began serving in his current role as resort president of Sunday River in September 2004. He worked his way up the ski-business ladder shortly after earning a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maine Farmington in 1988, holding various positions at Sugarloaf as well. In 2017, he was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. A native of Farmington, Maine, Dana enjoys skiing, fishing, hunting and the Maine outdoors. 

 

Bonus Q&A  

1. Dana, the pandemic and climate change are both impacting your business. How is Sunday River responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by these external factors? 

The ski business like any outdoor-based industry adapts to outside influences constantly. The Sunday River team is made up of seasoned veterans who embrace the need to constantly improve to meet the needs of our guests. The great news is that we still get to live and play in the outdoors.  

  

2. Sunday River continues to expand and evolve, which is so impressive! How do you manage your team so they are all focused on the same goals? 

Sunday River has a team of 1,000 leaders. The best example of this was their reaction to the devastating storm in December 2023. We had washed out roads, culverts, bridges, buildings and ski-related infrastructure. Within 24 hours all roads were passable and within 00 hours (about 4 days) we were open for skiing again. This did not happen with one person leading or even 50 people leading. It happened because all 1000 folks were moving in the same direction, working independently in their respective areas of expertise but also mindful of the collective good of the team. We had a team member who was stranded in the hotel, cut off from the resort, with a washed-out bridge that first night of the storm. They need their medicine. Without encouragement or direction, two team members (one who was a raft guide) took it upon themselves to go get the medicine and raft it across. That is the best example I can share of folks leading on their own. We are blessed with so many of these folks. 

  

3. What is the most impactful thing that Sunday River has done to grow its customer base and continue to grow the business? 

While we continue to improve our snowmaking and create the most modern lift system in the East, the IGLU we built this year was unique and took on a life of its own.  

Episode 104: How To Grow an Already Established Brand With Karl Strand05 Mar 202400:44:04

In this episode, Karl Strand shares the path his career has taken to become the general manager at Sugarloaf. Karl explains how his parents’ love of restaurants led him to a career in food and beverage operations, which also led him back to Sugarloaf, where he discovered his love of skiing in his younger years. After working his way up, Karl became the general manager at Sugarloaf. Nancy and Karl reminisce and share stories as well as talk about the powerful Sugarloaf brand and community. Karl also talks about plans for the future.  

00:00 Introducing Guest: Karl Strand  

01:45 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast 

02:46 How Karl’s Parents’ Love of Restaurants Led to His Career Path 

06:25 The Benefits of a Well-Rounded Background in a Leadership Position  

07:32 The Sugarloaf Community 

12:14 How To Engage Audiences of All Ages 

14:22 The Legend of Paul Shipper 

17:05 Sugarloaf’s Powerful Brand Symbol  

23:35 Instilling Company Values in Employees 

30:10 The Values of Surveys for Decision-Making 

33:12 Sugarloaf’s 2030 Plan  

39:00 Helpful Resources 

 

Related Episodes           

Episode 56: Chip Carey, Retired Chief Marketing Officer at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 

Episode 164: It’s Not Just About the Snow Anymore: How to Adapt to Changing Customer Preferences, With Dana Bullen, President of Sunday River 

Episode 249: Spreading Inclusion and Acceptance Through Storytelling, With Lisa and Scott Wentzell and Heidi Bullen 

 

About Karl  

After graduating from Bryant University, Karl Strand entered the lodging industry and soon discovered his passion for food and beverage operations. This led him to work in fine dining venues in nearly every region of the United States, and toward his completion of studies at the Culinary Institute of America. Karl began his career at Sugarloaf and Sunday River in 2004 when he was hired as Vice President of Lodging and Property Management for both resorts. He has held a leading role in managing key segments of Sugarloaf and Sunday River's operations. In April 2015, Karl was promoted to the position of Sugarloaf’s general manager.  

 

Bonus Q&A 

1. Tell us about your expansion plans on West Mountain and where you stand in the process currently. 

Bucksaw Express and the West Mountain Trails opened on February 16, 2024. The ribbon cutting and opening to date have been a tremendous success with lots of positive feedback. The addition of nine new trails and a high-speed quad increases our capacity and helps spread out the number of guests we can accommodate both in terms of trails and lift lines. It’s notably the largest single-year terrain expansion done in the East, at least since the 1970s.  

The new zone provides opportunities for future growth, including summer weddings at Bullwinkle’s and real estate development. 

All trails as part of the West Mountain Expansion were intentionally designed for those who like to cruise and keep it mellow. All are green circle terrain except two, so it bodes well for families and those just learning to ski or for those that prefer easier terrain.  It’s unlike anything we have at Sugarloaf and changes the way we ski/ride our mountain.  

  

2. What is it about Sugarloaf that continues to draw more and more skiers and snowboarders every year? 

Community. The community and varied terrain.  It’s a real skiers’ mountain, and with the addition of West Mountain, we truly have it all.  From above tree line skiing to now wide-open mellow cruisers, Sugarloaf has the opportunity to attract even more people here and keep them coming back.

 

3. What events do you have planned for 2024 that you are most excited about? 

Resort activations have been building off the excitement and success of our annual Spring Reggae Festival by adding new events like EDM (Electric Dance Music) in January, Fire on the Mountain, a weekend totally dedicated to Grateful Dead music in February and now, adding a Country Music Weekend to the line-up in March.  This year's Country Music Weekend will be completely free all weekend long.  

A once-in-a-lifetime event is coming right up with Sugarloaf being right in the path of the solar eclipse. We are anticipating an influx of Sugarloafers and first-time visitors, so we are planning a weekend full of music and events during the first-ever Sugarloaf SkiClipse, taking place from April 5-8, 2024.  Sugarloaf will be in the path of totality on Monday, April 8th at approximately 3:30 p.m. It’s going to be unreal and an event not to be missed.     

In May, we kick things off with our annual Sugarloaf Marathon which is a Boston Marathon qualifier, then head right into the summer as we welcome back the International XTERRA running event over Labor Day Weekend.  We’ll have plenty of mountain biking and golf activities as well, so be sure to check out sugarloaf.com for the growing calendar of events.  

Lastly, as I previously mentioned, as part of the West Mountain Expansion we are also exploring the next phase of real estate offerings. We’re looking forward to helping more and more Sugarloafers build the home of their dreams and settle here in the Carrabassett Valley. 

Episode 271: Does Public Relations Play a Role for Churches and Religious Ministries? With Liz Williams27 Feb 202400:36:14

In this PR Maven® Podcast episode, host Nancy Marshall sits down with Liz Williams, the communications manager for the Episcopalian Diocese of Georgia to discuss her journey to this unique position. Liz elaborates on her journey from a marketing undergraduate to eventually working in the church's youth and children ministries. She also recounts her experience with a non-profit for mental and behavioral health before becoming communications manager. Nancy and Liz discuss the varied responsibilities, including managing social media, public relations and larger church communications. Their discussion also touches on the upcoming Episcopalian Communicators Conference, set to take place in Portland, Maine. The conference's aim is to build community amongst communicators and equip them with crucial tools. Liz discusses the importance of crisis communication within the church community, and Nancy provides details about her upcoming keynote and crisis communications workshop. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 

00:18 Liz Williams: Her Journey and Role in the Episcopalian Diocese of Georgia 

02:21 The Importance of Communication in Ministry 

04:14 The Role of Branding and Social Media in Evangelism 

05:32 Details about the Upcoming Episcopal Communicators Conference 

08:12 Choosing Conference Locations and the Excitement for Portland, Maine 

10:45 The Importance of Crisis Communications in the Church 

16:12 Break and Book Promotion 

17:08 The Power of Personal Branding and Networking 

24:34 The Importance of Empathy and Compassion in Crisis Communications 

24:39 Details about the Crisis Communications Workshop 

30:34 How to Register for the Conference 

33:04 Liz's Recommended Podcast and Contact Information 

35:18 Closing Remarks and Anticipation for the Conference 
 


About Liz  
Liz Williams is the communications manager for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. She has a deep passion for the church and its liturgy, hymns and compassion for others. Liz has served in various positions within the church and has found her calling in ministry and communications. She has also worked for a nonprofit in mental and behavioral health for children and families.  
 
Liz's career path led her to her current role as the communications manager for the diocese. She is excited about the upcoming Episcopal Communicators Conference in Portland, Maine, where she will be a keynote speaker and workshop presenter. Liz emphasizes the importance of personal branding and growing a network of connections.  
 
She believes in the power of listening and making others feel seen and heard. Additionally, Liz will be co-presenting a crisis communications workshop, where she will discuss the importance of empathy, compassion and planning in effectively communicating during times of crisis.  

Episode 61: How To Positively Impact Lives Everyday Starting With How You Treat Your People With Sean Riley20 Feb 202400:45:22

In this episode, host Nancy Marshall speaks with Sean Riley, president and CEO of Maine Course Hospitality Group (MCHG), about his career and network. Sean explains how his career in hospitality started after having been a high school teacher and the journey his career took before joining MCHG. Sean emphasizes the importance of a strong company culture and an employee first attitude. Social media has made it possible to further engage with employees as well as build a network. Sean describes how he uses social media and how it benefits all of his relationships, personally and professionally.  

00:00 Introduction to The PR Maven® Podcast 

01:03 Introducing Guest: Sean Riley 

03:27 How Sean’s Career Went From Teaching to Hospitality 

07:55 Building Company Culture 

09:18 Using Social Media To Share Positive Impact 

11:43 Doing What Is Important to You 

16:24 Building a Personal and Professional Network 

19:01 Measuring Success 

24:55 How Sean Built His Network  

31:29 How Sean Has Fun and Engages With Associates 

34:13 How Networking Can Enable You To Learn From Others 

 

About Sean

Sean began his career in hospitality in 1982 as the general manager of a 19-room motel and cottage business in Wells, Maine, that he ran with his wife Dayna while teaching high school special ed. A few years later, with experience running larger hotels, Sean switched full time into the hotel business. After working at a couple of hotels that ended up closing, Sean worked for a bank until MCHG bought their first hotel. Over time, MCHG bought more and more hotels and Sean held many positions throughout the company until becoming the president and CEO. Today, Sean is most proud of the culture that MCHG has created, positively impacting lives every day.   

