At PKE we work hard to provide that exquisite balance of stability and innovation – we have to keep the tried and true while having the courage to try something new.

So as we embark on our 2012 adventure, here is what is happening at PKE to keep us fresh, energetic and ready for a creative, productive and exciting New Year:

New Marketing & PR Coordinator

Kate Walter

We recently welcomed Kate Walter to our firm — she brings great PR and marketing experience, warmth and sincerity, vitality and an openness to new ideas.  Kate has already developed strong media relationships and has successfully pitched and placed several stories on our clients’ behalf.  Plus, Kate has begun developing strategic social media plans for our clients who are new to that arena – she is helping us make the social media aspect a seamless part of our overall planning. We are looking forward to even more fabulous things to come!

New Technology

As part of our plan for continuous improvement, we have adopted new web-based software to provide our clients with even more accurate and thorough month-end reporting.  We want to make sure our clients understand the value we are providing and that we are doing the most that we can with their dollars.

We have also added on new options for media distribution and media tracking to increase exposure of our clients’ news — we are also linking those articles back to social media to complete the circle and to generate consistent messages.

New Literature

At PKE, we are committed to being Lifelong Learners – to that end, we are reading voraciously.  Not only important new books that address public relations, marketing and social media, but also those that deal directly with our clients’ industries.  The Big Thirst, for example, by well-known author Charles Fishman, teaches us about how our lives are integrally entwined with water and how we must focus on this crucial resource to avoid disastrous consequences.  This book has had an incredible influence on one of our clients who is building a sustainable community - and if it impacts him, it impacts us.

New Ideas

Another effort at keeping it fresh requires us to strive for self-improvement in all areas of our lives.  To be at our best, we have re-committed to another year of running longer, working on our yoga practices, reading for pleasure, eating healthfully, and nurturing our family and personal relationships.  While all that may sound a bit self-indulgent, we know that it makes us more creative, positive and valuable to our clients in the long run!

To all of our friends, clients and readers — all the best for a wonderful 2012!

Deliciously handcrafted by Royal Palm Chocolates

One of the best parts about being a PR professional is getting to know a wonderful variety of people and discovering their passions along the way.  Over the past few weeks, I have devoted a lot of time to “new client immersion” with Royal Palm Chocolates of Naples, Fla., owners Philip and Stephanie Fincher and their strategic manager, Sam Hernandez.  How to describe this experience?  In a word: sweet!

To get educated on the world of fine Belgian chocolate and the artistry that goes into creating these confections, I spent some time last week with Philip Fincher who shared information about combining just the right amounts of specially imported ingredients, as well as the finer points of temperature and how it affects the final, scrumptious results. His demonstration revealed the perfect blend of precision and creativity as he spoke about innovative recipes and tantalizing flavors while measuring to the exact iota. Daughter Brittany pitched in, already an able apprentice on her way to becoming a fine chocolatier in her own right.

A former attorney, Philip, Stephanie and their family took a huge leap to fulfill his lifelong passion.  Once he decided to leave the practice of law, Philip attended the renowned Ewald Notter’s School of Pastry Arts where he graduated at the top of his class.  Next, Philip landed a coveted position in the pastry kitchen of the 5-Star and 5-Diamond Ritz Carlton Beach Resort in Naples. When the opportunity arose for the Finchers to open their own chocolate shop, Royal Palm Chocolates was born.

Since then, they have moved forward with a clear vision and an incredible passion for what they do.  In only two years, the company has garnered local and national acclaim for creativity, adventurous flavor combinations and “true” chocolate taste that comes through in every bite.  They have expanded from retail to include corporate gifting, the bridal industry and major special events.

A fabulous selection includes more than 23 gourmet flavors enhanced by fruity fillings, smooth liqueurs, exotic spices and more, with no added preservatives. One can also indulge in delicate chocolate wafer cookies or a delicious array of milk and dark chocolate bark. The entire staff has an impeccable eye for detail that extends from the distinctive chocolate creations to gorgeously designed jewel box packaging. To put it simply, they are doing everything right.

Royal Palm Chocolates...absolutely delicious and beautifully packaged!

One of the best aspects of my daily PR life is growing and nurturing client relationships with those who are so dedicated to quality and excellence in everything they do – their work inspires me to be better too.  And one or two chocolates along the way makes the experience even sweeter!

To continue the conversation, visit my site at pkecreative.com.

One of these women was Myra Janco Daniels, founder and president of The Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples, FL and The Naples Museum of Art.  She regaled us with great anecdotes and sweet memories, but one piece of advice really resonated with me.  She encouraged the audience to “Learn something every day, and teach something every day.” I have been trying to do so ever since…

The learning part comes naturally.  With the diverse nature of my clients’ organizations I am always learning something new:  from geothermal solar arrays to identity theft protection to the antioxidant nature of organic olive oils — we are constantly researching and reading to be able to convey our clients’ messages to their publics. But the teaching part was a different story. Although I am an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University , and we almost always have a student intern in our midst, I was not attuned to teaching something every single day.

