CerconeBrown Announces 2020 Media House Program Calendar & Sponsorship Opportunities

,

Communications agency hosts top-tier editors and influencers in idyllic locations for immersive experiences with consumer brands

 For 18 years, the nation’s top media have gathered at CerconeBrown Company’s (CBC) House events to discover some of the best brands and products on the market. Today, CBC, the leader in experiential public relations, brand activations, and digital marketing, announced today this year’s schedule of its award-winning House Programs which will be hosted in picturesque settings such as Sonoma and Santa Barbara, CA, Nantucket, MA, and the Hamptons, NY. Each event promises participating brands unparalleled access to leading national press and social media influencers. These press immersions give top-tier editors, writers, and influencers the opportunity to discover some of the hottest brands and must-have products available through hands-on, interactive experiences. From wine tastings to cooking demos, hot air balloon rides to paddle boarding, attendees leave with great content ideas and strong brand relationships.

CBC crafts each House to highlight a different genre of consumer brands, from lifestyle, home décor, wellness, and fitness, to entertainment, technology, wine, and spirits. Participating brands are granted exclusivity in their category, allowing them to execute unique, customized experiences during the program.

The House Programs continue gaining momentum into its 18th year as a result of:

  • The lasting relationships participating brands have built with leading social media influencers and editors including Brit + Co, Chowhound, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Food & Wine, Food Network, Forbes, Health, Liz Adams, Marie Claire, Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Navy Grace, Outside, PopSugar, Pure Joy Home, com, Wired, Women’s Health, and many more.
  • CBC’s content production team, which captures unique, relevant visual content for brands. The content spans lifestyle video, Instagram-ready photography, how-tos, and more — all shot through an editorial lens – included in a brand’s sponsorship.

Sponsorships for the House Programs are now being filled. If you would like to reserve a spot or are interested in capturing content for your brand, fill out the form below and we will connect with you asap.



The New Age of Branding: It is all About the Experience

If you missed the latest Huffington Post article where Cercone Brown’s Winter House was mentioned.

Check out the full article. The New Age of Branding: It is all About the Experience

“What would happen if you could assemble a group of the country’s most influential journalists and invite them to stay at a home in an idyllic setting and live for three days with some of the best new products available? The CBC House programs do just this. Each house hosts five to ten journalists for three-day consecutive sessions over a total period of two — three weeks. The result? A total immersion in the brand and the culture and lifestyle that surrounds it.”

Winter House

CerconeBrownCompany Leads Force on Garnet Hill Shop in The Hamptons

Located on the picturesque Main Street of downtown Bridgehampton, New York, long-time catalog retailer Garnet Hill has officially opened its first brick and mortar store. The new space is a mixture of timeless Garnet Hill pieces and exclusive items from local New England artisans, ready to be shared with the Hamptonites and other vacationers in the flesh.

Design firm Aesthetic Movement transformed the space into a clean and inviting retail experience for customers. From the white peg-board walls to the simple wooden dowel hanging fixtures, the space is designed to truly showcase the product. The space takes on the aesthetics of a gallery, maintaining the attainable pricing Garnet Hill has offered for years. The store carries vintage books and glassware, bedding, apparel and home collections.

Despite primarily working with Garnet Hill’s public relations team, CerconeBrown assisted in everything from staffing the store to set up to event management. CBC traveled to Garnet Hill’s headquarters in Franconia, NH several times over the past three months, meeting with all departments of their company, ensuring a streamlined transition to brick and mortar.

Screen-Shot-2015-07-02-at-1.49.16-PM

Photo by Matt Kisiday

Perhaps the most fun of all was organizing the Bridgehampton store’s inaugural weekend with a press shopping event and cocktail party, opening up the space to an intimate group of editors from several top-tier magazines. CerconeBrown transported editors from New York City to The Hamptons for an overnight stay, enabling city-dwelling editors from outlets such as Family Circle, InStyle, Town & Country, Refinery29 and more to experience the product first hand, many for the first time. Several editors had just returned from CBC Summer House, where the brand activation experience allowed them to live with the product for the entire session, getting to know the signature bedding and amazing pool towels especially well.

