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Our Proven Approach to Media Relations |
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What Gibson Communications Brings its Clients |
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Awards & Achievements |
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Team Biographies |
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Glynis Gibson, President
An award-winning public relations professional, Glynis Gibson has been developing and executing public relations programs from inside corporations and as an external agent for more than two decades for numerous consumer and business-to-business companies and organizations. As president of Gibson Communications, the company she founded in 1991, Glynis provides full service consulting to her clients, including: communications strategy planning and program execution, general communications counsel, materials writing, message development, media and analyst relations, and spokesperson training and placement.
Glynis’ extensive media contacts and media relations skills have enabled her to secure broad press coverage for her clients; her targeted public relations programs have won numerous prestigious industry awards.
From sophisticated computer technology to high-end exercise equipment, Glynis’ experience spans a number of industries, and her diverse client portfolio includes leading companies such as CDW, DeVry University, Gateway, Life Fitness, Matrix Fitness Systems, Micro Solutions, Mondo, Toshiba, U.S. Robotics, VTEL and Zenith Data Systems.
Recent awards Glynis won include four “2009 Awards of Excellence,” a “2008 Platinum Award,” two “2008 Gold Awards,” a “2008 Honorable Mention” and a “2008 Award of Distinction” for articles in Ebony, Health, Prevention and SHAPE magazines, and for articles in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times newspapers.
Other awards include a coveted “2005 Crystal Award of Excellence” and a “2005 Silver Trumpet” for a publicity campaign that resulted in articles in The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Inc. magazine, The New York Times, PC Magazine, PC World, Popular Mechanics and United Airlines' magazine Hemispheres.
Glynis won a second “2005 Crystal Award of Excellence” for placing a client’s product on NBC’s “Today” show, and she received two “2005 Award of Distinction” honors for magazine placements obtained on behalf of clients.
In addition, Glynis won a “2004 Platinum Winner” award, a “2004 Silver Trumpet” and a “2004 Award of Distinction” for a publicity campaign that resulted in articles in Boston Herald, Chicago Tribune, Gannett News Service, New York Magazine, The New York Times, PC Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.
Prior to establishing Gibson Communications, Glynis was director of marketing communications at Airis Computer Corp. where the press coverage she generated helped to produce $1.8 million in product orders and won her a "PRfect Award" by High Technology PR News. In addition, Glynis worked at the Chicago PR firm Public Communications, Inc. (PCI), NEC Home Electronics and at The Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. She also served on the Public Relations and Marketing Advisory Committee for the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago and represented her client Life Fitness on the Chicago Mayor’s Fitness Council.
A member of the Public Relations Society of America, Glynis has a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.
Mindy Weinstein, Media Relations
Mindy Weinstein has more 12 years of public relations and communications experience. Most recently she was a vice president at Edelman Worldwide, where she provided thought leadership and developed strategic marketing/public relations initiatives about the health benefits of dairy for the National Dairy Council (NDC).
Prior to Edelman, she was the director of media relations for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), where she oversaw the strategy and execution of AAP’s national media relations program for breaking news and crisis communications. She also managed the writing, editing, production and distribution of the AAP monthly electronic media mailing that publicized the medical journal Pediatrics. Mindy was instrumental in securing extensive national media coverage of several AAP policy statements, which included placements on all of the major network morning shows, nightly news programs and top-tier news publications.
Earlier career experience includes managing media relations and public relations programs for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Texas Instruments, Motorola and a variety of small high-tech clients. Mindy earned her bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism.
Blair Ciecko, Writing/EditingBlair Ciecko brings to Gibson Communications more than 16 years of experience in public relations and integrated marketing. She has a broad background in creating and implementing strategic programs in a variety of industries, including high-tech (hardware, software, telecom, Internet and wireless, IT), industrial, healthcare, chemical and transportation.
Blair brings in depth understanding to consumer and business-to-business clients. She specializes in all aspects of writing, comprehensive program planning, creative strategic counsel and account logistics and budget planning. Throughout her communications career in working with both Fortune 500 companies and small, emerging leaders, Blair has supported client objectives through extensive writing, media relations including media and analyst tours, trade show initiatives, new product launches, internal communications, executive training and special events.
In addition, Blair was a weekly columnist and regular features writer for the Sun-Times News Group- owned The Doings Newspaper of Hinsdale, Ill. In her writing, she focused on human interest stories and feels strongly about the importance of community journalism and how it positively impacts readership voice.
Blair was a founding principal in StrongForce Group, a high-technology and business-to-business public relations firm in Chicago. Prior to forming StrongForce Group, Blair was a senior vice president in the global technology group at PR21, a Daniel J. Edelman Inc. company, and one of the first three Chicago employees of the firm.
While at PR21, she led many of the agency’s key accounts, including: CDW Computer Centers, Motorola, Oracle, the Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors, TRAIAN Internet Products and Inflow. Blair played a key role on the management team that created internal company programs, was active in new business initiatives and assisted in creating and refining the vision for the company during its first four years. She also served as one of agency’s primary media trainers and message development facilitators.
