Spring is Here! Changes Abound at PR/PR

As spring arrives, we have plenty of reasons to celebrate in addition to the advent of sunny, warm weather! One of our distinguished colleagues, Kristen, must say “good bye” for now to make the big move to Pittsburgh with her fiance. We’re sad for our loss, but happy for her gain (and Pittsburgh’s)! We wish her all the best with her wedding and her career – and many happy moments in her new life…

Also, there are lots of positive changes here at PR/PR! We now offer book review packages to both fiction and non-fiction authors, which is so exciting! We love being able to open the door for authors to get the publicity their books deserve. Through our research and experience with the media, we’re able to help authors create a platform on which their book can reach the masses. Books rock!

We’re also offering social media marketing packages, alongside our articles and interview services. It’s an exciting new world online and we’ve teamed up with an experienced social media expert to help our clients reach out to new markets via sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.   It’s also a cost-effective way for clients on a budget to reach the masses and gain an international following – not to mention, drive business to their Web sites! Be sure to tune in for more breaking news…

Catching Up on Good Times

What an exciting 2009! Already we've nealy reached the month of February and we have a lot of exciting news to report.

First of all, even though we've all been dealing with tougher economic times, Pam and Rick managed to host a wonderful holiday party for the office at Taverna Opa, a fun Greek restaurant with belly dancers. It was great to celebrate the season with our co-workers and significant others, especially when we still have so much to be grateful for. 

In addition, we have much to smile about when it comes to Pam's new book, "I See Your Name Everywhere." She's been everywhere! Her media savvy has helped her land many wonderful media opportunities, including a recent interview with "Look Up Orlando" Magazine, courtesy of Mark Goldstein, an old contact from her radio sales days. Mark is now the publisher of the magazine, and still remembers the days when Pam trained staffers at radio and TV stations across the country to sell more!

Lastly, and probably most importantly, we'd like to officially welcome our newest staff member, Amanda Tucker, who has been a wonderful addition to PR/PR. She comes to us from the University of South Florida, with a degree in public relations, and is making waves as Pam's new PR assistant. She's doing a great job, and manages to keep us ALL organized! She even has the guts to join in the fun of PR/PR's wacky holidays, such as "Pajama Day" which took place last week…

Party Like It’s 2008!

As the holidays approach, there’s a lot of excitement here in the PR/PR office. While the weather cools down in other areas of the country, we are still experiencing wonderfully warm days, even if Halloween is practically around the corner. We are not just getting ready to dress up for the annual PR/PR Halloween costume contest (creative people – go figure), but we are also making plans to celebrate our colleague, Kristen’s twenty-something birthday!

And we have another reason to party. Our company president, Pam Lontos, was recently awarded Southern California’s Publicist of the Year in the 2008 Irwin Awards, (which stands for Industry Recognition of Writers In the News). What an honor!

Also, I think the whole office is excited about the launch of Pam’s new book, "I See Your Name Everywhere — Leverage the Power of the Media to Grow Your Fame, Wealth and Success." The book has already garnered media buzz including a blog mention and a feature in “Investor’s Business Daily.”

It’s getting hard to concentrate with all the excitement around here!

Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge

Remember in March, as the last bit of winter faded away and everyone made it a top priority to drop those unwanted pounds before swimsuit season? Now, with summer nearly over, the weight we worked so diligently to shed has not only returned, it’s increased! Staying up later, sleeping in longer and enjoying those countless backyard barbecues makes it hard to stick to a strict diet. Is it still possible to fit into that two-sizes-too-small swimsuit we bought back in March and take advantage of what’s left of summer?

According to Dr. Leslie Van Romer, who wrote the book “Getting Into Your Pants – Add 10+10 for Life,”  addition, not subtraction, is the key to weight loss. We don’t necessarily need to subtract ice cream, but we should first add fruits and vegetables to our meal. Dr. Leslie tells us that once you’ve eaten your fill of fruits and vegetables, it’s always important to leave yourself the freedom of choice to eat whatever food you want – if you’re still hungry.

Another key from Dr. Leslie is to STOP eating when we are full. Most of us, especially during those hot summer days, eat until our stomachs are overfull. By that time we have eaten too much food and taken in too many calories. Dr. Leslie explains that if you pay attention to your body’s natural signals, your brain tells you that you are satisfied and full before your stomach screams at you and begs for mercy.

Swimsuit season may be drawing to a close, but being fit and feeling good  should still be a top priority. By following Dr. Leslie’s simple strategies, we can all whip our bodies into shape, hit the beach and enjoy the rest of summer!

