Buzzing About

This past week we were thrillied to take home a total of five awards, including Best of Show from the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s (PRCA) Medallion Awards. We received Best of Show and a Medallion Award for our community relations and media relations for Haint Blue Brewing Company. In addition, we received awards for our work with Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Children’s of Alabama, and Innovation PortAL.

Full list of 2017 PRCA awards include: 

BEST OF SHOW

• Haint Blue Brewing Company – Public Relations

MEDALLION AWARD

• Haint Blue Brewing Company – Public Relations

AWARD OF MERIT

• Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance – Investor Booklet

AWARD OF MERIT

• Children’s of Alabama – Boots & BBQ Barn Bash 2016

AWARD OF MERIT

• Innovation PortAL – Marketing

We're honored to be able to produce award-winning work for our clients, who inspire us daily. The collaboration and partnership we have with them drives our creativity and desire to help them succeed. Whether it be public relations, marketing, or event planning, we'll leave everyone buzzing about your business.

A special thanks to Mighty Advertising for allowing us the opportunity to collaborate with them on the Haint Blue campaign!

December is a month for making lists and checking them twice. As 2016 comes to a close, JJPR has quite the portfolio of work that we’ve created this past year. Our tiny-but-mighty team worked together with the most amazing clients to create smart, resourceful campaigns that are yielding big dividends for their companies. And that warms our hearts.

So, as hard as it was to narrow the list to only 16, here are our top picks from 2016:

1. Innovation PortAL

The Mobile Area Chamber, in their usual forward-thinking, entrepreneurial and economic-development fashion, began efforts in late 2015 for a business accelerator and incubator for the area known as Innovation PortAL. What started as a simple business plan morphed into a full scale branding project and website for this new program. And what’s even more thrilling to JJPR, this program landed national recognition with a $2.9-million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to renovate a building on St. Louis Street in downtown Mobile to house Innovation PortAL. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of helping birth this new program for our area.

2. Haint Blue Brewing

We love front porches and even more than that, sharing a cold one with friends on those porches. So imagine how pumped we were when our friends at Mighty contacted us to help promote Haint Blue Brewing, a new brewing company in Mobile started by Keith Sherrill whose number one objective is to make good porch-drinking beer. Haint Blue Brewing launched a crowdfunding campaign to give investors an opportunity to own a piece of this new microbrewery and build a taproom for Mobile. We had a blast helping source the porches for the video to support the campaign as well as promote Haint Blue’s story in local media outlets in the region to secure investors for a very successful campaign. We can’t wait to see what’s on tap for Haint Blue in 2017.

3. Fuse Project

In the spring of 2016, we began working with Fuse Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children along Alabama’s Gulf Coast through its innovation, funding and projects. We couldn’t be more honored to work with this group of young professionals who give a whole new name to movers and shakers. With events like their annual Dragon Boat Festival and their new high-stakes poker tournament, Fuse Royale, they never cease to amaze us with their innovation in raising funds for our area’s youth. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on these events and much more, as well as helping brand the new Fuse Factory, Mobile’s new nonprofit co-working space.

4. Business Where You Beach

As a Baldwin County, Alabama-based business, we are passionate about being part of projects that help drive the local economy. So we were thrilled to have the opportunity to create a new campaign, Business Where You Beach, to help visitors think about Alabama’s beaches for more than just pleasure. We created an integrated marketing campaign including a new website, print and digital ads and social media, to help create awareness of Baldwin County not only as a premier beach-vacation destination, but as an even better place to live and work. As the nation’s eighth fastest growing MSA
(according to the U.S. Census Bureau), Baldwin County is the prime location for business, a qualified workforce and beautiful beaches to boot.

5. Publicizing the Port

The Alabama State Port Authority is one of our state’s greatest assets and one of JJPR’s as well. Each quarter, we produce the Alabama Seaport magazine, the longest continually published Port magazine in the country. From expansions to new partnerships, the Port is working for us all - whether it is with the quality jobs it brings or the economic impact it yields for our entire region. We’ve started work on a refresh of their ad campaign, so stay tuned in 2017 for more great things from the Port. 

6. Creating Chemistry with BASF

BASF is a 150-year-old company that creates chemistry for us to enjoy many products and solutions that improve our everyday life. This past year, we’ve enjoyed telling their story and the many great things they do in our community every day, from promoting their presence at Worlds of Opportunity, to assisting with production for their Town Hall meetings, to developing sponsored content stories about their work in the community, to providing educational grants for K-12 schools in our area to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. This company does so much every day for our community.