Now I have a new approach:  be conscious of both learning and teaching on a daily basis.  Inspiration came not only from Mrs. Daniels’ words of wisdom, but also from a recent article in the New York Times about The Brooklyn Brainery. Billing themselves as “cheap classes on anything and everything in NYC” they are actually much more than that.

Here they are bringing back the lost arts of tying knots and baking bread as well as offering classes in digital photography, postcard making and lots more.  And people are flocking there, classes are waitlisted, proving that most do recognize that it’s never too late to learn something new. How nice to get out of the routine day-to-day and expand your knowledge with something totally random but certainly not useless.  I find the whole concept very thrilling and hope we can start something similar in Southwest Florida.

For now, I learn from my clients, my associates and my PR peers.  Today, I learned about Quickbooks 2011 from Cheryl Willett who taught a workshop at the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and now I know about 10 more things than I did when I woke up this morning.  In turn, I taught my summer intern how to write an upbeat, exciting radio spot that can get the message out effectively in 60 seconds. I am also teaching my husband how to use his iphone.

What do we get from all this learning and teaching?  There are no ulterior motives here, no hidden agenda.  There’s a simple beauty in gathering more knowledge and improving ourselves every day — and equal fulfillment in doing the same for someone else.

What have you learned or taught today?  I would love to know.

The latest trend on campus!

Less than five years ago, gel and acrylic nails were in. From there, false nails faded out and natural nails with plain polish came back. This trend in itself has changed. Going from red to black to white young girls were constantly inspired. Originally, Hard Candy polish started the innovation with their bold color palettes around 1995.  Additionally, girls got the idea of plain white polish from Lauren “ LC” Conrad on MTV’s hit reality series, The Hills.  When black nails were suddenly in, I thought that they were gothic until I tried the usually dull color and loved it. It’s interesting to see how quickly my perception changed. After the French manicure fell off, reverse French and designs quickly replaced the old craze.

Currently, for all of you fashionistas and trendsetters, there is a new way to wear you nail polish. OPI recently came out with a shatter polish from their Katy Perry Collection. All you need is any regular polish and this magic in a bottle. At first glance, it’s ordinary black polish. However, after one coat is applied over another color, parts of the black start to turn clear, revealing the color underneath and forming the scattered pattern.  Whether you decided to shatter all of your nails or just your ring finger, it’s a unique way to express the new nail fetish. For those of you who have gone through all of these trends, this is a way to get away from the ordinary red and plain black and really make a statement with ease.

As an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, I have the pleasure of teaching Public Relations Strategy to a fantastic group of motivated, inspiring students who are poised to enter their professional lives.  Their recent blog post assignments reflect a diversity of interests, passions and pastimes and I will be featuring as many of them as possible on my blog over the next few weeks.  Enjoy and feel free to comment!

My Life Behind the Scenes by Chelsea Kesner

When you think backstage of a concert or an event, one may think luxurious things. What do I think? For Germain Arena, I think of a smelly locker room, crammed doorway, and a Zamboni. While that doesn’t sound so glamorous, I still love my job/internship and everything that comes into our venue.

One concert that I am most looking forward to having in our building is Trans- Siberian Orchestra. When I first heard about the possibility of having them come play at our arena, I thought to myself, “how boring! Who would want to watch a classical music show in the year of 2011?”  Boy, was I wrong though about what type of concert this was going to be.

After being sat down by my boss to listen and watch a preview of TSO’s concert, I realized how amazing this concert would be; a concert that no one should miss. The band’s musical style incorporates classical, orchestral, symphonic, and progressive elements into hard rock and heavy metal. They have an amazing ability to blend yesterday’s sounds (Beethoven) with today’s craving for outstanding music, creating a new rock sound. They’re coming to Germain Easter Sunday. My theory is “after a fun day painting egg’s and participating in an Easter egg hunt, why not enjoy a concert that the whole family could attend.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra doesn’t only wow their audience with some great tunes. They also put on an amazing performance with their multiple lasers that go a-long to the beat of the music and crazy pyrotechnics that would have you believe it was the fourth of July.

Here are some fun facts about Trans- Siberian Orchestra:

• Founded in 1996 by Paul O’Neil, Robert Kinkel and Jon Oliva
• Group’s name was inspired by the Trans Siberian Railway, which connected isolated cultures, much like music
• O’Neill has managed and produced rock bands including Aerosmith, Humble Pie, AC/DC, Joan Jett and the Scorpions.
• 33- member band, with a 60- piece orchestra
• Ranked on Billboards “Top 25 touring artists of the past decade”
• Huge philanthropists and official supporter of Litter Kids Rock, a nonprofit charity organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in poor public schools throughout the United States.

