Denver PR Is Making Headlines Nationally

Quoting the MDEDC's recent posting:

"Metro Denver's robust economy and expanding infrastructure are making headlines nationally. Check out what the media has to say about our region."

Link to read items from these national news outlets:

AreaDevelopment 
Hartford Courant 
Wall Street Journal 
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 
MSNBC 
The Huffington Post 
The New York Times 
NH Business Review 
BloombergBusiness 
Governing 
Skift Travel 
NationalJournal 
USA Today 
Bloomberg 
AP 
The Street Toronto Star

Good work MDEDC and team (and our great city and state)!

PR TACTICS: "Move Over Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z"

For those keeping up on our demographic subgroups, here's an excellent overview about the "under 20-year-olds," called Generation Z (the new realists) by Stephen Dupont, APR.

Quoting from the introduction:

"Roughly defined as those born since 1996, Gen Z is the group of under-20-year-olds, the first generation born into a digital world. The next generation of trendsetters — representing more than 25 percent of the U.S. population (larger than the boomers or millennials, according to the U.S. Census Bureau) — is already beginning to put its stamp on the world."
 
Link to the Full PR Tactics article.

Great Read: Entrepreneur Repost Details Five Steps For Achieving a Winning Social Strategy

Quoting from the May 1 posting by Steve Lazuka that originally appeared in PRNewswire's Small Business PR Toolkit:

"Every action you take on social media should add something to your marketing strategy as a whole. For this reason, you need an in-depth social media strategy to guide you through making the most of each channel."
 
Link to review Steve Lazuka's five point plan to a better social media strategy.

The Ultimate Denver Guide: Westword's 'Best of Denver 2015' is Out

For the 32nd year, Westword has compiled its list of the city's best of everything.

Check out these sections:

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT

FOOD and DRINK

SHOPPING and SERVICES

SPORTS and RECREATION

READERS' CHOICE

Link to Westword's Best of Denver 2015 Overview

In Case You Missed It: "Adam Scott to make Denver-set pot sitcom ‘Buds’ for NBC"

ICYMI: Quoting from the Feb 20 "the Cannabist" posting:

"NBC might soon have a sitcom on its schedule set inside a Denver pot shop, according to multiple reports. And with the announcement of “Buds” — from creative team Adam Scott (from the network’s near-death “Parks and Recreation”) and Joe Mande (a comic, writer and Twitter phenom) — cannabis has broached a different aspect of mainstream media...

 ...'Buds' is a part of NBC’s 2015-16 development cycle, according to various outlets. Its executive producers are Adam and (his producer wife) Naomi Scott and Mande, and it’s the first sale since the Scotts’ production company Gettin’ Rad Productions signed a first-look deal with Universal TV in 2014."

Link to TheCannibist.co

Also check out a related posting on Fusion.net

The Denver Downtown Aquarium's "Swim With The Fishes" Leads 5280's "50 Urban Adventures You Must Try"

Quoting from 5280's April issue:

"It may not be the open sea, but certified divers starving to get wet can dust off their cert cards and test their buoyancy control in the aquarium’s tanks," according to Lindsey B. Koehler's first person review included in 5280's April cover article.

Link to Koehler's Urban Adventure Recap about scuba diving at the Denver Aquarium

Link to the full article, "50 Urban Adventures You Must Try," by Dougald MacDonald - April 2015 Cover Article on newsstands now

Link to Dive with the Fish at the Denver Aquarium Information

Link to Swim [Snorkel] with the Fish at the Denver Aquarium Information

Absolutely PR Celebrates Its Sweet Sixteen

Absolutely Public Relations is celebrating its 16th year in business, achieving key media placements for clients in both the traditional and social media spaces. The announcement is made by Absolutely PR Principal/Founder Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, who says, "During the past year, Absolutely PR assisted Colorado BioScience Association, Galichia Hospital Group/Kentuckiana Medical Center, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Boettcher Foundation, Colorado BioScience Institute and CID4, the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development.”

Holben has been providing pro bono PR and marketing communications counsel, plus board and advisory board service, to Denver’s Cat Care Society since 2011.

Absolutely PR specializes in media relations, the strategies and tactics necessary to achieve impactful editorial placements in the international, national, trade press, local and social/digital media space. Visit http://www.AbsolutelyPR.com.
 
