Month: July 2019

The five awards worth your time this summer | eNews from OWC

Posted on July 24, 2019 by - eNewsletter

The Emmy nominations were just released last week, and while our office is buzzing over “Game of Thrones'” 32 nominations and disappointed over “Big Little Lies” missing the eligibility date, we’ve got our eyes on other kinds of prizes. The entertainment industry knows how to makes a splash, but awards and lists are important to businesses too. They boost employee morale and attract talent. Everyone wants to work with a winner.

Deadlines loom for the following. Make these a part of your summer marketing effort:

Entrepreneur360 (Due July 26) – Entrepreneur takes a global approach in selecting finalists for its annual Entrepreneur360 list. It is a 360-degree analysis of companies based in the U.S. The magazine’s editors use quantitative and qualitative info “by looking at your hard numbers as well as ‘soft’ determinants such as impact, innovation and leadership.” The deadline is July 26 and there is a $99 fee to submit.

Modern Healthcare Top 25 Emerging Leaders (Due July 29) – No other industry is evolving as quickly or changing as dramatically as healthcare. Modern Healthcare recognizes those who are carrying the torch and spearheading that change. Applicants must be under the age of 40 as of July 29, 2019 and working in any sector of healthcare, including providers, insurers, vendors and suppliers. Judging is based on: (1) specific actions the nominee took this year to help the organization achieve or exceed financial, operational and clinical goals and (2) specific steps the nominee has taken to establish or contribute to a culture of innovation and transformation. The deadline is July 29 with a nomination fee of $100.

Fast Company Most Innovative Companies (Due August 16) – Companies across all fields, be it architecture, robotics and transportation, all vie for one of the most recognized programs in business – the Most Innovative Companies list from Fast Company. The judges are the magazine’s editors and reporters who will consider how the innovation has impacted the company, industry and society. Over 400 companies were recognized last year. You may think you can’t compete on this list, but small and innovative companies have succeeded in the past, such as Winc, Arterys and Sonder. This year, early submissions are due on August 16 at a $495 fee.

Global M&A Network’s M&A Atlas Awards (Due August 30) – The Global M&A Network hosts the annual Atlas Awards to honor the best deals, dealmakers, firms and leaders in the Americas. Now in its 11th year, winners are celebrated in a gala celebration in October. Deals must have been closed by July 30, 2019 for consideration. Firms can vie for various honors, such as Investment Banker of the Year, M&A Deal of the Year, Private Equity Firm of the Year, among others. There is no fee to apply and the deadline is August 30.

Award opportunities in regional business journals (Deadlines vary) – The who’s who in business rely on their local business journal to be in the know on the latest deals, events and trendsetters. Business journals around the country have multiple award programs for all industries, c-suite categories like Best CIO, Best CFO and Best Places to Work. The awards often culminate in events that offer opportunities for networking among the business leaders. Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Orange County and Silicon Valley all have opportunities. Deadlines vary and typically do not have any fee to submit.

Winning means you have something exciting to share on your website, social platforms, pitch decks and in your internal communications.

The Tangent Agency’s Marc Becker on why you need both creativity and data to drive marketing solutions

Posted on July 24, 2019 by - Client News

Today’s businesses are trying to find the best way to balance the mountain of data and statistical analysis with creative out-of-the-box ideas, all while never losing sight of the artistry and emotional components that go into smart marketing.

In this digital age, data has evolved from human-led surveys and focus groups to “big data” powered by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and automation. Today, marketers can tap into the internet and social media, which some have brilliantly called the world’s largest testing ground and focus group. It’s tempting to make every decision based on analytics because of the advances in machine learning and robots that can not only gather data but analyze it. But data should be used as a tool that informs the creative instead of relying on it to make the decisions for you.

It can be a confusing time for businesses that want to rely more on data than creativity, or creatives who want to lean on their own understanding and preferences. In his latest article for Forbes, The Tangent Agency’s Marc Becker explains why you need to pay attention to the numbers, but not lose your soul along the way.

Read the full article: Creativity Meets Data, A Love Story: Four Reasons Why You Need Both To Drive Marketing Solutions (Forbes)

 

CURE Pharmaceutical secures patent on oral thin films

Posted on July 18, 2019 by - Client News

CURE Pharmaceutical (OTC:CURR), an innovative drug delivery and development company, today announced the allowance of U.S. Application No. 15/666,057, which covers edible thin films with natural active ingredients located in both a powder coating and the film matrix for a bi-phasic release profile.

“With an increased consumer demand for natural wellness products, one of our areas of focus is to improve the delivery plant components and extracts in novel ways,” said Rob Davidson, CEO at CURE Pharmaceutical. “With this patent, we continue to build out our capabilities and IP portfolio around phyto-actives.”

Read the full article: CURE Pharma secures patent on oral thin films (Seeking Alpha)

Abiomed’s Impella part of groundbreaking clinical trial

Posted on July 18, 2019 by - Client News

A new clinical trial to improve treatment of cardiogenic shock is taking place at hospitals including St. Joseph Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center. These Washington hospitals are among the first in the country to adopt the National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative Study’s best practice protocol, which shows a 72 percent survival rate.

This protocol includes placing the world’s smallest heart pump, called the Impella, identifying shock early, and minimizing the use of inotropes. Because cardiogenic shock is the leading cause of death in heart attack patients — and because there have been no improvements made to patient outcomes for 40 years — this clinical trial could lead to a huge breakthrough in medicine.

