In this issue:
- A preview of our April meeting with guest speaker Scott Sanborn, formerly of KCRG-TV9 & MidAmerican Career Associates, now News Director and Development Director at local Christian radio station The Spirit.
- A recap of our March meeting with Dr. Lynn Manternach of Mindfire Communications.
- A list of the most recent additions to our roster.
- Remembering a cherished CRPRA friend and community leader.
 
“News from the Job Front”
Guest
Speaker: Scott Sanborn, The Spirit 89.1 FM
Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Clarion Hotel & Convention Center (Map)
Cost: $15.00
The meeting will conclude at approximately 1
p.m.
Reservations are
required and
are due by
5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 2.
About the April 2010 Program & Guest Speaker:
Longtime eastern Iowa news anchor Scott Sanborn is back on the morning airwaves with The Spirit!
A familiar name among early risers, Scott served as the main anchor and managing editor of the KCRG TV-9 Morning News from 1992 to 2008, and he is excited to return to his radio roots as The Spirit’s News and Development Director. During his time away from the news desk, Scott served as the Chief Client Development Officer at MidAmerican Career Associates where he worked one-on-one with job-seeking executives during the worst economic downturn in recent history. Scott will share with us some of his insights from that experience.
“The Spirit” is eastern Iowa’s home for Positive Hit Music, KXGM, Extreme Grace Media, Inc. Six radio stations, one message: 89.1 in Cedar Rapids, 100.1 in Iowa City, 91.3 in Waterloo, 106.3 in Mt. Vernon, 93.3 in Anamosa, and 106.3 in Dyersville. “Loving God and Loving People.”
Submit
your reservation for the April meeting
CRPRA meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through May.
Mark your calendars!
by Sher Jasperse
March 2010 - “Building a Hot Brand”
Lynn Manternach, founder and Brand Arsonist at MindFire Communications, addressed the topic of “Building a Hot Brand” at our March meeting. She started by helping us understand the somewhat elusive concept of “brand,” which is not your product, service or logo, but rather the impression that people get from interacting with your company or organization. It’s your reputation, or, in other words, not what you think about your organization but what they think about it.
Manternach said building a brand starts with establishing a brand promise — the one thing that your brand intends to own in the customer’s mind. Your promise should have three qualities:
- It’s extremely important to your target customer.
- You are uniquely suited to deliver it.
- Your competitors are not addressing it.
Your brand should have a “personality” that is communicated across all touch points with your customers, with the idea that Brand + Experience = Relationship. Your brand is really like an iceberg, with the above-water components being your name, logo, products and services, advertising and environment. Below-water elements — which are equally important — include your company values, management structure, customer relations, and staff motivation and training.
Manternach suggested that creating an effective brand always begins with research. Formal research with your customers (current, previous and potential), vendors, employers, referrers and board members will determine internal and external perceptions of your organization and where they differ. This should be complemented by informal research that includes listening, asking and monitoring on the Internet and with key stakeholders.
Finally, identify aspects of your brand that are strategic and differentiate you, develop a brand position and promise, give employees a clearly stated focus, increase the consistency of your internal and external communications efforts, and build a customer experience that ensures that your brand creates an emotional connection with your customers.
We welcome these new attendees!
Barb Gordon, Gordon Photography
Vicki Henry, Director of Marketing & Sales,
Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center
Jill Wenger, Owner, iDesign
Remembering Dave Etzel
CRPRA lost a long-time attendee and friend when Dave Etzel passed away on March 11, 2010. Dave held a variety of positions in broadcasting, communications and marketing during his long career, and he was a very active community leader and volunteer.
You can read Dave’s full obituary via the Murdoch Funeral Home web site.
(Please note that we're not able to guarantee how long this link will be active).
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