7. A New Look for Safe Harbor

JJPR loves a good story, and the housing community in Bayou La Batre has just that. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, nearly 3,000 Bayou La Batre citizens thrived in this Gulf Coast city on the shores of Alabama, fishing its waters, building ships, and enjoying their hometown. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the community was devastated, with many families left homeless or displaced. Safe Harbor was established in 2008 through a FEMA Affordable Housing Pilot Program (AHPP) grant intended to assist the Bayou La Batre community in the wake of Katrina. 

The initiative was designed to combat homelessness by meeting residents’ immediate needs, as well as by providing the opportunity for permanent, affordable housing solutions. While initially compromised, Safe Harbor has rebuilt and transformed into a reprieve for this once-struggling community. Today, Safe Harbor’s 100 beach cottage-style modular homes provide residents with affordable, safe, and community-driven housing aimed at supporting and improving the lives of Bayou La Batre’s heart and soul – its people.

We were delighted to help rebrand this community program aimed at supporting and improving the lives of those in Bayou La Batre.

8. Perspective Eye Center

We were elated to help Dr. Stephen Gross and Dr. David Helton in their quest to create a new experience in optical care on the Eastern Shore with Perspective Eye Center. JJPR was excited to help develop the new brand for their business with a new logo, website, advertisements and establishing their social media presence. Check them out and see how their innovative care approach can help keep your life in focus.

9. PDQ

Two words: chicken tenders. Whether they are fried or grilled, on a sandwich or by themselves, the team at PDQ creates a fresh take on fast food. PDQ stands for People Dedicated to Quality and we were ecstatic to help promote the only Alabama location of PDQ, located by the South Alabama campus in Mobile. Fresh tours of the restaurant’s kitchen, followed by a tasting, were a huge hit for local media. Our mouths water just thinking about their delicious menu and we always look forward to our next visit.

10. City of Daphne Library The Porch

JJPR was also honored to develop a new branding and promotional campaign for the Daphne Public Library. With nearly 400 public programs and a variety of services utilized by 275,000 visitors annually, the big idea behind the More Than Books campaign is that the library is alive with so much more than just books. And because of the abundance of programs and traffic, the library needs community support to build a new multipurpose meeting space, The Porch. (Visit their GoFundMe page to get in on the action.)

11. Baldwin County Education Coalition

In January, we began working with the Baldwin County Education Coalition, an independent nonprofit organization striving to create a compelling vision for the future of our schools and communities. With a revamped website, betterbaldwin.com, monthly e-newsletters, and promotion for Coalition events throughout the year, JJPR has been honored to help elevate branding and awareness for this organization that is ensuring the future of education in Baldwin County.

12. YMCA

As a nationally recognized organization, we have been honored to promote the YMCA of South Alabama to the community it benefits. From managing social media to promoting and planning events, we’ve gained a new love for the family-first philosophy that supports children and adults in our area. One highlight from this year was helping the wonderful fundraising committee with the second annual Gridiron Gala. Not only was the event a huge success, but we thoroughly enjoyed working as a team with the selfless staff and volunteers at the Y. Rubbing elbows with Eli Gold, Jake Coker and Phil Savage was an added bonus.

13. Infirmary Health

We couldn’t have been more excited when Infirmary Health approached JJPR this year to help rebrand a legacy program of Mobile United. The team worked to rebrand and expand the program as Live Better Together to encompass additional counties in Southwest Alabama. With all-new branding and a revamped website, we’ve worked to help create a brand for this program that aims to positively impact the health and well-being of our region by partnering with community leaders and organizations in efforts to achieve a healthy weight and better access to care in our communities.

14. JJ Eyes

What woman (or man) doesn’t love great eyewear? Whether sunglasses or eyeglasses, the ladies at JJPR love every minute of the research and development that goes into managing the social media for JJ Eyes each month. So if you are in Fairhope or Homewood, stop in at one of their stores to ooh and aah over their eyewear – they bring new meaning to eye candy.

15. Eventful Year for Children’s

Once again our work with Children’s of Alabama tops the list as one of our favorites. Helping promote and support events that benefit young patients and their families who have to travel from the Gulf Coast to Birmingham for medical treatment of serious illnesses makes this work most rewarding. From Tee Off Fore a Cure to Boots & BBQ Barn Bash and Children’s Cup Regatta to the Reel Hope Classic Fishing Tournament, we are thankful for another year and another opportunity to work with Children’s.