Pam Wins Lifetime Achievement Award!

PR/PR is proud to announce that the 2008 George Morrisey Lifetime Achievement Award was given to our very own Pam Lontos! This prestigious award was awarded to Pam at last month’s National Speakers Association Convention in Tampa (for the Central Florida Chapter). Each year, the NSA chapter president grants the George Morrisey award to a member whose achievements in the speaking industry are outstanding.

As some of you may know, Pam has been very involved with NSA over the past decade. She is currently in charge of the Writers and Publishers’ PEG and also sponsors many of the NSA events, such as last year’s award banquet and this year’s Gala at the NSA national convention in New York City.

“I’m so honored to have been recognized by my peers. NSA is a wonderful organization with fantastic people,” said Pam.

And we’re honored to have Pam leading our PR/PR team!

Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Ah summertime. The stifling heat and humidity here in Florida bring back fond memories of past summer jobs as a teen. One stint was at a greeting card shop, where I blissfully organized birthday cards and gift wrap in an air-conditioned office. The following year, I did the complete opposite and worked as an overheated costumed character at one of the theme parks. Obviously fake fur and 100 degree weather just don’t mix, so that job didn’t last long.

Things have changed since then. These days, teens are either not searching for a job or have no available jobs to look forward to. According to a recent USA TODAY story, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the percentage of teens working this summer is expected to continue a 40-year downturn. 

Ken Whiting, an authority on entry-level workforce issues explains, "This is a perfect example of how teens have changed, but employers have not. Getting a summer job used to be something you didn’t even think about … and then realized the value in hindsight." He goes on to explain that in some areas, there just aren’t many opportunities for teens, whereas in other areas, teens have different expectations about how they will spend their summers.  

This year, the PR/PR office is feeling the heat – at least in relation to finding a student intern. Usually we have no problem finding someone (or multiple someones) who wants the summer job experience, but this year seems to be different. Maybe teens are too “cool” to work the 9 to 5. Or maybe the lure of the theme parks and free park admission is too much to compete with?

Either way, we will press on. According to Ken, who is also the author of "WAVES for Teenage Workforce Success," teens are looking everywhere but the classified ads to find their summer jobs. So, we’ve taken his advice and posted our openings on the Internet. Does anyone want to work in a nice, cool, air-conditioned office this summer?

When Disaster Strikes … Be Prepared!

Between hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, terrorist attacks and other disasters, it seems as though we’re all at risk in one way or another. I was fortunate enough to live through several hurricanes a couple of years ago, and even though we live inland, we experienced some of the worst. So what can you do to protect yourself?

Doug Charney, a financial expert, says that although we may not be able to predict some of these disasters or avoid them completely, we can control how we protect our financial records and other important documents. So, as the summer heats up, now is the perfect time to assess your preparedness in case of an emergency. Doug says to ask yourself a few questions:

- Do you have a safe in your home? Everyone needs one that can withstand temperatures of up to 1700 degrees. Keep the safe bolted to the floor or heavy enough that a burglar wouldn’t be able to walk away with it.
- Do you have a safety deposit box? If you don’t, open one in a town outside of your own. That way, if a natural disaster or emergency does strike, your safety deposit box will have a lower chance of being struck by the same disaster.
- Do you have a financial disaster kit? Create one by making two copies of your important documents, such as the account numbers on your bank accounts and credit cards, your insurance information and retirement accounts. Place one copy in your home safe and one in your safety deposit box.
- Do you have an emergency cash fund? You should have at least three months of your income saved for emergencies. Don’t panic if you don’t have this right now; start saving small amounts and work your way up.
- Do you have cash or traveler’s checks readily available? At the very least, you should have $100 per person in your wallet or home, in cash or traveler’s checks. That way you have immediate funds should the banks shut down or close temporarily.
- Do you have a backup file of your computer’s information?  There are a number of different options, such as a data stick, tape drive or CD. Keep the back up with you or in a safe place, like your safety deposit box.
- Do you have an updated inventory of your possessions and valuables? These should be in a photo or video format for insurance purposes. Save copies of your receipts of large purchases such as furniture, appliances, TVs, or other big ticket items. 

While we don’t have control over the weather, we can be one step ahead when disaster strikes by preparing for the worst. Here’s to sunny days for all of us in the future…

Sweet! It’s (Almost) Valentine’s Day!

I can hardly believe Valentine’s Day is nearly here (procrastinators, you still have one day to shop)! While sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who enjoys this holiday – what can I say, I have a sweet tooth AND a sweetheart – I know I’m not alone. Hallmark Research indicates that 180 million cards are exchanged annually on this holiday. This year V-day falls on a Thursday, which means many offices will be “feeling the love” during working hours, through card and gift exchanges.

