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CONTINUED FROM HOME PAGE
Immediate and Open Communications on Issues are Key
in Crisis
By Scott
Marioni, R&J Public Relations
From The Healthcare Planning & Marketing Society of
New Jersey Newsletter
In the past year alone, R&J Public
Relations has been involved in two distinct examples
of how proactive and transparent communications can
help healthcare institutions succeed in challenging
times. The first is Altoona Regional Health System
in Altoona, Pa., which recently faced a potential
nurses’ strike that threatened to unionize its
entire nursing staff and negatively impact hospital
services. The second was in New Jersey, where a trio
of Southern New Jersey hospitals petitioned to halt
participation for nine other New Jersey hospitals in
an ongoing national demonstration project involving
elective angioplasty being performed at facilities
without cardiac surgery capabilities. The first
situation threatened to disrupt a hospital system
for an undetermined period of time while irreparably
damaging public trust in that institution. The
second threatened an important scientific project
that has the potential to improve cardiac care for
every resident of New Jersey, while simultaneously
improving the economic outlook for hospitals across
the state. Open and transparent communication was
the key to managing both situations.
Absent the halo effect, how can
hospitals in these types of crises remain in good
standing with their constituents? For starters,
hospitals can take a page from the playbook of the
corporate sector and adapt to an operating
environment in which halos aren’t granted, but
rather earned. Many of the best-run hospitals
already excel in this area, striving constantly to
keep their constituents informed through proactive
communications programs and build their “bank
accounts of goodwill” with the community. That
goodwill comes in incredibly handy in times of
crises, when the public inevitably looks to make a
withdrawal.
In the Altoona Regional Health
Systems example issue, our agency helped the
hospital system communicate its position openly on
the local nursing union’s demands to eliminate
“freedom of choice” for all RNs, requiring them to
join the union, or suffer a strike. The system felt
that this would not only have detrimental
repercussions on its ability to provide quality and
competitive care, but also the economic strength of
the community. The system’s aggressive campaign
reached stakeholders including the media, community
leaders, funders and staff. Ultimately, the nursing
union agreed to step back and a strike was averted.
The nine northern and central New
Jersey hospitals referenced above adopted a
highly-effective communications posture by uniting
to launch an open and aggressive public
education/outreach campaign designed to “set the
record straight” on the demonstration project and
elective angioplasty in general. Through aggressive
outreach to the media, hospital employees,
legislators, regulators and the general public,
these nine hospitals succeeded in demonstrating the
importance of the project to the future of
healthcare in New Jersey, as well as the exceptional
safety records of the hospitals involved. This was a
highly complex and confusing issue that could only
have been managed through open, honest dialogue with
every constituent affected. As a result of our
efforts, the hospitals were granted permission to
continue their participation in the study, and have
been positioned as leading providers of advanced
cardiac care in New Jersey.
Corporations have long had to work
to protect their reputations in the market with
various stakeholders, avoiding crises whenever
possible and managing them effectively whenever
necessary. The time has come for all hospitals to
take the same approach and make open, transparent
communications a cornerstone of their operational
strategies. Now, more than ever, it is essential for
hospitals to help their communities appreciate the
life-saving services they afford and to engender
public support for their continuing mission to
provide those services for many years to come.
R&J Public Relations, announces the
promotion of Kyle Kappmeier to Senior Account
Executive.
Kappmeier has been with the firm for over four
years, most recently in the position of Account
Executive. As a Senior Account Executive, Kappmeier
will be highly involved with managing R&J’s
technology and consumer electronics accounts.
“Kyle has shown considerable growth since joining
R&J, particularly in the rapidly-evolving, often
complex arena of consumer electronics and technology
driven accounts,” said John Lonsdorf, president of
R&J Public Relations. “He is a key part of the R&J
team and we look forward to his continued
contributions to the success of the agency.”
A
native of Lake Hiawatha, N.J, Kappmeier studied at
William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J. where he
received a B.S. degree in marketing.
John
Lonsdorf Gives Keynote Presentation at Rutgers Graduate
Communication Symposium
John
Lonsdorf, President of R&J Public Relations, was invited
by the Rutgers University Masters of Communication and
Information Studies (MCIS) Graduate Student Association
(GSA) to share his public relations knowledge and
expertise with program alumni as well as current masters
and PhD students on April 30, 2008.
Lonsdorf’s lecture, “How Can an
Organization Succeed When it's Under a Question Mark?”
concentrated on effective strategies and tactics for
successful crisis communication campaigns. R&J’s highly
successful track record in the development and
implementation of crisis communication initiatives on a
national, regional and market-specific level led the
MCIS GSA to invite Lonsdorf to speak on this extremely
important topic to upcoming and current communication
professionals. The lecture audience was comprised of
Rutgers professors, undergraduate and graduate students,
Rutgers fellows, and doctoral and post doctoral
students.
R&J Public Relations Named as
Agency-of-Record for Smartparts, Inc.
Smartparts, Inc, a leading manufacturer and
innovator driving the explosive digital picture
frame market, has selected R&J Public Relations, LLC
of Bridgewater, N.J., as its public relations
agency-of-record. Smartparts retained R&J to develop
a comprehensive public relations campaign designed
to elevate brand awareness for Smartparts and
differentiate the company and its products from
competitors in the highly-crowded and competitive
digital photo frame space.