16. Port City Rentals

We are in love with the new look we helped develop for this 40-year-old company. Having called on the amazing team at Port City Rentals countless times for client events, we were honored when they called on us to develop an all-new brand for Mobile's largest and oldest full-service tent and event rental company. 

We have been tremendously blessed to work with every single client and every single project this past year, not just these 16. Each one is a collaboration and we are grateful to be part of promoting their companies in Alabama and beyond. Cheers to a joyous 2016 and a Happy New Year in 2017!

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it’s only fitting we take a moment to recognize all we are thankful for here at JJPR—namely, our wonderful clients who keep us busy all year round. And over the past couple of months, we’ve had the opportunity to partner with them on a variety of noteworthy projects, raising funds and awareness for everything from local children’s health care and nonprofit support to new brews in Mobile. Check out what we’ve been buzzing about lately.

Events

Event planning can be hard work, but it’s all worth it in the end—especially when it’s for a good cause. Three of our clients recently held fun events benefiting local children and we were honored to be involved.

Known for its “wow” events (like the annual Dragon Boat Festival), Fuse Project held its inaugural high-stakes poker tournament, Fuse Royale, on October 6 and pulled out all the stops! The exclusive tournament brought together some of the region’s most influential business leaders, raising funds for children across the Gulf Coast over a friendly game of poker. The event raised over $50,000—a portion of which has already gone to benefit local schools. Sarah had fun channeling her inner James Bond to design these cool invitations, and we even tried our hand at wax seals putting it all together!

Children’s of Alabama then held its third annual Boots & BBQ Barn Bash at Camp Grace on October 13. Proceeds from the annual event provide funding for a pediatric rheumatologist to hold clinic in Mobile, allowing easier access to care for children along the Gulf Coast suffering from autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Through social media, some creative media relations tactics and day-of support, we were pleased to see Children’s have another successful Barn Bash. One of our favorite parts was assembling these fun media kits (though we’re still finding hay around the office)!

Less than two weeks later, on October 25, we joined the YMCA of South Alabama for its second annual Gridiron Gala, benefiting children and families across the Gulf Coast. Securing media and event attendance was a breeze given the Y’s impressive lineup of speakers this year, including sportscaster Eli Gold, Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage and keynote motivational speaker Dr. Kevin Elko. We had a great night supporting the Y’s wonderful mission—and rubbing elbows with Eli Gold was definitely a perk!

To learn more about how we put events like these together (and for some exclusive tricks of the trade), download our free Event Planning Workbook or get in touch!

Campaigns

In addition to events, some of our clients have taken to social media recently to enlist community support.

For example, we’ve been hard at work branding and promoting the Daphne Public Library’s new More Than Books campaign. The idea behind the campaign is twofold: first, that the library is alive with so much more than just books (in fact, it’s home to nearly 400 public programs and a variety of services utilized by 275,000 visitors annually); and second, that because of this traffic, the library needs community support to build its new multipurpose meeting space, The Porch. Check out some of creative wizard Sarah’s designs for the campaign here.

To learn more, follow the library on Facebook or visit the campaign’s GoFundMe page.

Fuse Project has also been active in the community and on social media lately with the grand opening of its new nonprofit co-working space Fuse Factory, its Order of Fuse Fall Gala, and its new Fuel the Fuse campaign. Coinciding with Giving Tuesday, Fuel the Fuse is all about giving back and recognizing the great work Fuse Project does for the community’s most valuable resource—our children. Through large fundraising events like the annual Dragon Boat Festival and through partnering with other local nonprofits, Fuse supports children across the Gulf Coast. Learn more by following Fuse on social media and checking out their fundraising page.

New Work

When not campaigning for children and literacy, we’ve also been at work supporting one of the coolest new businesses in Mobile—Haint Blue Brewing Company. Fearless leader and Army veteran Keith Sherrill founded Haint Blue last year and is now poised to establish Mobile’s first microbrewery since prohibition. The company has secured the historic 1927 Crystal Ice House as its production space and aims to open doors by Mardi Gras 2017. You may have already seen Keith sitting down with neighbors and sharing a brew, and we hope you’ll join us in toasting the success of Haint Blue! The company is currently seeking investors to fund the project, and has already raised more than $200,000! Learn more about how you can get involved and help build Mobile’s taproom here.

Haint Blue | Taproom Project from John Avent on Vimeo.