 

Related Episodes

Episode 172: People Over Price, With Tim Winkeler, President and CEO of VIP Tires & Service

Social Media Basics Series: Find All Episodes Here

Episode 104: How to grow an already established brand, with Karl Strand, general manager at Sugarloaf

 

Bonus Q&A 

What is the one thing that MCHG does that has the most impact to make people feel welcome at your hotels?  

Simply put, but not always easy to do… take care of our people. They will take care of the guests and the guests will keep coming back.  

A culture of caring for our people is a distinguishable difference. Lots do it, but our purpose is “to positively impact lives.” We start that with associates first. We can’t demand that guests be taken care of if we aren’t first caring about our people. Not just with money and benefits, but in caring for them as people. Family is one of our core values and it is commonly used throughout the organization. It’s not just a word on the website or said by me. It is embraced. 

Fun is another value that can be seen and felt by guests. And that DEFINITELY has to start at the top. Think about the last time you walked in and someone was having fun and turned to you. The REAL smile, the happy face. It is contagious! 

Leaders need to set the pace! I need to set the pace. 

  

How do you keep employees engaged in this era of quiet quitting? 

No one is immune from what you called the “quiet quitting.” But if we stay true to our culture and core values, it lessens the chance. Compassion for associates is the right thing to have, and in turn, it creates a caring environment. People need a refuge from their tough lives. Creating a caring environment can help them, not only in the work environment, but in their life outside of work. Long gone are the days of “these are the rules, this is the schedule you are required to work.” Today it’s about flexibility and managing by reason, not by rules. We don’t get it right 100% of the time, but we try. 

  

What are you the most proud of in your hospitality career? 

To have participated in building a sustainable culture, and quite frankly, it’s sustainable because it’s much bigger than Sean Riley. I took part in the development and help to keep it growing, but it has truly been a culture driven from all levels of our organization. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and the culture would live on! This culture has allowed us to “positively impact lives.” Do the math, if each of our 750 associates positively impacts the life of just one guest per day, we can positively impact over a quarter of a million people per year. It’s a grandiose idea, but boy it feels good! I’m so proud of the people who make this possible every day! I am one proud Pop! 

  

Sean’s Mission Going Forward 

As I mature into glasses and aches and pains, I think back on my career. It is time for me and other “seasoned” professionals to give back to the industries that treated us well. It’s my mission going forward.  

Seniors are welcome in the world. No one is truly old if you stay relevant. I try daily to stay relevant, admit I don’t get it and learn to become more relevant. I use Chat GPT. In fact, everything I just said was AI driven. JK!!!! 

Episode 146: Public Relations and Marketing in the Arts With Raffi DerSimonian13 Feb 202400:43:00

In this episode, Raffi DerSimonian talks about his career doing public relations and marketing of the arts. As a Waterville, Maine, native, Raffi describes the renaissance going on in the city from arts to dining. Music has always been a passion of Raffi’s. He describes his musical career and helping found Waterville Rocks. In addition to doing PR and marketing for the arts, Raffi is experienced in promoting higher education. Raffi shares some advice for schools and colleges to promote themselves as well as what to do when communicating during a crisis.  

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast 

01:32 Introducing Guest: Raffi DerSimonian 

02:58 The Importance of a Handwritten Note 

11:33 How Video Can Drive Measurable Results 

18:19 Waterville, Maine’s Renaissance 

23:37 How Waterville Rocks Was Founded 

24:16 Music’s Role in Raffi’s Life 

29:00 Raffi’s Career Marketing the Arts 

32:15 Advice for Schools When Promoting Themselves 

36:22 Communicating During a Crisis 

39:36 Helpful Resources   

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 128: The basics of handwritten notes and book writing, with Christine Richards, writer, nonfiction book consultant and graphic designer at Composition1206 

Episode 118: How to communicate during a crisis, with Steve McCausland, communications specialist at Marshall Communications 

Episode 168: How Marketing Can Help Overcome Challenges in Higher Education, With Cheryl Broom, CEO at Graduate Communications 

 

About Raffi     

With over 20 years experience in results-oriented public relations, marketing and communications, Raffi DerSimonian has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between institutional marketing, communications, advancement and the arts. His experience includes leading new brand launches, developing marketing strategies, and planning advancement campaigns for a diverse range of institutions and organizations. Via RDS Group, Raffi works in highly collaborative settings, which allows him to effectively navigate a range of complex and large-scale initiatives. 

 

Bonus Q&A 

What marketing and PR techniques have you found to be the most impactful over the past year? 

The integration of AI tools into our professional practice has been transformative. We're continuously astounded by their capabilities, marking a significant inflection point in virtually every field, and especially marketing, communications, PR and advancement. We view AI not just as a tool but as a paradigm shift, fundamentally changing our approach to our work. 

Where will you be focusing your efforts in the year to come? 

Our focus remains on leveraging our strengths: helping institutions and organizations amplify their mission by activating the power of strategy, creativity and technology. Our goal is simple: to increase engagement, response and impact.  

If you could give one piece of advice to someone getting started in a PR career, what would it be?  

My key advice for any aspiring professional is to embrace diversity in your experiences. There's ample time to specialize later. Engage in as many roles and challenges as possible – our field offers vast opportunities to apply your unique skills. Gaining broad experience helps in understanding where your strengths lie and what brings you the most satisfaction and joy in your career. 

Episode 172: People Over Price With Tim Winkeler06 Feb 202400:41:04

In this episode, Nancy talks with Tim Winkeler, president and CEO of VIP Tires & Service about PR, marketing and sponsorships. Tim describes his career and how VIP Tires & Service has grown since he started working there in 2010, with a focus on people rather than price. Nancy and Tim also discuss how they met after Nancy left a bad review about her experience at VIP. Nancy and Tim also talk about sponsorships and how VIP sponsors events their employees are involved in.  

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast 

01:32 Introducing Guest: Tim Winkeler 

03:07 Tim Winkeler’s Career in the Auto Parts Industry 

05:07 About VIP Tires & Service 

06:40 How Nancy and Tim Met  

13:11 VIP’s Management Process  

15:34 VIP Tires & Service’s PR Strategy  

18:52 Investing in People  

26:39 VIP’s Sponsorship of The Trek Across Maine in 2022 

29:17 Sponsorships in VIP’s Marketing Plan 

33:06 Helpful Resources 

 

Links 

Competitive Edge - https://competitiveedge.tv/premiere-episode/  

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification - https://www.ase.com/  

“Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink - https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057  

Origin USA - https://originmaine.com/  

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 259: How To Attract and Retain Employees in Today’s Labor Market 

Episode 213: 2022 Golden Microphone Award Celebration With Tim Winkeler 

Episode 217: Changing Customer Perceptions in the Automotive Repair Industry With PR and Marketing, Featuring Lynn Campbell, Director of Marketing, Advertising and CRM at VIP Tires & Service 

Episode 61: Sean Riley, President and CEO of Maine Course Hospitality Group 

 

About Tim 

Tim is an accomplished people-focused leader with a track record of building high-performance teams that exceed expectations. Always focused on customer needs and feedback, he builds core competencies around making money by serving customers in different and better ways. Tim is a teacher at heart and learns every day by reading great books and meeting great people. 

 

Bonus Q&A 

VIP has a program they call “five-for-five.” Explain what that means and how you implement it at your stores. 

Five-for-five is all about focusing on the customer experience.  We’ve identified the five key moments in a customer’s visit to VIP where we take the extra step to build a relationship with the customer and to make sure their experience at VIP is memorable.  The five-for-five customer engagement process is all about taking the extra time to build a relationship with the customer. 

  

VIP has big plans for 2024. Tell us about where you are expanding. 

For 2024, we will be opening some new locations and expanding some existing ones. We will be entering Connecticut for the first time with the acquisition of a shop in Waterbury.  We will be opening our 9th shop in Massachusetts when we open our new shop in Brockton, and we will be expanding our operations in Maine in both our Yarmouth and Augusta shops. In addition, we have several more growth projects that I’m confident will be completed in the back half of the year. 

  

What makes you the proudest of everything you have accomplished during your tenure at VIP? 

What I enjoy most about being a member of the VIP team is interacting with our team members and getting to know them. The people-first culture that we’ve all worked to establish makes VIP a great place to work every day, and I’m proud to wear the "VIP Blues" and do my part to support our mission to "Earn Automotive Customers for Life.” 

Episode 270: HOW & WHY? Optimizing Blog Posts for SEO & Reusing Old Blogs for Brand Growth With Koty Potts30 Jan 202400:36:36

In this episode of the PR Maven podcast, host Nancy Marshall welcomes guest Koty Potts, the digital manager at ER Marketing, to discuss how to amplify brand reach using traditional and digital networking methods. Koty shares his journey from an SEO specialist to a digital manager, stressing the benefit of combining SEO expertise with web development skills. He elaborates on his strategy of optimizing blog posts and regularly updating old content to improve search rankings. Koty believes that reusing and updating existing blog content is cost-effective and leads to better SEO outcomes compared to publishing new blog posts. He emphasizes the significance of understanding and responding to audience needs and competitive content to stay ahead and even recommends a few resources for anyone seeking to dive deeper into SEO and content marketing.