Screen-Shot-2015-07-02-at-2.13.48-PM

Kristina Rodulfo of InStyle Magazine with Garnet Hill’s Signature Towel | Photo via @cerconebrown Instagram

Screen-Shot-2015-07-02-at-2.13.59-PM

Editors shopping at the opening cocktail reception | Photo by Matt Kisiday

CerconeBrown’s ability to connect with such a wide variety of print outlets will allow for exposure on more than one platform, something Garnet Hill hopes to achieve while the store is open. Editors were also given the opportunity to meet and mingle with Garnet Hill executives, including its President, Claire Spofford.

Screen-Shot-2015-07-02-at-2.14.09-PM

Garnet Hill President Claire Spofford, Home Shopping Network CEO Mindy Grossman, and other GH Executives | Photo by Matt Kisiday

When the store opened its doors on Saturday evening, a long-time Hamptons staple, Hamptons Cottages and Gardens Magazine held a major presence. Editors and friends of the magazine were able to mingle with Garnet Hill while enjoying the store’s charming backyard garden environment. The magazine has provided locals with a revered sense of fashion and style for decades and has become a trusted publication in any true Hamptons home. CBC was able to place two large, two-page spread advertisements in this month’s issue. Employees of the store already noted that several local residents have phoned the store, asking for the bed featured in the ad – now.

Screen-Shot-2015-07-02-at-2.14.19-PM

Photo by Matt Kisiday

Garnet Hill is incredibly excited and hopeful for the summer ahead. With several more press and community engagement events planned, Garnet Hill is making its debut into the retail world in a big way, and CBC is honored to help them do it.

Summer House 2015

Untitled5

Via @claire.m.harvey

This time of year there is no place better to unwind than the oasis of Nantucket. The crisp blue ocean against the green island emanates summer bliss, and CBC has found the perfect way to take advantage of this paradise. During three, 3-day sessions this June, nearly 30 lucky editors got the chance to indulge in the best of Nantucket at CBC Summer House.

k

Via @mkisiday

Summer House is a brand activation experience where top-tier writers and editors have a few days to relax at a charming, cedar-shingled house near Tom Nevers Beach. The schedule always includes fun activities where attendees get familiar with cutting edge products in a highly involved, hands-on yet organic setting.

m

Via @cerconebrown

The Summer House activities are tailored to the pristine summer environment. To kick off their mornings this year, House guests participated in the Champion R.I.P.P.E.D. Workout.

n

Via @cerconebrown

For lunch, Summer House guests munched on fish tacos made from fresh Sea Cuisine filets, which are available in your local grocer’s seafood case. Chef Marco prepared the meal directly from a whole Atlantic Salmon. (Could it get any fresher than that!?)

bb

Via @snacktoria

w

Via @cerconebrown

The trip to Nantucket included afternoon Spire Collection and Galerie wine tastings, and extravagant meal experiences provided by DiGiorno, Garnet Hill and Miraclesuit. During their downtime, Summer House residents were able to explore the island as they pleased with a fleet of Cadillacs provided by Onstar.

t

Via @cerconebrown

y

Via @snacktoria

Adventurous Summer Housers went out on the ocean for wakeboarding, waterskiing and tubing while sporting TomTom Bandit Action Cameras to capture first-person footage of the experience.

The CBC Summer House offers an opportunity for editors to forget the stresses of everyday life and focus on the true essence of each onsite brand in the serenity of a Nantucket summer setting. Editors get to experience a lifestyle where they can authentically interact with each brand. They become familiar with each product in a much more intimate way than they would just using it in their home or office. And ultimately, the attendees have the advantage of forging true relationships with the brand sponsors, their representatives, and their one of a kind products.

r

Via @claire.m.harvey

Summer House is a fantastic brand activation adventure. Everyone who attends brings home stories of the flavors they tasted, the products they tried, and the memories they shared. We’ll see you next year, Nantucket!

