North Carolina
7406-H Chapel Hill Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27607
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Entry Level PR Advice
Measure the Effectiveness of Your PR Plan
by Gloria
As you begin to execute your personal public relations plan, you will want to gauge its effectiveness. For instance, you will want to know whether wire services or syndicates are publishing your news releases. A clipping service can scan thousands of newspapers, trade publications, magazines, and Web sites, finding where your story has been published. Some will manually clip published pieces and provide them to you. Others are primarily Web-based services that deliver clippings to you in electronic form.
Google Analytics is a free application which tracks hit counts, unique visitors, page views and many other metrics to accurately measure Web site traffic. You can use Google Analytics to improve Web site performance and to track your social media campaigns, gauging the effectiveness of your blog posts, your tweets or Facebook Connect, for example. It’s important to know who arrives on your Web site as a result of social media and whether that traffic is converting into increased sales.
Are you winning the awards you set out to win? Have you been appointed to a board yet? How many news releases have you sent out? Only you can gauge the effectiveness of some of your efforts. It’s a good idea to document each achievement on your personal public relations plan, then replace that goal with a new one.
Comment | 07/10/09
Today with Patty
NAWBO Awards Ceremony Photos
by Patty
Check out a few photos from my recent trip to the Governor’s Executive Mansion for this year’s NAWBO Awards ceremony.
Comment [1] | 07/06/09
Press Releases
BJAC’s Tapati Bose Now LEED Accredited Professional
by MMI
RALEIGH, N.C.– Lou Jurkowski, chief executive officer at BJAC, pa, an architectural firm offering professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects, has announced that Tapati Bose, intern architect, has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This professional certificate recognizes individuals with extensive knowledge and a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles as well as a familiarity with LEED requirements, resources and processes. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Bose earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in Bangalore, India and a master’s in architecture at Texas A&M University. She is an associate member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as a member of the Intern Development Program (IDP), which is a program under the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
“Our firm is proud to announce that Tapati has earned LEED certification,” said Jurkowski. “Our firm has recognized the growth of sustainable development initiatives in the region’s architecture industry and with this certification Tapati can participate in expanding our environmental practices and services offered.”
About BJAC:
Architectural firm BJAC, pa, offers professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects. The firm provides design expertise to healthcare, K-20 education, research, museum and municipal clients, along with a broad range of in-depth services, including architectural design, pre-design, programming, design, master planning, interior design, construction management, contract administration and design build. Established in 1994 by CEO and Managing Principal Lou Jurkowski, BJAC is one of the largest woman-owned architectural design firms in the Southeast, with offices in Raleigh and Charlotte. For more information, please call BJAC at (919) 833-8818 or visit www.bjac.com.
Comment | 07/05/09
Press Releases
Technology Associates President Named To Community Workforce Solutions, Inc. Board Of Directors
by MMI
CARY, N.C. – Technology Associates, a full-service technology solutions and support firm specializing in network design, implementation, management and support to small to medium-sized businesses in North Carolina, has announced that Eric Hobbs, president, has been named to the Community Workforce Solutions, Inc. board of directors. Community Workforce Solutions is a private, nonprofit organization that supports adults with disabilities and other employment barriers in reaching their career and community integration goals. In this position, Hobbs will collaborate with the 14 other members of the board of directors to support the mission of Community Workforce Solutions and promote the inclusion of adults with disabilities into the workplace. For more information on Community Workforce Solutions, visit www.communityworkforcesolutions.com.
“I am excited to have been named to Community Workforce Solutions board of directors,” said Hobbs. “It is an honor to be a part of an organization that has such a remarkable vision for adults with disabilities in our community. Community Workforce Solutions provides a wonderful service to its employees and is also a valuable resource to companies in the area.”
About Community Workforce Solutions, Inc.:
Community Workforce Solutions, Inc. is a private, nonprofit agency dedicated to supporting adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment as each individual works to achieve his or her individually chosen employment and community integration goals. By providing adults with disabilities with work and life transition programs and customized job placement and training, Community Workforce Solutions ensures that the right person is positioned in the right job. The agency also offers a variety of production and outsourcing services that create a mutually beneficial relationship for its employees and customers. Community Workforce Solutions takes great pride in its mission and is committed to improving the lives of people, the success of business and the quality of community life through its programs and services. For more information, visit www.communityworkforcesolutions.com.
About Technology Associates:
Founded in 1997, Technology Associates is a full-service technology solutions and support firm that specializes in providing network design, implementation, management and support to small- to medium-sized businesses in North Carolina. Technology Associates partners with their clients to manage their technology solutions as a valued business asset and emphasizes proactive solutions to prevent problems before they occur. The firm utilizes scalable technologies which allow business owners to have a technology infrastructure that can grow with their business needs. The combined years of experience for the Technology Associates engineering staff is 63 years, while the average years of experience is 16. Technology Associates prides itself on offering a low engineer-to-customer ratio to ensure timely responsiveness and individual attention for their customers. Technology Associates is a Microsoft® Certified Partner, meaning they possess a high degree of competence and expertise with Microsoft® technologies, as well as a Microsoft® Small Business Specialist. For more information please call (919) 459-0100 or visit their Web site at www.technologyassociates.net.