 

00:02 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

01:44 Introducing Guest Speaker: Koty Potts

01:56 Koty Potts: Journey in Digital Marketing

02:58 Optimizing Blog Posts for Search: A Deep Dive

03:20 The Power of Blogging and SEO

06:48 The Impact of SEO on Business Growth

09:45 The Art of Blog Post Optimization

15:21 The Importance of Regular Content Updates

15:32 The Role of Public Relations in Content Marketing

17:50 The Value of Consistent Blogging

27:08 The Impact of Backlinks on SEO

33:54 Conclusion and Contact Information

 

Mentioned

View screenshare (10:25)

“They Ask, You Answer” by Marcus Sheridan

“Building Better Brands” by Elton Mayfield

Search Engine Journal

Semrush

Hubspot

“Evergreen Affiliate Marketing” by Nate McCallister

About Koty
Koty Potts, Digital Manager at ER Marketing, initially joined as an SEO specialist and swiftly expanded his role into web development. With a keen eye for SEO, web development, and a strategic focus on reporting and analytics, Koty wears many hats in his current position.

Beyond his 9-to-5, Koty is a freelance filmmaker, photographer, and musician — a lifelong creator. His creative background aligns seamlessly with his digital expertise, making him a versatile professional.

Koty's standout trait is his insatiable curiosity. He thrives on learning, ensuring he masters any challenge. With a commitment to continuous growth, Koty is a valuable force in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing.

Episode 269: Using Public Relations to Improve Food Allergy Awareness, With Caili Elwell, Family Food Allergy Advocate and Public Relations Specialist/Independent Producer at Mother Eats Proper23 Jan 202400:27:52

In this episode, Caili Elwell joins Nancy to share her career journey from hospitality to food allergy advocacy using public relations. After discovering her daughter had severe food allergies, Caili made a career shift, opening Mother Eats Proper to grow the conversation around food allergies. Caili shares her approach to PR and branding through this lens, emphasizing a craveable narrative. Caili also talks about the idea behind her documentary, “How Do We Make It Better?” 

1:49 – Caili explains how her career started in hospitality and tourism before shifting to PR. 

3:48 – Caili talks about discovering her daughter’s food allergies and how that spurred a transition in her career.  

7:58 – Caili shares some details about the documentary she is working on.  

10:57 – Caili describes finding her path in hospitality.  

18:00 – Caili shares her approach to branding and public relations through a craveable narrative. 

19:53 – Caili explains what is important to know when working with her.  

21:10 – Caili talks about meditation and grounding techniques.  

24:19 – Caili shares a resource that has been helpful to her.  

 

Quote                                                                                                                                            “This food allergy community, too, is so fiercely loyal. The second that we find a place that we like that takes really good care of us, we are going to advocate for your establishment and tell everybody about it. So, I think it's worth investing time and energy into training your staff around food allergies because you will grow a giant extra demographic of loyal customers.” – Caili Elwell, family food allergy advocate and public relations specialist/independent producer at Mother Eats Proper 

 

Links:  

Pulp + Wire: https://pulpandwire.com/ 

Maine Magazine: https://www.themainemag.com/ 

SKORDO: https://skordo.com/  

Stray Arrow Media: https://www.strayarrowmedia.com/  

How Do We Make It Better? Documentary fundraising: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/howdowemakeitbetter  

The Expanded Podcast: https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast  

 

About the guest:     

Caili Elwell is the owner of Mother Eats Proper — a space for food allergy brands, private chefs, and dining experiences to gain public relations, affiliate program, and brand partnership support. Caili has worked under great mentors and believes that the work to make a great change is never done. It is because of her 4-year-old daughter who has over seven severe food allergies and her background in food CPG branding and hospitality management that she decided to open her doors to food allergy-safe brands and spaces exclusively believing the conversation around the food allergy customer deserves more of non-allergy safe brands and establishments’ time.  

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: mothereatsproper@gmail.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cailielwell/  

Website: www.mothereatsproper.com  

How Being Yourself Is the Best Way To Build Your Brand With Lee Goldberg – Episode 7923 Jul 202400:46:40

Your personal brand isn’t about being someone else, so why would you be anyone besides your authentic self when building your personal brand? In this PR Maven® Podcast episode, Lee Goldberg, an anchor for the Morning Report at NEWS CENTER Maine, shares how he has built his personal brand on social media. Instead of developing a different professional persona, Lee explains how he posts about his life on social media and how that has attracted a larger audience than only posting about his job. Lee also talks about his career and all the hard work that went into achieving his dream job as well as how things have changed since he started his career.  

00:00 Introducing Guest: Lee Goldberg  

02:05 Introduction to the PR Maven® Podcast 

05:45 Social Media for Building a Personal Brand 

09:48 Using Facebook Live 

15:23 Measuring Social Media Success 

16:01 Building an Organization Brand Over Your Personal Brand 

19:48 Changes in Social Media and Technology 

32:31 Growing a Network Organically 

36:23 Helpful Resources 

About Lee   

Lee Goldberg is an anchor for the Morning Report at NEWS CENTER Maine. Before joining NEWS CENTER Maine in 1993 as sports director, Lee was sports director at WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Since becoming a part of the NEWS CENTER Maine team, Lee has covered historical events in New England sports, including seven Super Bowls and three World Series.  

Lee has been recognized by the New England Emmy’s, Maine Association of Broadcasters and the Associated Press. Lee won the Readers’ Choice Best Local TV Sports Anchor award for DownEast Magazine from 2012 to 2016. 

Lee volunteers with the Maine Children's Cancer Program, Sweetser, KIDS First, The Cromwell Center, The IRIS Network and others when he is not spending time with his wife, six sons, one daughter, four dogs and five cats. 

Episode 268: Building Brands and Using Your Brightest Minds, With Christian Espinosa, CEO of Blue Goat Cyber16 Jan 202400:37:10

In this episode, Christian Espinosa shares his career path, starting in the Airforce and the lessons he brought with him to his work in cybersecurity. Chrisitan also talks about his books, mainly "The Smartest Person in the Room," giving an overview of what you will learn by reading his book. Christian describes his keynote speaking, from his inspiration to become a keynote speaker to the theme of his speeches. He also talks about growing his personal brand and network.  

5:29 – Christian talks about his time in the Airforce and how his career developed after.  

8:47 – Christian explains how NOT to be the smartest person in the room and gives an overview of the seven steps.  

16:35 – Christian shares how he built his brand and network.  

19:14 – Christian lists some lessons he learned in the military that he still uses now.  

25:11 – Christian describes why he wanted to start keynote speaking. 

26:13 – Christian talks about the theme of his speeches: self-leadership.  

27:35 – Christian explains how his books have helped position him as a thought leader.  

29:44 – Christian shares some of the PR techniques he has used.  

31:40 – Christian offers some resources that have been helpful to him.  

 

Quote  

“When I first started doing marketing or PR, I thought I could just market to everybody and what I realized is that I’m marketing to nobody if I'm trying to market to everybody because I don’t really understand the details of someone's pain points.” – Christian Espinosa, CEO of Blue Goat Cyber 

 

Links:  

Heroic Public Speaking: https://heroicpublicspeaking.com/  

Otter.ai: https://otter.ai/  

 

About the guest:     

Christian Espinosa, an esteemed thought leader, is most known as the bestselling author of "The Smartest Person in the Room," which explores the limitations of seeking validation through achievement and the desire to be the brightest intellect in any room.  

With a deep desire to inspire others to harness their innate wisdom, overcome perceived barriers, and summon the courage to tread new paths, Christian authored his latest book, "The In-Between: Life in the Micro." This book chronicles his remarkable transformation — from a "me against the world" mindset cultivated during his tumultuous upbringing to his evolution as a compassionate global citizen committed to uplifting humanity. 

A dynamic entrepreneur, Christian built and successfully sold Alpine Security, a cybersecurity business. He founded and currently leads Blue Goat Cyber. He also has an array of professional and personal development certifications. 

His expertise extends beyond the confines of the corporate world: he's a white hat hacker, a captivating keynote speaker, a perceptive real estate investor, and a connoisseur of heavy metal music and fiery cuisines. He’s also spent time in the Mexican jungle with Mayan Shamans, is a C-License skydiver, and is a PADI divemaster. Whatever Christian tries, he tends to master. 

Beyond his impactful professional pursuits, Christian's zest for life knows no bounds. An adventurer at heart, he fearlessly leaps from planes and balloons, conquers towering peaks, explores the globe, imparts wisdom in outdoor wilderness survival, and even takes on the rigorous challenges of Ironman triathlons. Having completed an impressive 24 Ironman triathlons and scaled two of the renowned Seven Summits, Christian Espinosa epitomizes the spirit of transformative leadership and unyielding exploration. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: christian@christianespinosa.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/  

X: @Ironracer 

Website: https://christianespinosa.com/  

Episode 267: 3 Valuable PR Lessons To Learn From Taylor Swift09 Jan 202400:11:32

Billions of dollars in profit. Millions of fans captivated by her concerts. In 2023, Taylor Swift has been everywhere, and her omnipresence provides valuable lessons for the entire public relations industry. 

In PR, we dream of making our clients a hot commodity. We dream of sending consumers into a frenzy. We dream of going viral. Sometimes, dreams become reality, and that is the excitement of PR. With hard work and strategic execution, PR campaigns can truly change hearts and minds. 

Swift’s success is essentially PR at its finest. Because of positive PR, the singer extraordinaire has become one of the most famous people on the planet. Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, the reasoning behind her success can be applied to other industries outside of entertainment and popular culture. 

Continue reading here. 

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared on the Forbes Agency Council CommunityVoice™ in November 2023. 

 

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Episode 266: Navigating the World of Media Production With Kathleen O'Heron19 Dec 202300:44:04

In this episode, Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven®, speaks with Kathleen O'Heron, CEO and co- founder of Jynx Productions. Kathleen shares her professional journey, from her early fascination with film production and editing in high school and college, to co-founding Jynx Productions, a leading boutique media production company based in New England. She discusses the value of personal storytelling in achieving impactful personal branding and the documentary style of production that her company follows. Kathleen also sheds light on the production process, where a one-day to two-week shoot goes through several iterations of research, planning, filming, rating, editing and broadcasting. Finally, Kathleen shares her passion for educating people about American life, their work with corporate clients and creating legacy documentaries for families. 

