Loved Reading: 'What to Do in Denver' In This New York Times Feature (posting includes video)

Quoting from the January 21 posting by Freda Moon:

"The signs of Denver’s economic high times as a pot boomtown and bastion of progressive urban policies are everywhere. There is the B-cycle bike-share program, among the most affordable and best-run systems in the country, and the newly renovated Union Station, which has taken a still-in-use 1881 train station and made it the focal point of the thriving LoDo neighborhood. And there are the inconspicuous marijuana dispensaries that dot nearly every neighborhood, and more stunning public spaces — from Washington Park to the Cherry Creek bike path — than one city has a right to."

Link to nytimes.com to read the full article and view the video

Great Read: 'The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users'

Last week a Guy Kawasaki e-mail arrived offering a free Kindle copy of his (and Peg Fitzpatrick's) new book, "The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users." I'd received review copies of his books in the past. He said this was a thank you for my help in the past.

I partook and thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated it. When PR people aren't PRing these days, quite often they're pondering and carrying out social media tactics. This book feeds that beast.

Link to read my Amazon review: "This is the glove box manual for social media. The perfect guide to help we socializes work smarter. Thank you, Guy and Peg, for your insight. I expect I'll be returning frequently for ideas and suggestions, like I turn to my favorite cook books. Appreciate the review copy very much. @MaggieHolben "

Link for more information at the Absolutely PR website

Denver PR Blog: 'Primavera Group Lands CBSA Account' -- Congratulations Primavera Group Principal Sarah Eder and Senior Communications Strategist Sheliah Reynolds!

Quoting from today's posting:

"The Primavera Group has taken over media relations and strategic public relations contract for the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) from Absolutely PR’s Owner/Principal Maggie Holben, who is retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant after more than ten years of service to the organization."

Link to the posting

Link to the related CBSA news release

Quoting from that release:

“I’ve worked with Sarah over the years and I’m simply thrilled to be able to pass CBSA’s PR baton to her and her team. I’m confident Sarah’s business and PR acumen is exactly what CBSA needs to take our organization to the next level in its awareness growth curve. While I’m retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant, I’m only semi-retiring from the PR business. I’ll continue to keep my Absolutely PR consulting firm open in the future, but will be taking on projects of a lesser scope than the CBSA contract to allow for more travel and time with my family,” Holben explains.

Denver's Absolutely PR Takes a Look Back at 2014

Absolutely Public Relations celebrated its 15th year in business in 2014 and achieved key media placement results for clients in both the traditional and social media spaces. This yearend review is shared by Absolutely PR Principal/Founder Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, who says, "Absolutely PR assisted Colorado BioScience Association, Galichia Hospital Group/Kentuckiana Medical Center, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Boettcher Foundation, Colorado BioScience Institute, Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development and Cat Care Society in 2014.” Holben has been providing pro bono PR and marketing communications counsel, plus board service, to Cat Care Society since 2011.

2014 Campaign Coverage and Placement Overview:

JANUARY – Business Xpansion Journal: 'Bioscience’s Bright Spots' - Colorado BioScience Association - http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/01/business-xpansion-journal-biosciences.html and http://bxjmag.com/biosciences-bright-spots 

FEBRUARY – Xconomy: 'Colorado Legislators Aim to Reward Angel Investors with Tax Credit' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/02/xconomy-colorado-legislators-aim-to.html and http://www.xconomy.com/boulder-denver/2014/02/04/colorado-legislators-aim-to-reward-angel-investors-with-tax-credit  

MARCH – Wichita Business Journal: 'Galichia-managed Indiana medical center earns patient safety award'/Kentuckiana Medical Center ranked #1 Hospital in Louisville Area for Patient Safety by Consumer Reports – Galichia Hospital Group - http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2014/03/galichia-managed-indiana-medical-center-earns.html andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/03/kentuckiana-medical-center-ranked-1_31.html

APRIL – Healthcare Financial News: 'When finances fall apart: Bankruptcy may lead to salvation' – Galichia Hospital Group/Kentuckiana Medical Center -http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/when-finances-fall-apart and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/04/hfn-when-finances-fall-apart-bankruptcy.html 

MAY – Denver Business Journal: 'Developer Shaw to advise Fitzsimons authority on real estate' – Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority -http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2014/05/28/developer-shaw-to-advise-fitzsimons-authority-on.html and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/05/well-known-denver-real-estate-developer.html 

