Posts Tagged ‘Joe Bogardus’

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Thank You, Kodak

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

By Joe Bogardus

Well, it’s been a sad day.

After hoping against hope that the inevitable would not materialize, it did today when one of my former companies, Eastman Kodak, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As other retirees, I am wondering about the fate of my benefits, but using the planning skills I learned at the company, I think I am prepared for this day.

Plan development was just one of the learning experiences I had at “The Yellow Box.”

Much of my brand management background came from working with colleagues who had spent time at P&G, SC Johnson, Lever and Gillette. I was fortunate to work for a future and now former Kodak CEO – Dan Carp. Another of my senior managers – Bob Keegan – went on to to be the successful president, CEO and chairman of Goodyear. Two of my other bosses became CMOs – one at Coca Cola and another at Levi Strauss. I also got the chance to work with some of the most talented advertising agencies in the industry – J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam and Ogilvy.

Unbelievably, they paid me to go to the office every day to get a business and marketing education that I use all the time here at Mary Beth West Consulting to help our clients improve their business performance.

I literally saw the world, thanks to Kodak. My company work assignments took me to Japan, Europe and Latin America. I used to boast that “I had worked on four continents for the fourth most-recognized brand in the world.” The fourth most-recognized brand boast is kind of an empty one now, but the experience of living and working aboard changed my perspective on how to effectively manage and interact with people. It also enhanced my appreciation for our country and the benefits of being an American.

The six years my wife, two sons and I lived in London while I was director of marketing communications for Kodak’s Europe, Africa and Middle East Region has left a lifelong impression on all of us. Like all multi-national companies, Kodak paid for the educations of dependent children. Both of my sons received educations at that American School in London that ensured their entry into top-tier colleges and universities. Their London legacy has followed them into their career fields, helping them secure jobs and assignments based on their personal international experiences.

I recognize I have been very fortunate in many ways, and not all ex-Kodakers have fared well in transitioning to “life after Kodak.” But many have parlayed the opportunities the company afforded to forge new businesses and totally different careers.

In this day and age, no company can promise you employment forever, but it should provide you the chance to improve your skill set and your employability.

Kodak did that for me. Thank you, Kodak.

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Appreciating What We Have and What We Can Do

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

by Joe Bogardus

Most of the 1990s my family and I spent in London. This time of year in the city – home to Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” – is special. Harrods is sumptuously decorated, many of the grilles of the black London cabs are adorned with holiday wreaths and the Christmas crowds overrun Oxford and Regents Streets. It is an intoxicatingly festive time.

Most every Christmas Eve, our family would attend the traditional Christmas Concert at Royal Albert Hall. We never realized there were so many verses to the Christmas songs we knew back in America. And, the English sang every one of these verses. It was always a somewhat long, but glorious evening.

On Christmas day, we opened our central London home to numerous American families who had stayed in the country, because they could not afford to travel to the United States or (like us) did not want to endure the travails of holiday travel.  Two, sometimes three, dozen people were crowded into our row house on Sussex Square.

I remember now, and recall thinking at the time, how appreciative I was of what we had as a family and what we could do for others who were far from home.

When we returned stateside, as a family, we continued to open our home to friends and just acquaintances at holiday times (and on other occasions as well.)

Earlier this month my colleagues Amy and Tyra have talked about the times they have helped people and causes during this holiday season.

Fortunately, this is something all of us can do and take the opportunity when it is offered.

As the effects of the economic debacle of 2008 linger, so many people need our help large and small this holiday season. As Tyra references in Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages, one of those languages is “acts of service.”

So this holiday season, appreciate what you have and appreciate what you can do for others. It is a language of love that works two ways.

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Perceptual Changes in Public Relations

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

By Joe Bogardus

As a very young man, I can remember when a popular radio announcer suddenly became the public relations director for a local hospital. That’s strange, I thought. What does he know about hospital communications? I was 18 at the time.

During my early years in the business, when I encountered public relations practitioners, they were all male, and a preponderance of them were former newspapermen. Many smoked cigars and were tough-talking, glad-handing people. A planned PR program as we would know it today was largely unheard of. They were reactionaries, reacting to the news related to their companies.

I thought, even though I didn’t smoke cigars, I had a real future in public relations because I was a former journalist, plus I had a college education.

Things have changed, and along with these changes perceptions have been altered about the public relations profession.

