Tag: Ackermann PR

Ackermann PR announces a key member of the management team

Posted by admin – February 26, 2013

Sandra Heinig

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ackermann PR, a public relations and marketing firm based in Knoxville, is pleased to announce the promotion of Sandra Heinig as Vice President. With this appointment as a key member of their management team, Heinig will develop strategies that provide integrated communications solutions for clients and their businesses.

Ackermann PR has a commitment to build a dynamic and talented staff with diverse expertise. “Ackermann PR was excited to have Sandra join our firm’s team last year. As a seasoned executive, she has a strong background of creating high performing brand marketing and communications plans that make a positive impact on her stakeholders’ businesses,” said President and CEO, Cathy Ackermann.

Prior to joining Ackermann PR, Heinig held key roles in both the United States and the global business division for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, most recently serving as a Global Communications Director, at the company’s US headquarters in Delaware. Prior to AstraZeneca, she worked for Bank One in marketing strategy and partnership marketing roles.

Heinig has an undergraduate degree in Management from Clemson University, and earned an MBA concentrating in Marketing from the University of Delaware.

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About Ackermann PR: Ackermann PR is a full-service marketing and communications firm and is ranked as one of the top 100 PR firms in the country by industry associations and publications.  Clients include Clayton Homes, East Tennessee Medical Group, TechLaw Group, Pilot Flying J, Titanic Museum Attraction, Wilderness at the Smokies and Crown Financial Ministries, among others.

Media Contact:
Sarah Pope
Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
spope@ackermannpr.com

Willis promoted, Goodrich joins Ackermann PR

Posted by Erin Freeman – February 21, 2013

Ryan Willis

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ackermann PR announced that Ryan Willis has been promoted while Chris Goodrich has joined the agency, both in senior account executive roles.

Through his previous role as an Account Executive, Willis brings seven years of qualified experience in public relations with an emphasis in planning and executing marketing communications, media relations, and event planning to the agency.  Ackermann PR clients managed by Willis include the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce; Feed Your Faith; CHM, LLC; TechLaw Group, Inc. and Wilderness at the Smokies where he also serves as the resort’s official spokesperson.   Most recently, Willis has achieved notable success in coordinating a national media relations program for Kirk Cameron as part of Feed Your Faith’s “Love Worth Fighting For” tour.

Willis is active in the Greater Knoxville community serving in several marketing support roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee in addition to serving as a “Big” in the organization.  He is also involved in various young professional organizations including Young Executives of Sevierville.

As a senior account executive at Ackermann PR, Goodrich works with a variety of clients including Power Systems and Clayton Homes to determine strategy and plan the execution of a wide range of marketing communications and public relations programs.  His responsibilities include media relations, concept development of collateral materials, advertising, marketing, special events planning and business development.

With seven years of experience in marketing and public relations, Goodrich previously held the position of interactive advertising specialist at the Knoxville News Sentinel, where his primary responsibility involved leveraging a portfolio of digital products to help advertisers drive foot and website traffic and increase market share.

Chris Goodrich

Goodrich also previously held the position of senior account executive at JSH&A Public Relations in Chicago – a top ranked, full-service public relations agency – where his various responsibilities involved the planning and execution of strategic public relations programs for nationally-recognized companies such as The Hershey Company, Redbox Automated Retail, Jim Beam, Midas Inc. and H&R Block.

“At Ackermann PR, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide senior-level account management to all our clients,” said Cathy Ackermann, president and CEO.  “With Ryan’s promotion and the addition of Chris in these senior leadership roles, we are able to increase our position as one of the region’s top-tier firms while providing even more qualified expertise to our already impressive and growing client base.”

Ackermann PR is a full-service marketing and communications firm and is ranked as one of the top 100 PR firms in the country by industry associations and publications.  Clients include Clayton Homes, East Tennessee Medical Group, TechLaw Group, Pilot Flying J, Power Systems, Titanic Museum Attraction, Wilderness at the Smokies and Crown Financial Ministries, among others.

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Media Contact:
Erin Freeman, Ackermann PR
Phone: (865) 584-0550
efreeman@ackermannpr.com

Freeman Named Senior Account Executive at Ackermann PR

Posted by Ryan Willis – April 30, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ackermann PR announced that Erin Freeman has been hired as a Senior Account Executive. Freeman brings several years of qualified experience in public relations with an emphasis in media relations, marketing, and strategic and event planning to the agency. 

