http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/04/04/10-communication-secrets-of-great-leaders/

For the past two years, we’ve had the pleasure of working with the organizing team and more than 100 journalists from all over the world.  With more than 1,000 racers and more than 15,000 spectators attending this exciting event, the mountain and the town are alive with activity. For more details, visit www.racewindham.com

Mark your calendar for this very cool summer event and plan to join us in Windham!

Some of the needed items include:  twin size sheets, comforters and bed-in-a-bag sets; bath, hand and face towels; dish towels and dish cloths; potholders; ladies pajamas, sweat suits and socks; children’s pajamas, socks and underwear; toaster ovens and coffeemakers.

Donations can be dropped of at Unity House’s Development Office at 33 Second Street in Troy.   Or, if you would like to conduct a drive for these items at your place of work, or with your club, team, book group or group of friends, Unity House will gladly pick up your donations.

Questions?  Please call Diane Cameron Pascone in the Unity House Development Office at 518.274.2633, extension 356 or email her at DCameron@UnityhouseNY.org

Quick facts about the Unity House Domestic Violence Program: In 2011, Unity House sheltered 106 women and 56 children.  Because of space limitations in the old shelter, they were forced to redirect more than 340 additional victims and their 428 children to distant shelters or motels.  With the new 33-bed shelter, they will double the number of women and children served each year.

Happy Holidays!

Our new logo sign greets you as you leave the elevator and enter our offices

Tools of our trade

Not quite the smartphones we use today, but a tribute to the past

Thanks to our good friend Mark Duffy, we have some really cool artwork hanging on our walls these days.  We asked Mark to create some paintings that illustrate the tools of our trade and he did a fantastic job.  And just today, he came by with the latest installation — a large sign depicting our logo that you’ll see as you step out of the elevator into our offices.  Come visit us soon!

Eight years ago, when I started Pierce Communications in the attic of my house I never would have dreamed that in 2011 I would be sitting at a desk in an office with my name on the door, with phones ringing and computers chirping throughout the day and night.  I also never dreamed that eight years later I would be looking at websites on my phone, worrying about social media crises and engaging in twitter wars with Michigan fans.

But, I am.

So, happy anniversary to us!  Many thanks to all of our clients, partners, friends and colleagues who have helped us make it to this day.  Special thanks to Jo Ann and Penny for all of their hard work and dilligence to getting results for our clients and keeping things running around here.

For the last seven years, Thanksgiving week has meant several things to me:  the anniversary of this great adventure, the Ohio State-Michigan game and, of course, being thankful for the many people and things who have contributed to the success of Pierce Communications.

So, if you’re reading this, thank you too!

Being a native Ohioan, this time of year reminds me of more than the greatest rivalry in sports (good vs. evil or, as you probably know it, Ohio State vs. Michigan).  Every year, Thanksgiving also reminds me of this classic television episode from my youth.

“As God is my witnesss, I thought turkeys could fly.”

Here’s to another year of trying to fly better than the turkeys.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Check out the Times Union article about the contest here:  http://bit.ly/u5Op35 and the Business Review article here:  http://bit.ly/volrBN

Our work to raise awareness locally, regionally and nationally for the 2010 Windham World Cup of Mountain Bike Racing won the Empire Award for Public Relations Campaign for Non-Profits.  This world-class event was put on by a team of Windham volunteers and resulted in more than 15,000 people visiting the event and worldwide media attention.

Our efforts for the Adirondack Small Cap Fund also won an Empire Award in the Regional Media Relations category for for-profit firms.  Earlier this year, Adirondack’s fund managers were presented with the prestigious Lipper Award as the best small cap fund in the nation and we helped them leverage this into a series of regional and national articles which has helped contribute to an unprecedented growth in the fund.

So…we were two for two!  Two entries and two winners! 

Actually, though, we were three for three because our very own Penny Vavura, who currently serves as the PRSA chapter president, did an amazing job putting the evening together (with the help of Jo Ann and several other dedicated volunteers).  Congratulations to Penny for all of her hard work, which has resulted in an amazing year for our local chapter of PRSA.

We’re so pleased to continue to get this kind of recognition from our peers in the public relations industry (including the Outstanding Practioner Awards that Jon and Jo Ann have won, we’ve now won eight Empire Awards!), but we’re more pleased with the recognition and appreciation that we get every day from our wonderful clients.