“Digital photo frames are among the hottest consumer
electronics products on the market today, and
Smartparts is driving the explosive growth of the
category with innovative, stylish products that
appeal to a wide array of consumers,” said John
Lonsdorf, President of R&J Public Relations. “We are
pleased to be working with a recognized and
respected brand in such a dynamic and evolving
market space.”
As
a leader in the growing digital frame marketplace,
Smartparts has surpassed its competition by
developing new products such as the SP8PRT, the
world’s first and only digital frame with a built-in
printer, and the world’s largest digital picture
frame, the 32 inch SP3200. R&J will leverage
Smartparts’ leadership in R&D, design and
distribution to firmly establish Smartparts as a
premium brand, and demonstrate the company’s
position as a driving force behind the growth and
evolution of digital photo frames.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
About Smartparts, Inc.
Based in Totowa, New Jersey, Smartparts, Inc. is one
of the pioneers of the quickly emerging Digital
Picture Frame product category. Today, its
partnership with Wynit, Inc. provides state-of-
the-art distribution capabilities with distribution
centers in California, Tennessee and New York. For
more information, log on to
www.smartpartsproducts.com.
Nicole Tiedemann Joins the R&J Team
as Account Executive
Nicole Tiedemann has joined the firm as an Account
Executive. At
R&J, Tiedemann will serve as the day-to-day contact
for a number of clients, including prominent toy
marketer International Playthings and Kepner-Tregoe,
an international business consulting firm. Her
expertise in consumer product marketing and media
relations will help to generate additional
visibility and brand awareness for both clients.
Tiedemann also brings a strong background and
experience in the technology field, having generated
wide-spread coverage for tech clients in such
publications as Business Week, Newsday, NBC’s Today
Show, Popular Science, and PC Magazine.
Before joining R&J, Tiedemann worked as an Account
Executive for Resound Marketing where she managed
national and trade media outreach for prominent tech
clients. She honed her media relations experience
during her years working in the media relations
department of ALK Technologies, coordinating media
outreach and inquiries for both the consumer and
commercial divisions, CoPilot & PC*Miler
“We are very pleased to welcome Nicole to our
agency,” said John Lonsdorf, President of R&J. “Her
experience and technical background will be of
tremendous benefit to our clients across the board,
but in particular to those within our consumer
electronics practice.
Tiedemann, a Plainsboro, N.J., resident, studied
business at the University of New Hampshire as well
as the University of Tampa in Florida.
R&J Named Agency-of-Record for RTcom
USA
RTcom USA Inc. has selected R&J Public Relations LLC
of Bridgewater, N.J., as its public relations agency
of record. R&J has been tasked with developing and
executing a comprehensive PR campaign designed to
promote RTcom’s innovative and cutting-edge range of
high-definition digital broadcast and consumer audio
and video products.
Headquartered in Sparta, N.J., RTcom USA is a
leading manufacturer of professional digital A/V and
PC connectivity products including fiber optic DVI/HDMI
extension systems, HDTV switches, distribution
amplifiers, signal converters, and related
products. The primary thrust of R&J’s communication
program will focus on enhancing consumer and trade
awareness of RTcom USA as a digital connectivity
industry pioneer that designs and manufactures
products to meet the most up-to-date standards and
needs of system integrators, home theater consumers,
A/V equipment manufacturers and broadcasters.
“We are extremely pleased to have earned the
opportunity to work with RTcom USA, and are proud to
be associated with such a pioneering organization,”
said John Lonsdorf, President of R&J Public
Relations. “With the explosion of the professional
and consumer high-definition audio and video
markets, there is a growing need for high-quality
HDMI- and DVI-compatible digital connectivity
solutions. With the International Consumer
Electronics Show coming in January, the timing of
this initiative couldn’t be more opportune.”
R&J President John Lonsdorf Featured
in New Jersey Business Magazine
Click here to view Lonsdorf's Article in New Jersey
Business November 2007
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R&J Named
Agency-of-Record for International Playthings, Inc.
International Playthings, Inc. (IPI) has
tapped R&J Public Relations as its public relations
agency of record. R&J has been tasked with developing
and executing a comprehensive PR campaign designed to
promote IPI’s diverse range of proprietary and
distributed brands including a wide variety of
award-winning games, infant toys, preschool toys, dolls,
educational toys and activity toys.
The primary thrust of this program will
focus on enhancing consumer awareness and demand for the
Mighty Worldä and Calico Critters product lines, but
will also include brands such as iPlay® and
Earlyears®. IPI is one of the largest
suppliers of educational and developmental toys to the
North American specialty market, with a 40-year record
of success in the toy industry.
“We
are extremely pleased to have earned the opportunity to
work with International Playthings, and are proud to be
associated with such an established and respected
organization,” said Scott Marioni, Executive Vice
President of R&J Public Relations. “Everyone loves
toys, especially toys that are both fun and educational
in nature. International Playthings provides us with a
chance to do great work that makes a difference in
people’s lives and to have fun doing it.”