Now, according to PRSA, 75-80 percent of all public relations practitioners are women. They populate the company and agency ranks from entry level positions to senior management. Almost everyone in the field has a college degree, and many have additional accreditation from PRSA. Major universities and smaller institutions have degree programs, both undergraduate and graduate.

In recent years, major companies and many smaller ones have recognized public relations is a critical element of communications management. Gone are the times when public relations failed to be included in the budgeting and planning process. Senior managers understand how a coordinated and comprehensive public relations program enhances the brand presentation.

Public relations is a valued profession, populated by professionals. I have not met any tough-talking, cigar-smoking, glad-handing former newspapermen in years when visiting public relations departments and agencies.

It seems not only perception but also reality has changed.

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What We Have Learned About Learning

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

By Joe Bogardus

What have we learned about learning? My cousin, Dr. Phil Cusick, professor emeritus at Michigan State University, recently published an interesting book on learning – A Passion for Learning: The Education of Seven Eminent Americans.

His book researched a number of leading Americans and tried to determine how and what they learned in early life, translated into how they managed their later lives and drove the decisions they made. (Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin were two of the individuals he studied.)

The people he reviewed were all types of learners. Some were intuitive learners. Others learned by rote. Others learned from experience.

These people mirrored society in general, as you would expect.

As communicators, we try to tap into how people learn, whether they are intuitive, rote or experiential learners. Mostly, we rely on rote in our communications. “Tell’em once. Tell’em again. And, tell’em one more time.” This was one of my Ithaca College communications instructor’s favorite sayings.

This type of learning is the bedrock of the integrated campaign. Devise your message and deliver it in as many different communications channels as your budget will allow. Rote learning is still fundamental to traditional forms of communications (TV, radio, print, etc.).

The rise of social media coupled with miniaturization has improved dramatically experiential learning. Daily we can visit any number of social media sites and experience “The Arab Spring/Summer.” We are learning first-hand how Libyans and Syrians are struggling against oppressive regimes in the Middle East, thanks to small still and video cameras. There are countless other examples of how these new media tools and technology are being used to promote products and services.

Finally, intuitive learners are the most interesting of learners. Somehow they just know. They can make learning leaps with very little information. Marconi. Einstein. These are just some of history’s intuitive learners. I have always been puzzled on how to communicate with an intuitive learner. I guess they just get it, very quickly.

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Getting a Life, Getting a Career

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

 

By Joe Bogardus

Work/life balance. It’s an interesting concept.

It is the idea where in this age of the 24/7 demand cycle an individual can consciously carve out some time to enjoy different pursuits or quiet time other than career-related activities or duties.

With today’s communication tools and instant access to work information, achieving work/life balance is a large challenge.

Everyone approaches this task differently.

For me, I have been lucky. Seldom have I looked at my career in communications as work. I have been blessed to work for interesting brands domestically and internationally. My co-workers, for the most part, all have been interesting people. The work has been intellectually challenging, rewarding and productive. So, often, when I worked long hours, weekends or failed to take all my vacation time, it was enjoyment, not drudgery. I really liked what I was doing. And, still do.

I always was able to plan to be around for the important birthdays, games, music events and other important activities, despite an intense international travel schedule. My wife and I enjoyed weekends away throughout our marriage. Participation in these activities sometimes took some extra planning, but it got done.

In the end, I believe I achieved a comfortable work/life balance, because I was fortunate in that I knew what I wanted to do career-wise, found assignments that were great fits and committed to finding time to be with my family and do the things I wanted.

I got a life and got a career, too.

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Mary Beth West Consulting Wins “Best in Show” and Sweeps Evening with 11 Awards at PRSA Ceremony May 12

Friday, May 13th, 2011

PRSA Honors Kevin Painter of LeConte Wealth Management with Community Service Award

Maryville, Tenn. — Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, a public relations and reputation management firm in Maryville, Tenn., won “Best in Show” and multiple top honors at the annual awards dinner of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Volunteer Chapter on May 12 at Hunter Valley Farm.

The event also honored Kevin Painter of LeConte Wealth Management with the Community Service Award, which recognizes an individual or organization who has used public relations practices to improve the quality of life within East Tennessee communities.

