Dallas, January 31, 2012 – Days ago, Prism Hotels & Resorts gathered together the general managers from its 40 hotel properties across the country — 53 managers from 16 states — for its annual leadership conference. This year’s conference, which was inspired by the bestselling Jim Collins book Good To Great, featured former Mexican Cabinet Minister and presidential advisor Dr. Juan Hernandez as its keynote motivational speaker.

After being enthusiastically introduced by Prism Hotels CEO Steve Van, Dr. Hernandez, who is a frequent fixture on CNN, Fox News and Univision and has been featured on the cover of Fortune Magazine as one of the “Smartest People We Know,” talked to the hotel management firm’s managers about his professional experiences and personal friendships with many of Latin America and the United States’ top political leaders and what traits made those men great leaders. He also spoke about the changing demographics of the Hispanic population in the United States and how businesses can and should embrace and capitalize on the rapidly growing demographic.

Dr. Hernandez has been named “Humanitarian of the Year” by Latin Trade Magazine and one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has advised international corporations and presidential hopefuls including Felipe Calderon (Mexico) in 2006, John McCain (US) in 2008 and Juan Gutierrez (Guatemala) in 2011. Dr. Hernandez has written and edited eight books on politics and poetry.

After Dr. Hernandez’s motivational keynote speech, Prism Hotels’ top corporate executives led the 53 managers in attendance through various leadership workshops and roundtable discussions – all centered around themes from the book Good to Great and how they can apply those themes to create “the best performance and the best results” (a Prism company motto) for their hotel owners.

“These conferences are always so inspiring to me. We have great leaders at each of our properties and it’s very important that we publicly recognize them every chance we get,” said Prism Hotels CEO Steve Van, who was recently named one of Hotel Business magazine’s People of 2012. “The biggest takeaway from the conference was the idea from the book Good to Great to ‘get the right people on the bus.’ The entire conference seemed to echo that theme. From each of our properties’ front desks and housekeeping staffs to the back-of-the-house operations and maintenance, we can only be as successful as the great folks we have working for us.”

The conference was capped off with Prism’s annual gala and awards ceremony, where select manager were honored for exceptional performance in 2011.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,500 rooms for multiple owners including urban, suburban and resort destinations.  Prism is approved to manage all major brands as well as has extensive experience with independent destination hotels. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

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Full biographies on Dr. Hernandez can be found at http://www.juanhernandez.org/biography.

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Dallas, January 20, 2012 - Dallas-based McDole, Kennedy & Williams, PC, a boutique law firm focused on intellectual property and corporate litigation, has promoted Kenneth Kula and Bob Pettey to partners of the firm.

“Both Kenneth Kula and Bob Pettey have been valuable members of our firm and we’re happy to welcome them into the firm’s leadership as partners,” said Steve Kennedy, founder and partner at McDole, Kennedy & Williams.

Kula focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and also concentrates in the areas of technology law and general litigation. He has served as an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law where he taught courses on patent law and intellectual property, and has served as an ethics investigator for his local bar association. Kula studied law at Washburn University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and is a member of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). He has bar admissions in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

“Ken’s experience in intellectual property litigation is key to the firm. His keen focus for intellectual property rights, patent law and ethics serves our core corporate clientele well,” added Kennedy.

Pettey has practiced law in Dallas for over 30 years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, as well as director and officer investigations and related fiduciary duty litigation. Pettey studied law at University of Alabama School of Law, served as editor of the Alabama Law Review, and has served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army.  He has bar admissions in Texas and Alabama.

“Bob is gifted with his attention to detail,” said Kennedy. “He actively plans each step in the case, paying close attention to the details of discovery, and keeping clients fully informed as to the progress, prospects and status of their particular matter. We are lucky to have him.”

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For more information about McDole, Kennedy & Williams, PC, and full biographies on each attorney, visitwww.mkwpc.com.

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Greenberg’s Broadway sensation Take Me Out throws a curveball at America’s favorite pastime. Darren Lemming, a young, iconic baseball star, is at the top of his game both personally and professionally. When he calls a press conference that results in a shocking admission to the media, Lemming sends a ripple of effects through the team, the fans and the nation. Both hilarious and hard-hitting, Take Me Out strips baseball bare. Playwright Richard Greenberg examines the dynamics of homophobia, isolation, racial tension and the cult of celebrity in this funny, moving love letter to America’s favorite pastime.

