Buzz

Su Strawderman Promoted to Senior V P

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:30:11 GMT

Recognizing the critical importance of its creative product, Mintz & Hoke Communications Group promoted Creative Director Su Strawderman to Senior Vice President.

Su Strawderman has been the agency's Creative Director for eight years. In making the announcement, Chris Knopf noted, "Su's creative talent, management skills and business intuition have contributed significantly to the success for our clients' communications programs."

Su is responsible for all aspects of the agency's creative capability, including print, broadcast, collateral and design, as well as management responsibility for copywriters, art directors, studio, traffic, print and broadcast production.

With 26 years in the marketing communications business, Su Strawderman's work is well known throughout New England and nationally, in particular through her achievements in aerospace and financial services. Her creative recognition includes top awards from the most prestigious industry organizations, including the Clio Awards, New York Art Directors Club, London International, Hatch, Best in Baltimore, Connecticut Art Directors Club Best in Show, and Hartford Ad Club Gold Brush award.

Strawderman joined Mintz & Hoke as art director in 1995. Previously, she was senior art director at Connecticut Mutual, senior art director at Cronin & Company, art director at Keiler & Company, and art director at WB Doner in Baltimore.

Su earned a bachelor's degree in advertising design from Syracuse University.

About Mintz & Hoke Communications Group
Mintz & Hoke Communications Group is an integrated, full-service communications firm offering a wide range of strategic planning, advertising, public relations, interactive, media planning and buying, and direct marketing services. Located in Avon, Connecticut for 39 years, Mintz & Hoke's mission is to Help Clients Win. Clients include Aetna, the state of Connecticut, Wiremold and DRS Technologies. Mintz & Hoke is an owner of Denver-based Worldwide Partners Inc., the world's largest alliance of independent agencies serving clients around the globe.
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Contact: Heather Gillette
860-679-9876

Dean Simmons Promoted to Director of Account Service

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:29:56 GMT

Mintz & Hoke Communications Group promoted Dean Simmons to the position of Director of Account Service, adding this to his title of Vice President. Simmons moves up from Management Supervisor.

Over the last year, Dean Simmons has been taking a steadily greater role in the management of the agency's account service area. Mintz & Hoke President Bill Field commented, "Dean's vast experience, leadership and total dedication to helping clients win set him apart. He's proven to be an excellent hands-on mentor for the account service team." Simmons' direct accounts include CIGNA Healthcare, Mohegan Sun, Electric Boat and UCONN Health Center.

Simmons started at Mintz & Hoke in 1999 as an account supervisor leading the Ingersoll-Rand automotive tool account. Before that he was the client services manager at BrainBug, an interactive web design firm in Hartford.

Dean Simmons is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing.

About Mintz & Hoke Communications Group
Mintz & Hoke Communications Group is an integrated, full-service communications firm offering a wide range of strategic planning, advertising, public relations, interactive, media planning and buying, and direct marketing services. Located in Avon, Connecticut for 39 years, Mintz & Hoke's mission is to Help Clients Win. Clients include Aetna, the state of Connecticut, Wiremold and DRS Technologies. Mintz & Hoke is an owner of Denver-based Worldwide Partners Inc., the world's largest alliance of independent agencies serving clients around the globe. For more information, visit www.mintz-hoke.com.
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Contact: Heather Gillette
860-679-9876

CT Book Award Finalist

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:38:53 GMT

Maybe it's something in the water, but Connecticut seems to spawn more than its share of writers. One of them, Mintz & Hoke's CEO Chris Knopf, is a finalist for the ninth annual Connecticut Book Awards for his novel, Hard Stop. He is one of three finalists for this award, and it's the third time he's reached the finals (maybe three's the charm).

Presented by the Connecticut Center for the Book at Hartford Public Library, the awards honor literary work with specific ties to the state: the author, illustrator or designer must be native-born or have been a legal resident for at least three years.

Hard Stop is the fourth in Chris's Hamptons mystery series which follows Sam Aquillo, who manages to be a magnet for trouble, yet moves easily up and down the complex social strata of the Hamptons.

The Connecticut Book Awards will be held Sunday, Sept. 19 from 2:00 to 3:30 and are free and open to the public. The 23 finalists will sign their books at a reception afterward. Tickets are available online at CT Book Awards.

In Traffic for 35 Years

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:54:29 GMT

Been at your job long? Statistically, probably less than 5 years. Even in a down economy, businesses struggle to keep top performers. On the other hand, Mintz & Hoke's VP and Director of Creative Services Pam Nichols just celebrated 35 years on the job. Pam keeps every project in the shop on track, but when she started, there were no computers, so she honed her amazing memory early on. We're all still awed by her supreme organizational skills and ability to know every project, meet every due date and keep creative production humming.

Agency Author Hits the Trail

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:28:09 GMT

"Constantly amazed at the variety of genres and diverse styles of writing among the authors who live in or are associated with the Nutmeg State," the Connecticut Authors Trail introduces readers to some of the state's diverse authors. Appearing at a Trail stop in Columbia, CT, author and Mintz & Hoke CEO Chris Knopf read from his latest novels.