Comment | 07/05/09
Press Releases
The DiLeone Law Group, P.C. Hosts Business Advisory Seminar
by MMI
RALEIGH, N.C. –Ralph J. DiLeone, managing partner at The DiLeone Law Group, P.C., has announced that the firm will be hosting a seminar for the Business Advisor Partners on Thursday, July 16 from 11:45 a.m to 1:00 p.m. at the Coastal Financial Center, located at 1000 St. Albans Drive. The seminar, titled “Report Generating Opportunities with Quickbooks®”, will feature a presentation by Jim Griffin of James F. Griffin, CPA, PA. Griffin will discuss how a business can run more efficiently and effectively with the use of the accounting software program. For more information, visit businessadvisorypartners.com.
The DiLeone Law Group, P.C., a Raleigh-based law firm, provides legal services concentrating in business, corporate, estate planning and estate administration matters for U.S. and international middle market, closely-held and family-owned businesses as well as individual clients. For more information, please call (919) 791-0900 or visit the Web site at www.dileone.com.
“We are pleased to announce another Business Advisor Partners seminar,” said DiLeone. “We hope that this session is helpful to the audience by showing them how to use the report features offered by Quickbooks® and how to translate these reports into information they can use to make more informed business decisions.”
About The DiLeone Law Group, P.C.:
The DiLeone Law Group, P.C., a Raleigh-based law firm, provides legal services concentrating in business, corporate and estate planning and estate administration matters. The firm’s principal practice areas include: acquisitions and mergers, buy-sell agreements, computer software contracts, consulting agreements, corporate succession planning, employment contracts, estate planning, wills and trusts, executive compensation arrangements, financing, franchising, incorporations, independent contractor agreements, joint ventures and partnerships, license agreements, lease agreements, and royalty agreements for U.S. and international middle market, closely-held and family-owned businesses as well as individual clients. Attorney Ralph J. DiLeone concentrates his efforts on general business, corporate, merger, acquisition, sale, financing, equity and other capital investments (including venture capital), computer hardware and software, licensing, franchising, joint venture and real estate matters for U.S. and international corporations in such industries as high-tech, manufacturing, hospitals, physicians, health-care organizations, banks, tax-exempt organizations, joint ventures and partnerships. For more information, please call (919) 791-0900 or visit the Web site at www.dileone.com.
Comment | 07/05/09
Press Releases
Communities In Schools Of North Carolina Hosts Summer Training Institute 2009
by MMI
RALEIGH, N.C. – Linda Harrill, president and CEO of Communities In Schools of North Carolina, a nonprofit that helps youths stay in school, has announced that the organization will host the Summer Training Institute 2009: Engaging The Brain For Student Success on Thursday, August 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Myers Park Baptist Church, located at 1900 Queens Road in Charlotte.
The Summer Training Institute will include discussions by Dr. Wilkie Wilson on brain wellness and Dwayne Burks on youth leadership development. In addition, Cindy Sisson will provide a HOPSports training demo, and level one and level two service delivery will be available for new coordinators. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by Friday, July 31. For more information or to register, call Karen Killmer at (800)-849-8881 or e-mail kkillmer@cisnc.org.
Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC), an independently incorporated nonprofit, was established in 1989 as a part of the national Communities In Schools network. The organization is the nation’s largest community-based dropout prevention program with nearly 200 communities serving 1.2 million youth in the United States. For more information about CISNC, call (800) 849-8881 or visit their Web site at www.cisnc.org.
“We are please to host the 2009 Summer Training Institute,” said Harril. “This is an excellent opportunity to bring CIS affiliates from across North Carolina together to learn new methods in an effort to continue to engage students.”
About Communities In Schools Of North Carolina:
Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC), an independently incorporated nonprofit, was established in 1989 as a part of the national Communities In Schools network. The organization is the nation’s largest community-based dropout prevention program with nearly 200 communities serving 1.2 million youth in the United States. CISNC is overseen by a board of directors that represents both public and private interests for the state. The 39 local CIS affiliates across North Carolina connect existing county-wide resources with students and their families at schools to ensure that youth continue to stay in school, learn necessary skills and are well-prepared to begin working or attend a post-secondary school after graduation. CISNC provides both regional and on-site training and technical assistance, serves as an information center for local communities concerned about young people at risk of school failure, and builds partnerships with state agencies and organizations to benefit youth across the state. For more information, call (800) 849-8881 or visit their Web site at www.cisnc.org
| 07/05/09
Public Relations for the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) U.S. 1/64
MMI Associates was contracted to handle media relations and to organize various efforts to open the communication lines between the construction entities on the project and motorists. The firm developed a strategic public relations campaign to ensure that local motorists and those passing through would be aware of the most up-to-date traffic patterns.