If you would like more information about TSO visit Trans Siberian Orchestra’s webpage. For additional information about the concert Easter Sunday visit Germain Arena.

Let me know what you first thought about Trans-Siberian Orchestra. When you first heard the name did you think “boring orchestra?”

More than 250 people attended the Susan G. Komen Survivor Breakfast at Vi at Bentley Village in North Naples on February 19, 2011.

In the world of public relations, corporate social responsibility plays an important role in most business plans,  and I am fortunate to know so many business leaders who  want to give back to the community in whatever way they can.  When it all comes together, it is a beautiful thing to be a part of — the feeling of doing good and doing right crosses all boundaries, brings people together, and elevates the moment beyond a typical business event.  Just this past Saturday, for example, I attended the Survivor Breakfast hosted by our local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure at Vi at Bentley Village in North Naples. It was a perfect Southwest Florida day, and more than 250 people attended.The team at Vi at Bentley Village was amazing.  Besides the warm welcome, moving words and bountiful breakfast, the attention to detail was commensurate with their compassion and dedication to the cause.  David Schini, Director of Food and Beverage, and John Maguire, Assistant Director of Dining Services, coordinated the wait staff to wear pink bowties.  The impeccable table settings matched the theme, and so did the cuisine.  Executive chef extraordinaire Ed Padden cooked up a fantastic breakfast menu, both healthy and delicious — and even the sticky buns were pink!

Vi at Bentley Village's executive chef Ed Padden baked pink sticky buns for the Susan G. Komen Survivor Breakfast in N. Naples, FL.

Adding to the sense of community spirit, meteorologist and local NBC-2 news celebrity Robert Van WInkle was a lively and compassionate master of ceremonies, creating an upbeat note to the event.  NBC-2 has always been an avid Komen supporter and major sponsor, providing media coverage and public service announcements throughout the year.

MC and NBC-2 meteorologist Robert Van Winkle joined by Lou Pontius at the Komen Survivor Breakfast in North Naples on Feb. 19, 2011.

Breakfast guests also had the opportunity to enter to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid — part of major sponsor Ford’s commitment to “Think Pink & Drive Green.”  Our community’s own Sam Galloway Ford goes above and beyond their corporate commitment, not only with their support of Race for the Cure, but their donation of $20 for each entry up to $20,000.

Southwest Florida's Sam Galloway Ford will give away a Ford Fusion Hybrid as part of their commitment to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Think Pink, Drive Green!

In spite of the seriousness of the issue, the Survivor breakfast offered a sense of hope and optimism to those who attended, especially recognition of long term survivors — one more than 37 years past her breast cancer surgery.

More than anything, I felt gratitude to those in both the business and residential communities who supported this event in such a heartfelt and genuine way — it was a good day to be a Southwest Floridian.

New Business Relationships

The best part of our business is building relationships

Even in the face of a challenging economy, we recognize that the key to a thriving, vibrant, evolving business environment is creating new relationships.  Yes, we love our existing clients for being the foundation of our firm, but garnering new clients is what keeps us growing.  In 2010, we were fortunate to welcome five new significant  and diverse clients — inspiring us to be even better and reach new heights for ALL of our clients in 2011.

Enhancing the Team

New staff members add vibrancy & new talent!

Adding a new member to your team will keep you energized – plus, training and mentoring a new person can bring the existing staff closer together. To continue to provide quick, responsive service, we hired one new staff member in 2010 and will build our team as we need to, but we have learned that we all do better when we are “hands-on,” not removed from the daily client and media contact. Practice smart growth, but stay connected!

Being Part of the Community

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure SW Florida: 2010 & 2011 PR Chairs

We love living and working in an area where being part of the community is so important.  We live among some of the most giving people I have ever encountered — people who donate time, money and heart to help others where they are needed most. Whether your community is large or small, working to improve the lives of others is fulfilling –both personally and professionally.

Inspiring Fresh Ideas

We love to learn and share new ideas!

With years of collective marketing and public relations experience, it might be easier for us to rely on what we already know, and what has always worked before. But as lifelong learners, we strive to learn more about what is relevant for our clients in their businesses and in the world. It’s so important to keep in touch, connect with newsmakers and experts, and allow your mind to open to new ways of thinking. Try and think of at least one fresh new idea to jumpstart your business in 2011.

Keep your mind open to new ways of thinking!

For us, even though we are trained in traditional marketing and PR tenets, we also allow our imaginations to take flight with all that’s new in technology and digital communications. We will continue to expand our writing services to encompass our clients’ blogs, web content and even their social media posts — they rely on us to tie these links all back to their overall vision for their businesses. And that’s just one example.

What did you do in 2010 that you plan to do even better in 2011? Please send us your feedback!