“We are thrilled to add Erin to our team as she has expertise in building thoughtful and successful communications plans for a wide variety of clients representing tourism, health care and others,” said President and CEO Cathy Ackermann. “We believe she will add to our position as this region’s leading agency for tourism promotion.” 

Freeman comes to Ackermann from Blount Memorial Hospital where she served as Public Relations Manager. Previously, she served as the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation’s Director of Communications. Additionally, she has worked with several clients, including Cirque Du Soleil, as an independent public relations consultant. 

“Ackermann has a stellar reputation as being a leader in the public relations industry, and I look forward to being part of the team and to helping the firm and its clients achieve success,” said Freeman. 

Freeman is active in the greater Knoxville community and served as the 2011 President of Young Professionals of Knoxville. She currently serves on the University of Tennessee’s Young Alumni Council, and since 2005, she has served as the President of the Knoxville Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association and in several different leadership roles in the Junior League of Knoxville. In September 2009, then Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen recognized Freeman as a Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional (CTTP) and she served as the 2009-10 Vice Chair of the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council, a 16-county collaborative marketing organization closely associated with the State of Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development. 

A native of Pulaski, Tenn., Freeman is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. 

Ackermann PR is a full-service marketing and communications firm and is ranked as one of the top 100 PR firms in the country by industry associations and publications.  Clients include Clayton Homes, ALCOA, Honeywell, East Tennessee Medical Group, TechLaw Group, Power Systems, Titanic Museum Attraction and Biltmore mansion, among others. 

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Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

City of Knoxville and Legacy Parks announce outdoor recreation initiative: Outdoor Knoxville

Posted by Erin Freeman – February 28, 2012

Commissioner Susan Whitaker

Knoxville, Tenn. – Knoxville takes the first step toward putting itself on the map as a premier outdoor recreation community with the launch of Outdoor Knoxville, a three-pronged initiative to capitalize on the exceptional outdoor recreational assets found in and around Knoxville. It includes a new Adventure Center, a website and a three-day festival this summer.

The most visible presence for Outdoor Knoxville will be the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center to be created in the City-owned Gateway Pavilion Building at Volunteer Landing. Legacy Parks Foundation, a Knoxville-based non-profit focused on expanding parks, open space and recreational opportunities, will operate the center in partnership with River Sports Outfitters.

“Outdoor Knoxville will showcase our trails, parks, waterways and greenways for both visitors and Knoxville residents,” said Mayor Madeline Rogero. “We have great opportunities here for recreation in beautiful natural settings just minutes from downtown, and this effort will help promote those and encourage everyone to get out and enjoy them.”

The Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will serve as the recreational hub for not only Knoxville but also the entire region. It is centrally located with easy connections to downtown Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, I-40, and all the trails and greenways on both sides of the river.

Outdoor Knoxville will be a destination through a unique mix of boutique retail, outdoor equipment rentals and sales, and local events and excursions.

Carol Evans

Legacy Parks Foundation will locate its office on the second level and manage the space for public events and activities. The theater and large room will be made available for public use. Recreational, civic and community groups will be encouraged to hold meetings in the space for a nominal charge. These rentals for business and private functions would generate revenue to support Legacy Parks Foundation’s operations and mission.

River Sports Outfitters, a 29-year-old recreational retailer and outdoor excursion provider in Knoxville, will manage the first level. They will feature boat, stand-up paddleboard and bike rentals as well as retail space offering outdoor gear and equipment. Premium outdoor brands Patagonia, The North Face, Smart Wool and Mountain Hardware will create boutique concept shops within the River Sports Outfitters retail space.

In addition to the rental and retail components, Legacy Parks Foundation and River Sports Outfitters will offer public programs and group outings from the facility. Maps, directions and general information about recreational opportunities throughout the region will be provided at an information center in the building. Outdoor-related events held at the facility will bring people down to the waterfront and get them out to play.

The Gateway Pavilion Building is owned by the city, and originally housed the Gateway Regional Visitors Center. In recent years, the building has been vacant, and the city has paid to maintain it. City Council will be asked to approve a lease with Legacy Parks Foundation at its March 6 meeting. If approved, the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will open in mid-April.