We’ve also been thankful to work with another new up-and-coming business in the Mobile-Baldwin region, Perspective Eye Center. Run by Doctors Stephen Gross and David Helton, Perspective aims to provide top quality vision care to patients of all ages, and is opening doors in Spanish Fort soon. We’ve had some fun with branding, logo and website design and just finished the company’s landing page—stay tuned for the full site!

Staff

In addition to the exciting work and wonderful clients, I’m also grateful for the lovely ladies who make it all happen. In recognition of all their hard work, we’ve had some exciting news in the office lately. We recently named Leigh our first-ever managing director. She will now serve as the operational lead for the agency, helping to align business development and client relationships with the overall success of the agency. At the same time, we brought on Taylor full-time as an account coordinator. Having interned with us since spring, Taylor has proven to be an invaluable addition to the team with her hardworking, always ready to lend-a-hand nature, as well as her marketing and social media talents. I can’t say how thankful I am for each one of our special JJPR team members.

Enjoy the holiday and we’ll see you in the next All the Buzz!

Somehow, summer is already coming to a close. It seems as if back-to-school campaigns and pumpkin spice latte advertisements have been popping up everywhere the past few weeks (even in Alabama, where sipping on a PSL in 90 degree weather just doesn’t seem quite right). But even though summer is winding down, business has been ramping up. Client events, new work and personal milestones have kept us buzzing in and out of the office at lightening speed. Check out what we’ve been up to lately.

Events

All of our event planning this summer culminated in one especially exciting weekend August 26-28. The second annual Reel Hope Classic fishing tournament kicked off with a Captain’s meeting and pre-party on Friday, August 26 before fishermen and junior anglers took to the seas on Saturday. The tournament raised more than $30,000 for pediatric cancer patients at Children’s of Alabama, and we were pleased to be part of this great event. And while our involvement was on the PR side, Taylor and I even got up the nerve to hold some prized fish on the podium.

At the same time, JJPR also had a presence at Mobile’s first Startup Weekend event, which ran from Friday to Sunday. Powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, Startup Weekend is a business pitch competition and educational experience for entrepreneurs that is hosted all over the world. We were excited to get involved with this great event and will be providing 10 hours of pro-bono public relations and event management services to the winning team, Conference Cash.

From dragon boat races to nonprofit fundraisers and business pitch competitions, we’ve done a little bit of everything this summer. Check out our Event Planning Workbook to learn about some of our best practices and event planning strategies.  

Work

It’s safe to say we’ve been blessed to work with some fabulous clients, old and new. And new clients have been streaming in from a variety of sectors recently. While we can’t reveal too much just yet, we can say that we’ve been hard at work crafting new branding concepts and campaign ideas that we can’t wait to unveil!

In the meantime, one of our exciting recent projects for existing client Fuse Project has been the branding of the organization’s new nonprofit co-working space, Fuse Factory, slated to open in fall 2016. From naming the space and designing the logo to brainstorming ideas for the interior, we’ve had a lot of fun bringing Fuse Factory to life.

Babies & Weddings & Shows, Oh My! 

Amidst all the excitement of event planning and new work, it’s also been a very special month for the team. Kelsey and her husband Andrew celebrated the birth of their first baby, Everett Grant, on August 1, and we were lucky to be among the first to meet their new bundle of joy when they got home. Welcome baby Everett!

Less than two weeks later, I flew up north for my wedding. I married my new husband, Tyler, on August 12 at Aldrich Mansion in Warwick, Rhode Island, and have been on cloud nine ever since! Our honeymoon to Italy has been postponed to the fall (hopefully!), but we enjoyed a “mini-moon” in New York the day after the wedding, where we got to see Wicked on Broadway and explore the city. The magic didn’t stop when I returned to work—the lovely ladies of JJPR decorated my desk and bought me beautiful flowers, and one of our amazing clients, Innovation PortAL, was also kind enough to bring flowers and a card. Thank you everyone!

Speaking of marriage, both Jennifer and Leigh celebrated wedding anniversaries recently. Somehow, Jennifer’s been married over twice as long as Leigh, though both are as happy as newlyweds! Meanwhile, Sarah has been hard at work rehearsing for her next theater performance in Chickasaw Civic Theatre’s upcoming rendition of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Creative maven by day, theater star by night—we are always impressed with her talent!

Keep up with us in next month’s All the Buzz!

Starting a new job is always an adjustment, but when a Yankee starts working in the Deep South, each day is an adventure. Born and raised just outside of Boston, I recently relocated to the Gulf Coast, and JJPR was kind enough to take in this northerner as their new public relations account coordinator. 

