Tag: Cathy Ackermann

New Board Members and Officers Announced for Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Posted by Ryan Willis – May 16, 2013

Townsend, Tenn. – Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (Tremont) has added six new members to its board of directors and has announced its officers.

New members include Esther Bell, CEO, Global Intellectual Property Asset Management, PLLC; Henry (Hank) Dye, recently retired vice president for public and government relations, University of Tennessee; Randy Gibson, chief operating officer & general counsel, Lawler-Wood; George Hashbarger, Jr., president, Quintium Advisors, LLC; L. W. (Bill) Varner, CEO, United Subcontractors, Inc.; and Chad Youngblood, all of Knoxville.

With the addition of these new members, Tremont’s board now includes seventeen members. Current officers of the board are Cathy Ackermann, board chair, and president & CEO of Ackermann PR; Billy Carroll, vice president of the board and CEO of SmartBank; Elizabeth Estill, treasurer.

Every year, thousands of students come to Tremont to live and learn, using Great Smoky Mountains National Park as their classroom.  They come for an educational experience that is vastly different from that available to them in the classroom.

Through exploration and investigation, they learn firsthand about the park’s rich cultural history and its remarkable biological diversity.  They leave Tremont with a greater sense of wonder, depth of knowledge, and appreciation for the natural world and the national park.

Tremont also provides a variety of programs for adults and families, including photography workshops, a naturalist certification program, and family camps.

“We are proud to have such a strong and active board to provide direction and represent us in the community,” said Ken Voorhis, Tremont’s executive director.  “They are all very busy people, but they spend a great deal of time working with us here at Tremont to move our programs forward. They truly believe in and support our mission and work hard to help us build our base of support,” he continued.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a private 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Since 1969, Tremont has provided in-depth experiences to over half a million people of all ages through residential educational programs that celebrate diversity, foster stewardship and nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more information, visit www.gsmit.org or call 865-448-6709.

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

Hearing and Speech Foundation Announces New Board of Directors

Posted by admin – June 7, 2011

Alan Boeckmann, new chairman of the board of Hearing and Speech Foundation

Knoxville, Tenn. – The Hearing & Speech Foundation (HSF) announced today that it has appointed a new board of directors. Alan Boeckmann has been named chairman of the board. He is the recently retired CEO and still Chairman of the Board of Fluor Corporation.

Boeckmann’s introduction to the Hearing and Speech Foundation, which was created to bring the gift of sound to those affected by severe and profound hearing loss, came about after a childhood fever left his son with profound hearing loss. His son received excellent care and went on to lead a nearly normal life, so Boeckmann has devoted his life to giving the hearing impaired the gift of sound.

“The Hearing and Speech Foundation has always been successful in East Tennessee, but forming a national board will allow us to reach a broader audience and further the organization’s efforts,” said Boeckmann. “The benefits of our initiatives will, in return, allow for an even greater level of care and treatment locally.”

“The endeavors and accomplishments of the Hearing and Speech Foundation have grown tremendously since the organization’s founding in 1981. Now we’re taking the foundation to the next level by forming a strong board of key players who can serve as national ambassadors for this important work,” said John Berry, owner of Blount Hearing and Speech Services and co-founder and CEO of HSF.

The Hearing and Speech Foundation’s new board of directors with titles is as follows:

  • Alan Boeckmann, Board Chairman
    Boeckmann is the recently retired CEO and still Chairman of the Board of Fluor Corporation.
  • John S. Berry, Board Member
    Berry is the owner of Blount Hearing and Speech Services and co-founder and CEO of the Hearing and Speech Foundation. He is a world-renowned expert in the application of the Verbal Tonal method of treatment for the hearing impaired.
  • Roma Y. Renfro, Treasurer
    Renfro is a former teacher for the deaf.
  • Cathy Ackermann, Board Member
    Ackermann is the president and CEO of Ackermann PR.
  • Dr. Gerald W. Gibson, Board Member
    President Emeritus Dr. Gerald W. Gibson served as president of Maryville College from 1993 to 2010.
  • Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, Board Member
    President Emeritus Dr. Joseph E. Johnson was president of the University of Tennessee from 1991 to 1999.
  • Avis A. Phillips, Board Member
    Phillips is founder, owner and president of Avisco, Inc. Mrs. Phillips and her husband, Ted Phillips, also own Phillips and Jordan.

For more information about the Hearing and Speech Foundation and its new board of directors, contact Sarah Malak at (865) 584-0550 or smalak@ackermannpr.com.

