Information First:
Communication in a Mobile-First World

As our audience becomes more mobile, web communication must become more focused. Communicators play a vital role in developing message strategies, content hierarchies and other important aspects of web design.

A team of three pros from Texas A&M University Information Technology will discuss the impact of a mobile-first approach to website design, especially how to maximize message impact on a small screen.

Please join us on October 25 to learn about optimizing your communications for a mobile world. Be sure to bring your business cards for networking. Lunch will be provided by Christopher’s World Grille.


Thursday, October 25, 2012
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Christopher’s World Grille
5001 Boonville Road
Bryan, TX 77802

Members: $24, Students: $24, Non-members: $34

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When Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Bastrop County to build a home in seven days, the work behind the scenes was definitely extreme. The public relations and branding involved were a significant element in the success of the build.

Building a home for a worthy family in Bastrop County after the recent wildfires was a passion for builder EFC Custom Homes, but it was also a once in a lifetime opportunity to utilize a significant PR event to build brand recognition for a relatively unknown small custom home builder.

Bonnie Caver of Caver Public Relations and Ivy Oliver of Oliver Marketing Group will share their experience of working with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and building a brand in the extreme.

About the Speakers:

Bonnie Caver, a 20-year communications veteran, leads Caver Public Relations, a virtual strategic communication, brand activation, and reputation management firm in Austin, Texas. Caver Public Relations fuses social communication with traditional communication to engage audiences, tell the story and guide the reputation of clients. In media relations, Caver specializes in large, high-attention media events. She is a Certified Crisis Manager from the Institute of Crisis Management and is certified in reputation management through the Reputation Institute, one of only 25 people in the world to hold an Advanced Reputation Management Certificate. She is the Chair-Elect of IABC Austin and serves as Chapter Services Director for the IABC Southern Region, representing Texas.

Ivy Oliver brings more than 16 years of experience in the marketing field to Oliver Marketing Group, an award-winning marketing agency. Oliver has provided brand strategy and multi-disciplinary marketing services to organizations ranging from startup to Fortune 500 companies. Oliver specializes in combining brand strategy, strategic marketing communications and creative services to help organizations find and connect with their target audience while effectively building and maintaining their brand momentum. Oliver’s work has been highlighted in a several publications including EXHIBITOR Magazine, Graphic Design USA magazine, Salesforce XP magazine, Impressions magazine, as well as two books, American Corporate Identity and The Big Book of Green Design, and multiple Golden Pyramid Awards.

“Extreme Brand Building” Christopher’s World Grille
Thursday, March 22, 2012 5001 Boonville Road
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bryan, TX 77802

Join us for a free, potluck-lunch professional development event on November 17.

Have you always wanted to submit an entry to the Brazos Bravo or Silver Quill awards, but have been unsure of what it takes to submit your work? Would you like to learn how to write a better award competition work plan that reflects the quality of your work sample? Come and learn what it takes to get your hard work recognized by other professionals in the communication field.

We will share some of the “fame and shame” of award entries. Find out what it takes to put together an award-winning work plan and see what NOT to do. Learn how to measure the value of your work as a communicator by addressing audience, impact, budget, and more. A panel of seasoned award winners and judges will be available to answer your questions and provide expertise.

Bring your favorite dish to share with the group as we hear about the “dos and don’ts” of award entries. There is no fee for this event, but you must register online to attend.

You may submit questions for the panel by sending an email to bv-hospitality@iabc.com by Monday, November 14, 2011.

Panel:

• David Jones, ABC, Senior Editor and Communications Director for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, has received numerous IABC awards, including two Gold Quills.
• Sondra White is Marketing Communications Manager for the Texas A&M Foundation. She is an accomplished communicator having won many IABC awards.
• Lesley Kriewald is Editorial Manager, Engineering Communications, Texas A&M University. Lesley is past IABC/Brazos Valley awards chair, Silver Quill chair, and is a seasoned award winner.
• Jennie L. Lamb (moderator) is a Graphic Designer for Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. She is the current IABC/Brazos Valley awards chair and has received numerous Brazos Bravos and a Silver Quill award.

About the IABC Award Competitions

IABC/Brazos Valley’s Brazos Bravo Awards recognize the achievements of individual members in a wide range of categories. A project can be submitted in multiple categories. Professional communicators from other IABC chapters across the country judge all entries. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a novice, Brazos Bravo is your best opportunity to have your work reviewed by objective and experienced peers.

Silver Quill is IABC Southern Region’s award competition. Submission categories include communication management, creative communications, and communications skills. IABC/Brazos Valley has worked hard to follow the same entry process as Silver Quill for our own Brazos Bravos—making it easier to enter both competitions!

The Gold Quill Awards winners represent the international best practices for communicators. Enter this global competition to receive the highest level of professional acknowledgment within business communication.

All awards are open to members and non-members of IABC. Join the best of strategists, managers, practitioners, corporate, government, non-profit communicators, agency executives, photographers, graphic designers, and creative conceptualists by showcasing your best work.

“Crafting Award-Winning Work Plans”
Thursday, November 17, 2011
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
The Bank & Trust
Villa Maria Banking Center
2900 S. Texas Avenue
Bryan, TX 77802

Free – Register below

Please join us for an evening of networking and general merriment!  We will meet for drinks and appetizers at Chuy’s in College Station on August 18.  The chapter will purchase appetizers for everyone to share.  There is no cost to attend, you will just need to pay for your own drinks.  Please register online so we will know to expect you.  Hope to see you there!!

UPDATE: We will have a door prize giveaway of two tickets to the Theatre’s Company’s performance of “CHESS”. The drawing will be at 6:00 pm. You must be present to win. So, be certain you join us on Thursday – and arrive before 6:00 pm. (Chess is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA.)

“Happy Hour at Chuy’s”

Thursday, August 18, 2011
5:00-7:00 p.m.

Chuy’s
Post Oak Mall Parking Lot
College Station, TX

Free

Over 90% of Americans have a cell phone and text messaging is the number one activity on those phones. With text messages having a 98%+ read rate, it’s a no brainer that you need to utilize this highly effective marketing tool.

Join us for our July professional development meeting as Mary Middlebrook, owner of PDQpons, discusses how to create an effective mobile marketing campaign using text coupons, contests, and promotions.

Mary, will discuss how you can use text to acquire new customers and keep them coming back. You will learn how to create an effective mobile marketing campaign using text coupons, contests, and promotions. You’ll also learn about the legalities of text messaging and how to insure that your business is fully compliant with all FCC and carrier laws.

Having been an entrepreneur for her entire adult life, Texas A&M alumni Mary Middlebrook has always embraced unique and out-of-the-box marketing techniques to successfully promote her businesses. During her almost 20 years in the marine aquarium trade, she created several marketing techniques that propelled her business to the forefront of the industry and created a niche market for her company. Those techniques are now utilized by the largest players in the trade. After selling her business, Mary decided to focus on her passion for marketing, and created a company that built websites, performed SEO services, and utilized social media by customizing MySpace pages and building highly targeted audiences for her clients. That was before Facebook, Twitter, and the job title of social media manager were created! In keeping with her staying one step ahead of the competition’s marketing strategies, Mary decided to delve into the brand new realm of text marketing in 2010 by opening PDQpons Mobile Marketing. She has been researching and strategizing for over a year to become an expert in this field, and is looking forward to passing on the knowledge she has gained about this innovative, effective, and highly targeted marketing tool.

“Mobile Marketing Via Text Message”

Thursday, July 21, 2011
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Christopher’s World Grille
5001 Boonville Road
Bryan, TX 77802

Member $24
Non-Member $34