Link to the full release including a recap of recent placements and coverage

DBJ: "Forbes names 7 Colorado employers among America's 500 best"

Quoting from the March 31 DBJ posting:

"The best places to build a career and punch the clock include seven companies and organizations in Colorado in Forbes' inaugural "America's Best Employers" list released Tuesday.

Forbes' list includes 500 private- and public-sector employers in 25 industries across the nation that it says offer job seekers the best situations."

The seven Colorado companies showcased include: Cherry Creek School District, U.S. Air Force Academy, Arcadis, CH2M Hill, Level 3 Communications, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Sport Authority.

Link to the Denver Business Journal posting

Link to the full list at Forbes.com

Innovation and Job News: "State of Downtown Denver 2015 has plenty to praise"

Quoting from Chris Meehan's posting yesterday in Confluence Denver:

"Last year, downtown Denver saw $1 billion in investments through completed projects. In 2015, that figure is expected to nearly double to $1.9 billion. That's just one key takeaway from the State of Downtown Denver 2015 event, hosted by the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) on March 24.

There was a host of data showing the recent successes of Denver and how the city is poised to keep growing -- for instance, residential population has grown 165 percent since 2010. "In order to ensure future success we need to understand what we did right to get us where we are today," explained DDP CEO Tami Door at the event."

Link to the full article at Confluence Denver

Link to the 2015 State of Downtown Denver report

Denver Ranks 9th of "2015’s Hardest Working Cities in America"

Quoting CBS4 in Denver:

"WalletHub studied 116 of the most populated cities, using seven key factors to determine the hardest workers. And two Colorado cities fall in the top 20.

Aurora, CO ranks as the 16th hardest working city in America. Its workweek hours average 38.5, and the labor force participation rate is 78.6%.

Still, Aurora isn’t working as hard as Denver, which ranked the 9th hardest-working out of 116 cities in the U.S. 

The average workweek hours for those in Denver is 38.9 (New York City is 39.2), with a labor force participation rate of 78.5%."

Link to the CBS4 posting

Quoting WalletHub, "The modern-day American worker would no doubt seem unrecognizable to its mid-20th century predecessor. Back in 1950, Americans were 400 percent less productive than they are today, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Were we lazier then? Not at all."

Link to the WalletHub Rankings

Congrats, Denver Botanic Gardens: "Chihuly exhibit helps Denver Botanic Gardens draw highest visitor numbers in North America"

Quoting the DBJ's Caitlin Hendee from yesterday's posting:

"If the acres of garden displays, numerous events, and rows of flowers and plants weren't enough to draw you to Denver Botanic Gardens in 2014, then perhaps the Dale Chihuly glass sculptures were.

They certainly were for the 1,411,116 visitors who made their way to the Denver attraction in 2014, setting the Botanic Gardens apart as the most-visited public garden in North America last year."


Link to the Denver Business Journal

Link to the Denver Botanic Gardens' Website

Inc: '74 Attention-Grabbing Blog Titles That Actually Work'

If your blog headlines need a booster shot, make sure to read Larry Kim's article about Twelveskip's headline idea list. Quoting Kim, Twelvestep's list may not be the full solution:

"Seriously though, those types of headlines are incredibly effective, but they're not the be all that ends all. In fact, they work really well in social stories, but will just annoy people if you're blogging about your business and related topics.

So what's a run-of-the-mill blogger to do?

Develop a bank of catchy titles you can draw on to ensure you have lots of ideas to draw from and your titles aren't an afterthought."

Link to Inc.

Denver International Airport: Celebrating Two Decades and Ambitious New Plans...Happy 20th Birthday, DIA!

Quoting from the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation:

"A lot can happen in 20 years. In Metro Denver, we’ve seen it all – a massive light rail expansion, a growing Millennial population that is attracting companies and expansive mixed-use developments, four new professional sports stadiums, the revitalization of countless neighborhoods, and the diversification of the region’s industry base with eight major clusters. 

And today, Denver International Airport (DIA) is a glowing example of just how good two decades can look. Established in 1995 as the largest airport in the United States by total area, this regional economic engine is now consistently ranked as one of the busiest airports in the world. It now houses 109 gates and 42 regional aircraft positions, and served a record 53 million passengers last year, a massive growth from figures seen on its first birthday.