A great class...a great semester

As I upload my final grades for the Fall semester, I realize how much I am going to miss this class and each student in it.  In my third year as an adjunct professor of Public Relations Strategy at Florida Gulf Coast University, teaching this course is a real highlight of my career. Not only do I have the opportunity to share my “real world” experiences with an eager group of budding professionals, I have the great pleasure of seeing the students absorb and process new information, and then demonstrate their new found knowledge.

PR Strategy students at FGCU demonstrate their knowledge during a final presentation.

This semester has proven to be more rewarding than ever.  Most teachers will find in every class a few standouts, a larger group of average hard working students, and the remaining few who do not fulfill their potential.  I expected the same when the semester started in August with 64 eyes staring at me from one mass of faces. However, I soon discovered that I was engaging with 32 very unique shining stars.

While not every student is perfect and not everyone achieves an A, each of these students had that “spark,” a glimmer of pure interest and passion refreshingly unmarred by cynicism. It was a pleasure and a privilege to get to know these students on an individual basis and to learn more about their goals, their outside interests and their upcoming plans.

PR Strategy Students with a bright future ahead

Yes,  I am a little sad to see them go, but also very optimistic about their futures.  This was a class that as a whole, shared curiosity, enthusiasm and passion — qualities that will serve them well in whatever they choose to do next.  I hope they have learned some valuable lessons in our class — about PR Strategy and maybe even a little about life — that will help them later.

As for me, I learned a lot through their very fresh eyes, and they have left me very hopeful about the future of the Public Relations profession — can’t wait to see what Spring Semester brings!

Visit my website to learn more about my dual roles as a PR Professional and Adjunct Professor!

A country general store in the NC mountains offers an interesting encounter and a new perspective.

Although we need not wait until Thanksgiving to reflect on gratitude, the impending holiday season brings those thoughts to the forefront. And sometimes, those little reminders come upon you when you least expect it — during a visit to a little country store for example…Yesterday, while taking a few hours off from my Beech Mountain “office” in northwestern North Carolina, we took a ride to visit some of the local hot spots — the historic towns of Crossnore and Spruce Pine, a few hidden away antique shops, and Linville River Mercantile and Bakery, a tiny general store located on the side of the road between Crossnore and Linville.

Linville River Mercantile & Bakery has a cozy ambience and features home accessories, hot chocolate and coffees and delicious fresh baked breads, cookies and pies.

The shop is small with lots to look at, and owner Jennifer King shares a few tidbits of local history while she takes fresh baked country sourdough bread out of her oven.  She tells us that her breads have been selected by “Homemade in America” and will be featured in their upcoming TV show, so of course we have to buy some and eat it before it even gets into the bag.  Both the aroma and the soft, crusty tastiness make it totally worth the calories, and we appreciate it even more knowing its “story.”  Everything up here has a story.

Freshly baked country sourdough bread baked by Jennifer King at Linville River Mercantile & Bakery -- yum!

I always find our forays into local culture delightful and enlightening. Perhaps because I grew up in suburbia and started my career in NYC, but I can’t get enough of the mountain lifestyle’s storybook charm and cozy appeal.  When people here “visit,” they actually have lengthy conversations about their day to day lives.  When they enter a shop, they pause to take a look at each item, comment on it and share an experience. And don’t forget about nature — literally surrounded by “purple mountain majesty,” shaded trails and dense pine tree forests, those who live here really do stop to take it all in.

What kind of an effect can this have on those of us with crazy deadlines, five-page to do lists and 200+ daily emails? I will tell you…these moments allow you to breathe. Sitting back for a few minutes to gain some perspective does not mean you have to be unproductive, or lazy or boring.  On the contrary, it’s actually the perfect setting for long term planning, thoughtful writing and yes, real thinking.

So what am I thinking about today?  Gratitude, of course.  Grateful that I have a few minutes to really think about what it means to me:

Thinking about my family fills me with gratitude

Steven, Emily, Jen & me with the Philadelphia Museum of Art (think Rocky) in the background

In any given career, it begins with education and/or knowledge about your craft or product. But to be successful, you have to have a natural curiosity to know more and a passion for what you do. That passion fuels the desire for continuous improvement which in turn provides better and better results.

The notion of a strong foundation is equally important in physical training.  To run 26.2 miles within a reasonable timeframe and without injury, a customized strength training program, proper nutrition and a smart, gradual increase in distance are the essential building blocks.  And just as a mentor can help you in your career, working with a personal trainer (like my clients LouAnn and Jamie at Fitness Together Fort Myers) can do wonders to build that foundation.

At the end of the day, or at the end of the race, you can ask yourself many of the same questions:

Did you achieve your goals?

Were you well prepared?

Are you happy with the results?

How can you improve for next time?

Did you learn anything from the experience?

In both cases, the answers are important and can help you plan your next steps — in life or on the track….

More to come soon! In the meantime, you can visit my website to learn more about me and my work.