The agency won “Best in Show” for the 2010 holiday media relations campaign for Dandy Lions as well as 10 “Award of Excellence” honors in the following categories:

  • Public Service: Blount Education Initiative
  • Media Relations: Dandy Lions 2010 Holiday Campaign
  • Public Affairs/Government: Expanding Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Scientific User Community
  • Marketing Consumer Products: Rainscapes
  • Marketing Consumer Services (Financial): LeConte Wealth Management
  • Marketing Business-to-Business: Interactive Springboard 2010 Launch Campaign
  • Writing (Column): LeConte Wealth Management “Purpose-Built Portfolio”
  • Collaterals (Direct Mail): Rainscapes 2010 Direct Mail Campaign
  • Website (Professional Service): Rainscapes website
  • Blogs: Mary Beth West Consulting “In the Profession” Blog

Joe Bogardus, Mary Beth West, Amy Schwinge, Mallorie Mendence and Tyra Haag following the V Awards ceremony.

Interactive Springboard – a collaboration between Mary Beth West Consulting and Knoxville-based Blue Media Boutique – shared top honors for the newly redesigned Avistelé website; Avistelé Lifestyle Communities is managed by Knoxville-based RenaissancePG.

 “I’m so appreciative of the clients we’ve been privileged to serve,” said agency principal Mary Beth West. “Throughout my career, I’ve held tremendous respect for the public relations profession; my team is honored with the overwhelming response by our colleagues to recognize the work we so highly value.”

Painter – a graduate of Maryville High School and co-founder of LeConte Wealth Management– was  honored with the Community Service Award.

“Kevin has been a client for three years and a dear friend for many years longer,” said West. “Of all the colleagues I have in my age cohort in the local community, I can think of no one who takes on more community service efforts to support the non-profit, social service and arts sectors than Kevin.” 

Established in 2003 and located in the Law Building in downtown Maryville, Mary Beth West Consulting works with clients to advance their communications, relationships and reputations to meet business objectives. 

The firm’s services include integrated brand marketing communications strategies and campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; social and interactive media strategies and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.

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Team Reflections on Japanese Culture in the Face of Crisis

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

By Mary Beth West, APR

Like the rest of the world, all eyes here at our company have fixated on Japan since last week.  Earthquake-driven natural disasters have taken an unbelievable toll worldwide throughout the past decade. 

Apart from pulling out checkbooks and supporting the relief effort, the best most of us can do is to observe and learn as many lessons as possible from what we’re witnessing.

A few interesting elements of the Japanese response are rooted in the culture.  Our co-worker, Joe Bogardus, worked as director of marketing communications for Eastman Kodak’s Japanese Region based in Tokyo during the late 1980s.  Among the observations he has shared with our team:

  • It’s encouraging to see the level of worldwide aid not only being offered but also being accepted by Japan.  “During the Kobe quake disaster in 1995, the Japanese government did not accept gifts from other countries, by and large,” Joe said.  “This is a hold-over from the isolationist days before the arrival of Admiral Perry and a sense of duty the government feels to protect the people.  Japanese culture also dictates when receiving a gift, you must give a gift in return of greater value. So there is hesitancy on the part of the Japanese to get into a gift reception cycle.”

“I think their current government is realizing that this potentially is a crisis that will reach beyond their borders, and they need help from as many people as possible,” Joe said.  “From what I have seen and heard, the Japanese are welcoming assistance not only from allies such as the U.S., but also from their regional and ancient rivals – the Koreans, Chinese and others as well.”

  • As the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant situation has become an unfolding disaster all its own, the way that information is being managed by the Japanese government will probably prove to be another element that crisis managers will use as a future case study. 

“It’s not surprising to see the Japanese prime minister or cabinet-level ministers serving as the primary spokesperson during the crisis, unlike other disasters such as the BP oil spill, where here in the U.S. we routinely heard from multiple spokespersons within our government and the company itself,” Joe said.

Joe said it’s also worth closely observing how much information is coming from the front-line levels of the nuclear power plants.

“In Japanese culture, you don’t want to be the bearer of bad news,” he said.  “To do so traditionally translates into an ‘I’ve failed’ subtext, and the associated stigma means that you’ve brought dishonor not only upon yourself and your organization, but also on your entire family.  It’s a pretty tough cultural element, and it will be interesting to see how – or if – this social norm is playing itself out in terms of how much accurate information on the severity of the situation is making its way up the Japanese government chain of command.”