00:00 Introduction and background 

00:48 Guest introduction: Kathleen O'Heron

02:15 Kathleen's journey into filmmaking 

05:14 Kathleen's experience at Bloomberg and Jynx Productions

11:33 The impact of technology on filmmaking 

14:37 The art of pitching a story 

22:50 Current projects and future plans  

25:45 The production process in filmmaking 

35:23 The influence of media on Kathleen's career

38:33 Conclusion and contact information 

 

About Kathleen: 

Kathleen O'Heron is the co-founder and CEO of Jynx Productions, a media production company based in Maine. Over the last 20 years, she has built Jynx into one of the leading boutique production companies in New England. Jynx produces unscripted documentary-style content for TV networks, corporate clients and private clients, reaching millions of people on television, streaming platforms and social media. Prior to co-founding Jynx, Kathleen ran the global post- production department at Bloomberg Television in New York City, where she was instrumental in the success of several corporate initiatives. Kathleen has a unique combination of skills, including documentary storytelling, technology and international experience, having worked in London, Germany, and traveled extensively. Jynx Productions often covers American topics and stories from the perspectives of everyday people. 

 

“Hunger for content has not changed. In fact, it's increased. And it seems to me that the more that's available to people, the more they want.” 

Episode 265: How To Help Journalists and Create Quality Content, With Deirdre Stires, Former Portland Press Herald Outdoor Reporter12 Dec 202300:41:26

Based on her 27 years as a journalist in Maine, Deirdre Stires (you might recognize her from her byline, Deirdre Fleming) shares what she was always looking for as a journalist and how PR people can be helpful. Deirdre talks about her recent transition to creating content for Bates College and why it is important to be a good writer when it comes to creating content. Deirdre also lists some of the content she enjoys consuming and some resources she has found helpful as a writer.

3:16 – Deirdre describes how her career began by studying journalism in college and moving to Maine to cover hockey.

10:53 – Deirdre shares the best ways to help a journalist, including delivering on what you say you will deliver.

21:08 – Deirdre talks about content creation and how she is always looking for something quirky or unusual.

28:58 – Deirdre gives a glimpse into the types of content she consumes.

33:28 – Deirdre explains why it is important to be a good writer when it comes to content creation.

35:28 – Deirdre shares some resources that have been helpful to her.

 

Quote

“I always wanted to get an unusual story, something different, something quirky, weird, bizarre and ideally, it’s something new. It’s breaking news. Then, you’re the first person to get it on your website or on the front of your newspaper, but even if it’s not something new, oftentimes within a story, there’s something unusual or unique.” – Deirdre Stires, senior writer at Bates College

 

 

 

Links:

Maine’s outdoor tourism industry seeks solutions for workforce housing: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/04/23/maines-outdoor-tourism-industry-seeks-solutions-for-workforce-housing/

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: https://www.maine.gov/IFW/

Maine Audubon: https://maineaudubon.org/

The Nature Conservancy in Maine: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/maine/

Bates College: https://www.bates.edu/

Bates Trashion Show 2023: https://www.bates.edu/news/2023/11/16/bates-trashion-show-2023/

Portland Press Herald: https://www.pressherald.com/

“Becoming” by Michelle Obama: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/1524763136

Word Counter: https://wordcounter.net/

“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen: https://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Bruce-Springsteen/dp/1501141511

“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537

 

 

About the guest:    

Deirdre Stires worked for 27 years as a journalist in Maine, first at the Bangor Daily News and then at the Portland Press Herald, where she covered the outdoors for 20 years. Many newspaper readers in Maine know her from her byline — Deirdre Fleming — and her stories that anchored the Maine Sunday Telegram Outdoors section virtually every week. But Deirdre also covered outdoor and environmental breaking news and wrote in-depth, front-page Sunday stories on Maine’s myriad outdoor activities, wildlife populations, conservation efforts and trends in outdoor recreation. In two decades, she wrote about — and experienced while reporting —virtually every outdoor activity in Maine.

 

She’s won several writing awards in Maine and nationally. In 2013, she was selected as a national finalist in the beat-writing category by the Associated Press Sports Editors, which means as an outdoor writer she beat out sports journalists around the country covering traditional sports like football, basketball and baseball.

 

Her first book, which will be published by Islandport Press this spring, will be one of the nation’s few hiking guides on accessible trails and will highlight the current movement to build more universal-access trails across the country.

 

Looking to connect:

Email: Deirdre.fleming30@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-fleming-stires-383910132/

X: @DeirdreStires

Episode 264: Conversion Rate Optimization Explained, With Marty Greif, President of SiteTuners05 Dec 202300:39:16

You may be using search engine optimization (SEO) to increase the traffic to your website, but are you using conversion rate optimization (CRO) to make use of that traffic? In this episode, Marty Greif defines CRO, explains what it can do for you and how you can start implementing it. Marty also talks about client success stories using CRO and a game changer you will want to know for your career. Learn about trust bars and the ugly baby test in this episode as well.  

3:50 – Marty describes how he started his career as a developer before joining SiteTuners and then buying the company.  

6:38 – Marty defines conversion rate optimization.  

8:41 – Marty talks about what types of clients he looks for.  

11:50 – Marty explains why it is important to have your phone number and a trust bar on your website.  

14:55 – Marty shares a game changer: think about others. 

22:08 – Marty describes the difference between conversion rate optimization and search engine optimization.  

25:28 – Marty lists some changes you can make now to improve your conversion rate optimization.  

29:26 – Marty shares client success stories.  

34:47 – Marty talks about some resources that have been helpful to him.  

 

Quote 

“Conversion rate optimization is making sure that the traffic that comes to your website actually does what you want them to do. There's a difference between driving traffic and making use of the traffic, so conversion rate optimization is making sure that the traffic, when it gets to your website, takes whatever your desired actions are so that you create a user journey for people.” – Marty Greif, president of SiteTuners 

 

Links:  

Heroic Public Speaking: https://heroicpublicspeaking.com/  

Women Presidents Organization: https://www.women-presidents.com/  

Forbes Agency Council: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/people/nancymarshall1/  

Maine PR Council: https://meprcouncil.org/  

Mainebiz: https://www.mainebiz.biz/  

Society for the Advancement of Travel Writers: https://satw.org/  

“How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034  

Nyraju Skin Care case study: https://sitetuners.com/resources/case-studies/nyraju-skin-care-ecommerce-landing-pages-277-increase-in-conversions/ 

“What Women Want Man to Know” by Barbara De Angelis: https://www.amazon.com/What-Women-Want-Men-Know/dp/0007132956  

“True Connections” by Marty Greif: https://www.amazon.com/True-Connections-Relationship-Marketing-Digital/dp/1716943361  

 

 

About the guest:     

Martin Greif is a digital marketing expert, author, and renowned speaker who has captivated audiences worldwide with his transformative strategies. With over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, he brings an unrivaled level of expertise and a passion for driving revenue growth. Currently serving as president at SiteTuners, Martin is responsible for nurturing partner relationships, creating value for the customer base and overseeing day-to-day operations for this award-winning digital marketing agency. 

But Martin's impact extends far beyond his professional achievements. He is a man of compassion and social responsibility, serving as a board member for Vincent House, a respected charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals with mental health challenges. This philanthropic involvement showcases Martin's commitment to making a positive impact on society and creating a better world. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: marty@sitetuners.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martingreif/ 

X: @SiteTuners 

Website: sitetuners.com

Episode 263: Using Empathy in Crisis Communications, With Steve McCausland, Communications Specialist at Marshall Communications28 Nov 202300:44:23

In this episode, Steve McCausland returns to The PR Maven® Podcast to share more of his crisis communications wisdom. Starting with his background and career, Steve shares some examples of how to handle communicating during crises based on his 30+ years working for Maine Public Safety. Steve and Nancy also give a look into their crisis communications training process, including some of their most important tips. Steve and Nancy discuss how the media landscape has changed throughout their careers as well and how that impacts your crisis communications strategy.

3:21 – Steve talks about his 30+ year career at Maine Public Safety.

4:57 – Steve explains how to stay calm in the face of a crisis.

9:18 – Steve shares the advice he gave to the Farmington deputy fire chief following the deadly 2019 explosion.

10:19 – Steve recounts the worst motor vehicle accident in Maine.

18:50 – Steve shares why you should never say “no comment.”

20:41 – Steve describes how the media landscape has changed since he began his career.

25:03 – Steve gives a piece of advice: don’t go off the record.

30:57 – Steve talks about why and how you should get ready for a crisis.

35:57 – Steve emphasizes the importance of rehearsing.

40:38 – Steve shares some resources that have been helpful to him.

 

Quote

“It is an incredibly important component of getting the information out, to show some empathy. You can do it with few words, but it shows that you care about what happened, for the victim, for the victim's family and the businesses that may have been affected as well.” – Steve McCausland, communications specialist at Marshall Communications

 

Links:

Farmington explosion: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/09/16/farmington-maine-explosion-leap-inc-1-dead-propane-blast/2341115001/

Lac-Mégantic interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfULxhsPm3Y

City of Lewiston Support Fund: https://www.androscogginbank.com/city-of-lewiston-support-fund/

AP Stylebook: https://www.apstylebook.com/

“The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White: https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-Fourth-William-Strunk/dp/020530902X

 

Listen to PR Maven® Podcast episode 82 on message mapping: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-82-how-to-use-a-message-map-to-build-your-brand/

Listen to Steve's first episode on The PR Maven® Podcast: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-118-how-to-communicate-during-a-crisis-with-steve-mccausland-communications-specialist-at-marshall-communications/

 

About the guest:    

Steve McCausland served 32 years as the spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, handling information on over 500 homicides, another 500 fire deaths and thousands of motor vehicle fatalities. Before retiring, he had a role in every major criminal investigation the department was involved in over those three decades. He served as an advisor to eight commissioners of public safety and eight chiefs of the State Police on media relations and public and governmental policy.

