Peritus Alabama Senior Director Jim Bakken recently presented to Dr. Bruce Berger’s University of Alabama public relations class and provided some simple, yet effective career advice that was featured in PR Week and Culpwrit. When students asked Jim what they need to know to advance quickly on the job, he responded that it’s less what they know and more what they do. Check it out and share with other rising PR stars in your network.

April 23rd, 2012

By Bruce Berger, Ph.D.

Jim Bakken, a 2001 graduate of the PR program at the University of Alabama, spoke last week in my management class. He confirmed some things the students already know about landing a job. Yes, social media expertise is highly prized. Yes, excellent writing and presentation skills are required, as are quality internships, but he surprised students when he shared some rather old-fashioned ideas for advancing quickly on that first job.

Now, Jim knows a bit about getting ahead. Following an internship with the Dallas Cowboys, he joined McNeely Pigott & Fox, a PR firm in Nashville. Several promotions later, he added responsibility for screening all résumés the agency received. In 2010, Jim joined Peritus and was charged with opening and building the agency’s first office in Alabama. Two years later, the new office is profitable and running fast.

When students asked Jim what they need to know to advance quickly on the job, he responded that it’s less what they know and more what they do. He then specified four time-tested behaviors:

• Arrive early for work. You’ll be noticed. (The three students who arrived late for Jim’s talk will forever remember this point.)

• Complete big assignments early. If you’re given an assignment on Monday that’s due on Friday, work hard to complete it by Tuesday or Wednesday. This demonstrates your commitment and capacity for work.

• Volunteer to help others complete their projects – and then do so pleasantly. You’ll gain friends and build trust.

• Always carry a pen and notepad. When you meet with the boss, or anyone else, make a few notes. You may not need the notes to remember what you were asked to do, but the act of taking notes demonstrates respect for the other person.

In short, positive work behaviors are always in fashion and probably more appreciated today than ever in our frenzied, I’m-too-busy work world.

Bruce Berger, Ph.D. is Reese Phifer Professor of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Alabama.  Dr. Berger and Jim Bakken  are members of the board of The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.  This article originally appeared in PR Week US.

On Friday, March 2, 2012, I had the pleasure of standing with O’Charley’s president, Marc Buehler, as he presented the National Guard Association of Tennessee with a gift card donation in the amount of $8,350.  Peritus has been representing O’Charley’s as their PR firm since December 2011.  This partnership began with the launch of a special promotion honoring members of the National Guard across the Southeast and Midwest.  The Celebrate Veterans promotion was a month-long celebration in December honoring members of the National Guard with special homecoming celebrations and a gift card promotion with donations benefitting local National Guard associations where O’Charley’s has a presence.  The details for the Celebration Veterans promotion included hosting homecoming celebrations throughout the month of December at select restaurants honoring those who recently returned home from Iraq or Afghanistan for the soldier and up to 12 guests.  In addition, for every $25 gift card that was purchased during the month of December, a $5 gift card was donated back to the associations.  At the end of the promotion O’Charley’s donated $50,000 in gift cards to 18 local National Guard associations.

In this business, it is sometimes hard to take a step back and see the big picture.  We often get so caught up in meeting deliverables and securing media hits that we often miss an opportunity to truly enjoy the work we are doing and impact it is making.  Don’t get me wrong, the month of December was a hectic one.  There were a lot of details that had to come together to make this promotion a success.  But every day I would have a conversation with a guard member surprising them with the news that O’Charley’s was going to honor them with a homecoming celebration, or talking with a spouse who was so excited to see her husband come home after months apart.  And to see the celebrations come together and the true humble response from guests as they were greeted with overwhelming support from the community.  These are the moments that I love about my job and I hold onto them when I find myself overwhelmed or questioning why I work in PR.  Every once in a while, we are given the opportunity to make a real difference in this industry through the work we do for our clients.  It is easy to only see the media impression figures or ad equivalency values but to truly see the impact in the lives we are touching is a rare gift and I am glad I got to be part of it.