I’ve found the field of public relations to be the same anywhere—making media lists, writing content for clients and strategizing the best avenues for exposure. But in these first couple of weeks on the job, I’ve definitely noticed differences between office life in Alabama and Massachusetts.

That presentation isn’t “wicked good,” but it’s “real nice, y’all.” 

Language is one of the biggest distinctions between my coworkers and me. I’m sure they’ve wondered what “wicked” is all about, or why I sometimes don’t pronounce my “R’s.” At the same time, I’m enthralled listening to them talk about buying “john johns” for their children while pulling out their “billfolds.” (Boston translation: “overalls” and “wallets”).

I’ve also had to learn how to pronounce local cities like “Bayou La Batre” correctly.

Side note: I can now better appreciate when people new to Massachusetts don’t know how to say towns like “Peabody” and “Gloucester.”

Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A is to the South what Dunkins is to the Northeast: You can always count on one being nearby, and it helps get you through your workday.  Of course, trading my DD caramel swirl iced coffee for sweet tea and waffle fries hasn’t been easy on my waistline, but it’s sure been delicious.

Small Town vs. Big City  

In my Boston-area internships and jobs, our big-name clients were usually represented by disembodied voices in conference calls. In Daphne, Alabama, our clients are friends, neighbors, coworkers and community leaders. Everyone knows everyone else, and making connections is much easier.

Earlier this week, my friends in Massachusetts scraped snow and ice off their cars and journeyed to work bundled up in heavy overcoats and hats. Meanwhile, I thought it was a little chilly for Alabama and wore capris instead of a dress to the office. I still haven’t rivaled my coworkers’ awesome senses of style, but I’m inspired to go shopping now that I can trade winter boots for heels. 

Commuting

I’ve finally escaped congested Boston streets and parking garages for wide-open spaces and farmland. My commute still takes me about an hour, but now it’s to go 58 miles instead of 13, and I don’t even have to bang any U-ies on my drive in. Now, “whatever all” you guys think, that’s pretty cool. 

Despite these differences, both Massachusetts and Alabama have been great to me. I’ve had wonderful jobs, coworkers, and bosses in each, and while I’ll always be a Boston girl at heart, I’m loving the Southern hospitality here at JJPR. 

Academic experience is invaluable. On the job training? Even better. However, being the intern can be intimidating, especially when you’re working alongside professionals who have been rocking the industry for years. So when I first began my internship at JJPR in May 2015, I knew I had to bring my A-game. I channeled my butterflies into excitement and worked hard to tackle every task sent my way with 110% effort. Samantha Jones depicted life in the PR world as all glitz, glam and mega parties, though I have come to find out it’s so much more challenging than she led on. So, without further ado, here are my top five takeaways and the best advice I can share with future interns or newbies in the communications field…

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, but be self-sufficient.

As the saying goes, “there is no such thing as a stupid question.” I have to disagree just a bit. Yes, asking questions shows that you are involved and eager to learn more. Being curious also shows you are critically thinking and engaging in your work. BUT, it’s important to do some of your own research in finding answers. The PR office is a bustling one, as we all work to meet deadlines and run off to meet with clients. I never want to slow down the process unless totally necessary. So before running to ask a coworker how to create a new Excel spreadsheet or how to start the printer, I always refer to our beloved friend Google, first.

Do the tedious stuff.

This one I cannot stress enough. As the intern, I am often assigned ho-hum, but absolutely necessary, tasks. Building media lists, distributing news releases and picking up pops from Sonic (*pop translates to ‘soft drink’ in Chicago lingo) can sometimes feel menial. In reality, these less than glam tasks are vital and are to be done graciously. Interns can do themselves and their colleagues a serious professional favor by bringing a “will-do” attitude to the office. Trust me, your coworkers and boss will notice your hard work and will be utterly thankful to have you in the office. So, take out the trash with a smile on your face! Don’t ever be too good for the grunt work.

You WILL make mistakes.

We are human, and humans make mistakes. That’s just the reality of life. This is no excuse to skip out on proofing an article or failing to double/triple check the date on a media alert before sending off, but it does mean that even when you try your hardest we still mess up from time to time. That’s how we learn. (*I am still recovering from the time I sent out a mass email that stated the news release was ‘alter’ instead of ‘attached’...)

To-do lists are your best friends.