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About the Hearing and Speech Foundation
The Hearing and Speech Foundation was created to bring the gift of sound to those affected by severe and profound hearing loss. Since 1981, the foundation has served not only as a patient care center, but as a leader in the research and treatment of hearing impairment. By focusing on cutting-edge, research-based techniques, the Hearing and Speech Foundation works to bring a positive change to the traditional treatment options for the hearing impaired. For more information about the Hearing and Speech Foundation, visit www.HSFWeb.org.

Media Contact:
Sarah Malak
(865) 584-0550
smalak@ackermannpr.com  

Ackermann PR Joins Social Slam 2011 Sponsorship Team

Posted by Erin Freeman – February 23, 2011

Social Slam 2011, Knoxville, TN, April 13. A conference for digital media in business.Knoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann PR is proud to announce it has joined the sponsorship team for Social Slam 2011, a national digital media business conference to be hosted in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 13, 2011.

The event promises to bring together some of the brightest minds in social media in North America to teach business leaders how to get serious about digital media marketing.

“We support Social Slam 2011 because of the experience represented by the event’s speakers and panelists,” said Cathy Ackermann, CEO and owner of Ackermann PR. “This is not a conference about hypothetical business practices. The participants will be discussing their actual work in the field and sharing their experiences in creating measurable and effective digital media business opportunities.”

The event, organized by Social Media Club Knoxville, is bringing a collection of some of the nation’s best-known experts in digital and mobile marketing to the Knoxville Convention Center for a one-day business-oriented conference.

“This event is a valuable opportunity for Knoxville-area business leaders,” said Shane Rhyne, Digital Business Strategies Manager for Ackermann PR. “The speakers and panelists represent a who’s who of experts in our industry. Having them all together for a single conference is gaining a lot of attention. Business leaders from across the nation are making travel plans to attend this event.”

The event will feature nationally-acclaimed keynote speakers, including:Guest speakers and panelists for Social Slam. Jay Baer, Christina "CK" Kerley, Trey Pennington, Brian Winter, Eric T. Epperson, Amy Howell, Billy Mitchell, Deborah Weinstein, Jeremy Victor, Mark Schaefer, Ryan T. Sauers, Glen Gilmore, Anne Deeter Gallaher

Additional panel discussions will feature nationally-recognized authorities on:

  • Social media’s reinvention of public relations
  • Building a business case for social media
  • Critical digital media mega-trends
  • Social media and business-to-business (B2B) marketing

Seating is limited for the event. Tickets are available from the event website at www.SocSlam.com for $49 through February 28. In March, the price will increase to $59, and in April, any remaining available tickets will cost $69.

For additional information about the event, the speakers and panelists, registration and materials, visit the Social Slam website at www.SocSlam.com.

About Social Media Club Knoxville

Social Media Club Knoxville is a networking organization for Knoxvillians currently using social media personally and professionally, and those seeking to learn. SMC Knoxville is a chapter of the international SMC headquartered in San Francisco, California. SMC is a non-profit organization designed to promote media literacy, support sharing among practitioners, encourage adoption of industry standards, and promote ethical practices through discussion and actions. For more information about SMC, visit www.socialmediaclub.org

Ackermann PR’s founder and CEO discusses promising signs for the local economy

Posted by Erin Freeman – August 19, 2010

Cathy Ackermann, Ackermann PR’s founder and CEO, talked to WATE television in Knoxville to discuss promising signs on the local economic horizon.  Watch the entire interview by clicking on the image below.

Cathy Ackermann appears on WATE (ABC) television August 18, 2010

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

Ackermann PR records 45 percent revenue gain for first six months of 2010

Posted by Erin Freeman – August 18, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann PR, Knoxville’s only Top 100-ranked public relations and marketing agency, today announced that for the first six months ending June 30, 2010, the firm generated 20 new account relationships and a 45 percent increase in revenues, 2010 versus 2009.  The agency’s digital business strategies division contributed significantly to both increases.

“While we are extremely pleased and grateful for the increased business activity, these increases are most significant because they reflect what we see as the beginning of restored confidence and a return to economic health in the marketplace,” said Cathy Ackermann, Ackermann PR Founder and CEO.

“This resurgence doesn’t seem to be focused on any one sector, but rather across several industries.  We are even seeing some resumption of activity in extremely depressed sectors such as real estate development.  Two additional phenomena of the economic downturn is the number of new entrepreneurial start-ups we have seen and the requests we have received from non-profit organizations who are looking for strategic support to shore-up much needed fund raising efforts.”