(L to R) O'Charley's President Marc Buehler, COL Harry Montgomery and president of the National Guard Association of TN and Adjutant General of Tennessee MG Terry “Max” Haston receiving the check donation of $8,350 in gift cards from O’Charley’s

Representatives from the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Marc Buehler and members of the Tennessee National Guard

Scott Jennings
Peritus
Senior Strategist

In Dan Friedman’s National Journal article, “McConnell Hopes Cash Scares off 2014 Rivals,” Friedman examines Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s efforts on building an early presidential-level campaign for his 2014 senate race.

Friedman reports that McConnell’s early fundraising success serves as a warning to opposing candidates. It reportedly has nearly twice what was raised during the comparable period before his 2008 reelection and  is on pace to have double what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., began 2009 with for his 2010 reelection bid. “That means a Senate campaign with unprecedented size, sophistication, voter-targeting ability, and—given Kentucky’s population—money, McConnell supporters say.”

Peritus Senior Strategist and former White House deputy director of political affairs Scott Jennings weighed in on McConnell’s competitive campaign strategy, saying, “The old McConnell adage is ‘If you throw a pebble at me, I’ll throw a boulder back at you,’ and clearly he is going to have a very ample supply of boulders. Obviously it sends a message.”

Check out more of Friedman’s examination of this aggressive campaign strategy with the following link http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/mcconnell-hopes-cash-scares-off-2014-rivals-20120312.

Friedman reports that McConnell isn’t up for reelection this cycle, but you wouldn’t know from his fundraising totals. (National Journal)

(National Journal)

Mike Murphy
Peritus
Senior Vice President

Senior Vice President Mike Murphy’s featured op-ed in The Indy Star, Two Shining Examples of Bipartisan Leaders.

We hear a lot about the lack of bipartisan statesmanship in government at all levels. Examples abound: Failure of the supercommittee; a looming Armageddon over right to work proposals; lame-duck politicians rushing through their agenda before the “enemy” takes over. There is one common denominator among all of these examples. In each instance, someone has failed to pose the question, “What can we accomplish together?” Or, more important, to listen for an answer.

Unfortunately, just when Indiana most needs bipartisan leadership at all levels, Hoosiers have learned that they will lose two of our most effective leaders to retirement next year — state Reps. Ralph Foley and Dale Grubb. One is a Republican; the other, a Democrat. One is a small-town lawyer from Martinsville; the other, a farmer from Covington. With 46 years of combined experience, you might expect Foley and Grubb to be household names in Indiana, but you’ve probably never heard their names. Why? Because each man would rather be effective than flashy. They would rather be inclusive than divisive. Neither man has a stentorian voice. But when they speak, ever so quietly, everyone listens. That is because they put themselves last and the common good first.

I was Ralph Foley’s seatmate my freshman year in the Indiana House. The first advice he gave me was to “get up and shake the hand of someone across the aisle.” Fortunately, one of the first persons I met was Dale Grubb.

Post 9/11, Grubb and I asked the question “What can we accomplish together?” We teamed up to co-author 10 bills and a constitutional amendment that worked their way into law and the state Constitution. The result? Our state is safer and better prepared in case of a terrorist attack in Indiana.

Foley has had the opportunity to be very partisan. As sometimes chairman, and other times ranking minority member of the powerful Rules Committee, he carried his party’s water, to be sure. But I don’t know anyone who has ever been mad at him. Foley’s arguments always have been founded upon calm logic, never pettiness. He has always sought common ground, not partisan advantage.

As I asked myself recently, “What am I thankful for?” I thought of people like Foley and Grubb. And I dared ponder another question. What would have happened if Foley and Grubb had chaired the supercommittee? Maybe our nation would be saved.

It has been on my mind for several weeks to share how working in a happy office setting often makes all the difference between a good day and a bad day.  Not everyone is as fortunate as I am to work with a group of people they actually enjoy.  If you took a survey I would venture to guess that most people have a few folks in their office or workplace that they consider a friend or acquaintance but there is also someone (or a group of people) that they do not like or cannot get along with.  That is not the case for the Peritus office in Nashville.  I can truly say we all enjoy each other, not only working together as a team but we enjoy each other as friends.