The 12-member all-male cast features Lloyd Harvey, Kevin Moore, Art Kedzierski, Andrews W. Cope, Chester Maple, Travis Ponikiewski, Anthony A. Gonzalez, Antonio Garcia, Ryan Manalansan, Darius Warren, Tony Martin and Bronze Hill. The production is under the direction of Michael Serrecchia.  The Uptown Players all-star design team includes lighting design by Jason Foster, costume design by Suzi Cranford, sound design by Virgil Justice, set design by Andy Redmon, stage management by Cathy O’Neal, and hair and make up by Coy Covington.

Take Me Out runs February 3 through February 19, 2012, with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (no performance February 5). A special Thursday night performance will take place on February 16 at 8 p.m. Performances will take place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd at Blackburn, Dallas TX 75219.  Tickets are $25-$35 and can be purchased online at www.uptownplayers.org or by phone at 214-219-2718.

About this Production
Take Me Out
By: Richard Greenberg
Content Advisory: Mature Themes/Full Nudity – Ages 17 and up
Directed by: Michael Serrecchia
Dates: February 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, & 18 @ 8 p.m.
February 12 & 19 @ 2 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$35
Box Office info:
Online: www.uptownplayers.org
Phone: 214-219-2718

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About Uptown Players
Now its eleventh season, Uptown Players has gathered a dedicated following with an annual audience base of over 15,000 patrons, including nearly 1,000 season subscribers. The response from the community and critics has been remarkable, including over 25 Leon Rabin Awards from the Dallas Theatre League, several hundred “The Column” Awards and 15 Theatre Critics Forum Awards in its first ten seasons. In recent years, Uptown Players has also been named the best theatre company by the Dallas Voice Readers Awards, and the Dallas Observer, and has appeared on the WFAA-A list and Best of Big D – D Magazine. Uptown Players has recently been featured on Good Morning Texas and Daybreak on WFAA. Uptown Players is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, presenting plays and musicals that challenge audiences artistically, build cultural bridges, and strive to create greater positive public awareness and acceptance through the performing arts. There is no other theater group with this unique mission in the Dallas area.

In early 2011, we worked with the wonderful designer (and our good friend) Kim Lewis to makeover the Stephenville, Texas, home of Grammy award-winning singer Jewel. Daltile’s Manufactured Stone, natural stones and tile were used throughout the rustic home that the singer shares with her rodeo star husband, Ty Murray.

Kim knows a thing or two about making over houses – she was one of the top design producers for the ABC hit show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for most of the show’s nine-season run. The Cooper Smith Agency team worked with the EMHE team on EVERY SINGLE episode of the show, including the pilot back in late 2005. We have successfully secured product placements for our building products and home decor clients on nearly 210 episodes in all.

Below is a slideshow of photos from the home. We haven’t been able to share them with you until now – only after the home was featured in the January 2012 edition of InStyle magazine.

To learn more about Daltile’s products, follow the links below:

• Daltile Manufactured Stone
• Daltile Natural Stone
• Daltile Tiles (porcelains, ceramics, glass & metallics)

Jewel was nice enough to send Cooper a personally autographed photo to thank him for all of his help on the project.

January 9, 2012, Dallas - Dallas-based McDole, Kennedy & Williams, PC, a boutique law firm focused on intellectual property and corporate litigation, has added Robert Turner as partner. Turner leaves mega-firm Jones Day to join MKW.

“Robert is one of the most respected IP attorneys in North Texas. His 45 years of experience in patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright matters is unparalleled,” said Steve Kennedy, founder and partner at McDole, Kennedy & Williams.

Turner has successfully tried cases and managed intellectual property litigation for more than four decades, focusing on IP litigation, with a primary emphasis on patent infringement cases. In addition, he has worked in numerous cases as an arbitrator, mediator, special master, technical advisor and consultant or expert witness.

“I respect McDole, Kennedy & Williams’ outlook on the practice of law by recruiting highly respected legal authorities in core areas of commercial litigation, IP and employment law, while maintaining low overhead and charging reasonable fees,” said Turner. “I’m looking forward to helping grow McDole, Kennedy & Williams into one of the leading corporate and intellectual property litigation firms in Dallas.”

The firm anticipates an increase in staff to meet the demands of its larger client base.

“We have some of the most-respected IP litigators in the region and we’re growing by creating a new way of practicing law — one that fosters the growth of our clients. With Robert, we will add one of the most versatile litigators in the profession,” added Kennedy.

Turner’s trial experience is expansive, covering non-jury and jury cases, as well as International Trade Commission, mediation and arbitration matters. Additionally, he has served as past chairman of the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of Texas. He studied law at The University of Texas at Austin, is an adjunct professor of law at The University of Texas School of Law, and is on the faculty of the Patent Resources Group. He has bar admissions in Texas and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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For more information about McDole, Kennedy & Williams, PC, visitwww.mkwpc.com.