His advice to hesitant writers in the making? "Just jump in and do it," he advised. "But remember objective readers and editors are worth their weight in gold."

The Connecticut Authors Trail continues through the summer, culminating in an event at the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun, September 23, 2010.

Read Knopf Notes blog.

Bill's Blog Gets Noticed

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:22:52 GMT

Mintz & Hoke President Bill Field has been blogging for years, but in its new form, Bill's Blog had taken on new life, with ideas and commentary on everything from branding strategies to favorite campaigns.

Bill's Blog has just been listed in Michael Gass's Fuel Lines Blog on building agency new business through social media.

Gass is taking votes on the best of the agency blogs to name the Blog of the Month.

Political Ads: The Best and Worst

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:39:46 GMT

Listen to Radio Segment

What makes campaign ads work? Is it just about the money? Chris Knopf joined the conversation on "The Colin McEnroe Show" on WNPR-FM, July 27.

The show's host Colin McEnroe reviews this year's crop of primary campaign ads with guests and listeners. Knopf, Mintz & Hoke chairman and executive creative director, observed that there's sameness to most of them. "I needed to take notes to keep track. The candidates with money could afford more memorable ads, yet social media has helped level the playing field. And while most negative ads will test negative, they often work in real life. In front of focus groups, it's hard for people to admit they don't like babies or people who have mothers. But at the polls these ads do have an effect. Often they have more substance and a memorable point of view - until they turn people off."

Leading Toward a Sustainable Future

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:38:33 GMT

Opinion leaders and investors alike are increasingly measuring company value as more than the latest quarterly statement. Top companies are proving themselves against the economic, environmental and social benchmarks of sustainability. With the public eye on the cost of greenhouse gas emissions for the planet and on long-term customer and employee well being, the corporate world is re-evaluating every aspect of business in relation to companies with best-in-class sustainability rankings.

As a result, companies that have embraced standards for sustainable development have emerged as the corporate super stars.

Mintz & Hoke client Praxair is one of these notable companies. Consistently, the global maker of industrial gases has earned top rankings among sustainability and climate change indexes, such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the Carbon Disclosure Project Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, three Vigeo-Ethibel Sustainability Indexes, and numerous investment-related indexes.

Now, adding a 7th year on the Dow Jones index, Praxair has also published two white papers demonstrating how Praxair environmental technologies are helping to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the energy industry. The company has released these papers and established a new section on its website devoted to sustainable development and related issues.

"Not only do high sustainable development standards benefit the environment and society at large; they're also to the advantage of shareholders, customers and employees alike," notes Mintz & Hoke Chairman Chris Knopf. "Beyond that, it's important for corporate leaders to communicate how they're achieving their own sustainability goals. It's only fair to get credit for being both good corporate citizens and smart business people. We hope this work for Praxair's initiative will be an inspiration to companies everywhere."

Visit Praxair Green Technologies

Where We Live: Advertising Through A Crisis

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:50:11 GMT

Listen to Radio Segment

Corporate crises can damage even the most solid reputations. The BP oil spill, Toyota quality questions and the Tiger Woods meltdown show just how difficult it can be for companies to communicate effectively in a crisis.

Mintz & Hoke's chairman and executive creative director Chris Knopf was on WNPR's "Where We Live" and discussed what makes good crisis communication. He and host John Dankosky also talked about how companies can avoid making matters worse by keeping it real and the limits of advertising in a broader crisis management program when every citizen is a reporter.

Best in Show Plus Gold Mercury Awards

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:56:33 GMT

AVON, Conn. (June 10, 2010) - Mintz & Hoke Communications Group earned top honors as well as three gold awards at the Public Relations Society of America's (PRSA) 2010 Mercury Awards. The agency took home a Best in Show and a Gold award in the campaign category for the Connecticut Department of Public Health's H1N1 "Up Your Flu IQ" campaign, a not-for-profit community relations program. Judges cited a "good use of budget and strategy" as well as "diverse tactics to spread message."

A public affairs campaign for the Connecticut Department of Social Services' Connect-Ability initiative received a Gold award in the strategic campaign category. The "Spotlights" publications for the same client earned a Gold award in the newsletter category. Judges called it a "well executed campaign and clearly defined plan that reflected findings and identification of challenges and opportunities."

The annual PRSA Mercury Awards recognize outstanding work in the public relations, communications and marketing professions. The regional awards competition is sponsored by the Connecticut Valley, Southern Connecticut and Westchester/Fairfield Public Relations Society of America chapters and encompasses all of Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and Westchester County and the Lower Hudson Valley region in New York.

About Mintz & Hoke Communications Group
Mintz & Hoke Communications Group is an integrated, full-service communications firm offering a wide range of strategic planning, advertising, public relations, interactive, media planning and buying, and direct marketing services. Located in Avon, Connecticut for 39 years, Mintz & Hoke's mission is to Help Clients Win. Clients include Aetna, the state of Connecticut, Wiremold and DRS Technologies. Mintz & Hoke is an owner of Denver-based Worldwide Partners Inc., the world's largest alliance of independent agencies serving clients around the globe. For more information, visit www.mintz-hoke.com.
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Contact: Heather Gillette
860-679-9876