Mark G Auerbach Public Relations: The 2009 Recap

In some ways, 2009 was a challenging year for my company, Mark G Auerbach Public Relations. We parted company with a client we'd done work for in excess of 22 years--public radio station WFCR; saw other clients go under or cut back, and found it more difficult to manage cash-flow. Challenge enthuses me, but it would be nice if market conditions improve before next summer's pool/tan season.

On the plus side, we added some new clients and projects, including:

***Mike Thornton Agency in Washington, DC:. Mike and I co-produced an almost sold out performance of the Capitol Steps in Northampton, MA (my first-ever event production independent of a client). Mike, a member of The Capitol Steps and a talented DC-based jazz and big band singer, hired us to promote Capitol Steps performances in Orlando, FL; Lebanon, NH; Albany, NY; and Cambridge/Boston, MA and two jazz performances in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.

***"Says You!", the public radio quiz show carried on over 100 stations coast-to-coast. We linked "Says You!" and our other client, Cross-Culture Journeys, together to produce an April 2010 Holland and Belgium small ship cruise during tulip time.

***PACE Theatre in Easthampton, MA, a small non-profit group which presented the musical "Falsettos" at The Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, MA. We coordinated their marketing and public relations for the two-week performance run.

***A series of smaller projects including: a ghost-writing project for singer interested in developing a club act, copywriting and media-buying services for another marketing agency; resume and cover-writing projects for job-seekers, and more. I continued to serve on the Northfield Mount Hermon School's NMH Magazine Editorial Board (and act as class secretary with two other classmates). I also taught a public relations seminar for my collegue Brenda Garton's communications class at Western New England College.

We got into social media with Linked-In (where I hopefully look smart and savvy) and succumbed to the allure of Facebook (where I appear under-caffeinated). Find me on both under the name Mark G. Auerbach. I was actually able to use both to promote client programs and activities.

I like New Years. It offers a chance to close some doors, a chance to open others, and an opportunity to thank and appreciate colleagues, friends, and vendors who helped to make the old year possible. Thank you. Happy New Year.