CerconeBrownCompany, The Fantastical, Win 2015 Adrian Award For Excellence In Print Advertising

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Boston advertising firms CerconeBrownCompany and The Fantastical were honored at the 58th Annual Adrian Award Gala from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) prestigious 2015 Adrian Awards for “More New York Than New York,” an integrated international brand campaign for Row NYC.

Other winners last night included Booking.com television campaign “Epic” (Wieden+Kennedy); Hilton Worldwide “Be A Weekender” (Publicis);  San Diego Zoo’s “Koalafornia” (M&C Saatchi);  and Brand USA“USA Culinary Guide” (Miles).  Given since 1957, the Adrian Awards is the hospitality, travel and tourism industry’s top advertising, digital marketing and communications honors, hosted annually by HSMAI and named for its creator, Adrian W. Phillips.  The competition has always been a showcase and benchmark of best practices in hotel and travel-related marketing and media.

The Row NYC’s “More New York Than New York” campaign served as the advertising launching pad for the rebrand of one of New York City’s most historic hotels, formerly The Milford Plaza, situated in the middle of Times Square, the Theater District and Restaurant Row.

From brand research, lead creative strategist Erika Brown from CBC identified a powerful connection of today’s Times Square with the New York’s mystique, particularly that of the city’s 1970s and 1980s as seen through the iconic photography of paparazzo photographer Ron Galella, especially for an international audience.

“We were especially inspired by Mr. Galella’s images that chronicled NY nightlife, featuring candid shots of Mick Jagger, Jacqueline Kennedy, Dustin Hoffman, Grace Jones and countless others over NY, including the hotel,” said Brown.  “That inspiration blossomed beyond the campaign to a unique partnership with Mr. Galella that celebrated his art, his voice and his connection to what has become modern celebrity culture.”

The campaign positioned the hotel squarely at the center of the pulsing excitement of New York City, which research showed was the singular driver of tourists that are the lifeblood of hotel.  “More New York Than New York” evoked a decidedly modern version of Mr. Galella’s image style, featuring an ensemble that included model Lizzy Jagger, daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall (frequent features in Galella’s NY nightlife image library from the 70s and 80s).

The caught-in-the-moment style and was shot by famed Brazilian fashion photographer Marcelo Krasilcic.  The voice of the campaign was confident, bold, fun, glamorous, smart, with support lines such as, “Living in the center of the universe has its perks.  Even if you only live here for the weekend” or, “When in Rome do as the Romans.  When in New York do as you please.”

“The hotel’s promise to guests is about putting a finger on the pulse of New York,” said Michael Ancevic, founder and creative director at The Fantastical.  “So the campaign was was really about capturing that energy and glamor and bringing it to life.”

The print campaign launched in April 2014 and ran in high-end domestic & international print media includingNew York Magazine, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ and Tatler; digital media such as nymag.com, USA Today, Pandora, global online networks; and out of home billboards in Times Square.  The campaign was also supported with PR, social media and promotions, executed by partner agencies.

Staying true to the inspiration, CBC partnered with Mr. Galella to publish an art book (“Ron Galella New York”) published by Damiani and distributed by ARTBOOK DAP.  The partnership with Mr. Galella also included in a curated permanent 300+ digital image, large format gallery in the hotel’s lobby.

About CerconeBrownCompany Founded in 2001, CerconeBrownCompany provides unified communications programs, including brand positioning, advertising, media relations, social media and online marketing, to brands that reach engaged consumers. Clients and experience include Rockport, TomTom, Boston Logan International Airport, Luminox, adidas, Orvis, BioScriptives, Dr.Hauschka Skincare, Sperry Top-Sider, K2, The Timberland Company and Quiksilver. For more information, visit www.cerconebrown.com or www.facebook.com/CerconeBrown.