JUNE – Denver Business Journal Op-Ed: 'Welcome to the United States Patent and Trademark Office' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2014/06/20/letter-to-the-editor-welcome-to-the-united-states.html and http://coloradobio.blogspot.com/2014/06/dbj-op-ed-welcome-to-united-states.html + Boettcher Foundation Announces 2014 Boettcher Investigators; Celebrating Fifth Class of Colorado's Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program – Boettcher Foundation and Colorado BioScience Association - http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140603005054/en/Colorado-BioScience-Association-Praises-Boettcher-Foundation-Embarks#.VKMVHSvF98H 

JULY – Denver Business Journal: 'Amgen [Foundation] supports STEM effort' – Colorado BioScience Institute - http://coloradobio.blogspot.com/2014/08/dbj-amgen-foundation-supports-stem.html and http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2014/08/08/auction-golf-event-help-raise-funds-for-kids-in.html?page=all  

AUGUST - Denver Post: "Tails of the Painted Cats comes together purr-fectly for Cat Care Society" – Cat Care Society - http://blogs.denverpost.com/style/2014/08/06/tails-painted-cats-comes-together-purr-fectly-cat-care-society/32692/ and http://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/08/denver-post-tails-of-painted-cats-comes.html 

SEPTEMBER – Denver Post Business: 'Colorado biotech firms trying to innovate efficiently' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://www.denverpost.com/Business/ci_26510215/Colorado-biotech-firms-trying-to-innovate-efficiently + Denver Business Journal : 'FDA could be source of innovation, Hamburg says' – Colorado BioScience Association - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2014/09/fda-could-be-source-of-innovation-hamburg-says.html?page=all 

OCTOBER – Denver Post: 'Denver-based Sapphire Technology gets funding for gemstone-tipped dental instruments' – Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development - http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26681598/denver-based-sapphire-technology-gets-funding-gemstone-tipped + DrBiscupid.com general dentistry website news feed - http://www.drbicuspid.com/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=316548 

NOVEMBER – Denver Business Journal TechFlash: 'Colorado bioscience organization searches for new leadership' – Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development - http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2014/11/colorado-bioscience-organization-searches-for-new.html andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/11/well-known-life-science-executive-kevin.html 

DECEMBER – InnovatioNews: '2014 was a successful year for major bioscience financings, acquisitions and expansions' – Colorado BioScience Association -http://innovationews.com/science/bioscience/cbsa-2014-was-successful-year-for-major-bioscience-financings-acquistions-and-expansions  andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-colorados-major-bioscience.html + BioSpace: Colorado BioScience Association Names Primavera Group To Succeed Absolutely PR As Media Relations & Strategic PR Consulting Firm - http://www.biospace.com/News/colorado-bioscience-association-names-primavera/359355 andhttp://absolutelypr.blogspot.com/2014/12/colorado-bioscience-association-names.html 

Concluding the year, Absolutely PR assisted Colorado BioScience Association in announcing that Colorado-based Primavera Group will assume the media relations and strategic public relations contract for the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) beginning January 5, 2015. 

CBSA President and CEO April Giles said: "We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah Eder and her associates at the Primavera Group to our CBSA team. They will be taking over from Absolutely PR’s Owner/Principal Maggie Holben who is retiring as CBSA's PR Consultant after more than ten years of service to the organization as a board member, contract PR resource and volunteer.”  

Holben served two three-year terms on the CBSA Board of Directors and retires as an ex officio member of the board. In 2006, Absolutely PR was named CBSA Partner of the Year during the annual Awards Dinner (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/09/prweb431691.htm). Absolutely PR will continue as a member company of the CBSA in 2015, and Holben will continue to serve on the CBSA Communications Committee, providing for a smooth transition to the Primavera Group.

“I’ve worked with Sarah over the years and I’m simply thrilled to be able to pass CBSA’s PR baton to her and her team. I’m confident Sarah’s business and PR acumen is exactly what CBSA needs to take our organization to the next level in its awareness growth curve. While I’m retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant, I’m only semi-retiring from the PR business. I’ll continue to keep my Absolutely PR consulting firm open in the future, but will be taking on projects of a lesser scope than the CBSA contract to allow for more travel and time with my family,” Holben concluded.