Now, as we collectively celebrate the 20th anniversary of this important pillar of Metro Denver’s growth, on Saturday, Feb. 28, we are also excited to embrace a rapidly evolving DIA into the future and the further growth anticipated on the immediate horizon."

Click to review "Six Significant Changes for DIA as it begins its Third Decade of operation"

Link to the DIA website

Link to "DIA20: The complete DBJ special report on Denver International Airport"

Metro Denver In The News: "Eight Facts You Might Not Know About Metro Denver’s Eight Industry Clusters"

Quoting from the January 30th posting:

"Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation released its annual Industry Cluster Study, a year-over-year and five-year analysis of our region’s leading industry clusters. These clusters are our primary targets for national business recruitment as well as economic development retention and expansion efforts to grow Metro Denver’s economy.

Our nine-county region has come a long way in recovering jobs since the recession, as Colorado finished off 2014 strong with a 4 percent unemployment rate, the lowest since October 2007. A total of 4,700 new jobs were added to the state in December alone.

Our leading job growth can be attributed to Metro Denver’s eight primary industry clusters, which include aerospace, aviation, bioscience, broadcasting & telecommunications, energy, financial services, healthcare & wellness and IT-Software."

Eight Facts About The Eight Industry Clusters

Report - Executive Summary

Full Report

Super Bowl Ads: Maggie Holben's Top Favorites Aren't the Same as the National Poll; They Agree on Fiat for #3

Maggie Holben's choices from last night:

BMW - Katie Couric Asks 'Can you explain what Internet is?' - http://youtu.be/U1jwWwJ-Mxc

Snickers - Brady Bunch and Others - http://youtu.be/rqbomTIWCZ8

Fiat - Blue Pill - http://youtu.be/YAcLViTHDOo

USA Today via 9News.com Weighs In: "The most popular Super Bowl ad is..."

http://bcove.me/f1vczi6t

Budweiser - Lost Dog - http://youtu.be/xAsjRRMMg_Q

Always - Run Like a Girl - http://youtu.be/q3GpXgFwWmk

Fiat - Blue Pill - http://youtu.be/YAcLViTHDOo

 Lastly, Holben's favorite image was Katy Perry's shooting star "lifter upper device." It reminded her of an old friend in Wichita, the Wichita Children's Theatre and Dance Center logo. Holben served a three-year board term there in the late 80's and has the fondest of memories of Monica Flynn and her amazing program that's going stronger than ever - http://wctdc.com/.

Here's where to view all the 2015 Super Bowl commercials: http://www.superbowl-commercials.org

Absolutely PR Wraps Up Ten-Year Consulting Relationship with the Colorado BioScience Association

Absolutely Public Relations completed ten years of consulting the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) last month, retiring from the contractual commitment. The announcement is made by Absolutely PR Principal/Founder Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, who says, “I proactively ended this long, productive and valuable client relationship after a decade in order to redefine how I deliver PR consulting services to clients going forward. Absolutely PR, founded in April 1999, remains open, and I will be taking on projects of a lesser scope than in the past to allow more personal time for travel and relaxation with my family.” Absolutely PR also remains a CBSA member company. 

Since April 2005 when CBSA began its proactive media relations program with Absolutely PR's assistance, there have been 1,588 recorded print editorial media placements featuring Colorado Bioscience Association, which is the equivalent of $1,037,078.72 if the same of space was purchased as advertising. This exposure totals 61,588,714 in circulation and is in addition to those same articles also appearing in online versions of the various publications. Online exposure (reported starting in 2009, totals 1,128,221,316). Geographic readership focus of the placement outlets (international, national/trade and regional/local) to date breaks out accordingly: 2% have been international; 47% national/trade; and 51% regional/local since we began monitoring.

