Posted by Steve Turnbo, chairman emeritus 

Change never comes easy, but we couldn’t be more thankful for having such a good friend.

This week, as many of us are welcoming the new owners of the Tulsa world we would be remiss to not take the time to truly thank our good friends, the Lorton family, for their commitment to the Tulsa community over the last 100 years. It is difficult to measure in any quantifiable way the positive impact the Lorton family has made in the past century on this great city. Their generosity is immeasurable, whether it be in monetary contributions to hundreds of worthwhile causes, or in supporting numerous nonprofit organizations ranging from the arts to education, mental health, to racial reconciliation.

I congratulate the Lorton family on the sale of the newspaper and  welcome the Berkshire Hathaway group to our community; the BH organization has a wonderful reputation and I have no doubt they will become good Tulsans, just as the Lorton’s have been, and will continue to be.

To read the Tulsa World article on the purchase of the paper, click here.

Posted by Rebecca Miller, Account Executive and Lindsey Wichern, Marketing Coordinator

Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm, recently released an update to their study on the Millennial generation, 8095®, the years in which the generation was born, 1980 to 1995. The study reveals the generation’s aspirations, their relationships with brands and the role brands play in their lives.

Though the purpose of the study was to show Millennials relationships with brands, the findings reflect a Millennials general mindset, especially in relation to employment. Organizational leaders can use Edelman’s findings to help attract and retain Millennials and learn what to do to resonate with the generation.

To clarify, the youngest Millennials are now 18 years old and the oldest are 33. They are no longer the next frontier, they are here, in the job market, just now starting their careers or working their way into management positions and raising families. They are the generation organizations should focus on as they are now the most influential.

Attaining Top Notch Millennial Talent
When considering how to attain the best Millennials you must communicate on the same platforms as they do. According to Edelman’s study, Millennials are the first and most digital generation, never knowing a world without smart phones. Use social networks as recruiting tools and meet them where they are. Also consider ways to interact in person; even though Millennials don’t know life without technology, they still find value in face-to-face conversations.

The generation is especially open to brand engagement; they enjoy co-creating products, having questions answered in real time, creating content online and connecting to people similar to them. If trying to attain top millennial talent consider hosting mock interviews on Twitter where a senior level executive is willing to ask Millennials what they’d like an interview to look like. Or host an online contest where their work can be displayed and rated. The key is to be available and willing to listen.

Bill Handy, STF | PR’s vice president of digital engagement and past visiting professor at OSU says, “Millennials want to feel connected online and in real life (More…)

Posted by Blake Loepp, Account Executive 

Just in case you missed it, last month was Native American Heritage Month and I would like to share a little bit about what I’ve learned in working with tribes from a PR standpoint.  While each tribe has its own unique characteristics, they all have one thing in common—a story to tell.  In order to tell it effectively, there are three things a PR practitioner must do.

1. Immerse Yourself in the Culture

Remember back in college when your professors talked about how PR strategies and tactics used in the U.S. may not be effective in other countries because the cultures are different?  The same logic applies to Native American tribes.  Allow yourself to soak in the various nuances and rituals associated with a tribe’s culture in order develop a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t.

2. Know the History

Whether you attended a public or private school growing up, history was one of the key components of the curriculum.  That was intentional.  In order to tell a tribe’s story, it’s vital to know how it began and what has happened along the way.  Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s important to keep educating yourself over time.

3. Listen to Their Needs

The needs of one Native American tribe are likely to differ from those of other tribes (More…)

Posted by Becky Frank, Chairman and CEO

I turned 54 last week.

Each birthday, I’m reminded of how much I love the aging process, odd as that may sound; maybe not so much for the slowing down of the metabolism, but for how much I’ve learned about life and about leadership. I think about the experiences I’ve had, the mistakes I’ve made and the successes I’ve enjoyed, and how each opportunity continues to mold who I am and what’s important to me.

No matter our age, as life rolls along, we need to stay mindful of assessing our growth and the direction we’re headed.   We need to regularly assess our destination and push ourselves toward accomplishing new meaningful achievements.

I’ve realized in the executive coaching I do, that some professionals are so focused on the monetary and recognition success path, it can sometimes lead them down a very lonely path and, in turn, they lose their ability to be an inspirational leader because they are unhappy and unfulfilled.

We must stay focused on seeking enriching opportunities.

In coaching, I encourage my clients to read Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! which takes them back to a real simple place where they can dream about where they’re headed and what they want to do.   The book reads:

Congratulations!

            Today is your day.
            You’re off to Great Places!
            You’re off and away!

I am about to embark on what I’m certain will be one of the most meaningful experiences and opportunities and something that provides me great purpose as the Tulsa Area United Way 2013 Campaign Chair.  I have such a strong sense of responsibility in providing (More…)