Steve started his media career as the news director of the radio station in Bath and worked part-time for the Portland Press Herald, Associated Press and WCSH-TV in Portland.

He was elected and served 20 years on the Brunswick Town Council, serving six of those years as chairman.

Episode 262: To Be a Successful Entrepreneur, You Need a Strong Network — Here’s Why21 Nov 202300:11:58

I’ve run a public relations agency for more than three decades, so entrepreneurship runs in my blood. It’s honestly difficult to fathom life before, when I worked a traditional job and reported to a boss. Honestly, I was not cut out to be an employee. I was born to run my own business. 

These days, headlines like “How to be an entrepreneur” are a dime a dozen. It seems like everyone has secret tips and pieces of advice for those looking to be entrepreneurial, even if it means thinking outside the box and excelling at a 9-to-5 job. While there is no silver bullet, one thing is clear: Entrepreneurs take pride in building a strong network, which leads to a strong personal brand. 

Without networking, it is virtually impossible to be a successful entrepreneur or to find success in business more generally. A strong network — and the strong brand that it creates — is like a magnet, attracting the “right” people to your orbit and leaving out the “wrong” ones.  

Continue reading here. 

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared on the Forbes Agency Council CommunityVoice™ in October 2023. 

 

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Episode 261: 2023 Golden Microphone Award Celebration With Bob Shultz14 Nov 202300:24:04

In this episode, The PR Maven® Podcast celebrates five years and congratulates Bob Shultz, president and chief financial officer at Puritan Medical Products, for having the most popular episode of the year. Nancy and Bob talk about how Puritan adapted during the COVID pandemic and how they are diversifying now that demand for COVID swabs has decreased. Nancy and Bob also talk about the value of having a finance background in a leadership position.  

3:17 – Bob explains how Puritan adapted to the demand for testing swabs during the COVID pandemic.  

7:39 – Bob talks about the growth at Puritan since he joined Puritan.  

8:36 – Bob describes why he chose to come back to Maine.  

10:14 – Bob shares how having a finance background has helped him in his role as president at Puritan.  

14:43 – Bob talks about being on The PR Maven® Podcast.  

15:47 – Bob explains how Puritan is diversifying as demand for COVID swabs has declined.  

19:36 – Bob shares some resources he finds helpful.  

Quote 

“Doing whatever it takes to get it done. You can see that in everything that Puritan does and it is a differentiator. We are a company that is in the medical device business, so we have regulatory requirements that we need to meet, but the beauty of a company like Puritan is that we're nimble enough to be able to get things done that our customer needs done.” – Bob Shultz, president and chief financial officer at Puritan Medical Products 

 

Links:  

Cianbro: https://www.cianbro.com/  

Bath Iron Works: https://gdbiw.com/  

Grippy Tannins: https://www.grippytannins.com/  

Benkay: https://sushiman.com/  

3M: https://www.3m.com/  

“StrengthsFinder 2.0”: https://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Tom-Rath/dp/159562015X  

“Oh, the Places You'll Go!” by Dr. Seuss: https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Places-Youll-Dr-Seuss/dp/0679805273/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PJJ1JG1UYUFQ&keywords=the+places+you+go+by+dr.+seuss&qid=1699551376&s=books&sprefix=the+places+you+go+by+dr.+suess+%2Cstripbooks%2C72&sr=1-1  

 

Listen to Bob’s first episode on The PR Maven® Podcast.  

 

About the guest:     

A 1990 graduate from Bowdoin with a major in economics and a minor in government, Bob Shultz started his career at Deloitte where he earned his certified public accountant (CPA) designation. After public accounting, Bob worked in a variety of leadership positions in both financial and operational capacities. These roles allowed him to excel as a business leader given the diversity of experiences. Bob has worked in organizations ranging from start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies and across diverse industries. Prior to joining Puritan, he was the division CFO of one of the largest global operating units of 3M Company.    

At Puritan, Bob is currently the president and chief financial officer.In this role, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations as well as the future strategic direction. This role allows Bob to utilize the totality of his strengths and experiences to partner with the fantastic leadership team and drive profitable growth across all of Puritan’s markets. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: rlshultz@puritanmedproducts.com    

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bobshultz3  

Website: www.puritanmedproducts.com   

Encore Episode 210: An American Success Story, With Bob Shultz, President and Chief Financial Officer at Puritan Medical Products07 Nov 202300:43:22

As The PR Maven® Podcast awards the 2023 Golden Microphone, we are rereleasing the most popular guest episode of the past year. This year’s Golden Microphone Award winner is Bob Shultz, president and chief financial officer at Puritan Medical Products. Listen to this week’s encore episode as a refresher ahead of next week’s launch of a new episode with Bob!  

In episode 210, Nancy and Bob talked about Puritan Medical Products’ growth after ramping up production of their testing swabs for COVID-19 under the Defense Production Act. In early 2020, Puritan was one of only two producers of these swabs in the world. Bob joined Puritan in April 2022 as the CFO and quickly added president to his title. Nancy and Bob also talked about Puritan’s plans for the future in this episode as well as the role sales and marketing have played in Puritan’s success.   

Find the original episode here. 

 

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Episode 259: How To Attract and Retain Employees in Today’s Labor Market31 Oct 202300:10:39

It isn’t easy being a boss these days. The economy is up and down, and the labor market is unpredictable. Depending on the industry, some employers are struggling to attract and retain employees, while others are thriving.  

In public relations, I have seen it all in recent months: Some agencies refusing to hire, others hiring in abundance, some losing workers to their competitors, and others keeping employees for the long haul.  

During turbulent times, it is important for employers — in PR or not — to go back to the drawing board and reevaluate their policies pertaining to employee attraction and retention. Businesses large and small cannot rest on their laurels. They need to make a strong case to employees and job-seekers to come and stay. 

Continue reading here. 

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared in Mainebiz in July 2023. 

 

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Growing Your Brand Through Public Speaking and Social Media Featuring April Chavez - Episode 28016 Jul 202400:32:03

In this episode, Nancy hosts performance coach April Chavez. They discuss April's journey from being a police officer and living with lupus to becoming a performance coach and public speaker. April emphasizes the importance of spiritual, intellectual, and physical wellness, and shares insights on how her experiences and challenges have shaped her advocacy. The episode also highlights April's approach to wellness through relaxation techniques, meditation, and her Wellness Driven Life Show. Additionally, they touch upon the significance of personal branding and how having a clear, authentic brand can enhance one's professional and personal life. The episode is powered by Pitchcraft, a community that aids PR professionals in pitching stories to journalists.

 

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

01:05 Meet Nancy Marshall: The PR Maven

01:54 Guest Introduction: April Chavez

02:50 April's Journey: From Law Enforcement to Wellness Advocate

06:58 The Impact of Environment on Wellness

10:00 Lupus and Personal Resilience

13:20 The Power of Relaxation and Meditation

19:04 Pitchcraft: Enhancing PR Strategies

21:35 April's Wellness Principles and Public Speaking

24:44 Growing Your Brand Through Public Speaking and Social Media

28:36 Connecting with April Chavez

30:29 Conclusion and Farewell

Episode is sponsored by Pitchcraft

Episode 258: Important Lessons Learned as a Podcaster24 Oct 202300:10:51

Did you know that there are millions of podcasts? Or that nearly 80% of U.S. adults listen to them? 

You don’t need me to state the obvious: Podcasting is big business. 

What’s less obvious is how to succeed as a podcaster. Which topics resonate most with your target audience? Who is your target audience? Which formats are the most popular? How often should you release a new podcast? Who should you interview, if anyone? 

I’ve been podcasting since 2018, long before the Covid-19 pandemic took podcasts to new heights. When I first started podcasting, it was a concept with unknown opportunities (or limitations). The potential of podcasting seemed limitless, but it wasn’t apparent that it could become big business, even on an individual level. 

Over the years, my podcast has evolved in different ways, gaining new listeners and introducing them to a wide range of interesting guests. I have now released more than 240 episodes, many of them interviews with thought leaders in different industries. From Instagram and LinkedIn basics to using ChatGPT and the future of artificial intelligence, I have learned so much from my merry band of interviewees, and hopefully, my listeners feel the same way.  

I’ve learned a lot about the art of podcasting along the way too. Here are some of the key lessons. 

Continue reading here. 

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared on the Forbes Agency Council CommunityVoice™ in September 2023. 

 

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Episode 257: How To Use LinkedIn To Grow Your Network — and Bolster In-Person Connections17 Oct 202300:10:48

In another column, I explained how LinkedIn is a useful social media platform for generating sales. And it’s true: LinkedIn can be monetized in a way that grows your business and strengthens your brand through your own “thought leadership.” 

But there is much, much more to LinkedIn than money. Too often, advertisers, marketers, and public relations practitioners look at social media platforms exclusively through the lens of self-interest — how they can benefit me, me, me. Right away, people ask: How can I turn connections into cold, hard cash?

Stop. Take a step back. Look at the bigger picture — beyond the “me.” At its core, LinkedIn is a social media platform that allows you to create and cultivate meaningful connections professionally or personally. It is an extremely valuable tool for growing your network. As the saying goes, your network is ultimately your net worth, and LinkedIn can help you on both fronts.

Continue reading here.

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared in Mainebiz in July 2023.

 

Listen to other podcast episodes about LinkedIn:

Episode 195: How LinkedIn Can Help You Build Your Network and Your Brand

Episode 199: LinkedIn: Are You Taking Advantage of the World’s Largest Professional Network?