Here is a sampling of placement highlights from the past decade of CBSA’s PR program lead by Absolutely PR:

2014

Sep 11, 2014 - Denver Post – BioWest 2014: 'Colorado biotech firms…innovate efficiently' - http://www.denverpost.com/Business/ci_26510215/Colorado-biotech-firms-trying-to-innovate-efficiently 

Sep 11, 2014 – Denver Business Journal – BioWest 2014: ‘'FDA could be source of innovation, Hamburg says' - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2014/09/fda-could-be-source-of-innovation-hamburg-says.html?page=all  and speech posting at the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Speeches/ucm415798.htm 

Sep 11, 2014 – InnovatioNews - ‘BioWest 2014 offers insight on creating healthier workforce, getting products to market’ - http://innovationews.com/science/bioscience/biowest-2014-offers-insight-on-creating-healthier-workforce-getting-products-to-market/  

2013

Nov 8, 2013 – Denver Business Journal – Colorado “Biotech industry honors founders, companies” - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2013/11/biotech-industry-honors-founders.html

Oct 16, 2013 - Xconomy: 'Colorado Biotech Searches for a Few More Investors, Anchor Tenants' - http://www.xconomy.com/boulder-denver/2013/10/16/colorado-biotech-searches-investors-anchor-tenants/?single_page=true 

Sep 20, 2013 – InnovatioNews – Colorado’s “CBSA investor and partnering conference shines spotlight on region’s most promising bioscience firms” http://innovationews.com/science/bioscience/investor-and-partnering-conference-shines-spotlight-on-regions-most-promising-bioscience-firms/

2012

Dec 14, 2012 – Denver Business Journal – “Colorado BioScience Association hands out nine awards” -  http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2012/12/14/colorado-bioscience-association-hands.html?page=all

Nov 8, 2012 - Denver Post: 'April Giles named CEO of Colorado BioScience Association' - http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21956260/april-giles-named-ceo-colorado-bioscience-association 

Oct 22, 2012 – BIOTechNow – “Biotech is Growing in Colorado” http://www.biotech-now.org/public-policy/2012/10/biotech-is-growing-in-colorado# 

2011

Dec 9, 2011 – Denver Business Journal – “Colorado BioScience Association bestows 2011 awards” - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2011/12/colorado-bioscience-association.html 

Sep 23, 2011 – Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor & Partnering Conference: Denver Post – “Colorado biotechs court financing by showing off inventions” - http://www.denverpost.com/Business/ci_18958018/Colorado-biotechs-court-financing-by-showing

Sep 15, 2011 – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News – “GEN on Fort Collins, Colorado-based VetDC: 'Firm Finds New Uses for Drugs, Diagnostics, and Devices in Companion Animals' - http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/repurposing-biotechnology-products-for-pet-care/3803/?kwrd=VetDC 

2010

Sep 30, 2010 – Colorado Public Radio - "Biotech in Colorado: Synthetic Sharkskin and So Much More" - http://media.cpr.org/audio/NewsFeatures/2010/09/30/100930_1001_ATC_500_EW_Biotech_Venture_Showcase_-_WITH_LEAD.32.mp3 MP3 and PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yvbylspntloll3p/ColoradoPublicRadio%20BioWest2010%2030Sept2010.mp3?dl=0 

Sept 7, 2010 – Denver Business Journal – “CSU prof Temple Grandin, subject of HBO movie, to keynote Denver’s BioWest”  -  http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/09/06/daily8.html

Sep 2010 – Bylined Article: iStudent Advisor: “The Science of Biotechnology: Why Colorado is a perfect place to study” – PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/c44bj863vnuz7xy/iStudentAdvisor%20Sept2010.pdf?dl=0  

2009

Nov 2009 – Inc Magazine – “Innovation: A New Way to Fight Germs - Sharklet Technologies' Tony Brennan invented a sharkskin-like pattern that resists microbes” - http://www.inc.com/magazine/20091101/innovation-a-new-way-to-fight-germs.html 

 

Oct 11, 2009 – Denver Business Journal – Colorado’s ”CBSA pushes education initiatives to help attract future workers” - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/10/12/story7.html?page=all

Sep 18, 2009 – Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor Conference: Denver Post – “Biotech companies court venture capitalists: Medical Money” - http://www.denverpost.com/Business/ci_13362212/Biotech-companies-court-venture-capitalists 

 

2008

Dec 1, 2008 – Bylined Article: Drug Discovery & Development – “Rocky Mountain High Bioscience” – http://www.dddmag.com/articles/2008/12/rocky-mountain-high-bioscience PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2hvjgg2kikicxsb/DD%26D%20WebExclusive%20RockyMountainHighBioScience%209Dec2008.pdf?dl=0 