Over the course of the two years that I have worked at Peritus I have developed a working relationship and friendly relationship with the other staff in this office.  Some people might ask doesn’t it get confusing to blur the lines between work and friendship….the answer is no.  When you have enough respect for each other to know that something needs to get done, well that is what happens.  We provide encouragement and sometimes criticism to each other, we provide support and help when things might get bogged down and we provide laughter and a since of relief to each other when things get hectic and stressful.  We are all hard workers and driven to getting the task accomplished, whatever that might be.  When something comes up and it is an all-hands-on-deck situation we all rally around and find a solution to get it done.   I know that at any time I can walk down and ask for help or guidance or I can just as easily vent and get frustrations off my chest.

We have celebrated birthdays, mourned losses, gotten over illnesses, rocked out to some of the best concerts in town, introduced family, celebrated holidays and rolled down hills in a giant plastic ball together.  We have also accomplished major milestones for some of our clients and we have been able to enjoy those victories together.

My intention is not to gloat about our happy little family here in Nashville.  My intention rather is to say that if you have not taken the opportunity to get to know the people that you work with you might be missing out on something special.  Your greatest ally might be in the office next door or your mentor might be down the hall.  Now don’t get me wrong, every day is not all rainbows and butterflies.  There are a few bad days, but bad days are not awful days because somehow we just make it work.

Tres Watson
Peritus
Senior Account Representative

Peritus Senior Account Representative Tres Watson is writing a bi-weekly beer column for KYForward. This was the September 23rd article featured.

Kevin Patterson and Tres Watson

Noticeably shorter days, school busses making the rounds and grown men obsessing over their favorite football teams all mean one thing: autumn has arrived!

While we can see the summer of ’11 in the rear view mirror, it’s likely that our dinner table and beverage glasses see similar diversity as that found in the change of season. The crispness of summer salads is replaced by a crisp nip in the air and thoughts of savory soups, stews and chili become a staple on the shopping list.

It’s only natural, then, for a greater balance to occur in the pint glass as well. Lagers and wheat beers begin to tab with rich beers of brown ales, porters and stronger ales as the weather cools, our schedules steady and a desire for heightened flavors arise. These fall seasonal releases are certain to usher in the harvest season with zeal and wonderment:

Sierra Nevada, Tumbler. Chores of leaf collecting and fodder shock-building become much less of a chore with this rewarding American-style brown ale in hand. This quick thirst- quenching intermission delivers medium-rich flavor of caramel and pecans, which are balanced with the clean citrus bitterness of hops. Finishing malty-dry and with a brisk nutty linger, this well-deserved brown ale provides all the motivation to finish the job.

Great Lakes Nasferatu. Now that the leaves are meticulously raked and your neighbor’s kids have ravishly redistributed them with the fervor of an infestation of bouncy-balls, you’ll need a stronger ale to properly remove that edge. Paired with a savory dish of German goulash, this strong American ale provides a toasty malt base of toffee, bread crust, and sun kissed barley to complement the sweeter meats and pastas. The heightened resiny hop bitterness cleanses the palate while accommodating the seasonings of the entrée. A few of these and you’ll likely forget you had a yard in the first place.

North Coast Old Stock Ale – And with the early setting of the sun, the perfect opportunity arises to hit that nightcap a little sooner. Throw in a movie and allow this succulent English-style strong ale to settle into the glass for the two-hour duration. As the ale warms and the carbonation releases, a plethora of flavors reveal themselves through a procession of caramelized fruits, port-like barley sweetness, herbal tea-like hops and rummy alcohol warmth. An occasional sip will prove rewarding for a day’s job well done, and without the need to push pause for a return to the refrigerator.

And besides, these tasty beers get you through the chores of the day without any neighborhood kids being harmed in the process. Well done my friend, … well done!

(KYForward)

Kevin Patterson is the resident beer guide and manager at the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in the architecture profession before taking his love of craft beer into the occupation ranks. Patterson also is a nationally ranked Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server (Cicerones are to beer what sommeliers are to wine.) Throughout the course of his career, he has reviewed 2,800 different beers, judged in more than 100 competitions and festivals, and co-written many articles on the beer culture. He has lived in Lexington for 17 years.