Here are our predictions for what to expect in 2012:

• Brands as Publishers/Journalists – Just as the definition of “media” has changed from old-school print publications and TV news to include blogs and webcasts, we’re going to see more companies skip “traditional media” and talk directly to their audiences in an editorial voice. While the ultimate expectation will be to increase sales, this new form of “owned media” won’t be salesy in nature. To be effective, the tone will be informal with the “voice” of an everyday person and stripped of industry jargon. (If you’re used to saying “solutions provider” or “game-changer,” make it one of your New Year’s resolutions to remove those phrases from your vocabulary.)

Here’s how we think they’ll look:

• Blogs – This will be the central hub of “owned media” efforts, with images, information, videos, links to industry news articles, etc. Companies should be using this to share their updates, news and thoughts on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and others.
• Microsites, microsites, microsites – Similar to blogs, this will be a central hub about specific projects or company initiatives. For architecture firms, for example, each project should have a microsite that highlights the goals of the project, sustainable attributes, photos (posted to Flickr), videos (embedded from YouTube), links to coverage, etc. This will be the single location that a reporter or prospective client can visit to learn everything about the project at their own pace.
• Video will be huge – Video is more powerful — and accessible — than it’s ever been. Nearly every computer has a built-in camera, and the camera on the new iPhone is better than those over-the-shoulder monsters of the past. No one expects it to be a Speilberg production. Just start talking (or walking and talking if it’s a tour of something). YouTube has lowered viewers expectations for production value. Actually, the more “real” it seems, the more authentic you’ll seem.

• The media will continue to do more with less - With the drastic cuts in editorial budgets and mass layoffs at most media outlets, PR folks are more necessary than ever to the business of publishing the news. However, we will be expected to act like embedded journalists, not brand representatives. That means no jargon, no marketing-speak and no half-truths. Transparency and trust are vital.

• Social media is here to stay and will be bigger than ever – Integration of social media in every thing you do is necessary. Recently, we organized a media tour in NYC for one of our clients. Many of the appointments were secured via “Twit Pitch” – we literally pitched the reporters and bloggers via Twitter in 140 characters or less. This is the new normal.

• SEO will grow as a PR function – PR firms will be helping their clients optimize their websites to rank higher on search engines. This isn’t about manipulation of meta tags or anything technical like that. It’s through the integration of relevant and abundant content on their sites, identifying the actual phrases that potential clients/customers likely use to find them, and then using those “real” phrases, instead of marketing jargon, in all press materials, press releases, “about us” descriptions and the like.

•  Flash is a dead technology – Unable to make Flash work on iPhones and iPads, Adobe recently threw in the towel for Flash on the web. If your site relies on Flash, you’ll need to overhaul it in 2012.

Dallas, December 7, 2011 – When Sylvan | Thirty opens next year, the highly anticipated West Dallas mixed-use development will be home to a unique food concept: a “culinary incubator” that helps artisan and start-up food entrepreneurs, as well as emerging chef talent, to launch and grow their own food businesses.

Prominent local chef Sharon Hage has signed on as the yet-to-be-named incubator’s Culinary Curator. In that role, Hage will help identify prospective members of the incubator and promote the incubator’s mission of supporting home-grown, food-related businesses.

Incubator participants will pay a membership to join, which includes access to a shared commercial kitchen and retail space, giving them the opportunity to craft and sell their food products without the initial expense of building out and equipping their own space.

“Supporting small businesses and artisans is a core part of Sylvan | Thirty’s DNA. Whenever possible, we want to encourage our neighbors in West Dallas and Oak Cliff to patronize local businesses and organizations. The culinary incubator will do that in a very personal, impactful way that supports culinary talent and provides them a shared platform to grow their crafts into profitable businesses,” said Brent Jackson, president of Sylvan | Thirty developer Oaxaca Interests.

In addition to the culinary incubator, Sylvan | Thirty has announced that farm-fresh grocer Cox Farms Market will serve as the center’s anchor tenant and will be joined by local artisan butcher and wine shop Matador Meat & Wine. Sylvan | Thirty is targeted to open in late 2012.

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Websites:
www.sylvanthirty.com
www.iheartsylvanthirty.com

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Houston, November 16, 2011

Stan has been with TBG since its 2008 merger with Vernon G. Henry & Associates (VHA), an urban land-planning firm established in 1967. Stan worked at VHA for 26 years on a number of high-profile projects, particularly suburban developments for the private sector.

During his time at TBG, Stan has served as TBG Houston’s director of planning, overseeing the development of large planning projects including master-planned communities and mixed-use developments.