Prior to the spin-off of PR21, she was with Edelman Worldwide, overseeing PR for various divisions within Motorola, including the Land Mobile Products Sector, iDEN, the Multimedia Group and the Derivative Paging Group. Accomplishments include successful campaigns for Motorola’s CreataLink derivative pager, Pager Card for the PalmPilot, iDEN handsets and SmartCard products that individually resulted in tens of millions of media impressions.
Earlier in her career, Blair was an account manager at TFA/Leo Burnett Technology Group, a high-tech, business-to-business marketing communications firm in Chicago. She began her communications career at Egger & Associates in Park Ridge.
Blair earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double public relations/news-editorial emphasis.
Sean Brenner, Writing/Editing
Sean Brenner is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience writing for and about marketing communications. In addition to his work with Gibson Communications, he currently serves as managing editor of Event Marketer magazine and teaches news writing and editing at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Sean’s experience also includes working with Donnellon Public Relations, Euro RSCG Tatham Partners and Point B Communications. He has covered marketing for American Banker and SportsBusiness Journal, and has written about consumer health topics for various magazines. Sean began his career as editor of Team Marketing Report, where he covered sports marketing, advertising, sales and promotions. Following five years at TMR, he served as managing editor of IEG Sponsorship Report covering event marketing. Later, he was director of communications for IEG’s sister company, IEG SponsorDirect.
Sean’s comments about sports and event marketing have appeared in such publications as Advertising Age, Boston Globe, Business Week, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Marketing News, The New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, and he has appeared on ABC World News Tonight and CNN.
A native of Baltimore, Sean earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Steve Bosak, Media Relations
Steve Bosak brings 20 years experience in computer journalism, technical writing, marketing communications and public relations to Gibson Communications. Steve spent most of the 80s writing for such publications as BYTE, Popular Computing, PC World, Windows Magazine, Micro Systems Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times and many others, covering software, telecommunications and networking issues. A significant portion of his time was devoted to product reviews.
After leaving journalism, Steve spent two years with a UNIX benchmarking firm, then later joined Palindrome Corp. as a contract employee for public relations and marketing communications. He has worked with many large computer and storage management software companies, such as NSI Software, NEC Technologies, Novell, Palindrome, Platinum Technology, Seagate and Zenith Data Systems.
Steve holds a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Columbia University, Chicago.
Michelle Kalman, Writing/Editing
Michelle Kalman has served Gibson Communications as a writer, program developer and media coordinator since 1993. Specializing in high-technology writing, Michelle delivers practical creativity plus a proficiency for piquing interest and capitalizing on persuasive angles in publicity campaigns. She has been involved in a broad range of accounts, from vertical market software manufacturers to leading-edge video equipment companies and industry associations.
Previously, Michelle worked at two of Chicago's largest public relations agencies: Daniel J. Edelman and Golin-Harris Communications. She began her technology focus in 1986 as a manager for American Computer Services, a microcomputer consulting firm.
Michelle graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Wendy Levi Lienhart, Media Relations
Wendy Levi Lienhart is an award-winning communicator with 18 years in the public relations and broadcast journalism industries. She has an extensive background in video news releases, crisis communications and producing training programs for clients including Exxon International, Pepsi, United Airlines, Quaker Oats and McNeil Laboratories.
For five years Wendy was a key member of the Microsoft account team at Marcy Monyek and Associates and, later, Grant/Jacoby Inc., and from 1985-1993 Wendy was with Hill and Knowlton, then the country's largest public relations firm, where she was senior producer/media supervisor. While there, she won the Public Relations Society of America's bronze anvil in 1988 for best video news release of the year for Miles Inc., Diagnostics Division.
Before joining Hill and Knowlton, Wendy was evening news anchor and reporter for WQOW-TV, the ABC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and public relations from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
Amy Rechner, Writing/Editing
Amy Rechner has more than 15 years experience in consumer and retail public relations with an emphasis on special events planning and implementation. She began her career as public relations/marketing director for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, one of the largest annual destination festivals in the country, and A Victorian Christmas, a similar annual production featuring entertainment, artisans and special attractions.
Amy’s particular expertise is in the creation of special events that draw traffic and media attention to specific destinations. Drawing on a strategic blend of community outreach, entertainment and quirky elements that generate consumer and media interest, Amy has successfully brought attention to events as diverse as a bookstore event with an ex-teen idol, a lease agreement between a shopping mall and a big-box retailer and the unveiling of a holy relic gifted to a Chicago university. Her clients have included Bandana Square shopping center (St. Paul, Minn.), Borders Book Shops (Minneapolis), Gurnee Mills Mall (Gurnee, Ill.) and Loyola University Chicago. She also is a consultant and speaker on children’s literature and book promotion.
Originally from Milwaukee, Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the University of Minnesota.