Tres Watson, a graduate of Centre College, is a senior account representative for Peritus.  Before moving to Lexington, he created and directed the 2004 Border Beer Bust in Augusta, Ga., which featured nearly 200 beers and drew 5,000 attendees over two days.  Watson is an avid beer drinker and a particular fan of IPAs.  He and his wife Laura live in Lexington, are members of the Lexington Beer Aficionados, and can frequently be found at Pazzo’s or the Beer Trappe

A recent article from PR Daily titled “Journalist explains when and how to follow up a pitch” got me thinking about how we all struggle  with creating the right pitch so our story or press release will get picked up, thereby making our client (and truth be told ourselves) happy.

I am not going to lie, I love seeing an article or release I pitched published and being able to send that victorious email to my client stating we were able to secure media placement.  But getting to that point can be a struggle and sometimes downright frustrating.

Some of the tips in this article I already utilize and some were very helpful.  However, I must point out that while it can be annoying for journalists to get flooded with hundreds of emails on a daily basis, it is just as difficult for the PR professional to play the pitching juggling act.  All PR professionals know that email inboxes can sometimes be a death sentence for your pitch.  The trick is making the subject line eye-grabbing so journalists actually wants to open your email rather than passing final judgment to the delete files folder.  If it were possible to add flashing lights and maybe even a catchy tune to an email pitch so we could capture their attention, I know I probably would give it a shot.

But since that’s not a reality, we are left to the dreaded follow up.  When has enough time passed to call with the follow up, will they even know what I am referencing, will the journalist even answer the phone? If not, do they check voice mails or is that the same as the deleted folder death sentence?  The author of this article, Amy McCarthy, points out that follow up is a good thing but it is all about timing.  Kind of like when you get the phone number from a crush, do you wait to obligatory three-days before you call them back? McCarthy points out that giving it a few days is probably the best approach.  That gives the journalist time to read through emails and consider the content you have provided.  However, don’t wait too long, otherwise you run the risk of losing their attention on the topic.  And for the love of all that is pure and holy, do not nag a journalist.  Chances are you will repeatedly pitch the same journalists a variety of topics.  You do not want to be that PR professional that journalists screen when they see your name or number on the caller ID.

Adding additional content value is also a valuable tip.  Whether that is localizing your pitch so it is relevant to the journalists and readers or viewers, offering an additional interview with a local spokesperson or including statistics or real-life scenarios can help trigger interest from a journalist.  Sometimes that is not always feasible, but when presented with an opportunity, always make your pitches relevant to what’s going on in the world today, what’s happening in the community, how this will impact people, etc.

I would like to say that the pitching game gets easier with time as you grow in your PR career, but the truth is it is a constant struggle.  Some topics are easier to pitch, some voices are more media-friendly and some journalists are easier to work with than others.  At the end of the day, the feeling of accomplishment is what gets you through.  When you see that headline you have worked on in print or online, it makes all the effort worthwhile.

Tres Watson
Peritus
Senior Account Representative

Peritus Senior Account Representative Tres Watson is writing a bi-weekly beer column for KYForward. This was his second article featured.

Kevin Patterson and Tres Watson

Craft beers represent an opportunity to enjoy beers the way they have always meant to be enjoyed, for the quality of flavors and not solely upon their alcoholic effects. With over 90 varieties of brew to enjoy, craft beers offer an opportunity to step out of the narrow and less characterful few styles the industrial brewers spend millions of dollars to market and to enter a world of new flavors.

Drinking vs. Tasting: Same thing, right? Drinking, for the sole purpose of consuming alcohol, may be fun at the ballgame or around the campfire, but it doesn’t explore the finer attributes of beer. Tasting involves thought – thought of the presentation of the beer, the exploration of flavors, textures and aromas that make the session enjoyable and rewarding.

How to taste beer – really. Seems easy enough, huh? But true beer tasting means giving consideration to several types of criteria, including the major factors of appearance, aroma, flavor, body and overall impression. Here are five beers that showcase an individual characteristic:

Moortgat Duvel. Known for its malty-dry and champagne-like character, this Belgian strong pale ale is equally noted for its appearance. Bright straw and with the slightest of haze and shows off its lively carbonation streams proudly. As the highest quality beers go, it’s easy to become impressed with this ale’s voluminous cottony white head, a sign of well-crafted beers. The beer’s presentation is both strong and elegant, especially when displayed in the proper Duvel tulip style drinking glass.