About The Fantastical The Fantastical is a Boston based creative agency that creates highly branded and highly effective brand experiences by combining reality with something magical. They define and create great brands by developing an authentic voice across all media channels: digital, social and traditional branding. The agency is comprised of highly experienced creative tier-one agency brand builders and orchestrators founded by award-winning Creative Directors Michael Ancevic and Steve Mietelski. For more information please visitwww.thefantastical.com.

SOURCE: CerconeBrownCompany

Cercone Brown Company, The Fantastical Win Gold At 2014 David Ogilvy Awards For Excellence In Advertising

J.Jill "Uncomplicate" Print
J.Jill “Uncomplicate” campaign honored for breakthrough brand strategy and creative

NEW YORK CITY (March 26, 2014) — CerconeBrownCompany and its creative agency partner The Fantastical took top honors last night at the Advertising Research Foundation’s (ARF) prestigious 2014 David Ogilvy Awards for “Uncomplicate,” an integrated national brand campaign for the women’s clothing retailer J.Jill.

Other winners last night included The Coca-Cola Company “Let’s Go Crazy” (Ogilvy & Mather), HP “Printing that helps your Child Shine” (BBDO Singapore), Reddi-wip “Unleashing the Joy of Reddi-wip and Fruit” (DDB California), and Ford Fusion “It’s in the Game” (TDI).
Named after advertising legend David Ogilvy, The ARF David Ogilvy Awards for Excellence in Advertising Research annually celebrate his spirited advocacy of research in making good advertising better, recognizing the role of consumer research in creating successful advertising. The Awards honor extraordinary and/or creative uses of research in the advertising development processes of research firms, advertising agencies, and advertisers. The winning campaigns provide a keen understanding of how research can be used to create powerful, profitable campaigns.
The “Uncomplicate” brand platform was conceived entirely through research and deployed across national advertising, PR, online pre-roll spots, promotions and through all of J.Jill’s channels, including retail stores, packaging, catalog, customer service and at jjill.com. And the platform is successfully resonating with customers: J.Jill has experienced increases in brand engagement and revenues.

CerconeBrownCompany’s partner agencies that share the Ogilvy Award are The Fantastical (creative), Added Value (consumer research), Kathy Hart Planning (research) and PGR (media).

Boston PR Agency CerconeBrownCompany Introduces The Fall House

As an extension of the Boston PR agency‘s experiential marketing programs (The Summer House, The Winter House, The Green House and The Cooking Experience, to name a few), CBC is adding a new program to its line-up: The Fall House. Scheduled to be held Oct. 8-22, 2011 in Santa Barbara, Calif., The Fall House will feature new activities geared specifically toward engaging West Coast-based press with companies and their products.

The CBC team is beginning the initial stages of the program, securing the event location (a gorgeous home near Santa Barbara beach) and signing on brand sponsors.

The Fall House in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The Santa Barbara beach

The Santa Barbara beach

To become a sponsor for The Fall House, contact Noelle Guerin at nguerin@cerconebrown.com for details.

Gearing up for another CerconeBrownCompany Experiential Marketing Program: Park City Here We Come!

As we gear up for CerconeBrownCompany’s fifth annual Winter House program, feelings of excitement and anxiousness all mix into one as we prepare to head on out and set up in our temporary home of The Canyons Resort in Park City for the next few weeks.

Similar to years past, the weeks leading up to it can be maddening, often leaving you to wonder how everything will come together, with the only reassurance being that you know somehow it will all work out (it always does, right?).

Heading into its fifth year, the experiential marketing program is designed to gather top media from around the country to escape the daily chaos of their lives in New York City, Los Angeles, or wherever they may be, letting them step away from their computers, Blackberries and iPads and live amongst, experience and review brands and products without distractions in their natural and intended settings – hence the “Winter House” theme and experience.