Episode 241: LinkedIn Basics

 

 

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Episode 256: ‘Show Some Respect’ and Other Email Etiquette Tips10 Oct 202300:11:25

Can you imagine a time when we didn’t have emails?

I remember when my late father, who was an electrical engineer for Westinghouse, first got email and his administrative assistant would print out all of the messages for him. He would then bring the emails home at night and write out his responses, so she could type and send them out for him the next day. What a time!

I don’t know about you, but I process through hundreds of emails a day now. My fingers fly across my keyboard. (Thank goodness I took a typing class in eighth grade, so I can type as fast as thoughts come into my busy mind.) But it shouldn’t be all about speed.

So let’s slow down a bit, cowboy.  

Remember that every email you send is a representation of your personal brand. Emails essentially reflect your personality and your reputation. Emailing impacts the way that the recipient feels about you, and whether or not they respect you as a professional.

After all, your personal brand is based on how you make other people feel, so you need to put yourself in the recipient’s shoes and think about how your words will impact them when you send that email.

Continue reading here.

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared in Mainebiz in August 2023.

 

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Episode 255: Why Your Business Should Do a Social Media Audit, With Lara Beckius, Marshall Communications’ 2023 Intern03 Oct 202300:27:43

When was the last time you took a good look at your business’s social media presence? Is it time for a social media audit? In this podcast episode, Lara Beckius, Marshall Communications’ 2023 intern, explains when and why you should complete a social media audit. Whether you want to make sure you are reaching your target audience or you want to expand your social media presence, Lara offers some tips for completing a social media audit and making sure you are moving in the right direction.  

3:25 – Lara gives an overview of her career so far.  

5:35 – Lara describes what she has learned and the types of projects she has worked on during her internship at Marshall Communications.  

6:24 – Lara explains why your business should complete a social media audit. 

8:45 – Lara shares how to determine which social media platforms to target.  

10:10 – Lara offers some recommendations for brands when doing social media.  

12:02 – Lara explains why and how to plan your hashtags.  

15:54 – Lara talks about pulling all of her interests together. 

18:32 – Lara shares how she has been involved in Her Campus.  

20:35 – Lara describes her other 2023 summer internship at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  

24:15 – Lara lists some resources that have been helpful to her.  

 

Quote 

“Don’t get overwhelmed. There are so many different social media platforms out there and there are so many different paths to pursue that it could be really easy to get overwhelmed, to kind of shut down when you’re thinking about all of that, but the idea of a social media audit is to break it down into seeing which platforms work best.” – Lara Beckius, Marshall Communications’ 2023 Intern 

 

Links:  

Mathnasium: https://www.mathnasium.com/ 

Connecticut College: https://www.conncoll.edu/  

Agrivolution: https://shop.agrivolution.us/ 

Lara’s Her Campus articles: https://www.hercampus.com/author/lara-beckius/  

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: https://www.mainegardens.org/  

Gardens Aglow: https://www.mainegardens.org/events-exhibits/gardens-aglow/  

Notion: https://www.notion.so/  

Waterllama: https://waterllama.com/  

 

About the guest:     

Lara is from Avon, Connecticut, and is currently a senior at Connecticut College studying environmental studies, economics, and dance. She has professional experience in a variety of areas including education, marketing, advancement, the performing arts, and, most recently, environmental communications at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She is super grateful to be continuing her summer internship at Marshall Communications this fall and has greatly enjoyed learning the ins-and-outs of the PR industry, from press releases to social media audits. 

 

Outside of academics, Lara also serves as the office coordinator for the Connecticut College Office of Sustainability, captain of the Connecticut College Dance Team, and president of her campus’ chapter of Her Campus, an online magazine dedicated to empowering college women. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: lbeckius@conncoll.edu  

Instagram: @laraluna

Episode 254: Celebrating Five Years, With Special Guest, Tim Cotton26 Sep 202300:41:13

At last! A new episode with Tim Cotton is here! To wrap up our fifth anniversary celebration, we are proud to launch this new episode with the PR Maven® Podcast guest with the most popular episodes of all time. In this episode, Nancy catches up with Tim Cotton. Since his last episode, Tim has retired from the Bangor Police Department, but still manages their Facebook page, as well as his own. He has also published three books and is working on a fourth. Listen to Nancy and Tim’s conversation.  

3:05 – Tim explains how his career came about by mistake.  

10:08 – Tim talks about the discipline to write.  

15:17 –Tim gives an update on the Duck of Justice (DOJ) and how people have come from all over the world to see this dead duck. 

22:42 – Tim shares how he has grown his personal brand.  

30:48 – Tim describes the themes and messages he keeps throughout his writing.  

35:10 – Tim lists some resources that have been helpful to him.  

 

Quote 

“When you do put information on there that needs to be disseminated to the public, if you have things bookending it, interesting things that people come to read, they’re going to find that. They’re not going to know about the cones on Court Street if they don’t read it all the time. That was my theory. If they come to read humorous things that really have nothing to do with direct law enforcement, it will bring them here when we need to spread information.” – Tim Cotton 

 

 

Links:  

Washington Post “This may be the only police department in America with a funny Facebook page” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/12/16/this-may-be-the-only-police-department-in-america-with-a-funny-facebook-page/  

Duck of Justice Website: https://duckofjustice.com/ 

“The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Survival-Signals-Violence/dp/0440226198  

“Undaunted Courage” by Stephen Ambrose: https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976  

“Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey: https://www.amazon.com/Blueberries-Sal-Robert-McCloskey/dp/014050169X  

“One Morning in Maine” : https://www.amazon.com/One-Morning-Maine-Robert-McCloskey/dp/0670526274/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=O4xNR&content-id=amzn1.sym.579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_p=579192ca-1482-4409-abe7-9e14f17ac827&pf_rd_r=138-8285559-3248618&pd_rd_wg=kDHVM&pd_rd_r=e97a13ac-bc85-4a53-8fda-fc50ed304fdb&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk  

“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown: https://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Moon-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0064430170  

 

Tim’s Books: 

“The Detective in the Dooryard” https://www.timcottonwrites.com/detective-in-the-dooryard/  

“Got Warrants?” https://www.timcottonwrites.com/books/got-warrants-dispatches-from-the-dooryard/ 

“Dawn in the Dooryard” https://www.timcottonwrites.com/books/dawn-in-the-dooryard-reflections-from-the-jagged-edge-of-america/  

 

Listen to the other episodes in the series: 

Encore Episode 36: Lieutenant Tim Cotton, Bangor Police Department 

Encore Episode 60: One-year Anniversary Party with Tim Cotton 

 

About the guest:     

Tim Cotton is a retired 34-year-cop, writer, former podcaster, author of three books, current social media manager of the Bangor Maine Police Facebook page and his own Facebook page. He has a website and provides a weekly blog to 20,000 subscribers. He is working on his fourth book, a fiction novel, under contract with Downeast Books, a Maine publisher. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: timcottonwrites@gmail.com  

X: @timcottonwrites 

Instagram: @timcottonwrites 

Website: www.timcottonwrites.com

Encore Episode 60: One-year Anniversary Party with Tim Cotton19 Sep 202300:32:08

As The PR Maven® Podcast continues celebrating 5 years, we are rereleasing our second most popular episode of all time, episode 60 with special guest, Tim Cotton. If you missed last week’s rerelease of the most popular episode on The PR Maven® Podcast, check out that episode here! Tune in again next week for the release of a new episode with Tim coming out on September 26!  

In episode 60, Tim Cotton was celebrated as the guest with the most popular episode of the year at the first PR Maven® Podcast anniversary celebration. This episode with Tim was recorded from Rising Tide Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, in front of a live audience. Nancy and Tim recalled some of the highlights of episode 36 and what made Tim’s episode a fan favorite. During the party, the Duck of Justice (DOJ) disappeared, reappearing a few days later visiting with Governor Janet Mills. The Marshall Communications team successfully retrieved the DOJ, ensuring his safe return to the Bangor Police Department.   

Find the original episode here. 

 

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Encore Episode 36: Lieutenant Tim Cotton, Bangor Police Department12 Sep 202300:53:28

As The PR Maven® Podcast celebrates 5 years, we are rereleasing our two most popular episodes of all time, episode 36 and episode 60, both with special guest, Tim Cotton. Whether you have been listening to The PR Maven® Podcast consistently from the beginning or you are a more recent or occasional listener, we hope you enjoy these encore episodes as we build up to the release of a new episode with Tim coming out on September 26! Let’s get excited!  

In episode 36, Nancy recorded her first episode with Tim Cotton. At the time, Tim was a lieutenant with the Bangor Police Department who became well-known for managing the department’s Facebook page. He joined the police force in the late 1980s, became a detective in 2001 and in 2014 became the public information officer. He found himself the recipient of Facebook attention and adoration from fans around the country, and the world, who follow the Facebook page to read Tim’s insightful, humorous posts.  

 

Find the original episode here. 

 

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Episode 253: Journalists vs. Influencers – Where You Should Place Your Trust, With Karen Stabiner, Journalist and Author05 Sep 202300:50:05

Getting the word out about your business requires a mix of marketing techniques, but should working with influencers be one of your marketing strategies? On the one hand, influencers can help spread the word about your business, but on the other, influencers can take advantage of businesses and have less credibility than journalists. In this episode, Karen Stabiner talks about the challenges and downsides of working with influencers, particularly in the restaurant industry.  

3:57 – Karen shares how she became interested in writing as a career when her eighth-grade teacher told her she was good at writing.  

5:26 – Karen talks about how her family owned a restaurant supply company and how she spent a lot of time in restaurants as a kid.  

9:25 – Karen describes the difference between journalists and influencers. 

18:04 – Karen shares advice for working with influencers.  

17:33 – Karen explains what journalist ethics are.  

26:02 – Karen answers whether there are any good influencers.  

33:40 – Karen talks about shakedown influencers. 