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. Hugely aromatic because of the use of specialty American hops, these spicy cones contribute an abundance of citrus scents that are reminiscent of white and red grapefruit, orange zest, freshly picked grasses and herbs; all with a slight backdrop of caramel for a well-rounded bouquet that’s both pungent and floral.

Fuller’s ESB. Balance is the name of the game when diving into the flavors of this classic English Extra Special Bitter (ESB). Medium sweetness of caramel and biscotti is matched by the earthy bitterness of pine and spicy grasses for a full flavor that’s remarkably refreshing. The transition from early supple sweetness toward a cleanly bitter finish is quite remarkable.

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout. Robust and as full in body as it is in flavor, this dark ale’s texture starts and ends with a silky smooth creamy feel. Early chocolate and coffee flavors are the perfect complement to its velvety start, then relaxing subtly at mid-palate for a semisweet powdery roast texture in finish with extended alcohol warmth.

Chimay Grande Reserve (Blue Label). When the stars align and a true beer epiphany occurs, it’s likely to happen when the overall impression gives the aromas, flavors, textures and aesthetics within this regal Belgian Trappist ale. Deep crimson with ruby highlights, this richly malted yet surprisingly dry ale delivers wave after wave of varying aromas and flavors of berries, grapes, plumbs, dates, confectioner’s sugar, wine-like vinous, mild tannic woods, candied fruits, earthy tobacco and rum-like warmth. One taste will reveal why this ale is renowned for its complexity, depth and drinkability.

Although these five main characteristics are a great place to start, other considerations can bring about a heightened appreciation for the beers such as their history, culture, ingredients, food pairings, serving temperatures, proper glassware and cellaring, all of which we will be delve into in the future.

However your own journey goes, it’s worth understanding that there’s a little beer connoisseur in all of us. Trust what you taste and enjoy the trip.

Kevin Patterson is the resident beer guide and manager at the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in the architecture profession before taking his love of craft beer into the occupation ranks. Patterson also is a nationally ranked Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server (Cicerones are to beer what sommeliers are to wine.) Throughout the course of his career, he has reviewed 2,800 different beers, judged in more than 100 competitions and festivals, and co-written many articles on the beer culture. He has lived in Lexington for 17 years.

Tres Watson, a graduate of Centre College, is a senior account representative for Peritus.  Before moving to Lexington, he created and directed the 2004 Border Beer Bust in Augusta, Ga., which featured nearly 200 beers and drew 5,000 attendees over two days.  Watson is an avid beer drinker and a particular fan of IPAs.  He and his wife Laura live in Lexington, are members of the Lexington Beer Aficionados, and can frequently be found at Pazzo’s or the Beer Trappe

Peritus Account Coordinator Amy Jones has accepted a board position with Kentucky-Southeast Indiana Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. The MS Society addresses the challenges of those affected by multiple sclerosis and helps mobilize volunteers and resources to drive research for a cure. This chapter enhances the lives of more than 4,800 people living with MS in its surrounding region; some of their local events include walks, cycling fundraisers, Best of Louisville Bash, the Crystal Boots and Silver Spurs event and the Winner’s Circle Gala. Amy will be assisting the MS Society with media outreach, event coordination and fundraising.

You can learn more about the Kentucky-Southeast Indiana Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society here and share with your friends on Facebook.

I heard on the radio this morning about a recent marketing strategy in the high-stakes world of luxury fashion. It has been described by the New York Observer as “devious, delightful and deliciously dirty.” Snooki, star of the ridiculously popular reality show Jersey Shore, is always seen with a new designer purse on her arm.  People may have assumed that she was being gifted these purses by designers to promote their brand.  Turns out, she is getting these purses for free, but not in the way that you’d think. Designers are actually sending America’s favorite train-wreck competitors’ bags to ensure that their product will not be the ones displayed in good ole Snooki’s next mugshot or video of any upcoming drunken tumbles down the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore.

What are your thoughts on this seemingly effective strategy to cheapen a competing brand? While you can’t argue the brilliance, is it a PR tactic you would consider?

DISCLAIMER:  I have never watched an episode of Jersey Shore. Not that there is anything wrong if you have. Gotta go. Time for some G.T. L.

(Aisha blog)