Among the new clients are Pilot Corporation, Anderson Media Corporation, CityView at Riverwalk, HGTV, Tennessee Cancer Specialists, Wellness Centers of America and the Hearing and Speech Foundation.  The large number of new accounts contributed 24 percent of the agency’s year-to-date revenue growth.

Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated firm providing strategic public relations, comprehensive marketing capabilities and digital consulting services.  The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves clients across the United States.  It is the only East Tennessee PR firm listed on PR Week magazine’s list of the nation’s Top 100 firms.

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

Malak named Account Executive at Ackermann PR

Posted by admin – January 12, 2010

Malak HeadshotKnoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann PR announced that Sarah Malak has been hired as an Account Executive. Malak brings several years of public relations experience, primarily in the hospitality industry, to the agency.

“We are excited to announce Sarah’s employment. Her experience in the public relations and special events industry is a perfect fit for our company,” said President and CEO Cathy Ackermann.

As Account Executive, Malak’s responsibilities include providing media relations, community relations, writing, coordinating graphic design services, special events coordination, advertising and other services on behalf of clients.

“Ackermann PR’s reputation in the public relations industry is a large part of why I came to work for the agency. Their level of professionalism and track record of clients is excellent,” said Malak.

Most recently, Malak served as the Senior Manager of Public Relations at the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Ackermann PR is a full-service marketing and communications firm and is ranked as one of the top PR firms in the country by industry associations and publications.  Clients include Ruby Tuesday, Clayton Homes, ALCOA, USEC, Honeywell, Radio Systems, East Tennessee Medical Group, TechLaw Group, B&W Y-12 and others.

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

Clayton Homes adds social media to public relations strategies

Posted by Erin Freeman – October 6, 2009

Clayton Homes Logo

Knoxville, Tenn. – Clayton Homes is adding social media to the public relations duties handled by Ackermann PR, the manufacturer’s national Agency of Record. The firm will now include social media strategic development as part of public relations efforts on behalf of the company.

Ackermann’s work for the Berkshire-Hathaway company in promoting the launch of the Clayton Homes i-house was highlighted in the October 2009 issue of PR Week. The traditional public relations media campaign also included outreach to bloggers and social media platforms. The resulting efforts helped generate thousands of customer inquiries through the company’s phone and mail centers and through online venues, including a featured story on Yahoo.com’s front page.

“The interest generate on our web site from the Yahoo feature was historic for our company,” said Clayton President and CEO Kevin Clayton. “As our online activity expands, adding Ackermann’s duties to include social media is a natural addition to our relationship.”

“It is not surprising to us that Clayton Homes recognizes the long-term importance of adding social media strategies as part of a successful PR plan,” said agency President and CEO Cathy Ackermann. “Our focus is on helping them stay out in front of these new trends.”

The Ackermann PR digital and social media division, led by Katie Allison Granju, represents a rapidly growing segment of the firm’s work. In recent months, Ackermann has added a significant number of new clients, representing a wide variety of industry sectors, including tourism, hospitality, entertainment, sports, healthcare, manufacturing, and non-profit.

Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated marketing communications firm providing strategic public relations and marketing. It is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves clients across the United States.

Media Contact
Mike Cohen
(865) 584-0550
mcohen@ackermannpr.com

Ackermann PR Launches Newswire

Posted by admin – July 21, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann PR announced today the launch of AckermannWire, an online news feed about Ackermann PR’s clients, the industry and the agency.  AckermannWire.com will serve as a resource for reporters and editors, as well as a branded social media distribution channel for Ackermann’s work on behalf of its clients.

“New media platforms have changed public relations as we know it, and traditional methods are no longer sufficient to tell our clients’ stories,” says Cathy Ackermann, president and CEO of Ackermann PR.

AckermannWire is updated in real-time as business news happens, with information on everything from new product launches and personnel announcements to charitable initiatives and crisis communications. One of the most recent stories on the Wire is about the launch of Taxi on Demand, an innovative start-up company led by former Vol basketball player, Dane Bradshaw, and represented by Ackermann PR.

“Our company’s digital and social media division is growing rapidly,” explains Ackermann. “With AckermannWire, we’re continuing the process of integrating our online expertise into every area of our operations.”

Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated marketing and digital communications firm with a 27-year track record of providing strategic public relations, proactive and responsive service, and exceptional value.

Connect with Ackermann PR online:

http://www.ackermannpr.com

http://www.ackermannwire.com

http://www.twitter.com/ackermania

Media Contact
Amelia Daniels
(865) 584-0550
adaniels@ackermannpr.com