Nov 13-14, 2008 – Colorado Public Radio – 2008 Venture Showcase at BioWest 2008  – Part 1 & Part 2 MP3s: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7yu97kcud6u5066/ColoradoPublicRadio%20BioWest2008%2013Nov2008%20PtOne.mp3?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/xf0vgij0ubsbsjj/ColoradoPublicRadio%20BioWest2008%2014Nov2008%20PtTwo.mp3?dl=0 

Sep 2008 – Nature Biotechnology – Colorado: “Growing the bioscience career pipeline – a new program connects local science teachers with the bioscience industry” – PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ydd5bgezt985qxh/NatureBiotechnology%20Externship%20September2008.pdf?dl=0 

Aug 29, 2008 – Denver Business Journal – Colorado – “Med device industry stays healthy” – PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l556qpo9em2x6tu/DBJ%20MedDeviceOverview%2029Aug2008.pdf?dl=0 

2007

Dec 12, 2007 – Medical Device Daily - BioWest 2007- Ubl: healthcare ‘homogeneous’ for Dems, not ‘at top’ for GOP” PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/20ef3o5tvfxc0ug/MedicalDeviceDaily%2012Dec07%20UblCollinsRecap.pdf?dl=0 

Dec 11, 2007 – Medical Device Daily – ‘BioWest 2007: ‘Showcase,’ and MDD, select ingenious valve firm as tops’ – PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0hsfz3qs2z5loqe/MedicalDeviceDaily%2011Dec07%20VentureShowcaseResultsAndRecap.pdf?dl=0 

 

Dec 10, 2007 – Medical Device Daily - “BioWest 2007: Making med-tech & providing the services to do it well” - PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/m5vy4m84mjrif0a/MedicalDeviceDaily%2010Dec07%20RitterBeamOneQuestPD.pdf?dl=0 

2006

Oct 2006 – Medical Design – “BioWest 2006 closes with record attendance” – PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jnds7f96ub19rqj/MedicalDesign%20BioWest2006%20Oct2006.pdf?dl=0  

Sep 25, 2006 – Denver Business Journal – Colorado “State offering $2M in bioscience grants” -  http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2006/09/25/daily12.html

Sep 5, 2006 – Medical Device Daily – “BioWest 2006: TheraTogs is a ‘wearable hugs’ maker right at home in Telluride” – PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a5uxv0se0owtfpv/MedicalDeviceDaily%205Sept2006%20TheraTogs.pdf?dl=0  

2005

Nov 9, 2005 – Denver Business Journal – Colorado “Bioscience group bestows awards” - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/11/07/daily46.html

Oct 9, 2005 – Denver Business Journal – “Dollars flowing to Colorado's biotech players: Replidyne, GlobeImmune net $96M in only one month” - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/10/10/story3.html?page=all

Oct 2, 2005 – Denver Business Journal – “Authority, incubator boost Colorado Biotech” - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/10/03/story4.html?page=all

2008-2014

Absolutely PR also initiated and maintained CBSA’s social media channels. These channels included: 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/COBioscience     

LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=98468&trk=anet_ug_grppro     

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/ColoradoBioScienceAssociation   

Blogger:  http://coloradobio.blogspot.com    

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/COBioscience    

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/COBioscience    

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101998361861247247369/posts   

Tumblr: http://cobioscience.tumblr.com  

Instagram: http://instagram.com/coloradobioscience  

Additional Backgrounding

In 2006, Absolutely PR was named CBSA Partner of the Year during the annual Awards Dinner. During the presentation Emcee Rob Reuteman, business editor of the now shuttered Rocky Mountain News, shared these comments on behalf of CBSA: “Holben, founder of Absolutely Public Relations, has worked tirelessly to promote the Colorado bioscience industry message to local and national media. Holben works her public relations magic to promote coverage of Colorado events and industry news. Moreover, she chairs the CBSA Communications Committee, serves on the CBSA Board of Directors, and helps to organize incoming press delegations. She coordinates the industry’s media initiatives with CBSA partners, such as the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. As a media consultant, Holben represents several of Colorado’s leading bioscience companies. Due to Holben’s professionalism and effort, Colorado’s bioscience industry isn’t such a secret anymore.” 