For the sake of public safety, it’s our hope that as complete and as accurate an information flow will take place throughout the days to come.

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So, How Did You Find This Place?

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

By Joe Bogardus

Invariably, when I am talking to a native of Tennessee, especially in the communications field, the question is posed: “So, how did you find this place?”

And, invariably, I will report how my wife and I discovered East Tennessee at a Live South real estate show. How I read about the area in Money magazine and learned about its vibrancy and natural beauty by checking out the different websites for industries, realtors and attractions.

All of these are public relations and advertising activities. All of these factors influenced my wife and me to visit the area and eventually move our household to suburban Knoxville.

We built a new house and furnished it. We have bought one new car and will need another one in a year or two. We joined a church. We volunteered in community and professional organizations. We have paid our property, sales and Halls taxes. We have had an impact on this local economy and not some other local economy.

But, we never would have come to Tennessee if we had not gone to that Live South show – a public relations activity. It’s a great example of how good public relations tactics can benefit and expand local business.

We are just one household. Thousands of other households have been transplanted to Tennessee in the past decade, and good public relations has played a role in bringing these individuals and their resources to the state.

Tennessee has much to offer to people of all ages and varying skill sets. We need to keep getting the word out. Individual local economies and the state overall will be the beneficiaries.

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You Have Already Decided…

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

By Joe Bogardus

That’s right – you have already decided to read this month’s Mary Beth West Consulting blog. You made that decision in the blink of an eye.

What influenced that decision?

All of us make thousands of split-second decisions every day. The vast majority of them are based on a past relationship with a similar situation.

Do we turn right or left to go to work? Well, either way might get us to the office, but left really puts us on a shorter route. When we meet a new co-worker or sit down with a potential client, relationship building starts immediately, and much of it is the result of previous experience.

In his recent best seller Blink, Malcolm Gladwell calls this phenomenon rapid cognition. He offers numerous examples where instantaneous decisions have proved correct. In some cases he offers examples where extensive market research has been debunked by the rapid cognition process.  Gladwell stresses his book is not about intuition. He thinks in the first two seconds when we meet someone or are confronted with a unique circumstance, we make decisions based on rational thinking, not intuitive judgment.

So, why did you decide to read the MBWC blog this month? We hope in the first two seconds of your thought process, you recalled a positive relationship with our blog. Maybe one of us told you something of value, of interest. Maybe you know one of us, and because of that relationship, you decided to spend a minute or two reading the blog.

At any rate, we are delighted you made that decision and we will continue to try and appeal to your rapid cognition.

And, if you have not already, as marketers and communicators, you should read Blink. It has some interesting insights.

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Understanding the New-Normal Economy And Fine-Tuning Communications

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

By Joe Bogardus

 A New Year – 2011 . . . the launch of the third year of the New Normal economy (I’m using 2008 as the death year of the Old Normal) which is starting to look like the Old Normal.

The stock market has enjoyed two years of double-digits gains like in olden times. The New Normal was going to deliver mid-single digit gains. The two-year stock market rebound has been led by technology and financial service stocks, just like in the past. The household savings rate has been hovering around its traditional five percent level. Consumer credit card use has become cautious and consumer debt is in decline, kind of what it was like in the 50s 60s and 70s.

Now, unemployment is tragically high, the housing market has been a mess for years and the country’s debt is at levels not seen since World War II. This is new. But overall, more and more there seems to be a lot of old creeping into this New Normal.

One of the areas where there is more new than old in the New Normal economy is communications. The introduction of social media has evolved: new channels to reach consumers; better ways to foster all types of new relationships; innovative ways to measure performance with more data than a marketer knows how to handle. But even here the old, time-tested precepts are espoused.

Google AdWords provides a great example of using a New Normal economy communications channel. Interestingly, when you peruse the AdWords website and the information in the Help menu, the methods promoted to fine-tune your communications are remarkably similar to the tried-and-true guidelines of using simple language: concentrate on a single idea, avoid gimmicky activity and other basic principles that communicators have employed for years. Preparing advertising information for Facebook – another New Normal communications channel – also follows the same lines.

So, based on these simple examples, maybe the New Normal is really a transitional period. At some point in the future (and maybe it’s now), the New Normal just becomes the new Old Normal where the best and a little of the worst of the two normals co-exist.

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