38:52 – Nancy asks if influencers and journalists will ever become the same.  

 

Quote 

“I am a journalist. I am also a consumer of information. We need to take a moment and reflect on where we are getting our information, what the source is, what the quality of it is and whether we wouldn't like a little more. Influencers are like a snack. Journalists are like a meal.” – Karen Stabiner, Journalist and Author 

 

 

Links:  

The New York Times: “Social Media Influencers Are Holding Restaurants Hostage”: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/24/opinion/social-media-influencer-restaurants.html  

“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/0743273567  

“Charlotte's Web” by E. B White: https://www.amazon.com/Charlottes-Web-B-White/dp/0061124958  

“American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin: https://www.amazon.com/American-Prometheus-Triumph-Tragedy-Oppenheimer/dp/0375726268  

 

Listen to Matt Ginn’s episode on The PR Maven® Podcast.  

 

About the guest:     

Karen Stabiner was for three years the West Coast editor of The Counter, a nonprofit digital newsroom, until its untimely demise in May 2022; her work contributed to a 2021 SABEW award for general excellence. She is the author of “Generation Chef,” which follows a young chef as he opens his first restaurant and chronicles the upheaval in the riskiest of businesses. Her other books include “To Dance With the Devil: The New War on Breast Cancer,” a New York Times Notable Book, and her personal favorite, “My Girl: Adventures With a Teen in Training.” While the dignified label for what she does is narrative nonfiction, or immersion journalism, she prefers to think of herself as a fly on the wall. She has also written two cookbooks and two novels.  

 

Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Eater LA, Columbia Journalism Review, The New Yorker, Gourmet (a James Beard award finalist), Saveur, Vogue and Mother Jones. Karen was a founder of an alternative newspaper in Santa Barbara, California, and graduated from the University of Michigan.  

 

Karen spent 10 years as an adjunct professor in the M.S. program at Columbia University Journalism School, where she created a class in food writing and taught reporting and feature writing. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: karenstabiner@gmail.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-stabiner-54086b31  

X: @kstabiner 

Website: www.karenstabiner.com 

Episode 252: Make Sure You Keep in Touch With Your Business Contacts29 Aug 202300:11:04

Remember that person you met, but whose name you can’t remember? You had the most interesting conversation, but you don’t know how to reach out because a simple name has slipped your mind. 

Bob? Bill? Something else? We’ve all been there before. 

I pride myself on meeting new people and building new connections – personal or professional – and even I’m not immune to the occasional lapse in short-term memory. There was recently an individual who could help me with certain projects for work, but for the life of me, I could not remember his name. Several months ago, he was reaching out regularly to see whether my agency had any work for him, but we didn’t at the time. And so, he went from top of mind to back of mind. 

Today, I could use this person’s services. But I don’t have enough information to even search for him or his company’s name. (He specializes in book publicity. That’s all I know.) 

There’s a lesson here: Keep in touch with your contacts. If you meet someone for the first time, do whatever you can to store their name away in your mind – whether that means writing it down repeatedly, connecting with them on LinkedIn or even sending them a friendly note in the mail. I am personally an advocate for handwritten notes since I find that they foster a different, deeper sense of connection than digital outreach. It is easier for me to remember a name when I put pen to paper instead of just sending my 35th text message of the day. 

Continue reading here. 

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared on the Forbes Agency Council CommunityVoice™ in July 2023. 

 

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Episode 251: When To Rebrand, With Paula and Derek Slayton From Trampoline Advertising & Design Co.22 Aug 202300:35:35

When should you rebrand? In the changing marketplace, you may want to rebrand at a different time now than you would have wanted to in the past. Listen as Paula and Derek Slayton explain when you should consider rebranding and if your current brand promise is still achievable. Paula and Derek also discuss the language of branding, how PR and advertising can work together and why you should continue investing in marketing or the relationships you have, even when money is tight.    

3:26 – Derek explains how his career started at printing companies and a newspaper.  

4:44 – Paula talks about her career path, from getting a teaching degree to nursing and psychology.  

5:51 – Paula describes Trampoline’s competitive edge by putting employees first.  

9:18 – Derek shares the best times to rebrand.  

11:27 – Derek gives an overview of the language of branding.  

20:49 – Paula explains why it is important to continue investing in marketing during a recession. 

24:26 – Derek talks about stock versus custom photography. 

27:19 – Paula describes the difference between being excited to sell and being desperate to sell.  

29:50 – Derek shares how PR and advertising can work together to achieve marketing goals.  

31:29 – Paula and Derek share some resources that have helped them.  

 

Quotes  

“I think that traditionally, a lot of times, the situation comes up where there's a leadership change or a transition. There are times when a new service or product is offered that maybe takes the company to a different position in the marketplace. Those are typically times that you'd see a rebrand happening to reflect that, but I think now with social being so prominent and the marketplace being so different, so finicky, it's more like when your audience is not talking about you...” – Derek Slayton 

 

“…I would add to that, you really have to look inward because the truth is your brand is your promise, and then your ability to deliver on that promise. You have to keep looking inward to make sure that the promise you're making that you say you can do still holds water a year later, two years later, three years later and are you able to deliver on that?” – Paula Slayton 

 

Links:  

2Bobs Podcast: https://2bobs.com/  

How I Built This with Guy Raz: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297  

 

About the guests:     

Paula Slayton brings more than 20 years of business management to her work at Trampoline. She ensures that accounts run smoothly through direct communication and a keen understanding of the balance that exists between projects and budgets. Her management of Glens Falls Hospital, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, SeriousFun, Double H Ranch and Vail Resorts demonstrates her ability to navigate corporate and institutional layers, while still reaching goals and managing budgets and deadlines. Clients love her down-to-earth approach and accessibility. 

 

Derek Slayton oversees the creative process and manages projects through to completion. From creative strategy to the development of dynamic visual elements, Derek keeps projects on time and precise. Leveraging 25 years of design and communication experience, Derek's finesse has been used to guide the City of Oneonta, the Town of Newcomb, and Paul Smith's College through initiatives ranging from name changes and rebrands to comprehensive plans and campaign strategy. His attention to detail is unparalleled. He is masterful with gathering feedback and building consensus in order to keep projects on track, on message and on budget. A brand specialist and design perfectionist, he'll help to tap into unique selling points.  

 

Looking to connect: 

Paula’s email: paula@designtramp.com  

Derek’s email: derek@designtramp.com  

 

Instagram: @designtramp 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designtramp  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trampoline-design/  

Website: www.trampolinedesign.com

How To Use Digital Media To Build Relationships for Print Publications With Lisa DeSisto, CEO and Publisher of the Maine Trust for Local News – Episode 4709 Jul 202400:39:02

How are these Maine newspapers adapting to the digital age? CEO and Publisher of the Maine Trust for Local News, publishing Central Maine News, Portland Press Herald and Sun Journal publications, Lisa DeSisto explains in this episode. Lisa shares how she was initially hired at MaineToday Media in 2012 because of her digital expertise, helping balance the existing print publications with all the digital possibilities. Using social media and email as well as industry tools to focus on trending topics and headlines that perform the best, these publications have been able to reach readers where they are and build relationships that result in subscriptions. This episode is also filled with fun Maine stories from lobster roll-snatching seagulls to a whoopie pie theft.  

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven® Podcast 

01:03 Introducing Guest: Lisa DeSisto 

02:05 Lisa’s Career From Boston to Maine 

04:14 Balancing Print and Digital 

07:02 How Social Media Is Used To Spread Journalism 

10:26 Using Email To Acquire Customers 

11:25 How Stephen King Helped the Portland Press Herald Gain Subscribers 

14:10 Former President Trump’s Opinions of the Media 

19:27 Important Forms of Measurement for Publications 

24:28 Using Social Media To Build Your Network 

31:11 Helpful Resources 

33:07 How Special Events Connect the Community 

 

Related Episodes 

How This Magazine Is Growing In The Digital Age: Owner of Journey Magazine, Carolyn Delaney – Episode 277 

Episode 265: How To Help Journalists and Create Quality Content, With Deirdre Stires, Former Portland Press Herald Outdoor Reporter 

Episode 106: Telling the Stories of Maine, With Erin Ovalle, Host of Maine Life 

 

About Lisa 

Lisa DeSisto oversees the publishing of five daily newspapers in Maine – the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Morning Sentinel, Kennebec Journal, Sun Journal and Times Record – and their websites. The network also includes 17 weekly newspapers and a commercial printing operation in South Portland.  

Lisa serves on the board of the Associated Press and the board of the Portland Regional Chamber. She hosts a live event series, “Like a Boss,” in which she interviews other Maine CEOs on their leadership principles. Before joining the Maine Trust for Local News (then MaineToday Media) in November 2012, Lisa spent 17 years at the Boston Globe, where she served as chief advertising officer and vice president/general manager for Boston.com.  

A native of Stoneham, Massachusetts, she is a 1985 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Lisa lives with her family and a herd of alpacas in North Yarmouth. 

Episode 250: AI Is Here To Stay, but It’s No Match for Humans in PR and Marketing15 Aug 202300:10:48

With the emergence of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence chatbots, many professionals are concerned about AI’s impact on their respective industries. On a daily basis, the anxiety and nervousness are palpable. 

Will ChatGPT disrupt my industry? Will it replace my job? How do I compete with AI? These questions are common and legitimate, and the answers to them remain to be seen. That’s the nature of disruption: It’s not easy to predict whether and to what extent the status quo will change, and it can be hard to cope when change seems inevitable. 

But it’s important not to overreact. While AI chatbots like ChatGPT are poised to fundamentally alter the nature of work, now is not the time to panic. Armageddon is not upon us.  

Continue reading here. 

 

The article read in this episode originally appeared on the Forbes Agency Council CommunityVoice™ in June 2023. 