The second element of the Outdoor Knoxville initiative is a new website, OutdoorKnoxville.com. It is a robust, comprehensive portal to all outdoor recreational activities, venues, and events in our region. This highly interactive website has gathered information, videos, photos, and other related content from a broad and inclusive variety of sources, creating an easy-to-use resource for all levels of outdoor adventurers. The site officially launched today.

OutdoorKnoxville.com will position Knoxville, and the region, as a recreational destination by showcasing the abundance of parks, trails, greenways, activities, and amenities that we enjoy in Knoxville.

Mayor Madeline Rogero

It will be a powerful tool for everyone:

  • Residents can plan their outings or activities at the spur of the moment
  • Potential businesses and residents will get the best view of our quality of life offerings
  • Hotels can easily accommodate guests’ requests for activities without searching multiple websites
  • Travel professionals can plan unique excursions using sources from the site
  • Businesses can advertise their related goods and services to a highly targeted audience
  • Recruiters can use the site to highlight the region’s recreational benefits
  • Event producers can promote their events to a motivated user group

Legacy Parks Foundation has developed the site with a skilled advisory team. Elle Colquitt, author of the popular “Mini Adventure Series” of guidebooks for on- and off-road adventures around Tennessee, has developed all the content. She will keep the content current and exciting, review and manage all postings, maintain the Facebook page, and produce a weekly e-newsletter showcasing events and local activities. In addition, she will aggressively market the site locally, regionally, and nationally to users, content providers, sponsors and advertisers.

OutdoorKnoxville.com offers a year-round activity calendar that can be added to by anyone. Additionally, users are able to submit videos and photos as well as offer their experiences, advice, and review on events, trails and venues.

Information will always be current, descriptive, and easy to use. Outdoor KnoxFest is the third key element in the initiative. Outdoor KnoxFest will be a three-day event, Aug. 24 -26, that promotes a variety of outdoor recreational venues and opportunities throughout East Tennessee and encourages people of all levels of experience to participate. The Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will be the hub of these activities.

The events will include:

  • An all-day adventure race
  • A metric century bike ride organized by the Smoky Mountain Wheelmen
  • A cross-country mountain bike trial designed by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club
  • A trail run organized by the Knoxville Track Club
  • A variety of guided hikes
  • A community bike ride
  • Family activities
  • Boat and bike demos and rentals
  • A climbing wall
  • Films and speakers
  • This event will attract participants from throughout the region, including Asheville, Atlanta and Nashville.

Legacy Parks Foundation has been actively working to make East Tennessee a recreational destination of the Southeast. The initial work has been focused on creating a 1,000-acre urban wilderness and recreational corridor stretching along the Tennessee River’s south shore, from the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area to Alcoa Highway. This corridor will parallel and connect to the greenways along the north side of the river.

During the past five years Legacy Parks Foundation has raised more than $3 million for parks, greenways and recreational venues, added more than 200 acres of parkland to Knox County and helped protect nearly 1,000 acres of farm and forest land in East Tennessee.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Ackermann PR generates media for client new product launch

Posted by Erin Freeman – December 15, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn. – When the investment firm BPV Family of Funds needed to generate media interest in a pair of new mutual funds to be managed in Knoxville, they turned to the expertise of Ackermann PR.

Some samples of the coverage related to the announcement include:

As Ackermann PR enters its 30th year of providing full-service public relations, marketing and communications services, we continue to enjoy the opportunity to put our clients in the spotlight.

East Tennessee gets second chance to see ‘Jenny & Ashley’ after Wilderness concert tickets disappear in 15 minutes

Posted by Erin Freeman – July 7, 2011

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – With people camped out in the parking lot at Smokies Stadium for nearly 12 hours, passes to the Jenny & Ashley concert and video shoot at Wilderness at the Smokies resort were grabbed up in just 15 minutes this morning. Fortunately, those who want to see the rising music and television stars perform will get a second chance when they rock Smokies Stadium on Wednesday evening, July 20, 2011.

Jenny & Ashley

Jenny & Ashley will perform during the Smokies’ home game against the Carolina Mud Cats. The sisters will also meet with fans and sign autographs before and after the game. Tickets to the Tennessee Smokies game are available at www.smokiesbaseball.com or at the team’s ticket office. Don’t miss this last opportunity to see Jenny & Ashley perform in East Tennessee.

