INK PUBLIC RELATIONS

Last week my clean tech spirits were lifted.  While the slow economic recovery drags on and long-term investment in the sector seems to lag, there are bright spots—you just have to find the convergence of the right minds and intentions.  I had the opportunity to not only attend the Clean Energy Challenge in Chicago on Thursday, but also mentor one of the finalists, and it was so energizing to see the bright and innovative clean energy businesses coming out of the Midwest.

Brought to fruition by the Clean Energy Trust, the Clean Energy Challenge brings together early stage businesses and student-led university spin-outs to position some of the most meaningful clean tech advancements for market opportunities.  What’s really cool is that the Challenge aligns the best clean energy innovations from their pool of contenders with access to the investment community, in addition to industry experts and leaders.  The Challenge has been so successful at incubating quality businesses and innovations that the DOE sponsors $200,000 in grand prizes awarded to the panel-chosen winners.  Beyond that, many of the companies competing go on to raise millions in venture funding.

This is an example of how organizing around a mission: to foster the growth and market opportunities for clean energy advancement, can facilitate home-grown entrepreneurship and problem solving for one of the nations greatest growth opportunities for the future.

Oh, and I would be remiss if not to mention a job well done by Challenge finalist HEVT, an innovative electric motor platform, with which I had the pleasure to collaborate.  The INK team of Jessica Warren and myself conducted a messaging project for the HEVT team and helped prep CEO Heidi Lubin for her presentation at the Challenge. It was a rewarding experience all around, both to participate in the Challenge and have a positive effect on the development of the storyline for a company at its beginning.

We’re hiring! Do you have what it takes?

INK PR Job Opening: PR Account Supervisor/Director

Years of Experience: 7 – 10

We are looking for a PR account supervisor or director with seven to ten years of experience in PR and/or marketing in the high tech and clean energy industries. This person lives and breathes their clients’ industries, thrives on providing sound counsel and creative solutions, understands the dynamic media markets in which our clients play and how to tell a fresh, newsworthy story, demands excellence from a team and, at the same time, can have a beer with them at the end of the day.  If you are our candidate, you love what you do and you could never see yourself doing anything else. You play well with others.  You possibly have a war story that involves CES or Walt Mossberg; bonus points for both. You know what CSP stands for and have a hankering to visit a wind farm; added bonus points if you own steel-toed boots. Your friends know as much about your clients’ technology as you do, and they are still your friends. You are bored of social media talk and interested in social media results. You are respected by your team, your clients and the media, all at the same time.  Are we asking too much? We don’t think so.

There is a lot of love at INK PR – for what we do, for the clients we work with and for each other. We’re still a relatively young (in our 8th year) and small (you make 10) company with a growing reputation for personalized client service, top-notch media relations (800 journalists voted INK best small tech agency for PRSourceCode Top Communicators 2010 award) and PR programs that exhibit the perfect blend of strategic counsel, creativity and common sense (finalist for PR News’ 2011 Small Agency of the Year). We work hard – very hard – but we also value work/life balance and enjoy ourselves along the way. We’re looking for someone who can bring new insights, experience and relationships to the table. You will make an impact on INK and we will make an impact on you.

Job responsibilities include:

Management of multiple accounts and teams consisting of 2 – 5 people

Day-to-day client relations as the main point of contact to provide strategic counsel, convey status, set expectations, manage budget, anticipate needs and adjust plans accordingly, and find solutions to problems

Team management, utilizing team strengths and available time in a way that motivates and ensures excellence and results

Media relations including setting media strategy, leveraging key media relationships and continuing to build new and top-tier ones

Educates clients on social media tools and strategy; utilizes social media channels for effective campaigns

Writing and editing of plans, messaging documents, pitches, press releases, blogs and bylines

Maintains and demonstrates a deep understanding of clients and their industries; teaches others

Manages account budgets and makes staffing recommendations

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or higher with 7 – 10 years of experience in PR and/or marketing in the high-tech and/or clean energy fields. Please send cover letter, resume, references and salary requirements to Adrienne Huebner at work@ink-pr.com.

We’re 7! Hard to believe. Good things come in 7s:

I have 7 amazingly smart and dedicated colleagues. And we’re looking for someone else to join our team – if you’re smart and dedicated too, send a note to info@ink-pr.com, attention Adrienne.

We have 7 wicked cool clients who are doing exciting things in the areas of clean and high tech. Looking forward to a strong year with ACCIONA, the Bluetooth SIG, Broadwind Energy, Create with Context, Gemalto, and Nuventix. Already in Q1 we’ve done media and event work at CES, we’re working on a customer relations program, a media training, a messaging matrix project, a product launch, a dedication event, a messaging rollout in conjunction with an employee communications program and of course media and analyst relations.

And we’re looking forward to multiples of 7 more years. Go INK – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

INK founders, the day we moved into first office.