Similar to CBC’s Summer House and Green House, the two-week Winter House program is broken down into four different three-day sessions where we play host to groups of four to six media members at a time. Daily schedules for this year’s program are packed – filled with activities ranging from testing out Lolë’s latest apparel out on the ski slopes to putting together a fashion show competition incorporating the newest trends and designs from fashion footwear company, NAYA.

Other activities include experiencing New Balance’s newest running technology in action during a session at the gym, snowshoeing Park City’s back country in EarthTec’s 2011 outdoor apparel line, trekking through the village for a winter hike to feel BOGS’ comfort, insulation and functionality first hand, and a wine-pairing dinner with some of Wente’s most memorable wines.  Pepperidge Farm, adidas eyewear, ICON, Tribe Hummus, and Veggie Patch are some of the other brands that will be featured at this year’s Winter House.

Our group of attending media this year is one of the strongest groups the program has ever seen.  In fact, the program became so popular among press members that we had to setup a “wait-list” for media members, as the program reached capacity just two days after invitations were sent out.  Our 2011 media attendees include: O, the Oprah Magazine, People, Real Simple, Outside Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Men’s Health, Prevention, The Food Network, American Spa, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Delta Sky, Snow, Marie Claire, Fitness, Esquire, SELF, The New York Times, ESPN, Women’s Health, SHAPE, Good Morning America, The Huffington Post, and more!

One of the things I personally love about our experiential marketing programs, and Winter House in particular, is seeing the media become fully immersed in a brand and getting to that “aha” moment.  For example, it’s one thing to sit on a media tour in NYC and show a member of the press a ski jacket, talking them through the technology and design, but it’s another thing to watch that same editor wearing that exact jacket during a run in fresh tracks down the mountain in Park City and seeing them truly understand why the seams were made that way and the pockets were constructed with that layout, and how breathable and functional the jacket is, because they are experiencing it first hand and in the conditions that it’s meant to be experienced in.  This type of experience is invaluable for a brand and key to making their product stick out amongst competitors to the media.

With less than two weeks until the program’s official kickoff, we’ll be working at our Boston PR agency to wrap up all of our available sponsorship categories, finalize logistics for each participating brands’ activity and role at the program, confirm editor travel schedules, and, of course, deal with any type of last minute fire drills that we may encounter before we head out West to set up shop and begin preparations in time for the first session’s arrival on January 16.

For those of you who’d like to tune in to see how this year’s program turns out, we’ll be tweeting and Facebooking live from the program with updates, photos and more, so be sure to follow @CerconeBrown on Twitter and “like” the CerconeBrownCompany Facebook page.  In the meantime, we’re looking forward to another successful Winter House program!

Please contact NGuerin@cerconebrown.com or MJackson@cerconebrown.com if you represent a company that is interested in getting involved in one of CBC’s experiential marketing programs.  Limited sponsorship space is still available for the 2011 Winter House.

Boston Ad Agency CerconeBrownCompany Launches Ad Campaign for Logan Airport

It’s that time of year again for holiday air travel, and Boston ad agency CerconeBrownCompany (CBC) knows that it can be both a joyful and harrowing experience. But regardless of the mileage logged or the destination itself, air travel is really all about connecting people: loved ones, friends, family.

In the spirit of celebrating that connection, this week, CBC is launching a series of ads on behalf of Logan Airport, which is owned and operated by Massport, the Massachusetts Port Authority. The campaign, called “Destinations,” will appear in print, out-of-home and online.

Some of the media outlets where you’ll see the airport ads, include:

  • Boston.com
  • Weather.com
  • CBS Radio and TV
  • Greater Media radio/online
  • Entercom Radio/online
  • Boston Magazine
  • Commuter Rail Posters and the Storrow Drive Billboard

In addition to the external “Destinations” campaign, the Boston ad agency also developed an internal ad campaign called “Straight Talk,” designed specifically for placement in Logan Airport terminals. The goal of these ads? To help travelers understand that construction in and around Logan Airport – which may seem inconvenient – is just one of the ways Massport is improving its services for all passengers and the surrounding community.