Link to the PR.com posting

Denver PR News and Information: Top Blog Posts of 2014 Achieve 3,988 Page Views for Absolutely PR Client News

Absolutely PR's Denver PR News and Information reports the following top local client blog posts in 2014:

# 1 - TechFlash: 'Colorado bioscience organization searches for new leadership' for The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 11/24/14 – 365 Page Views

# 2 - Media Coverage: 'Kevin M. Smith to Retire as President & CEO of CID4; Search Committee Formed to Hire Smith’s Successor' for The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 11/25/14 – 325 Page Views

# 3 - InnovatioNews: 'Kevin Smith to retire from leadership of Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development on Dec. 31' for The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 11/24/14 – 249 Page Views

# 4 - DeviceSpace: 'Kevin M. Smith To Retire As President & CEO Of The Colorado Institute For Drug, Device And Diagnostic Development; Search Committee Formed To Hire Smith’s Successor' for The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 11/24/14 – 235 Page Views

# 5 - Well-known Life Science Executive Kevin M. Smith to Retire as President/CEO of Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development; Search Committee Formed to Hire Smith’s Successor for The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 11/24/14 – 234 Page Views

# 6 - Video Highlights: 2014 CBSA Awards Dinner for Colorado BioScience Association – 11/14/14 – 230  Page Views

# 7 - In The News: 'Dan Ritchie joins Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority board' for Colorado BioScience Association and Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority – 12/14/14 – 221 Page Views

# 8 - Headed to the Cherry Creek Arts Fest? Stop in PISMO and Say Hi to Red Hot Ruby for 2014 Tails of the Painted Cats and Cat Care Society – 7/3/14 – 193 Page Views

# 9 - Xconomy: Colorado Bioscience "Companies Take a Bow" for Colorado BioScience Association – 11/13/14 – 185 Page Views

# 10 - BioWest 2014 on Wed Sept 10: Expo Returns + Conference Welcomes FDA Commissioner Hamburg as Lead Keynote for BioWest 2014 and Colorado BioScience Association – 9/2/14 – 175 Page Views

# 11 - InnovatioNews: 'Three finalists selected for 2014 CBSA BioWest Venture Showcase pitch competition Sept. 10' for Colorado BioScience Association – 8/21/14 – 172 Page Views

# 12 - DrBicuspid: 'Sapphire Technology gets funding for filling instruments' for Sapphire Technology, The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 10/10/14 - 166 Page Views

# 13 - Beau Jo's Hosts Last Feasting for Felines of 2014 - Nov. 19 - five locations! For Cat Care Society – 11/11/14 – 165 Page Views

# 14 - Artists Call for Entry: Tails of the Painted Cats 2015 for 2015 Tails of the Painted Cats and Cat Care Society – 9/5/14 – 159 Page Views

# 15 - Pharmiweb: 'Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development Awards Funding & Management Assistance to Sapphire Technology' for Sapphire Technology and The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) – 10/15/14 – 154 Page Views

# 16 - Denver Post: "Tails of the Painted Cats comes together purr-fectly for Cat Care Society" for 2014 Tails of the Painted Cats and Cat Care Society – 8/6/14 – 153 Page Views

# 17 - Tails of Painted Cats Tower of Wine Is Back in the Silent Auction This Weekend for 2014 Tails of the Painted Cats and Cat Care Society – 7/21/14 – 153 Page Views

# 18 - Coverage overview: CBSA's 2014 Colorado Bioscience Industry Awards for Colorado BioScience Association – 11/14/14 – 146 Page Views

# 19 - CBSA Partners with PrIME Health Collaborative to Offer a BioWest 2014 Pre-Event for Colorado BioScience Association – 8/20/14 – 146 Page Views

# 20 - Sept 10: BioWest Includes State's Top BioScience CEOs + FDA Commissioner Hamburg as Lead Keynote for BioWest 2014 and Colorado BioScience Association - 8/28/14 – 142 Page Views

Link to the Denver PR News and Information News Feed Blog

Year End Review: @COBioScience Top Ten Tweets of 2014 (based on Hootsuite click through data)

#1 22-Apr-14     

235 Clicks            

Denver Post: 'Boettcher Foundation awards $825,000 to CSU, CU Boulder and others' http://ow.ly/w3iQ8 @BoettcherFdn