Headquartered in Parsippany, IPI is one
of the largest distributors of toys to specialty and
mid-market retailers in North America. Brands
manufactured, distributed and/or licensed by the company
include Earlyears®, TOMY®, Calico
Crittersä, Gotz® and iPlay®. IPI
is recognized throughout the industry as a company that
delivers educational and entertaining toys, many of
which have won awards and recognition from organizations
such as the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents Magazine,
Parent’s Choice Award and the American Specialty Toy
Retailing Association.
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Andrea Harvey Joins R&J as Account
Manager
R&J Public Relations, LLC (R&J), a leading
brand-building public relations agency based in
Bridgewater, N.J., has announced that Andrea
Harvey of Hackettstown
joined the firm as Account Manager. At R&J,
Andrea will be leading strategic campaign executions
and management on several of the agency’s
high-profile consumer and business-to-business
accounts.
Harvey was most recently a senior
account executive with Beckerman Public Relations in
Bedminster, N.J.. At Beckerman, Andrea handled
clients in real estate, construction and
architecture. Prior to Beckerman, Harvey spent more
than five years at the LVM Group in Manhattan, where
she managed a variety of accounts including real
estate brokerages, property owners/managers,
architecture and project management firms, and
technology accounts, including 3M. Additionally, as
a member of the Society for Marketing Professional
Services (SMPS), Harvey served on the organization’s
program committee.
“Andrea has created and executed
highly effective public relations campaigns for
clients in several industries and markets,” says
Scott Marioni, Executive Vice President. “We are
very pleased to welcome Andrea aboard and are
confident that she will deliver immediate and
lasting benefits to the firm and our clients.”
Harvey earned a bachelor’s degree in
communications and psychology from Rutgers
University in
New Brunswick,
N.J,
in 2000.
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Kepner-Tregoe
Hires R&J Public Relations as its New Agency-of-Record
Bridgewater, N.J. - Kepner-Tregoe, Inc. (KT), a global
consulting and training services firm, has hired R&J
Public Relations as its public relations agency of
record.
R&J
will provide brand-building communications and
visibility for the company’s services, executives and
expertise. KT helps clients build competitive advantage
using systematic, process approaches to resolve business
issues and achieve peak people and project performance.
The
KT rational process approach is used in organizations
worldwide to improve communication, relationships,
teamwork, decision-making, problem solving and idea
generation, ultimately increasing profitability and
growth.
“Kepner-Tregoe’s consulting and training services,
designed to bring rational thinking and analysis to
businesses, provides a world of possibilities,” said
John Lonsdorf, President of R&J Public Relations. “We
look forward to helping KT maximize its brand and
services within the North American business community.”
Headquartered in Princeton, N.J., KT collaborates with
clients to rapidly meet and sustain strategic and
operational goals by addressing their priority issues
including business processes, human performance,
workforce development, asset optimization, operational
improvement, and managing cost and complexity. Since
1958, KT has strived to improve understanding and
communications among people worldwide through the use of
shared ideas that produce rapid business results.
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R&J Public Relations
awarded
seven Jersey Awards
by the
New Jersey Ad Club
R&J Public Relations
took home a total of seven Jersey Awards for
excellence in Public Relations and Advertising at a
ceremony last night, hosted by the New Jersey
Advertising Club. Three First Place awards, three
Second Place awards and a Certificate of Merit were
awarded to the Bridgewater, N.J.-based public
relations agency by fellow marketing peers and
colleagues.
“We have had a great
year of meeting a wide range of challenges and
creating multiple opportunities for our clients, and
I am very proud that the hard work and talents of
our agency teams has been recognized and rewarded
through these statewide awards,” said John Lonsdorf,
President of R&J Public Relations. “These awards are
truly an honor. We thank the New Jersey Advertising
Club for their recognition and look forward to new
challenges in 2007.”
R&J was recognized with
First Place Awards for its work on behalf of:
-
Falcon Safety
Products, of Branchburg, N.J., in the category
of Total Public Relations Plan or Campaign
(Project Leader: Kyle Kappmeier, Account
Executive)
-
Samsung in the
category of Press Conference (Project Leader:
Scott Marioni, Executive VP)
-
Good Samaritan
Hospital of Suffern, N.Y., in the category of
Electronic Media Placement (Project Leader: John
Lonsdorf, President).
Second Place Awards
went to the agency for its work on behalf of:
-
Integrity House in
Newark, in the category of Media Relations
Feature Placement (Project Leader: Monica
Talmud, Senior Account Executive)
-
Good Samaritan
Hospital in the category of Total Public
Relations Plan or Campaign (Project Leaders:
John Lonsdorf, President: Jason Ledder, Media
Relations Director)
-
Good Samaritan
Hospital in the category of Press Conference
(Project Leader: John Lonsdorf, President).
The Certificate of
Merit was earned by the agency for its work on
behalf of the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory
Board in the category of Total Public Relations Plan
or Campaign (Project Leader: Monica Talmud, Senior
Account Executive).
The New Jersey Ad Club
strives to support the highest standards of
professionalism and integrity to advance the
advertising and marketing community, showcasing the
Jersey Awards to recognize New Jersey-based agencies
and companies that advance the industry through
business success.