After all, a better airport means a better travel experience — one item that is on everyone’s holiday wish list. Happy travels!

CBC Heads Down to Miami as OnStar Serves as Key Sponsor for the Second Annual Miami Music Festival

CerconeBrownCompany is joining OnStar in Miami this weekend as OnStar serves as one of the Miami Music Festival’s primary sponsors.  Kicking off the festivities Thursday evening at local hot spot, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, CBC is helping OnStar host a Tweet Up (for more details, follow Twitter@TheReal_OnStar). Taking place from 5:00-7:00 p.m., attendees have a chance to win a FREE three-day pass to the festival and an opportunity to mingle with OnStar representatives, while learning more about the weekend’s events.

Following the Tweet Up, OnStar is hosting a VIP reception on Friday evening from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Hotel Victor to start off the festival with a bang.  Performances from various artists will continue at the Hotel Victor from 8:00 p.m. up until 1:00 a.m.  A guest list filled with the “Who’s Who” from the Miami area make this event the only place to be on Friday evening.  And if you’re in the area on Saturday or Sunday, make sure to stop by the Bayfront Park presented by OnStar where you can listen to a variety of music throughout the day and into the evening.

The 2010 second annual Miami Music Festival is featured as the centerpiece of “Live Music Month in Miami” and will feature acts from around the world. The festival is emerging as a premier event for discovering and enjoying new music in one of the greatest entertainment cities in the world.

OnStar powerOn Media Relations Events Show Ease of Car Care Safety

It was an enlightening, innovative ride as OnStar and Boston media relations agency CerconeBrownCompany concludes powerOn, a women’s empowerment media event series in Sag Harbor, NY.  OnStar is empowering busy women who juggle their careers, family lives, and personal aspirations by providing them with tricks and tips to alleviate stress, including understanding how OnStar can be an integral part of their daily lives.

One component of each session included a winter car-care demonstration by a General Motors car-care specialist.  Beth Grotz, general director from GM Customer Care and Aftersales, showed each group of women editors, writers and bloggers just how easy it can be to get your car winter-ready in a safe, convenient and easy way.

Beth explained and illustrated simple ways to check and make sure your car can handle the icy cold of winter:

  • Check tires for tread and air pressure
  • Make sure windshield wipers are in good condition
  • Check oil level
  • Check for sufficient windshield wiper fluid

Beth also conveyed the importance of having a car-care kit handy as a precautionary measure.  The kit includes a small shovel, salt to melt ice, warm gloves, extra windshield-wiper fluid, a jug of water and a warm blanket or jacket.

OnStar also offers a monthly email program provided to subscribers at no additional charge, ensuring its subscribers are up-to-date with their vehicle maintenance.  OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics reports the status of a vehicle’s tire pressure, oil life system, major operating systems and OnStar subscription information.

In a short period of time, Beth was able to demonstrate a few simple tips, tricks and checks that these busy women can do in the comfort of their own driveway.  OnStar’s pointers not only save time, but give women the encouragement, confidence and inspiration to feel safer on the road.

OnStar’s powerON Event Launches With Nation’s Top Media

CerconeBrownCompany kicked off OnStar’s powerON (#OnStarpowerON) women’s empowerment media event yesterday in Sag Harbor, NY at the historic American Hotel in the Hamptons. OnStar’s powerON has been empowering women by teaching them ways to simplify their daily lives and exhibiting how OnStar can help a busy woman.