Link to the news release pdf

Link to the release posting on SlideShare

Link to the 2014 Media Metrics Overview

Great Read: 'The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users'

Last week a Guy Kawasaki e-mail arrived offering a free Kindle copy of his (and Peg Fitzpatrick's) new book, "The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users." I'd received review copies of his books in the past. He said this was a thank you for my help in the past.

I partook and thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated it. When PR people aren't PRing these days, quite often they're pondering and carrying out social media tactics. This book feeds that beast.

Link to read my Amazon review: "This is the glove box manual for social media. The perfect guide to help we socializes work smarter. Thank you, Guy and Peg, for your insight. I expect I'll be returning frequently for ideas and suggestions, like I turn to my favorite cook books. Appreciate the review copy very much. @MaggieHolben "

Link for more information at the Absolutely PR website

Xconomy: Denver Ranks 4th in U.S. for STEM Workers — "a major indicator of economic growth and innovation"

Quoting from today's posting by Xconomy's Gregory T. Huang:

"If you’re looking at job markets in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)—a major indicator of economic growth and innovation — the U.S. is a study in contrasts.

That’s according to a survey by WalletHub, a financial information site based in Washington, DC. The analysis looked at metrics such as job openings per capita for STEM graduates, percentage of workers in STEM jobs, annual median wage and wage growth for those jobs, the projected number of jobs needed in 2018, high-school rankings, and housing affordability."

Link to the full posting and ranking list on Xconomy.com

Denver PR Blog: 'Primavera Group Lands CBSA Account' -- Congratulations Primavera Group Principal Sarah Eder and Senior Communications Strategist Sheliah Reynolds!

Quoting from today's posting:

"The Primavera Group has taken over media relations and strategic public relations contract for the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) from Absolutely PR’s Owner/Principal Maggie Holben, who is retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant after more than ten years of service to the organization."

Link to the posting

Link to the related CBSA news release

Quoting from that release:

“I’ve worked with Sarah over the years and I’m simply thrilled to be able to pass CBSA’s PR baton to her and her team. I’m confident Sarah’s business and PR acumen is exactly what CBSA needs to take our organization to the next level in its awareness growth curve. While I’m retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant, I’m only semi-retiring from the PR business. I’ll continue to keep my Absolutely PR consulting firm open in the future, but will be taking on projects of a lesser scope than the CBSA contract to allow for more travel and time with my family,” Holben explains.

Denver's Absolutely PR Takes a Look Back at 2014

Absolutely Public Relations celebrated its 15th year in business in 2014 and achieved key media placement results for clients in both the traditional and social media spaces. This yearend review is shared by Absolutely PR Principal/Founder Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, who says, "Absolutely PR assisted Colorado BioScience Association, Galichia Hospital Group/Kentuckiana Medical Center, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Boettcher Foundation, Colorado BioScience Institute, Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development and Cat Care Society in 2014.” Holben has been providing pro bono PR and marketing communications counsel, plus board service, to Cat Care Society since 2011.

2014 Campaign Coverage and Placement Overview:

JANUARY – Business Xpansion Journal: 'Bioscience’s Bright Spots' - Colorado BioScience Association - http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/01/business-xpansion-journal-biosciences.html and http://bxjmag.com/biosciences-bright-spots/ 

FEBRUARY – Xconomy: 'Colorado Legislators Aim to Reward Angel Investors with Tax Credit' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/02/xconomy-colorado-legislators-aim-to.html and http://www.xconomy.com/boulder-denver/2014/02/04/colorado-legislators-aim-to-reward-angel-investors-with-tax-credit  

MARCH – Wichita Business Journal: 'Galichia-managed Indiana medical center earns patient safety award'/Kentuckiana Medical Center ranked #1 Hospital in Louisville Area for Patient Safety by Consumer Reports – Galichia Hospital Group - http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2014/03/galichia-managed-indiana-medical-center-earns.html andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/03/kentuckiana-medical-center-ranked-1_31.html

APRIL – Healthcare Financial News: 'When finances fall apart: Bankruptcy may lead to salvation' – Galichia Hospital Group/Kentuckiana Medical Center -http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/when-finances-fall-apart and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/04/hfn-when-finances-fall-apart-bankruptcy.html 

MAY – Denver Business Journal: 'Developer Shaw to advise Fitzsimons authority on real estate' – Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority -http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2014/05/28/developer-shaw-to-advise-fitzsimons-authority-on.html and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/05/well-known-denver-real-estate-developer.html 