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R&J Hires New Account
Coordinator
DeCotiis
Joins the Agency’s Account Team
Bridgewater,
N.J. (April 23, 2006) – R&J Public Relations,
LLC (R&J), a leading brand-building public relations
agency based in Bridgewater, N.J., has announced
that Crystal DeCotiis of New Brunswick, N.J., joined
the firm as Account Coordinator.
At R&J, DeCotiis will
be responsible for assisting with a variety of the
agency’s communications clients including Samsung
and Good Samaritan Hospital. DeCotiis began her
career with R&J as an intern in September 2006.
Prior to her internship, DeCotiis worked as an
editorial intern at the
leading international journal in women's studies,
Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society.
During her time there she played an
integral role in the publication process by
reviewing and editing scholarly essays and
researching potential article subjects.
“Crystal’s consistent
work ethic, demonstrated leadership, and teamwork
make her an excellent addition to our agency,” said
John Lonsdorf, President of R&J. “We are pleased to
make her a part of our account staff.”
DeCotiis graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers
University in New Brunswick, N.J., where she
received Bachelors of Art degrees in Journalism and
Media Studies, and English. DeCotiis will be
returning to Rutgers University in the fall to
pursue her masters degree in Communication and
Information Studies.
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Impact Unlimited Selects
R&J Public Relations as Agency of Record
Bridgewater, N.J. (January XX, 2007) – Impact Unlimited,
a leading provider of brand communications for events,
meetings and exhibits worldwide,
has selected R&J Public
Relations LLC as its public relations agency-of-record.
Headquartered in Dayton, N.J., Impact Unlimited designs,
produces and manages integrated events, meetings and
exhibits
worldwide, for a wide range of companies
ranging from healthcare, to electronics, industrial and
consumer products, and service organizations.
R&J is a brand-building public relations
firm that specializes
in helping companies identify and articulate their
specific brand advantages to achieve clearly identified
business objectives. R&J will conduct a comprehensive,
international public relations program designed to help
Impact Unlimited leverage its considerable success to
elevate its profile in key markets.
“We are very pleased to add
Impact Unlimited to our growing client roster,” said
John Lonsdorf, President of R&J. “Not only is Impact
Unlimited a leader within its industry, but it is widely
recognized as being among the most innovative and
creative firms of its kind. It is particularly
gratifying to partner with this an organization of this
caliber, since we pride ourselves on developing
innovative solutions to meet our clients’ needs.”
About Impact Unlimited -
Headquartered in Dayton,
N.J., with offices in Zurich and São Paulo, Impact
Unlimited is a creative and strategic company that
provides a breadth of products and services that help
its clients optimize investments in events, exhibits,
and meetings. The company’s award-winning creative
services, along with its in-house production
capabilities and worldwide logistics network, provide
clients with design-driven solutions for building their
brands and their businesses at the most critical point
in the marketing continuum — face-to-face at events,
exhibits and meetings worldwide.
With 30 years of experience and success and more than
170 employees worldwide, Impact Unlimited serves a Blue
Chip portfolio of clients spanning North and South
America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
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to top)
"TODAY" is the Day for United Bank Card
October 12,
2006 was a very big day for Jared Isaacman. Thanks to
the efforts and expertise of R&J’s media relations team,
October 12 was the day the 23 year-old CEO of United
Bank Card (UBC) woke up to find himself the focus of a
four-minute segment on NBC’s TODAY Show.
Isaacman has an incredible story to tell. The visionary
23 year-old founder and CEO of UBC, he has virtually
revolutionized the transaction processing industry since
founding his company…… at age 16 in his parents’
basement. In 2006, United Bank Card was ranked
sixth
on Inc. Magazine’s list of the 500 fastest
growing private companies in the nation.
Click here to see how R&J helped Jared use the TODAY Show as a
forum to tell his incredible story to the world.
Isaacman
hired R&J in February of 2006 to help him elevate UBC's
profile, and garner national recognition for his
company's astronomical growth and success. On October
12, the decision to partner with R&J proved to be among
Isaacman’s most visionary to date.
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R&J
Public Relations Hires V.P. to Drive Client
Communications Strategies
Ken Hunter Joins the R&J Team
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (October 24, 2006)
– R&J Public Relations LLC (R&J), a leading
brand-building public relations agency based in
Bridgewater, N.J., has announced that Ken Hunter has
joined the firm as Vice President-Account Services.
At R&J, Hunter will be responsible for client strategic
and tactical planning, growing the agency's
portfolio of public relations and marketing
solutions, account team structuring, continuing
development, and staff expansion. Hunter was most
recently with PRACO Public Relations Advertising
Co., of Colorado Springs, Colo., where he directed
public relations strategy and account teams for a
variety of consumer and business-to-business
accounts.
Ken's experience with award-winning public
relations campaigns, developing client
communications strategies, and contributing to the
growth and direction of similarly expanding
agencies, provides R&J and its clients with a strong
dose of ideas, industry insight, and structure for
pursuing business goals, said John Lonsdorf,
President of R&J. He is a key addition to our
management team. Hunter, a Mahwah, N.J., resident, is a graduate of
Syracuse University, in Syracuse, N.Y. He has
experience at several public relations agencies in
New Jersey and Colorado, and was a journalist
covering commercial and residential real estate and
high-yield bonds. A member of the Public Relations
Society of America (PRSA), he served as the
president of the Pikes Peak Chapter in 2006. He
also won several public relations awards from the
PRSA and Business Marketing Association.
