CELEBRATING 10 YEARS – JUNE 2021

It is no secret that I am very proud of my talented team at LFPR, and I was thrilled to celebrate LFPR’s10th anniversary this May. Depending on which studies you look at, only between 4-33 percent of new businesses survive 10 years. The fact that I have been fortunate enough to do this twice – once in London, England, and now in Coastal Georgia in the USA – makes me happy. Although to quote famous 20^th century movie producer Samuel Goldwyn, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

We truly have a lot to celebrate at LFPR – not least that we and our families are all vaccinated against COVID-19 and healthy. We have adopted the saying “#LFPRStrong” over the past 18 months and I am thankful to my staff and our clients for their resilience and loyalty. We are returning to some normalcy and planning excitedly for a return to in-person events for our clients. Georgia Tech-Savannah will offer in-person summer school and fall seminars; the ninth Savannah VOICE Festival will take place LIVE this August; and Historic Savannah Foundation’s famous gala will return in October. Another client, Savannah African Art Museum, has just celebrated Juneteenth in style and LFPR was thankful to our local TV stations and other media for covering this wonderful celebration as it became a federal holiday.

In late May, we welcomed our new marketing assistant, Ashleigh Johnson, to the LFPR team. Ashleigh is from Macon, Georgia, and recently graduated from Georgia Southern University with her Bachelor of Science in public relations. We are also enjoying working with our summer intern, Ivey Grace Smith, who was born and raised in Hazlehurst, Georgia, and is an upcoming senior at Georgia Southern University, majoring in public relations with a minor in communications and digital marketing. Both young ladies are fitting in very well and we are delighted that they have joined us.

We have recently been contracted to work with some wonderful new clients. The National Opera Association has appointed us to promote an exciting new initiative. Convention Consultants (sister company to our client, Official Savannah Tours) has asked us to work with them as tourism and conventions return to the Hostess City. In other news, LFPR has developed a whole new image – logo, website and social media presence – for Ariel Savannah Angel Partners, www.asap-invests.com. We are also partnering with the talented people at Marsh Meadows Marketing to promote Indoor Ag-Con Orlando, which will take place at the Orlando Hilton in Florida on Oct. 4-5, 2021.

Here in Richmond Hill, we are working with Bryan County as they plan for hurricane season (hoping for the best while preparing for the worst) and raising the profile of the wonderful Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church.

Until next time, take care and enjoy your summer.

LFPR

LIVING IN A VIRTUAL WORLD

What a difference a year makes. Looking back at photos from a year ago, we were going out to dinner, attending concerts, and hugging everyone – with minimal hand sanitizer and no masks! It all seems much longer ago than 12 months. Still there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine rollout under way.

I am so impressed with our clients, who have pivoted to virtual events and performances to ensure safety for audiences and artists during this time of COVID-19. The Savannah VOICE Festival last August was a virtual triumph and their holiday concert a great encore. Savannah Ballet Theatre’s (SBT) Nutcracker took viewers on a magical holiday dream filmed in iconic Savannah locations as their professional dancers made sure we could enjoy this beloved annual tradition. We had the opportunity to watch the performance twice on Christmas day with SBT’s on-air broadcast in partnership with local NBC affiliate, WSAV-TV. Audiences enjoyed these events from the comfort and safety of home during these times of social distancing.

As I write, the American Traditions Vocal Competition (ATC) has just begun to present its 28^th annual competition online for worldwide and local audiences. We are looking forward to Historic Savannah Foundation’s celebration of women in preservation during March and another of their great zoom lectures from Jamie Credle, director of HSF’s Davenport House Museum.

We continue to celebrate happy life events. Our vice president, Hollie Barnidge, turned 40 last month. Soon after account executive, Allie Robinson, got engaged last fall, our account manager, Kristyn Fielding, announced her engagement at Christmas. So, it is all diamond rings and wedding plans for a post-pandemic world here! Both ladies are engaged to wonderful young men, and I am so happy for them.

I continue to remain grateful for our loyal and wonderful clients. We are thrilled to have been appointed by Beyond The Bell in Savannah to help them raise informed awareness about the resources and programs provided by the organization to train, educate, and support youth, families, and educators in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use and abuse within the local community. In other news, LFPR’s website designer, Chaeli Shields, has just launched a beautiful new website for our client, Dr. Dionne Bates of Self Soulstice. Check it out at www.drdbates.com. Kristyn Fielding has worked hard to develop a multi-media advertising campaign for Savannah Classical Academy to raise awareness of their lottery. Any child living in Chatham County is eligible to apply for a place at this exceptional charter school which, unlike most district schools has returned to in-person learning.

LFPR donates 20 percent of our billable hours to nonprofit organizations in our region and we thank the local media for reporting on the important work of the organizations we partner with. The Salvation Army of Savannah is thankful to have exceeded their goal for the holiday season’s Red Kettle Campaign and LFPR did our part by ringing the bells at one of those iconic kettles in Richmond Hill last December. Family Promise of the Coastal Empire announced their merger last month, and the 200 Club is looking forward to its annual Valor Awards in April.

We have a lot to look forward to this spring with the unveiling of some exciting initiatives for Georgia Tech-Savannah and the launch of Bryan County’s Annual Report. We are planning on experiencing Savannah African Art Museum’s new “Roots” hair exhibit, which opens this week, and attending some of their fascinating online workshops. And talking of pivoting to online – Billy and Cheri Hester of Asbury Memorial Church are maintaining their annual, 25-year-old Valentine’s Day tradition of holding a vow renewal ceremony … even during a global pandemic. Instead of inviting married couples to gather in downtown Savannah’s City Market, though, the 2021 vow renewal ceremony will be held online.

Until next time, take care. Stay well. Stay safe. Stay positive.

LFPR