#2 15-Jul-14       

63 Clicks              

DBJ: Med devices drive Colorado bioscience industry http://ow.ly/zc6Rz @GregAveryDenBiz #Colorado #MedDevice

#3 26-Jun-14     

43 Clicks

CBSA Applauds Colorado Companies to Watch for Honoring Five Local Bioscience Companies http://ow.ly/yuo4z #CCTW

#4 24-Jul-14       

37 Clicks              

DBJ: '5 #Colorado cities among Forbes' 30 best places for business' #Denver #BusinessFriendly http://ow.ly/zy4yA @MHardenDenBiz

#5 29-May-14   

30 Clicks              

#Colorado Gov Hickenlooper signs HB 14-1012, Advanced Industry Investor Tax Credit Program http://ow.ly/xpm8u @HickenlooperNow

#6 7-Jul-14         

28 Clicks              

New #Colorado Bioscience Company #Directory http://ow.ly/yS5K4 #AKeeper #File #NewMagazine

#7 1-Jul-14         

24 Clicks              

#Colorado: Advanced Industry Accelerator Program Announces Close to $2 Million in Grants  http://ow.ly/yESjC @ColoradoEcoDevo

#8 17-Sep-14     

24 Clicks              

Three #Colorado Companies Present at Inaugural White Hat Life Sci Investor Conference in Phoenix http://ow.ly/BCaKE

#9 27-Jan-14      

23 Clicks              

Denver Post: 'Beer science: Avery Brewing pairs with CU biotech lab to improve quality control' http://ow.ly/t0IF7  @BioFrontiers

#10 6-Aug-14    

22 Clicks              

Curious about #Colorado’s Sharklet? CompanyWeek Profiles This Week: http://ow.ly/A2eFI  #MedDevice #InfectionControl

Link to the Colorado BioScience Association Twitter

Colorado BioScience Association Names Primavera Group to Succeed Absolutely PR as Media Relations & Strategic Public Relations Consulting Firm

The Primavera Group will assume the media relations and strategic public relations contract for the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) beginning January 5, 2015. The announcement is made by CBSA President and CEO April Giles, who says, "We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah and her associates at the Primavera Group to our CBSA team. They will be taking over from Absolutely PR’s Owner/Principal Maggie Holben who is retiring as CBSA's PR Consultant after more than ten years of service to the organization as a board member, contract PR resource and volunteer. In 2006, Absolutely PR was named CBSA Partner of the Year during the annual Awards Dinner. While we will miss Maggie, we are excited for all that will unfold under Sarah and her team’s direction going forward.”

Primavera Group is a Colorado-based brand development and integrated strategic marketing communications company that serves clients in technology, communications, business consulting and other growth industries. The team develops high-impact strategies, innovative solutions and persuasive content to communicate clients’ stories and compel audiences to action. Their client list spans established Fortune 50 companies to promising start ups.

“Our clients turn to us for crisp thinking, quick execution and our senior-level expertise. We believe the proof is in our performance, and we are proud of our 100% repeat engagement track record. We’re the firm that our clients count on time and again to generate results. In turn, our Primavera team looks forward to representing Colorado’s thriving Bioscience Industry,” Eder said.

In the bioscience space, Primavera has worked with CBSA member company, Sharklet Technologies, for the past seven years, achieving key media placements internationally, nationally and locally for the Colorado-based medical technology company. Most notably Primavera has placed Sharklet on a PBS Nova segment, CBS News Sunday Morning, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Wired, Discover Magazine, Inc Magazine, Popular Science, FierceBiotech, European Medical Device Manufacturer, the Discovery Channel and, the Jeopardy game show where Sharklet was included as a featured answer. For more information, visit http://sharklet.com/about-us/in-the-news and www.theprimaveragroup.com.

“I’ve worked with Sarah over the years and I’m simply thrilled to be able to pass CBSA’s PR baton to her and her team. I’m confident Sarah’s business and PR acumen is exactly what CBSA needs to take our organization to the next level in its awareness growth curve. While I’m retiring as CBSA’s PR consultant, I’m only semi-retiring from the PR business. I’ll continue to keep my Absolutely PR consulting firm open in the future, but will be taking on projects of a lesser scope than the CBSA contract to allow for more travel and time with my family,” Holben explains. For more information, visit: http://www.absolutelypr.com.

Link to the PR.com release posting

Link to the PitchEngine social media release