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R&J Public Relations
Wins Three Jersey Awards
R&J Public Relations brought home three
prestigious Jersey Awards at the recent Advertising
Club of New Jersey awards dinner. The awards were
presented to the agency in recognition of work they
completed for clients Samsung, Good Samaritan
Hospital, and Saint Clare’s Health System.
The
highlight of the agency’s evening was a First Place
award for Best Public Relations Campaign which was
presented to R&J for their work in assisting Good
Samaritan Hospital in its successful campaign to win
approval from the New York State Department of
Health for a comprehensive cardiac surgery program.
The agency conceived and executed a wide-ranging,
multi-disciplined and multi-layered public
awareness, grass-roots and media campaign that
energized the Lower Hudson Valley community in
support of this life-saving initiative on behalf of
Good Samaritan.
In
addition, R&J was honored in the category of Media
Relations for its work for Samsung’s digital camera
division. The agency was honored its work in
planning and executing the North American
introduction of Samsung’s new line of high-end
digital cameras.
Finally, R&J Public Relations was recognized in the
category of Special Events for its work in
conceiving and delivering “The World’s Largest Baby
Shower” to mark the opening of the new Katina Center
for Mother and Child at the Saint Clare’s Health
System in Denville, NJ.
“Awards and honors
are always appreciated, but in particular, receiving
recognition in these three award categories is
further proof that our people are providing creative
and intelligent programs that are highly effective
for our clients,” said agency President John
Lonsdorf.
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iPEC Coaching Names R&J Public Relations As Its
Agency-of-Record
R&J Public Relations hired to increase awareness of
iPEC Coaching’s unique coach training services
Bridgewater, NJ (June 5, 2006) – iPEC Coaching
(Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaches), a
world leader in certified professional coach
training, has selected R&J Public Relations of
Bridgewater, NJ as its public relations
agency-of-record. The institute recently hired R&J
Public Relations to promote its growth in numerous
markets across the country and to build awareness
around iPEC’s leadership position within the rapidly
emerging professional coaching field
“As part of our continued growth in the market, we
saw the need to diversify our marketing mix in order
to better communicate the opportunities and benefits
of coaching in a way that resonates with a broader
range of audiences,” said Bruce Schneider, President
of iPEC Coaching. “R&J Public Relations’ expertise
and unique track record in promoting service
organizations will help provide the kind of exposure
and relationships we need to grow as the leader in
the U.S. market.”
The institute was founded in 1999 by Bruce D
Schneider, PhD and Master Certified Coach,
bestselling author of Relax, You’re Already
Perfect. iPEC Coaching has grown significantly
in the past few years, opening its ninth U.S. based
institute – which serves the San Jose/San Francisco
and northern California market – in 2005. The
company is based in Manasquan, NJ and supports
regional institutes in New York, California, Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, Illinois and Puerto Rico.
“The demand for
certified trained coaches and coaching skills among
individuals and corporate executives is growing
exponentially in many U.S. markets,” said John
Lonsdorf, President of R&J Public Relations. “We
look forward to helping iPEC Coaching fortify its
position as the market leader in certified
professional coach training while helping them tap
new audiences and markets as they continue to evolve
and grow stronger.”
iPEC Coaching offers training in coaching skills, as
well as certified Life Coach and Corporate Coach
training programs. Working from a holistic
approach, the institute provides a comprehensive
training program involving live workshops,
teleclasses, one-on-one practice sessions, peer work
and independent study, allowing coaches to develop
in-depth skills as well as gain the ability to
engage clients before they even graduate.
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R&J Public Relations Hires New Senior AE
Monica Talmud joins the R&J Public Relations Team
BRIDGEWATER, NJ -
R&J Public Relations, has announced that Monica
Talmud of Montclair, NJ has joined the firm as a
Senior Account Executive.
Talmud was most
recently with Matlock Advertising & Public
Relations, a top multicultural marketing agency,
where she provided reputation management, marketing
and research support to FORTUNE 500 clients and
non-profits from an array of industries. At R&J,
Talmud will be responsible for managing several
accounts, including public education initiatives on
behalf of Integrity House and The New Jersey Fire
Sprinkler Advisory Board.
“Monica brings a
fresh perspective and a wealth of experience that
immediately enhance the scope and depth of services
that we are able to offer all of our clients,” said
John Lonsdorf, President of R&J. “We are very
pleased to add someone of her caliber to the team.”
Ms. Talmud
received a Bachelors of Science degree in Mass
Communications and a minor in International
Relations from Boston University, Boston, MA.
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R&J Public Relations Named Agency of
Record for Zero Surge, Inc.
Bridgewater, NJ -- Zero Surge Inc., a
leading manufacturer of non-degrading power quality
filters for a variety of industries and applications
has named R&J Public Relations, LLC its public
relations agency of record.