Stan’s current work includes land planning and subdivision platting for Bridgeland, an 11,000-acre master-planned community in northwest Houston. The development includes an extensive lake and park system, which provides the residents water, open space and scenic views. Stan is also overseeing planned development zoning and entitlements for the 650-acre Imperial Sugar Tract in Sugar Land. This project is a multi-phased plan to transform the historic Imperial Sugar refinery into a vibrant mixed-use development that adaptively reuses the site’s existent infrastructure. This long-term project stems from a robust public-private partnership and seeks to meet objectives for historic preservation and sustainable economic development.

Stan holds an MBA from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts in Design from Southern Illinois University.

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For more information about TBG Partners, visit www.tbg-inc.com.

Stan Winter’s headshot available upon request.

Dallas, November 14, 2011 – Local artisan butcher Matador Meat & Wine has announced it will be opening Fall 2012 at Sylvan | Thirty, the highly anticipated mixed-use development currently under construction at the crossroads of North Oak Cliff and West Dallas. Plano-based Matador Meat & Wine is the second tenant at Sylvan | Thirty to be announced, and will occupy 3,000-square feet connected to the Cox Farms Market grocery store space.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Colleen Peterson, the custom-cut butcher offers high-quality Certified Angus Beef and prime grade beef, allowing customers to specify their desired cuts of meat at the thickness they prefer. In addition, Matador Meat & Wine will offer seasonally available free range chicken, premium pork, gourmet sausages and hamburger patties, smoked meats (brisket, baby back ribs, etc.), more than 75 labels of wine and home delivery services. This will be Matador Meat & Wine’s sister location to its first store on Preston Road in Plano.

“When researching where to open our second store, we were looking for a diverse neighborhood that shared our strong community focus. It just had to feel ‘right,’ said Matt Peterson, owner of Matador Meat & Wine. “We’re excited to serve our future Oak Cliff and West Dallas neighbors, and we look forward to becoming their local butcher. Whether it’s providing them with special cuts of meat for cherished celebrations or simply flank steak and fajita meat for everyday dinners, we want to be part of the meals they serve around their family tables each night.”

“Sylvan | Thirty’s DNA pulses with locally focused and sustainable initiatives, and we strive to create a diverse gathering place that empowers local, community-focused businesses to succeed. With its dedication to quality meats, a global wine selection and impeccable customer service, Matador Meat & Wine is the perfect accompaniment to Cox Farms Market and Sylvan | Thirty,” said Brent Jackson, president of Sylvan | Thirty developer Oaxaca Interests.

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Websites:
www.sylvanthirty.com
www.matadormeat.com

Media Contact:

Cooper Smith Koch, (214) 329-9191
cooper@coopersmithagency.com

For example, if the client is a construction firm that builds cool-storage warehouses, do they care if my elderly grandmother reads about them in her small local community paper? Sure, the paper has a circulation of 10,000 people, but how many of those eyeballs are peering out of the heads of people who have the authority, funds or need to hire a construction firm to build a cool-storage warehouse? Likely not many.

In my opinion, the time and energy pursuing that media opportunity would have been better spent on something more strategic, like a warehouse manager trade magazine story or something aimed at packaged foods manufacturers.

A while back in The Dallas Morning News, there was a HUGE front page story in the Metro section about a performance event that took place in downtown Dallas, including a very large photo of acrobats flying through the air while repelling down the side of a skyscraper. Good stuff…or is it?

The event was a promotion for an energy company that’s launching a new service, but which energy company? The article doesn’t mention it. And the event just happened to take place in a park immediately across the street from former headquarters of TXU Energy, one of Texas’ largest electricity providers. Was it TXU’s event? It would be reasonable to assume as much, but the truth is that it wasn’t. I only know that because I saw the real company’s name, Reliant, published in a blog post somewhere.

Back to my point though, was the time and energy spent producing such an elaborate and certainly expensive event worth the media coverage they secured? I didn’t see the TV news last night, but based simply on the coverage dedicated to the event by our area’s largest, most influential newspaper, I say no.

Simply put, if the name of the company or product isn’t part of the coverage secured, then the coverage didn’t achieve its desired effect. At the same time, it’s important to note that PR people have little control over what actually makes it into the news. (If you want control, buy advertising.)

What’s a PR person to do? In most cases, I think events and parties are both a waste of time and money. Usually they attract people whose attention or business you already have (you invited them). That’s not always the case, but I think that it’s largely true. Launch parties are for the people who already know you, love you, work for you, buy from you, etc. If your goal is to feed and entertain those people, then go for it. If you’re trying to reach new audiences, try something else.