Dan Kolbet, Communications Specialist at Avista Corp. who helps Avista’s far-flung employees stay in touch, is the featured speaker at the monthly Spokane MarCom/PRSA networking breakfast on Friday, March 7.  The breakfast is held in Cataldo Hall on the campus of Gonzaga University and begins at 7:30 a.m. with the presentation ending at 9:00 a.m. 

Kolbet will share Avista’s internal communication strategy, describe the variety of communication tools he uses, and look at the local utility’s plans for the future.  A former editor at the Spokesman-Review, Kolbet also has provided communications and marketing expertise to Spokane Transit Authority, People to People Ambassador Programs, and Rings and Things.  

You can view Dan's rebranded Avista View newsletter or see what his e.VIEW emails look like.

Cost for the breakfast and presentation is $10 for pre-registered members of Spokane MarCom or the Spokane chapter of PRSA, $13 for non-members who register online, or $15 for non-members at the door.  To register online for the breakfast, go to http://www.spokanemarcom.com/ and click under “Upcoming Meeting” to RSVP.  Attendees can pay online, or just register and pay at the door.

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Itron proves internal communication is key to branding

My professional life at Eastern is largely focused on a branding initiative. Fortunately, I met Randi Neilson, former vice president of marketing for Itron. Randi is a great supporter of EWU and volunteered on our branding committee.

Neilson led Itron’s rebranding effort launched in 2000 and has established herself as a branding and internal communications wizard. Look no further than Itron’s stock price for proof – during the year of the launch, Itron’s stock rose from $3.70 per share to more than $32 per share.

Neilson and employees will tell you that it was the internal communications effort that made the difference.

“Well before the brand launched, we made sure all employees – from Waseca to Spokane, and from managers to assembly personnel – were fully educated on how their roles would help bring the new Itron brand to life, and how it would impact their jobs,” said Neilson.

While I could go on for hours relaying details of the Itron case study – and perhaps Randi will share those details with our membership at a future time – the following are some of the key internal tactics that led to success:

- Elevator speech cards: Itron furnished every employee with small cards that succinctly described the company’s brand promise.
- Branding bucks: Randi and her team, as well as CEO LeRoy Nosbaum, always had pockets full of dollar bills to hand out to anyone they saw “living” the Itron brand.
- Profit sharing: Senior management and Human Resources integrated “living the brand” criteria into employee evaluations – which are tied to company profit sharing.
- Logo wear: Every single employee received a $30 gift certificate to apply to any Itron logo wear they desired – from hats, to button-up shirts, to polos.

The logo wear certificate, along with many other Itron tactics, were employee ideas. This particular employee said Neilson should be nicknamed ‘Horton,’ from Dr. Seuss's "Horton Hears A Who,” for listening to her “tiny little idea” and making it a reality.

I hope this gets you all warmed up for hearing more great internal communications tactics from another highly successful corporate communications team – our friends from Avista. I look forward to seeing you Friday, March 7!
-   Dave Sonntag, President
    Spokane MarCom

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Deadline for Your 2008 SPARK Award Entries is This Friday, Feb. 22

Plan to drop off your entries and entry fee at Dean Davis Photography, 216 W. Pacific between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Enjoy complimentary wine, beer, stromboli, and other goodies. All entrants will be photographed with their entries, so plan accordingly. No late entries will be accepted.

Entry form and instructions can be found at www.spokanemarcom.com/awards  Remember you need to email your electronic entry forms to Sharon Robertson by 7 p.m. on the 22nd in addition to turning in two hard copies of your entries. 

If you can't drop off your entries in person, entries may also be mailed to Sharon Robertson, c/o Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington & Northern Idaho, 1404 N Ash, Spokane, WA 99201, but must be received by February 22.

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 --- UPDATED INFO ON PARKING ---

Right after the March Newsletter went out, we received word from the Knights of Columbus that MarCom/PRSA members may park at their lot for free at any upcoming MarCom/PRSA breakfast meeting.  The Knights of Columbus building is at 302 E. Boone Ave., one block West of Cataldo Hall.

You Can Park in GU's "BVG" Lot,
If You Sign Up Online for a Pass

All attendees who are driving to a MarCom/PRSA Breakfast Event may click on the link below to order a pre-arranged parking permit for use in the “BVG” lot, at the corner of Boone and Van Gorp.  (See GU Map for location of BVG lot.  Van Gorp is half block east of Pearl, or one-and-a half blocks east of Ruby.)

Type in the date(s) you need the parking permit using the online form at the link below. It is best to order all passes for MarCom/PRSA breakfasts at one time when online. For instance, in the dates valid field, indicate 3-7, 4-4, 5-2, and 6-6 and receive a permit for the remainder of our programs this spring.

Passes must be ordered at least a week before any breakfast event, so for this month you need to order your pass by February 28. Passes will be handed out to you when you arrive and you will have to return to your car in order to post them on top of your windshield. This will only have to be done one time if you indicate all the future dates when you register for the parking pass using the online form as described above.

We realize this will be cumbersome the first time, but it will save you from getting a parking ticket.

http://www.gonzaga.edu/Student-Life/Campus-Public-Safety-and-Security/Parking/Temporary-Parking-Pass-Request-Form.asp

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Professionals Still Needed to Host a Student for PRSA "Day on the Job"  

The event is flexible this year with the date for the job shadow to take place in March or the first week in April.  The date also is negotiable between the student and professional.  

The event still culminates with the breakfast meeting on Friday, April 4 and the workshop for students that day.  You can still participate in Day on the Job if you are unable to make the April 4 meeting.  Please let Chris Bieker know by Friday, Feb. 22 if you are interested.  She will match you up with a student.  Send Chris an Email or call (509) 323-3014.

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"I wish people who have trouble communicating...  would just shut up." 
    - Tom Lehrer (1928- )

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