“We
manufacture a series of products that are
technologically complex and completely different
from anything else on the market,” said Rudy
Harford, Chief Engineer and President of Zero
Surge. “As such, we need to educate the marketplace
about what makes our products different and more
effective than the competition. R&J demonstrated a
clear understanding of our products and the
environment in which we operate. I am confident
that they will help us increase awareness and
understanding of our products in the marketplace and
subsequently increase our presence in key vertical
markets.”
For over
16 years, Zero Surge’s revolutionary patented
products have been providing unequalled, unfailing
powerline surge protection for a number of
industries. Unlike the traditional products that
shunt excess surge energy to the “ground” wire and
utilize tiny, inexpensive metal oxide varistors (MOVs)
to divert surge current, Zero Surge’s power quality
filters perform as a tranquilizer on the surge
current and absorb even the most destructive
strikes, dissipating them harmlessly over the
neutral wire, repeatedly. MOV‑based surge
suppressors have a history of overheating and
causing fires. When hit with powerful surges, MOVs
have been known to explode, and they deteriorate
with use, completely losing their effectiveness with
no outward sign of the degradation.
Zero Surge Inc. manufactures, non-degrading power
quality filters, certified by UL for safety,
endurance and performance. In business since 1989,
the company’s patented filters eliminate the surge
damage and equipment loss often experienced with
sacrificial MOV (metal oxide varistor) type surge
suppressors. Zero Surge Inc. has over 50 models
accommodating a wide range of applications.
Corporations, medical operations, universities,
ocean vessels, the U.S. military and government,
manufacturing plants, banks, utilities, and
homeowners are just some of the customers relying on
Zero Surge filters. The products do not contain
sacrificial MOVs which wear out with use, can fail,
and have caused fires.
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United Bank Card Taps R&J Public Relations as Agency
of Record
United Bank Card, Inc. (UBC), a payment and
transaction processor serving businesses nationwide,
announced today the appointment of R&J Public
Relations, LLC (R&J) as its public relations
agency-of-record. UBC currently handles the
accounts of over 30,000 merchant locations and
processes in excess of $2.5 billion annually. The
company was ranked 19th on Inc.
Magazine’s list of the 500 fastest growing
private companies in 2005.
UBC selected R&J to
help elevate awareness of its revolutionary approach
to serving the needs of the transaction processing
industry and the promote UBC’s ever‑expanding range
of products and services.
“R&J Public
Relations demonstrated an understanding of our
company, our industry and the values and
characteristics that make United Bank Card unique in
the marketplace,” said Jared Isaacman, CEO of United
Bank Card. “We are confident that they will be very
effective in helping us communicate the many
advantages that we offer our current and prospective
partners, as well as our vision for the future of
the industry.”
Led by its
visionary 22 year-old founder and CEO, UBC has
virtually revolutionized the transaction processing
industry over the course of its brief history.
One of the
nation’s leading payment processors and merchant
acquirers, UBC continually sets the standard for
innovation, customer support and commitment to its
partners.
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World’s biggest
advertiser demonstrates PR’s value
Procter &
Gamble, the world’s largest advertiser with over 400
well-known consumer brands, concluded an in-depth,
18-month study of their marketing tools and tactics. The
result? P&G found that public relations more than any
other discipline provided the best ROI within the
company's vast marketing mix.
P&G developed
the study to measures its PR efforts in the context of and
in relation to all of its other marketing efforts such as
advertising, sponsorships and promotions, direct response,
and merchandising. The study incorporates detailed
analysis, including information on cost, scope, audience,
geographic markets, and possible synergy with other
marketing tactics. P&G’s findings showed a greater ROI from
PR than other marketing discipline in four of the six brands
tested.
Given the
difficulty in measuring PR’s effectiveness (this is an
age-old problem and a good subject for a subsequent
newsletter) it is gratifying that a sophisticated marketer
like P&G has finally put their analytical muscle behind what
we in the PR field have known for a long time – that pound
for pound, PR is the most effective way to market a product
or service.
Virtually every major business book on
marketing in the past several years has touted the power of
PR. The most famous, of course, is the Al and Laura Reis
tome The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR. A
real sea-change is taking place in the marketing field.
Smart marketers, like those at P&G are joining the revolt.
Will you get in before it has become a full-scale
revolution?
As always, I'm happy to hear your
feedback on this article.
jlonsdorf@randjpr.com
To read PR Week’s article on this, click
http://www.prweek.com/us/thisissue/article/527323/pg-debuts-measurement-tool-calculating-prs-value
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R&J’s Jason Ledder Organizes
Fundraising Wine Tasting Dinner to Benefit Habitat
for Humanity
(November 7,
2005) - Home is where the heart is. Having a warm,
secure haven is something every family deserves.
But for many lower income families, safe and decent
homes are hard to come by. Despite the affluence of
the Central New Jersey area, often times high rents
and high real estate prices force many hard working
families to live in overcrowded and poorly
maintained houses. In a step to help less fortunate
families, the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity
will be building a cluster of four new homes in the
Bernardsville area. The homes will be located
across the street from the municipal complex on
Route 202, and construction is set to start in
2006.