As is your daily planner, Google calendar, color coordinated file folders, etc. What do these all have in common? Organization. To combat the overload of tasks and meetings, having a system of organization helps you avoid getting lost in the jumble. Keep an outline of tasks and to-dos to stay focused. Whether you go old school with a pen and paper, or use your Notes app on your MacBook, be aware of what you have to do in order to work efficiently and stay on track.

It’s tooootally okay to have a little (or a lot) of fun in the workplace.

Fun and work in the same sentence? Uhm, yes! Let me be the first to tell you, JJPR girls know fun. *Cue the mimosas at status meetings, puhlease!* Business is business, but that surely doesn’t mean we can’t mix a little spunk in the office. Especially in our industry, where we are constantly thinking of new and creative ways of doing things, fun is key. Forging real relationships at work can make you genuinely anticipate the start of each workday and also create some of the happiest, most productive employees! I can attest to this.

I can never truly express my gratitude for the lovely ladies of JJPR and all the wisdom and guidance they’ve given me. I truly have learned from the best. Badass CEO and #GIRLBOSS, Sophia Amoruso, summed it all up when she said, “You combine hard work, creativity, and self-determination, and things start to happen.” Go make things happen!

As 2015 comes to a close, reflecting on the portfolio of work that has been created by the JJPR team is, well, humbling. Our small but mighty team works collaboratively with some amazing clients to create smart, resourceful campaigns that ultimately help their bottom line. And that makes us smile.

So, while it was hard to narrow the list, here are our top 15 picks from 2015:

Advancing Southwest Alabama

 The future of manufacturing in the Southwest Alabama region is bright and people are taking notice. After the Southwest Alabama region received a national designation by the U.S. Department of Commerce as one of the first 12 “Manufacturing Communities in the U.S.” through the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships (IMCP), JJPR was honored to name and brand this designation for our region, (IMCP didn’t quite roll off the tongue). After lots of research and development, the committee selected Advancing Southwest Alabama as the name of Southwest Alabama’s manufacturing community initiative and chose this logo to brand themselves. We also had the opportunity to develop a website to promote manufacturing successes in our region.

Publicizing the Port

We would be remiss if we didn’t include the Alabama State Port Authority on our list. Each quarter, we enjoy producing the Alabama Seaport magazine, the longest continually published Port magazine in the country, as well as producing their advertising and placing media. From expansions to new partnerships, being part of this vital economic driver for our local, regional and national economy is pretty sweet, kind of like our iced tea.

Creating Chemistry with BASF

 In mid-2015, we began working with the world’s leading chemical company, BASF, and their McIntosh, Alabama, operations. This 150-year-old company creates chemistry that enables us to enjoy many products and solutions that contribute to improving our quality of life. And we’re enjoying telling their story and the many great things they do in our community every day, from sponsoring the BASF Kids Lab at the Gulf Coast Exploreum to providing educational grants for K-12 schools in our area to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning.

Power it Up

This year we had the opportunity to work with Baldwin EMC, the largest electric cooperative in the state of Alabama and one of the fastest-growing electric cooperatives in the nation, on a couple of fun, creative projects that were also aimed at helping our community. We teamed up with their awesome internal marketing team to build two creative campaigns to convey the Power of Giving.

Land in Baldwin

As a Baldwin County, Alabama-based business, we are passionate about being part of projects that help drive the local economy. So we got a little giddy when we had the opportunity to create new branding and a website for the South Alabama MegaSite, a 3009-acre Certified MegaSite and Advantage Site strategically located on the I-10 aerospace and automotive corridor with easy access to the Port of Mobile, air, and rail. We know people are going to find that Baldwin County is shovel ready.

The Camellia Company

What woman in the South doesn’t swoon over beautiful heirloom children’s clothing? Well, the ladies at JJPR can easily say we loved every minute of the research and development that went into branding this new children’s clothing line that is being developed right here in the Port City by two savvy female entrepreneurs. Let’s just say if you are a fan of bonnets, monograms, and signature polos, you will go crazy over this new line.

Eventful Year for Children’s

We have a soft spot for children - that’s why our work with Children’s of Alabama is naturally one of our favorites. Helping promote and support events that benefit young patients and their families who have to travel from the Gulf Coast to Birmingham for medical treatment of serious illnesses makes this work most rewarding. From Tee Off Fore a Cure to Barn Bash and Children’s Cup Regatta to the first-ever Reel Hope Classic Fishing Tournament, we were honored to be part of these events for Children’s which exceeded expectations for support and attendance.