National women’s bloggers participated in session one, which began with a volunteer activity at The Retreat, a domestic and family violence shelter, to give back to the local community.  During their time at The Retreat, the editors read stories to the children and provided a little “pep” talk to everyone’s Wednesday afternoon at the shelter. Following the volunteer activity, The Wolffer Estate hosted a wine tasting for the media where OnStar welcomed everyone to the program and reviewed some of the products that would be demo’ed during the program such as Turn-by-Turn navigation system.

Today our editors began day two of session one with a workout session hosted by fitness guru Andrea Metcalf.  After working up their appetites, the editors experienced a cooking session with Louisa Shafia where they learned how to prepare healthy fall recipes.  As we wrap up day two of session one, the editors are receiving makeovers from celebrity makeup artist, Randy Houston Mercer before they head out to a delicious dinner in Sag Harbor.

Stay tune to hear more on powerON as session two begins tomorrow with six more national womens bloggers and editors.  Signing off from Sag Harbor, New York at OnStar’s powerON.

Boston PR Agency and Partner Teach Smart Living via ‘Good Morning America Health’ and The Huffington Post

This past August, Boston PR Agency CerconeBrownCompany, in partnership with consumer research group Kickstand Communications, launched the Green House in Boulder, Colo.  Over the course of two weeks, 22 of the nation’s top editors were immersed into a Smart Living lifestyle, which melds together lifestyle practices that are good for you, your wallet and the environment.

Editors learned about Smart Living to pass these tips along to you. Check out our PR agency coverage about Smart Living on “Good Morning America Health.”

Also check out The Huffington Post, where Scott Gwordz of Kickstand Communications talks about Smart Living with Ashley Koff, R.D. (registered dietitian) and LA’s “Best Nutritionist” three years running.

Start Smart Living yourself! Visit SmartHouseSmartLiving.com for tips and do-it-yourself guides for your home, your planet and your life…all while saving you money.

Boston PR Agency CerconeBrownCompany Sponsors Cristo Rey Network Internship Program

Since our Boston PR agency opened its doors, CerconeBrownCompany (CBC) has nurtured aspiring public relations and advertising professionals through our internship program. Students from schools around the globe have cut their teeth here at CBC, gaining valuable, real-world experience in public relations, advertising, events, social media, marketing and journalism.

As a way to further our commitment to inspiring young adults in our community, we are proud to embark on a special partnership with the Cristo Rey Network, a group of 24 high schools across the country that provides values-based, college prep education to economically disadvantaged youth. Students in the program work to earn tuition and gain real world experience at the same time.

This school year (now through June 2011), we are sponsoring a student intern from the local Cristo Rey Network school, Cristo Rey High School Boston. We hope to inspire a young individual who is just beginning to explore career options in the communications field by providing a variety of projects spanning all sides of our business. We’ll work with the student on everything from research to writing to building media lists, and more.

With this new element to our internship program, we are giving back to our community by offering high school students real world job experiences. We hope you join us with a warm welcome to all of our new students this semester!

Media Relations Client Doctor Kracker Featured on ‘Rachael Ray’

We all love a great media relations agency success story — especially when it happens to great brands. Well, on Monday, just that very thing happened. Rachael Ray, the host of The Rachael Ray Show, which draws upwards of two million viewers per episode, featured a product from our media relations client Doctor Kracker as her official “Snack of the Day.”

If you haven’t tried Doctor Kracker yet, go get some! Each cracker and flatbread is chock-full of whole grains, seeds, good-for-you ingredients that you can pronounce, and fiber and omega-3s that keep you full and satisfied. For the past 10 years, Co-Founder George Eckrich, who started the original Whole Foods Bakery, and his team have been creating these European-style Flatbreads and snacker crackers in flavors like pumpkin cheddar, hummus maximus, seedlander, klassic 3-seed, seeded spelt, cherry semolina and apple crisp.

For this stellar piece of coverage, Rachel Ray chose to highlight Dr. Kracker Seedlander Snackers.

Kudos to the “kracker-jack” CBC media relations team, and happy snacking!