In order to help
fund this grand project, R&J’s own Jason Ledder has
organized a multi-course fundraising dinner and wine
tasting at Grappa Restaurant in the Somerset Hills
Hotel to benefit the Raritan Valley Habitat for
Humanity. The dinner will be held on Thursday,
November 17th, 2005 at 6:30pm. All
proceeds from the event will go to RVHFH for the
construction of these homes in Bernardsville.
“Needless to say, Scott and I are tremendously proud of
Jason and the work he does within the community – for
Habitat and for Special Olympics – as well as this past
summer for the people of Ecuador in building Homes of Hope,”
said agency President John Lonsdorf. “Jason is one of
those special people whose boundless energy and sense of
community are an inspiration.”
 Geoffrey
Conrad, General Manager of The Somerset Hills Hotel adds,
“We are proud to host this fundraising dinner and wine
tasting. This is our second year hosting this event and our
chefs have prepared a menu to compliment the various wines
our guests will be sampling. More importantly, it gives us
a chance to assist those among us who need our support.”
Tickets for this fundraising event are being sold at $89.00
per person, including tax and gratuity. Tickets must be
purchased in advance by calling the hotel at 908-647-6700,
Ext. 108.
RVHFH is entirely dependent on the support of community
sponsors. All funds must be raised locally, including money
for land, infrastructure, and home construction. RVHFH is
supported by individuals, businesses, churches and other
faith-based groups, and private foundations. Thanks to the
support of these donors, 82 people, including 54 children,
are living in 20 homes built by RVHFH.
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Kristine McVicar Joins R&J Public Relations in the
Position of Senior Account Manager
Bridgewater, NJ
(October 17, 2005)—R&J Public Relations, a
leading marketing-focused PR agency based in
Bridgewater, NJ, has announced that Kristine McVicar
of East Brunswick, NJ has joined the firm in the
position of Senior Account Manager, according to
agency President John Lonsdorf.
McVicar was most recently a Senior Account
Executive at MWW Group, a public relations agency
based in East Rutherford, NJ working primarily on
the Nikon Corporation account. Prior to that she
was a Senior Account Executive with New Directions
Public Relations based in Princeton, NJ, where she
was the lead account representative for Panasonic
Consumer Electronics Company of America. At R&J
Public Relations, McVicar will be responsible for
account management on several high-profile accounts
including Samsung Camera, Bogen Imaging and
Hampshire Companies.
“Kristine brings over six years of public relations
experience, predominantly in consumer electronics,
but in other practice areas as well, to R&J and our
clients,” says Lonsdorf. “Her creativity,
management, media relations skills and proven
results for previous and current clients make her a
tremendous asset to R&J.”
McVicar received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Mass Communications with a concentration in Public
Relations from Towson University, Towson, MD.
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Lonsdorf To
Speak at New Jersey Advertising Club Career Day
Bridgewater, NJ (October 3, 2005) – R&J
President John Lonsdorf has been tapped by the New Jersey Ad
Club to speak on careers in public relations at their 17th
Annual Career Day, geared toward attracting the best and
brightest college students into the marketing communications
field in New Jersey.
This year’s Career Day will be held at Montclair State
University on Thursday, October 27 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
It is focused on college seniors who will be making
important career decisions shortly, but is open to anyone
who wants to gain insight into how the industry works, the
requirements for entry, tips for success, and the rewards
and challenges of a career in marketing communications.
Information on Career Day 2005 can be
found at
www.njadclubcareerday.org.
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R&J Public Relations
Named Agency-of-Record for The Somerset Hills Hotel
and Inn at Somerset Hills
Agency Will
Promote the Two Hotels as the Premier Hospitality
Destination in the Somerset Hills Area
Bridgewater, NJ (September 30, 2005) – The Somerset
Hills Hotel in Warren, NJ, and its sister property,
The Inn at Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge, NJ have
R&J Public Relations of Bridgewater, NJ as public
relations agency-of-record for the promotion of
these two fine European-style hotels within the
business community and among the general public in
the Northern and Central New Jersey areas. The
appointment was announced by Geoffrey A. Conrad,
General Manager of the two hotels.
“R&J Public
Relations has an established track record in
promoting high-end clients within discerning
marketplaces, and we believe their expertise will
help to position our two hotels as the premium
hospitality and lodging choice in the Somerset Hills
area,” said Conrad.
|
The Somerset Hills Hotel |
The Somerset Hills
Hotel carries on the tradition of the small, luxury
hotels of Europe, with elegantly-appointed and
spacious rooms, whirlpool suites, efficiency suites,
an exercise room and outdoor pool within a modern,
state-of-the art facility. The 123-room hotel
offers five meeting rooms in addition to the
Claremont Ballroom, which can accommodate weddings
and gatherings of up to 250 people. Two
restaurants, the upscale, fine dining Grappa
Restaurant, and the casual, pub-style Tap Room offer
a variety of dining and lounge experiences.
The Inn
at Somerset Hills is the perfect marriage of colonial-style
elegance and modern convenience. The Inn at Somerset Hills
is perfect for business travelers, combining enhanced
meeting and conference facilities, along with
state-of-the-art business services and amenities and 112
cozy and comfortable rooms. The Inn features The Dead River
Pub and Restaurant which serves an upscale menu, and where
live music can be heard on most weekends in the lounge.