Celebrating Milestones

2015 marks the 20^th anniversary for Hargrove Engineers + Constructors. If there has ever been an entrepreneurial success story, this is it and we love having the opportunity to tell this story. From its humble beginnings in 1995 with two people and a big idea based out of a home office in Mobile, Alabama, Hargrove has grown to more than 1,150 team members in 11 locations throughout the U.S. Hargrove provides unparalleled service in engineering, procurement, construction management, and technical services in the industrial, commercial, and government sectors, and its mantra of “the Right People, in the Right Place, at the Right Time” results in collaborative partnerships with amazing results.

Bean-Counting Branding

Accounting definitely doesn’t have to be boring, at least that is what we decided when we had the opportunity to work on this new brand for Hieronymus CPAs, a Mobile-based accounting firm led by father and son accountants Mark and Brooks Hieronymus. Hieronymus CPAs has built their business on the same values as JJPR – a focus on providing quality customer service to local companies, small and large, with the expertise of supersize firms, all while keeping family priority.

Branding the Eastern Shore

Representing the voice of all business on the Eastern Shore, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce engaged us to help develop a new brand identity for the Chamber. After conducting primary and secondary research, we’ve developed a new brand for the organization as well as for their new investment program to communicate the Chamber’s identity as a service organization providing beneficial services to their members to promote business development. Additionally, the brand will help convey them as a flexible, dynamic organization promoting business, building community relationships, advocating on behalf of business, and advancing tourism and workforce development for our area. We can’t wait until they throw back the veil in early 2016 on the new brand.

Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation

We love a meaty research project, and we were honored when the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation approached us to help gain insight through primary, quantitative research to set priorities for the Foundation’s programming and best create messaging that resonates with its audiences for strategic planning and marketing efforts.

Innovation PortAL

Our team worked with a group of visionary leaders to help develop the business plan for Innovation PortAL, a new business incubator and accelerator for the South Alabama region. We are currently working on the brand identity, so stay tuned for the reveal in 2016. In the meantime, you can learn a little more at this landing page we created at www.innovation-portal.com.

DISC for Daphne

We love when a big idea comes together, so we were pumped when the Daphne City Council approved the new Daphne Innovation and Science Complex (DISC), a 30-acre technology park that will offer high-end office space on the Eastern Shore ultimately drawing businesses that will bring thousands of high-paying jobs right here to our community. Helping build a brand identity and collateral materials to market DISC, we were excited to be part of what is anticipated to be a major catalyst for economic development in our area.

No Bodies Please

When two super-smart female entrepreneurs with healthcare credentials using every letter of the alphabet walk into your office to brand their new company, the first word that comes to mind might be intimidating. So we had to ask all the right questions and make sure we pinpointed exactly what they were looking for in their brand. Our favorite part of the kick off meeting was when they said “no bodies please” - we knew we were going to adore this client. We must have nailed it because this project for Specialized Therapy Services goes down in the books as the quickest decision ever on a branding project. These ladies know exactly what they want and we can’t wait to watch their business flourish.

Put a Tent On It

Having called on our friends John and Brad and their amazing team over at Port City Rentals countless times for client events, the tables (and tents) were turned when they called on us to develop an all-new brand for Mobile's largest and oldest full-service tent and event rental company. We die for this new look we’re putting on this 40-year-old company, and we think you will too.

We have been tremendously blessed to work with every single client and every single project this past year, not just these 15. Each one is a collaboration and for that we are grateful to be part of sharing their products and services with the world. And we can’t wait to continue those collaborations in 2016. Happy New Year!

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston S. Churchill

Each day, fulfilling our clients’ needs brings us a sense of pride and accomplishment. We love what we do. And it keeps food on the table. But, in addition to our 9-5, we each try to make giving to others a priority. Not because it’s “the right thing to do,” but because it’s what makes the world go round. As 2016 approaches, we’re reflecting on 2015 with hopes that we can share more joy in the New Year.

(For Christmas this year, we made a donation to the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile in honor of our clients.)

Big Brothers Big Sisters 

We helped develop a theme for their first-ever annual “Big” campaign and walk to encourage people to join in the Big Brothers Big Sisters initiative. The theme: Start Something Big - Give One. Get One. Be One. We also helped design the T-shirt for their walk.

Camp Grace’s Yellow Day 

For the second year, we helped promote and develop materials for Camp Grace’s annual Yellow Day event, celebrating the many camps and charitable organizations that host camps at Camp Grace each year. 

Baldwin County Task Force 

JJ was appointed to a community group of engaged Baldwin County citizens charged to study the public education system and make solid recommendations to advance education in our community. The recommendations they made are now being acted upon in the school system and great progress is being made!

