Recently, MP&F Senior Vice President Jennifer Brantley and Vice President Javier Solano led separate industry-related information-sharing sessions with Nashville’s governmental, corporate and nonprofit communicators. Brantley was on a panel that discussed how best to create an outstanding Parthenon Award entry. The Parthenons are annual awards from the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Brantley led the MP&F team that won the 2016 Parthenon “Best-in-Show” award for the Kirkland’s #Christmasland Blogger Campaign. Also serving on a panel with Brantley were Shannon Sumrall, corporate communications manager, Metro Nashville Airport Authority; Crystal Ghassemi, APR, senior manager of public relations, …

Recently, I had the opportunity to address a group of community banking executives on social media best practices at the Tennessee Bankers Association biannual roundtable event. It was an engaged group of 40 or so bankers from across the state, and they asked some great questions. Following are some of the high points of our discussion. With limited time and resources, small-town banks – or any small business – can’t do everything on social media, nor should they. Make your social media channels work for you with these tips and recommendations. Consider your resources. Don’t create presences on every network …

There are two ways to gain perspective: Experience and Altitude. MP&F has both. Join us in 2017 as we celebrate our 30th anniversary by sharing the View From 30. “Nobody cares about your anniversary.”           – Anonymous MP&F Pessimist That pessimistic, but true, statement was one of the shiniest of the gold nuggets to come out of our initial planning sessions for MP&F’s 30th anniversary, which began on January 1, 2017. That statement has endured as our guiding mantra, reminding us that, in order to leverage our anniversary to engage external audiences – to make you …

It’s been a banner year for MP&F! In 2016, we helped more than 100 clients across a variety of industries connect with their audiences through media relations, advertising, social media, web design, event management, community relations, grassroots outreach, video and more. We’re proud to share these highlights with you: Thank you for your support! Your friends at MP&F Public Relations

2016 was a big year for obvious reasons, many of which either were discussed on social media or involved social media in some facet. Personally, I’m obsessed with keeping up with social media trends, and at MP&F we want to make sure we are always one step ahead of the trends so we can guide our clients in the right direction when it comes to digital strategy. Here are the main social media trends I was intrigued by in 2016. 1.) The rise of Instagram Here’s the deal: Facebook is still the reigning king with 79 percent of online adults’ …

At MP&F, our staff is organized into two teams, 1 and 2. This is done for a few reasons, mainly organizational. At every annual company retreat, typically held the first week of December, teams 1 and 2 go head to head in a friendly, but competitive series of games. Since team 1 took the trophy last year, my team colleagues and I decided to ratchet it down a notch, so our friends on team 2 could take the edge off last year’s loss. Win or lose, these friendly competitions all fit well into MP&F’s company culture of having fun and …

Most college students hear the mantra “network, network, network” if you want to get a job after graduation. And while most graduates hear what their professors are saying, actually diving in and doing it is a different thing. But it works. Let me tell you how I got my first several internships and, now, my first real job. From internships at Fletcher Rowley, Inc., a political consulting firm, to the Tennessee General Assembly with Sen. Jeff Yarbro, and now at MP&F, my network has helped me climb the ladder. That’s not to say I didn’t work hard or do everything …

PR life can be busy, hectic and challenging. But we love it. Now that mobile is the new desktop, apps have become our best friends. So I took an internal poll: What are your favorite apps that lessen your stress? Facebook and Instagram, we love you. But you were omitted since almost all of us use you. One thing I learned is that MP&Fers are hardworking, multitasking and multifaceted. We love to track our fitness goals, navigate around the infamous Nashville traffic, check social media, manage personal finances, be entertained and manage to-do lists. Below is a list of the …

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Foundation and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) named MP&F Partner Keith Miles as the 2016 Dr. Frederick H. Teahan Outstanding Professional Adviser for his work with the Belmont University PRSSA chapter. The award is based on a professional adviser’s exemplary display and encouragement of professional attitudes and behavior, development of increased contact between professionals and students, successful promotion of PRSA Associate Membership, supportive student advocacy and representation within the PRSA sponsor chapter, and general display of concern for the student chapter and its members. Miles is currently serving in his second year …

MP&F Public Relations has, not one, but two people named to the prestigious Nashville Business Journal Power 100 list this year. Partner Katy Varney and Account Supervisor and Metro Councilman Colby Sledge were named to the Power 100, now in its second year. Varney also made the 2015 list. The NBJ looked at Nashvillians who have the biggest impact in the business community by wielding influence through their connections, positions or wealth. In the listing, NBJ wrote of Varney: … As a partner at one of the city’s most prominent public relations firms, it’s Katy Varney’s job to shape the …