JUNE – Denver Business Journal Op-Ed: 'Welcome to the United States Patent and Trademark Office' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2014/06/20/letter-to-the-editor-welcome-to-the-united-states.html and http://coloradobio.blogspot.com/2014/06/dbj-op-ed-welcome-to-united-states.html + Boettcher Foundation Announces 2014 Boettcher Investigators; Celebrating Fifth Class of Colorado's Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program – Boettcher Foundation and Colorado BioScience Association - http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140603005054/en/Colorado-BioScience-Association-Praises-Boettcher-Foundation-Embarks#.VKMVHSvF98H 

JULY – Denver Business Journal: 'Amgen [Foundation] supports STEM effort' – Colorado BioScience Institute - http://coloradobio.blogspot.com/2014/08/dbj-amgen-foundation-supports-stem.html and http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2014/08/08/auction-golf-event-help-raise-funds-for-kids-in.html?page=all  

AUGUST - Denver Post: "Tails of the Painted Cats comes together purr-fectly for Cat Care Society" – Cat Care Society - http://blogs.denverpost.com/style/2014/08/06/tails-painted-cats-comes-together-purr-fectly-cat-care-society/32692/ and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/08/denver-post-tails-of-painted-cats-comes.html 

SEPTEMBER – Denver Post Business: 'Colorado biotech firms trying to innovate efficiently' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://www.denverpost.com/Business/ci_26510215/Colorado-biotech-firms-trying-to-innovate-efficiently + Denver Business Journal : 'FDA could be source of innovation, Hamburg says' – Colorado BioScience Association - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2014/09/fda-could-be-source-of-innovation-hamburg-says.html?page=all 

OCTOBER – Denver Post: 'Denver-based Sapphire Technology gets funding for gemstone-tipped dental instruments' – Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development - http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26681598/denver-based-sapphire-technology-gets-funding-gemstone-tipped + DrBiscupid.com general dentistry website news feed - http://www.drbicuspid.com/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=316548 

NOVEMBER – Denver Business Journal TechFlash: 'Colorado bioscience organization searches for new leadership' – Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2014/11/colorado-bioscience-organization-searches-for-new.html andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/11/well-known-life-science-executive-kevin.html 

DECEMBER – InnovatioNews: '2014 was a successful year for major bioscience financings, acquisitions and expansions' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://innovationews.com/science/bioscience/cbsa-2014-was-successful-year-for-major-bioscience-financings-acquistions-and-expansions  andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-colorados-major-bioscience.html + BioSpace: Colorado BioScience Association Names Primavera Group To Succeed Absolutely PR As Media Relations & Strategic PR Consulting Firm - http://www.biospace.com/News/colorado-bioscience-association-names-primavera/359355 and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/12/colorado-bioscience-association-names.html 

Concluding the year, Absolutely PR assisted Colorado BioScience Association in announcing that Colorado-based Primavera Group will assume the media relations and strategic public relations contract for the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) beginning January 5, 2015. 

CBSA President and CEO April Giles said: "We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah Eder and her associates at the Primavera Group to our CBSA team. They will be taking over from Absolutely PR’s Owner/Principal Maggie Holben who is retiring as CBSA's PR Consultant after more than ten years of service to the organization as a board member, contract PR resource and volunteer.”  

Holben served two three-year terms on the CBSA Board of Directors and retires as an ex officio member of the board. In 2006, Absolutely PR was named CBSA Partner of the Year during the annual Awards Dinner (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/09/prweb431691.htm). Absolutely PR will continue as a member company of the CBSA in 2015, and Holben will continue to serve on the CBSA Communications Committee, providing for a smooth transition to the Primavera Group.

“I’ve worked with Sarah over the years and I’m simply thrilled to be able to pass CBSA’s PR baton to her and her team. I’m confident Sarah’s business and PR acumen is exactly what CBSA needs to take our organization to the next level in its awareness growth curve. While I’m retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant, I’m only semi-retiring from the PR business. I’ll continue to keep my Absolutely PR consulting firm open in the future, but will be taking on projects of a lesser scope than the CBSA contract to allow for more travel and time with my family,” Holben concluded.

Link to the PR.com posting