See the full article: Groundbreaking Clinical Trial at St. Joseph Medical Center (South Sound Magazine)

George Smith Partners on Phoenix construction deals

Posted on July 12, 2019 by - Client News

A few years ago, securing construction debt was a challenge in Phoenix, but today, lenders are actively chasing deals. The capital markets appetite illustrates the evolution of the Phoenix market. Scott Meredith of George Smith Partners recently secured a $67.3 million construction loan for the development of a 254-unit 14-story multifamily property in Phoenix. The non-bank lender deal is a great example of the capital activity in the market.

“The market is diverse,” Meredith, an SVP at George Smith Partners, tells GlobeSt.com. “It is not just big money center banks or life companies looking for class-A deals in gateway cities. It isn’t that confined. It is a more varied appetite from the capital markets with everything from high net worth individuals entering the construction lending space to insurance companies and money center banks and everything in between. The beauty of this capital markets today is that there is capital for a broad range of transactions.”

Read the full article: Lenders Open Up to Phoenix Construction Deals (GlobeSt.com)

How to Create a “Guerilla” Influencer Campaign | eNews from OWC

Posted on July 11, 2019 by - eNewsletter

“Influencer marketing” taps consumer trust by linking a company to the power of expertise, fame or taste. Influencers work for a wide range of business models and strategies and, just like an advertising campaign, the sky’s the limit on how much you can spend.

The first name in influencer marketing is Kim Kardashian, who charges up to $750k to promote a consumer product in a single post. Since the products endorsed – from vitamins and skin care products to waist trainers – typically sell out immediately, brands see it as a guaranteed return on investment.

Industry-specific influencers can have just as much impact for businesses but also come with a hefty price tag. Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy charges brands like Intel, Microsoft and Canon tens of thousands of dollars for a single post to his nearly 15 million YouTube subscribers. He “unwraps” the latest consumer and B2B tech products, reviewing their specs, durability and function.

Another way to tap into influencers is to have your public relations team reach out to key industry influencers just as you do to reporters and news outlets. Influencers need fresh content to stay relevant, so collaborating with them is a two-way street that drives traffic to both.

Since 90 percent of B2B purchases are influenced by word of mouth, here are four guerilla tactics to build a budget-friendly influencer campaign:

  • Use products and demos to pay: Some influencers become a brand advocate when offered the first look at a new product or free demo of a service.
  • Offer a commission: Influencer commissions can be negotiated on sales resulting from posts, generating a win-win since both parties have skin in the game.
  • Throw a party: Convince a targeted influencer to venture out by hosting an event at a great venue, serving unique food and promising free product to take home.
  • Or crash someone else’s: Research events or tradeshows where key influencers will be the guests of honor and push to have your product included in gifting lounges or gift bags.

These approaches work best with bloggers, authors, academics, passionate patient advocacy groups, non-profits and activists. Marketing must be flexible and strategic when it comes to creative direction to keep the influencer’s authenticity.

Pet Releaf on Colorado’s Own Channel 2 “Daybreak”

Posted on July 10, 2019 by - Client News

Pet Releaf’s mission is to change what healthy means for pets. By providing the highest-quality CBD hemp oil products for dogs and cats, they’re doing just that. Pet Releaf believes in healing from the inside out and that starts with paying close attention to what exactly we are putting into our pets’ bodies.

Spurred by their own dog Mattie’s arthritis and her reaction to opioid medications, Pet Releaf founders Alina and Steve Smith sought effective, natural alternatives. The frustration of trying to find truly healthy choices caused them to create their own organic CBD-infused treats – leading to the company’s inception and the launch of the new products.

Pet Releaf™ is a family and employee-owned business, based in Denver, Colo. The company was co-founded by Alina and Steve Smith in 2015 to provide truly healthy products for pet companions – products that will always be made with honesty and integrity.

Watch the full clip below.

Saban Community Clinic’s Armen Arshakyan, MD on flesh-eating bacteria and lowering your risk

Posted on July 3, 2019 by - Client News

Flesh-eating bacteria cases pop up more in the summer because the little guys are often found in warm bodies of water. That’s also why they can be found in raw shellfish, many of which reside in warm or brackish water. These kinds of infections are more common in southern states, like Florida and Texas, though that may be changing.

Skin injuries (everything from cuts and scrapes to abrasions, surgical incisions, and open wounds) are one of the primary ways for troublesome bacteria to enter your bloodstream, says Armen Arshakyan, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Saban Community Clinic in Los Angeles.

Read the full article: This Is Exactly How You Can Contract Flesh-Eating Bacteria—And How To Lower Your Risk (Women’s Health)

Abiomed helps set new protocol to improve cardiogenic shock treatment

Posted on July 3, 2019 by - Client News

St. Joseph Medical Center is one of 68 hospitals across the country working to improve this statistic through a protocol established by the National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative Study (NCSI).

“We are the second hospital in the state of Washington to adopt the new protocol,” said Dr. David Zhang, who specializes in cardiac care for adult patients at St. Joseph’s.

This new protocol is the backbone of a groundbreaking clinical trial — funded by global leader in healthcare technology Abiomed — that focuses on implementing best practices to increase survival rates among patients with CS.

NCSI centers around standardized use of Abiomed’s Impella system, the world’s smallest heart pump. While the technology provided by Impella is impressive and helpful on its own, data collected by Abiomed revealed that the way in which Impella is implemented makes a huge difference in its ability to save a life.

Read the full article: New Protocol Helps Better Treat Patients with Cardiogenic Shock (South Sound Business)