Jenny (15) and Ashley (14) Cooke are originally from Wisconsin, but moved to Pleasanton, Calif. when they were in elementary school. The sisters discovered their talents early while performing in a number of theatre productions and quickly made the move to acting and modeling. Jenny appeared as a model and cover girl for Kohl’s television and print advertising and also started acting. Ashley quickly caught the bug too, and modeled for both Levi’s and Kohl’s in television and print advertising. They followed their dreams to Los Angeles, where Jenny and Ashley picked up television work with both Disney and Nickelodeon.

Quickly realizing their love and passion for music, the girls switched gears and headed to Nashville. Jenny & Ashley caught the eye of some very important players in Nashville and soon found themselves in-studio recording their first EP. The EP, “Songs About You,” has songs the girls wrote as well as great songs from famous Nashville writers. Darran Smith, Tim McGraw’s co-producer and lead guitarist, produced the entire product and Tim’s band, The Dance Hall Doctors, tracked every instrument you hear on the EP. “Songs About You,” available now on iTunes, is an upbeat pop/country album which includes the song “Indescribable,” co-written by Ashley, that is receiving national radio airplay.

Following in the footsteps of Disney superstars Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”), Selena Gomez, and the Jonas Brothers, Jenny and Ashley Cooke are skyrocketing to stardom. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see them perform up-close and live.

Rick Laney, vice president of Knoxville-based Ackermann PR, is serving as a production consultant for the concert/video shoot. Laney has worked with National Geographic Television, MTV Productions, Travel Channel and other national and international television networks.

All additional details for the Jenny & Ashley appearance will be updated online at www.ackermannwire.com and at www.wildernessatthesmokies.com .

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

No Summer Vacation for Social Media

Posted by admin – June 13, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn. – Summer vacation is usually a time to relax, unwind and maybe even unplug from those digital devices that have become extra appendages to many.  But social media is increasingly becoming intertwined with family vacations.

Whether you find yourself mobile uploading photos of your adventures to Facebook or “checking-in” at various stops along your drive down I-75, you may have an excuse the next time your spouse politely asks you to put down your iPhone and join in the family fun.  Social media tools can actually enhance your vacation, but finding a balance is key.

Ackermann’s Digital Strategies Manager, Shane Rhyne says, “Living Social and Groupon, for example, can save your family money when you take advantage of special offers on restaurants, shopping and lodging.”  The social media community on FourSquare offers valuable tips about tourist attractions.  “We’re seeing that with the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge,” says Rick Laney, Ackermann PR Vice-President.  More than 300 people checked-in to the attraction in the first year since the grand opening.

One vacationer, Bri-Anne S. enjoyed her experience at the Titanic Museum Attraction and was particularly impressed with the iceburg exhibit that allows visitors to feel the temperature on that fateful night.  Bri-Anne S. checked-in to the museum on FourSquare and offered this tip, “Make sure you don’t go in flipflops and shorts!  It’s cold in there anyway, but when you get to the 30 something degree room and then stick your hand in the 28 degree water, it’s really cold!”  Dollywood and Wilderness at the Smokies are also popular “check-in” destinations on FourSquare.

Popular travel websites like TripAdvisor.com are now teaming up with Facebook to further connect users to their friends.  “Soliciting travel advice from friends in your online networks can be extremely helpful,” says Rhyne.  Even government agencies are using social networks to provide information on road conditions and detours via Twitter.

Rhyne warns that the “always on, always connected” mentality may contradict with your family’s vacation.  “Finding the balance between the two, especially when you’re on vacation, will make for a happier experience,” says Rhyne.  “Or at least that’s what my wife Ruth tells me between my Twitpic uploads of our beach trip.”

For a full recap of Shane’s social media tips to use for your summer vacation, visit the Ackermann Experience.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
rlaney@ackermannpr.com
(865) 584-0550

Majority of East Tennessee CEOs Are Engaged in Social Media

Posted by admin – June 6, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn.  – How social is your company?  The answer may be found within your CEO’s level of activity with social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  

In a recent survey of more than 300 business leaders in East Tennessee, Ackermann PR found that the scales are tipping toward social media with a majority of CEOs – 61% –using social media for personal use.  Contrast that statistic with numerous sets of data from 2010 that show less than half of CEOs were using social media to engage with the public and other stakeholders. 