Both
hotels are just 30 minutes from Newark International
Airport, and free local and airport shuttle service is
available.
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Lonsdorf is Featured Speaker at NJ Biz / Wachovia
Bank Marketing Forum
Agency President
John Lonsdorf will be a featured speaker at the
“Marketing and PR for Small Businesses” Forum
co-sponsored by
NJ Biz Magazine and Wachovia Bank. The
September 13 event features presentations by three
prominent New Jersey marketers, followed by an “open
forum” Q&A that promises to be both interesting and
informative.
(Click Here for Advertisement)
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A Note from Jason Ledder:
Not knowing what to expect, I stepped
off the plane in Ecuador and into a whole new world
– a world that is almost impossible to describe. At
first glance, the areas in which we were to work
could best be described as squalor – extremely dusty
and dirty. It looked to me like somewhere where
life as I have come to know it and happiness could
never co-exist.
But that was only on the surface. To our
great surprise, it didn’t take long for our group to realize
that the abject physical poverty of the area was belied by
the spirit of the people for whom we were to work. Despite
the living conditions, these were some of the cleanest,
proudest and yes, happiest, people I have ever met in my
life.
Most of the houses we built were for families who, up until
then, slept under lean-to shanties made of old sheets,
hubcaps and scraps of wood. To see their faces as they
stepped into an actual home for the first time was something
I will never forget. The one-room bamboo homes that we
built would be considered sheds in the U.S., but to the
families we helped, it instantaneously became a home. It
was the first – and probably the only – real roof they will
ever have over their heads.
Jason Ledder traveled to Ecuador to build "Homes of
Hope"
This trip was the single most eye-opening,
life changing experience I have ever had. Working with
these people who have literally nothing helped put my own
life in perspective. The balance on my credit card bill and
the mounting piles of work on my desk seem less stressful to
me now. I am more motivated and less stressed in everything
I do now. I hope that no one ever has to experience the
poverty that I witnessed, but I am now more appreciative of
everything I have been blessed with, because I did.
The
Ecuadorian people were tremendously grateful to our group,
and showed their appreciation in ways that I will remember
forever. But, strangely, I feel it is I who owes a debt of
gratitude. I am grateful to the church for making this
opportunity available to me. I am grateful to R&J PR for
giving me the time off to undertake this service. I am
grateful (and will never, ever again take for granted) the
many blessings of family, friends and home that I have here
in the United States. But mostly, I am grateful to the
warm, caring and generous Ecuadorian people, who taught me
an important lesson on life, happiness and the great
responsibility that we who are blessed with so much have to
our fellow man.
Click here for
photo story
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Marioni Appointed to VP
Scott Marioni has been appointed Vice President and made a
partner in the firm, according to agency President John
Lonsdorf. Marioni has been with the firm for over six years,
most recently in the position of Senior Account Manager.
"Scott's proven leadership and marketing knowledge have been
invaluable to R&J Public Relations over the past several
years," said Lonsdorf. "He is a tremendous asset to his
clients, and has helped R&J to secure a position as one of the
top public relations firms in the region."
A native of Bridgewater, NJ, Marioni has worked as a public
relations professional in New Jersey for more than ten years.
His professional background includes experience in virtually
every facet of the industry including corporate
communications, issues management, media relations, product
publicity, event management, trade show support, public
affairs and crisis management.
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R&J Public Relations Named
Agency-of-Record for Cooke Optics
Cooke Optics, manufacturers of
professional camera lenses for the motion picture and
professional photography markets, has named R&J as public
relations agency-of-record.
Cooke lenses have been used to shoot several of the most
renowned and visually beautiful motion pictures of all time.
Recent box office releases shot with Cooke lenses include
Ray, Bridget Jones's Diary, Chicago, Under the
Tuscan Sun, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban.
“R&J Public Relations has an established track record in
promoting high-end products within the professional cinema,
video and still photography markets, and we believe their
expertise will help to position the Cooke brand of premium
lenses for maximum success,” said Les Zellan, Chairman of
Cooke, based in England.
“With Scott and Shackleton at the South Pole; at the top of
Mount Everest and in the deepest ocean in the world; at royal
weddings and major ceremonial events; in most of the world's
television networks, and on major film locations, Cooke lenses
have stunningly documented the most historic events of the
20th century,” said John Lonsdorf, President of R&J Public
Relations.
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Lonsdorf in the News
R&J PR President John Lonsdorf is once again quoted in the February 28 issue of NJBiz. Lonsdorf was sought out by the publication as an expert in public relations, and was interviewed about the recent storm of press at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Lonsdorf was featured as an expert on the use of web logs (“blogs”) in the publication’s February 21 issue as well.
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R&J Named International PR Agency-of-Record for Lino Manfrotto
Lino Manfrotto, the world’s leading manufacturer of tripods and camera support under the Manfrotto and Gitzo brands, has named R&J Public Relations as its international public relations agency-of- record.
“R&J Public Relations demonstrated the creativity and market knowledge that we were seeking in an agency to lead the worldwide publicity efforts for the Manfrotto and Gitzo brands,” said Luigi Cadorin, Director of Sales and Marketing for Lino Manfrotto in Bassano del Grappa, Italy.
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