Children's of Alabama 

In addition to being a longtime client, JJPR sponsors several local events benefiting young patients who have to travel to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham for medical treatment of serious illnesses. We help with their social media and PR needs to spread the word within our community. Jessica and Kelsey volunteer on the Tee Off Fore a Cure committee helping plan and implement the event. This year the 10^th annual Tee Off raised $78,000!

Kelsey also volunteered on the planning committee for the first-ever Reel Hope Classic fishing tournament, which exceeded expectations for support and attendance!

Red Shoe Society 

Leigh, Kelsey and Jessica are members of the Red Shoe Society, which is the young leaders' arm of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Red Shoe Society is committed to creating awareness and raising funds for the House through a variety of social and volunteer activities. In 2015, all three served on the Red Shoe Brew committee, with Leigh serving as chair and Jessica designing the logo. The team is already committed to helping with the House's largest fundraiser in 2016 - Little Black Dress.

We also chose the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile to make a contribution on our clients' behalf for Christmas this year. The JJPR team donated new bedding for a guest room and toys for Santa's Workshop, a place where parents staying at the house can come and pick up Christmas gifts for their children to open on Christmas Day. (Cue the tears.)

Community Foundation of South Alabama 

JJ serves on the board of the Community Foundation of South Alabama, which assembles and directs philanthropic assets to make southwest Alabama a better place. The entire JJPR team was instrumental in helping with their annual meeting in 2015 and 2014, including developing materials for and promoting the event.

Impact 100

Each year, JJPR assists Impact 100, an organization of women committed to making a significant, lasting difference in the lives of Baldwin County citizens, in promoting its activities including the annual membership drive and the impactful grants awarded each year to local non-profits, providing them the financial resources to accomplish extraordinary things. JJ is also giving back through her membership dues, which are used in their entirety for those awesome grants.

We’re always looking for more ways to give back. We’d love to hear your stories of giving back this past year. Let’s share the joy that is the spirit of this season and take it into 2016!

JJPR, based in Daphne, Ala., took home a total of four awards from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Lantern Awards held Tuesday, Sept. 23, at The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear, Ala. SPRF’s Lantern Awards recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations from professionals in Alabama, northwest Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

JJPR received the program’s top award, the Lantern Award, for design and development of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance’s quarterly newsletter, Baldwin Insider Quarterly, as well as for the event planning and promotion for Yellow Day, The Movie.

“We are honored to be able to collaborate with amazing clients everyday,” said JJPR President Jennifer Jenkins, APR. “Great clients equal great work.”

JJPR’s full list of 2015 SPRF awards include:

LANTERN AWARDS
• Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance – BIQ Newsletter
• Yellow Day, The Movie – Movie Premiere

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
• JJ Eyes – Logo Development

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
• Children’s of Alabama – Tee Off Fore A Cure Event

The Southern Public Relations Federation is a network of public relations professionals from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi in member organizations including the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA), the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO), the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM). JJPR has been a member of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) since the agency’s inception, and the agency’s president, Jennifer Jenkins, APR, is a past president of PRCA and president-elect of SPRF.

JJPR, based in Daphne, Ala., took home a total of four awards including a Judges’ Choice Award from the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s (PRCA) Medallion Awards held Thursday, April 2, at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. PRCA’s Medallion Awards recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations from professionals throughout the state of Alabama.

JJPR received a Judges’ Award and a Medallion Award for its event promotion for Children’s of Alabama’s Tee Off Fore A Cure. In addition, the agency received awards for its work with Yellow Day, the Movie and Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.

“Our clients inspire us everyday, and we’re honored to be able to produce award-winning work for them,” said JJPR President Jennifer Jenkins, APR. “Our focus on client collaboration and partnership produces creativity and results for our client’s bottom line.”

JJPR’s full list of 2015 PRCA awards include:

JUDGES CHOICE AWARD & MEDALLION AWARD
• Children’s of Alabama – Tee Off Fore A Cure Event

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
• Yellow Day, The Movie – Movie Premiere

AWARD OF MERIT
• Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance – BIQ Newsletter

The Public Relations Council of Alabama is a network of more than 500 public relations professionals with six chapters throughout Alabama. JJPR has been a member of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) since the agency’s inception, and the agency’s president, Jennifer Jenkins, APR, is a past president of PRCA’s statewide organization as well as the PRCA Mobile chapter.