“We suspected that businesses in East Tennessee were moving beyond the experimental stage with social media,” said Cathy Ackermann, President and CEO of Ackermann PR.  “And while that’s what the results show, many CEOs are still trying to figure out how it fits in with their overall marketing and communications mix.”

Some of the survey’s key findings include:

  • 46% of respondents are using social media primarily for branding and awareness
  • Facebook is the most popular, with 54% of respondents using Facebook
  • 39% of respondents say these social media activities have had minimal impact on their businesses so far while 27% said impact has been small but noticeable 
  • 40% indicated they are not sure about how to track or measure their social media activities

Ackermann says one of the most significant hurdles that businesses are encountering is employee training and participation.  “The survey showed some concern on the part of CEOs regarding the allocation of resources to social media activities.”

These same issues were raised at the recent Social Slam event, held in Knoxville in April.  Ackermann’s Digital Strategies Manager, Shane Rhyne who participated in Social Slam says, “Upper level participation was a common theme of Social Slam presentations. The businesses reaping the best rewards from social media were also those businesses where the CEO and other senior level leadership had taken an active role in participating in social media.”

The companies whose CEOs are engaged in social media are often more likely to be using social media for business purposes.  “We can help CEOs find the right balance for their company, whether they’re personally involved with social media or not.  Because there is one thing we know – using social media strategically can greatly enhance a company’s bottom line,” says Ackermann.

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Media Contact
Shane Rhyne
(865) 584-0550
srhyne@ackermannpr.com

Council of PR Firms Features Ackermann PR

Posted by admin – May 31, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn. – The Council of PR Firms is highlighting some of industry’s best work in the field of public relations, and Ackermann PR’s launch of The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge is featured.

The Council of PR Firms is comprised of more than 100 of America’s leading public relations firms.  They represent the premier global, mid-size, regional and specialty agencies across every discipline and practice area.  Ackermann PR has been a member of the council since 2001.

Ackermann PR’s case study, now featured on the Council’s website, profiles the firm’s work on behalf of The Titanic Museum Attraction.  Ackermann PR managed all aspects of public relations for the grand opening and launch.  “We were tasked with creating a message consistent with the museum’s philosophy of honoring and respecting those who were on board the Titanic by keeping their stories alive, while building buzz, excitement and enthusiasm to ultimately drive visitors to the attraction,” says Rick Laney, Ackermann PR Vice-President. 

The grand opening of the Titanic Museum Attraction was attended by 20,000 people. Local print and television coverage stretched from Asheville, NC to Baton Rouge, LA and included all major Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina cities. Nationally, the grand opening was covered in USA Today, ABC News, Live with Regis and Kelly, and the Travel Channel.

In the year since the grand opening, television crews from all over the Southeast have visited the museum, along with national network morning shows, Channel Four (a national television network in the U.K.), Southern Living Magazine, National Geographic Television, Travel + Leisure Magazine, and two additional visits from the
Travel Channel.

For more of Ackermann PR’s case studies, visit the firm’s website, www.ackermannpr.com. 

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

The Smoky Mountain Region is quickly becoming a spring break hot spot

Posted by Erin Freeman – March 17, 2011

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — There are two reasons the Smoky Mountains Region is becoming a favorite spring break destination for visitors from all over the country:

  • In the past three years, new attractions and resorts — like Wilderness at the Smokies and Titanic Museum Attraction — have opened and now offer visitors amazing things to do year-round regardless of the weather.
  • The Smoky Mountain Region covers two states and countless small communities around the national park.  Now that we are marketing the “Region” as a destination (as opposed to marketing each of the small communities and towns as individual entities) people get to see all of the offerings rather than just what each small town has to offer.

The Smoky Mountain Region is also a wildly successful destination because it is within a one-day drive for most of the U.S. population east of the Mississippi River.  And, as the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville continues to get new low fare carriers serving new markets, more and more travelers are flying to East Tennessee for their vacations.

Watch and read the CBS News report about the Smoky Mountain Region and its appeal to spring breakers by clicking the photo below.

WVLT (CBS) television shows why the Smoky Mountain Region is a new spring break "hot spot"

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com