 

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Episode 249: Spreading Inclusion and Acceptance Through Storytelling, With Lisa and Scott Wentzell and Heidi Bullen08 Aug 202300:44:19

In November 2000, Scotty Wentzell was born with a serious congenital heart defect and a chromosomal disorder that causes physical and developmental delays. With the help of his parents, Lisa and Scott, and many organizations specializing in assisting people of many different abilities, Scotty has been able to go on amazing adventures throughout his life. Recently, Lisa co-authored a book with Heidi Bullen named, “A Dog and His Boy, The Adventures of Spillway and Scotty,” detailing the adventures of Scotty’s life with his stuffed dog, Spillway. Listen to this episode to learn more about spreading a message of inclusion and acceptance through storytelling and book talks.  

4:00 – Scott describes Scotty’s birth.  

8:08 – Scotty shares a message.  

9:01 – Lisa explains how Spillway and Scotty met and how Spillway got his name.  

11:33 – Scotty says how much he has enjoyed being on the book tour.  

12:14 – Lisa talks about her career.  

15:37 – Lisa explains how her mindset shifted to start writing “A Dog and His Boy” and sharing their story. 

19:28 – Heidi shares how she got involved with “A Dog and His Boy.” 

22:29 – Scott talks about what it has been like to watch Lisa and Heidi on their journey of writing this book.  

26:46 – Scott shares his hopes for the book.  

30:03 – Scott provides some details on the song that has been written about Scotty and Spillway.  

32:10 – Heidi describes what it has been like doing book talks.  

36:11 – Lisa reads a testimonial: 

“Today was an absolute top moment of my career. It was one of those days that has proven I am doing exactly what I'm supposed to, where I'm supposed to, surrounded by the most amazing staff and students. We were able to create an environment where all our intensive needs students were accepted and successfully together to listen to an incredible story of friendship and acceptance for a full hour. We even got to share the story with our mainstream classes thanks to the power of technology. Inclusion matters. Everyone go out and support the amazing Lisa Wentzell, Scotty and Spillway. They have left a long-lasting impression on us and are the absolute sweetest.” 

38:14 – Lisa, Scott and Heidi share some resources that have been helpful for them.  

 

Quotes  

“The kids just really take to Scotty and that's the whole point. We want them to be comfortable with Scotty. We want them to be comfortable with people like Scotty and not be afraid to go up to them and make a friend, have a friendship, so all the positive stuff that comes out of this makes you want to go back for more.” – Lisa Wentzell 

“One of the ways we found out about a lot of the activities and organizations that we've engaged with, with Scotty is through other parents, other families and word of mouth. As much as we wanted to tell Scotty's story, we also wanted to shine a light on those organizations and let other families who might be in a similar position know that there is support out there, there are ways to do all these amazing activities no matter what your child's ability may be.” – Scott Wentzell  

“I think the most important thing that we can do as educators is to teach children how important it is to include everybody, to make sure everybody belongs, to make sure you have empathy and you understand what other people are going through. I think as educators and us being able to go share this book with so many people and touching those lives of the children when they're young just makes for better human beings.” – Heidi Bullen  

 

Links:  

Listen to Karl Stand’s episode on The PR Maven Podcast to hear more about Sugarloaf 

 

Claudia Diller: https://www.claudiadiller.com/index.htm  

Central Maine Power: https://www.cmpco.com/  

Equip for Living Foundation: https://www.equipforliving.org/  

Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation: https://www.maineadaptive.org/  

Special Olympics: https://www.specialolympics.org/  

Best Buddies Maine: https://www.bestbuddies.org/maine/  

Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center: https://www.ridingtothetop.org/  

Pine Tree Camp: https://pinetreesociety.org/camp-home/pinetreecamp/  

Portland Wheelers: https://portlandwheelers.org/  

Special Surfers: https://www.specialsurfer.org/  

The Woodshed at Kennebec Cabin Company: https://thewoodshedmaine.com/  

The Studio: https://thestudioportland.com/  

 

About the guests:     

Lisa and Scott Wentzell moved to Maine full-time in 1993 when they both took jobs at Sugarloaf. By the late 90s, Lisa was the accounting manager and Scott was the marketing director. When their son, Scotty, was born in November of 2000 with a serious congenital heart defect and what they would soon learn was a chromosomal disorder that causes physical and developmental delays, they decided to move to the Portland area to be closer to his doctors and the services he was going to require.  

Lisa became a full-time mom with a career caring for Scotty, while Scott held positions at Thos. Moser handcrafted American furniture, James D. Julia Auctioneers and Maine magazine before his current position at WEX. Lisa and Scott are dedicated to assuring Scotty enjoys all that life has to offer. Lisa recently co-wrote a book with Heidi Bullen called, “A Dog and His Boy, The Adventures of Spillway and Scotty.” With the book’s success, Lisa and Scotty’s purpose now is to share their empowering message of inclusion, acceptance and friendship.  

Heidi Bullen is a National Board Certified third-grade teacher at Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel, Maine, and a published author.   

 

Looking to connect: 

Lisa’s email: lisakwenzell@gmail.com  

 

Scott’s email: scottwentzell17@gmail.com  

Scott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwentzell/  

Scott’s Twitter: @scottwentzell  

Scott’s Instagram: @scottywentz 

 

Heidi’s email: bullenh@sad44.org  

 

Instagram:  @spillwayandscotty 

Website: www.spillwayandscotty.com  

Episode 248: How To Become a Changemaker, With Dr. Patti Talbot, Founder and CEO of Blue Roads Education Group01 Aug 202300:27:19

What is a changemaker and who can become one? In this episode, Dr. Patti Talbot defines what a changemaker is and explains that you don’t need to be someone extraordinarily special to make the change you want to see. Patti emphasizes working together to make change and shares some success stories from working with changemakers. Patti also talks about her career in education, founding Blue Roads Education Group, creating her podcast (On Your Own Terms) and public speaking.  

3:16 – Patti talks about her career in education and starting Blue Roads Education Group.  

5:25 – Patti explains her podcast and interview format.  

8:40 – Patti shares when and why she started her podcast.  

10:22 – Patti describes her public speaking about changemakers and why you don’t have to be special to become a changemaker.  

15:37 – Patti defines “changemakers,” and shares her hope for changemakers.  

20:40 – Patti talks about some success stories from changemakers. 

24:41 – Patti shares a resource that has helped her. 

 

Quote  

“One of my favorite definitions comes out of the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom, but I've tweaked it a little bit. Their definition of a changemaker is anyone who sees a social or environmental problem and has the skills and the grit to do something about it. Now, I've tweaked that a little bit because what I certainly know is no changemaker actually acts alone, so I've changed it to go this way: a changemaker is someone who sees a social or environmental problem and has the skills and the grit to work with others to do something about it. That ‘work with others’ in partnership is pretty critical to what it means to be a change maker.” – Dr. Patti Talbot, founder and CEO of Blue Roads Education Group 

 

Links:  

Nancy’s episode on Patti’s podcast: https://blueroadseducation.org/2023/06/07/connecting-with-curiosity-featuring-changemaker-nancy-marshall/?fbclid=IwAR01e4fzfIFXC0phQIoubqbIYdsWMq8PRW25s9BYiIoxaGf92L6-UWGWtIM  

Heroic Public Speaking: https://heroicpublicspeaking.com/  

One of Many: https://oneofmany.co.uk/coaching-certification/  

Actually® Making a Difference with Sara Price: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/actually-making-a-difference-with-sara-price/id1633274286  

 

About the guest:     

Patti is the founder and CEO of Blue Roads Education Group.  She cultivates the work of social changemakers who have a longing to create a more equitable, inclusive and healthful world for everyone by helping them develop the specific skills and confidence needed to take courageous action for change.  

  

As a public educator in pre-K through graduate education for more than 35 years, Patti’s been a part of the growth journey for people of all ages and stages of life. By focusing on the four big ideas inherent in the company mantra, “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World,” she now helps clients honor their roots and transform the way they show up and work with diverse others. Her work helps clients gain the courage needed to transcend their roles as "good citizens" to become "global changemakers," working for equity and justice for all. 

 

Looking to connect: 

Email: patti@blueroadseducation.org  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattitalbot/  

Website: www.blueroadseducation.org  

Podcast: https://winwinwomen.tv/show/on-your-own-terms  

Episode 247: YouTube Basics25 Jul 202300:11:09

Video content is a powerful tool on most social media platforms, so having a channel on YouTube, a social media platform predominately made up of video content, can be beneficial to your business. Not only is YouTube another platform to share your video content and reach your audience, but it is also a powerful search engine that helps expand your audience. In this episode, find out how to use YouTube for your business and some content ideas to get you started.

1:11 – Why you should create a YouTube channel for your business.

2:13 – YouTube’s demographics.

3:28 – How to create a channel.

4:13 – How to create a video, post and edit published content.

6:05 – Content ideas to share on YouTube.

6:38 – When you should upload.

6:58 – How to view analytics.

7:05 – How to delete a YouTube channel.

 

Links:

Episode 228: Talking TikTok, With Anna McDermott, Account Supervisor at Marshall Communications: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-228-talking-tiktok-with-anna-mcdermott-account-supervisor-at-marshall-communications/

Episode 240: Facebook Basics: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-240-facebook-basics/

Episode 241: LinkedIn Basics: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-241-linkedin-basics/

Episode 242: Instagram Basics: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-242-instagram-basics/

Episode 244: Twitter Basics: https://marshallpr.com/podcast/episode-244-twitter-basics/

 

Resources:

https://www.business.com/articles/every-brand-should-have-a-youtube-channel/ 

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/youtube-demographics 

https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/social-media-marketing-tutorial/youtube-video-ideas#20_good_ideas_for_youtube_videos_in_2023 

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-time-to-post-youtube 

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/55759?hl=en#zippy=%2Chide-your-channel-temporarily%2Cdelete-your-channel-permanently

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