But before you go out there and buy the last box of chocolates for your boss or assistant, consider the message you could be sending. According to our business etiquette expert, Colleen A. Rickenbacher, you should celebrate Valentine’s Day like any other holiday in the office – with care and sensitivity. Be careful of any unintentional messages you send, whether with flowers, cards, gifts or clothing. She also says that while the holiday may be sweet for lovebirds and couples, singles may have more sour feelings about it. Here are some of Colleen’s tips for those who want to celebrate appropriately:

- Make it a fun celebration at work but not over the top. Contact your HR department first for office rules and decorate tastefully. A heart-shaped dish filled with candy is always in good taste (no pun intended). Or arrange to have a group luncheon or potluck so everyone can celebrate together.

- Give cards to everyone in the office Valentine’s Day. If you buy the inexpensive kind schoolchildren exchange, your co-workers will enjoy it and won’t feel bad if they didn’t bring you one. But stay away from any “hidden” messages.

- If you decide to exchange cards or gifts only with some people at work, be discrete. You can turn an innocent gesture into a morale problem. Exchange your cards or gifts away from the office.
- A card for your boss is welcome, but avoid any expensive gifts. Ask colleagues to chip in on a group present, such as candy or a potted plant.

- Be sensitive to your co-workers. You might be sharing the cubicle with a person who has never received anything on Valentine’s Day, while you receive a dozen roses and balloons. Many people dread this day, so don’t make it your priority call your friends and family about all the presents you’ve received.

May you have an enjoyable and relaxing Valentine’s Day!

Goodbye 2007 … hello New Year!

The holidays are finally over! And it’s even harder to believe that 2008 is here … but I guess now is the time to face the facts. Before we at PR/PR move forward, we’re going to take a moment to relive some past events, particuarly the joyous holiday season and parties we enjoyed! Here are a few pictures…

So technically this wasn’t part of our "holiday" celebrations, but it did occur this past year. Here are some of our office staff, dressed to the nines, for Halloween at PR/PR! It’s one of our favorite holidays, and it also happens to be Kristen’s birthday (see Britney, at far right).

Ok, here we are during one of our office holiday celebrations/Chris’ last holiday at PR/PR. See, we can be somewhat "normal"…

Here’s another picture of part of our staff, as we prepare to send Chris off to his next destination… in Seattle!

Good luck, guy!

And here’s another great memory of us celebrating the holidays… with a little office gift exchange!

Lastly, here is our photo from this year’s holiday dinner at one of Orlando’s best Greek restaurants, Taverna Opa!

Everyone here at PR/PR hopes you have a healthy and prosperous 2008!

Happy New Year!

Happy Halloween from PR/PR

So, guess what a week from today is? That’s right, it’s Halloween! And before long, it’ll be Thanksgiving, and after that, Christmas. Where did the year go?

I’m sure you’ve realized from dealing with our creative and witty crew, that we celebrate Halloween here in the office. Not just with candy and games, but with an official PR/PR costume contest and party. In fact, this year we even have a theme: famous people, movie characters or creatures from Hollywood (watch out, Paris Hilton!)

But that’s not to say that every office can (or should) celebrate Halloween the way we do. If you do it "wrong" there’s potential for a lawsuit, and what could be scarier than that? 

The proper way to celebrate Halloween at the office depends on a lot of factors, according to business etiquette expert, Colleen A. Rickenbacher. As author of the book, "Be on Your Best Business Behavior," Colleen is providing us with a list of things to consider before you and your co-workers decide to party:

1. Ask first. Before you even think about buying that Snow White Costume or the Freddy Krueger mask, ask your human resources department or a supervisor about the company’s policies for dressing up and decorating your cubicle. You may be surprised at what you learn.

2. Show your spirit but don’t go overboard. Are you the only one excited about dressing up? It might not be that much fun, if you are. If you want to show your enthusiasm for the holiday, consider bringing in a bowl of Halloween candies (wrapped, of course, as not to spread any germs). 

3. If your company OKs the costumes and decorations, get together with your co-workers to figure out what will be appropriate for the office. Will that Britney Spears outfit really work? Better think about that one before it turns into an "Oops" moment.

4. What characterizes your workplace? Do you work in a conservative office? Will you be dealing with clients on Halloween? A creative office, like an advertising or marketing firm, may be encouraged to dress up, whereas a more conservative company in law or accounting may not. Again, find out what the company policy is before you buy… or decorate.

And have a safe Halloween!