You may have been told not to be an ostrich and “put your head in the sand.” You may even have heard of the Ostrich Effect. The term derives from the (false) narrative that ostriches stick their head in the ground to avoid danger. The ostrich (incorrectly) reasons that not seeing danger makes it go…
So, you are a new college graduate, an established young pro, or on the hunt for your first “big” job. For most, you are transitioning from an organized, structured school program to an unpredictable, chaotic world outside of academics. This change can be shocking. The job search is difficult and often results in repeated rejection…
Even among professionals, the difference between public relations (PR) and marketing is confusing. There is an ongoing “discussion” between the two disciplines as to which is a branch of which (is marketing a tool of public relations or vice versa?). Each is vying for the penthouse corner office. How do we answer the question, which one is…
I don’t need advertising, marketing or public relations, I get plenty of business leads from “word-of-mouth (WOM).” WOM advertising is an organic way that individual consumers share their experiences with a company. The plethora of online options for reviews magnifies this exponentially. Yet the greatest influence is on those in the customer’s immediate vicinity: friends…
No one works as a bowling pinsetter nor delivers ice anymore. You can even order fast food from a kiosk or check into your hotel room and never talk to a person. There is no doubt that technology has eliminated jobs. Technological unemployment, as it is called, is seemingly inevitable. In some careers, human workers…
No offense to Microsoft, but if you’re still keeping your business mailing and prospect list in Excel, you are certainly in a special place called “Excel Hell.” This is a horrible place filled with lists and worksheets and workbooks and mysterious missing or misaligned columns that will slowly drive you insane. Worst case scenario, your…
There are millions of scholarly articles offering a barrage of advice and how-to’s for managing employees. We test personalities, have team building activities, performance appraisals and one-on-one meetings. However, there is another, often overlooked dynamic that can be beneficial to the success of an organization: How do employees manage their boss? “Boss management” is a…
Have you ever been to a potluck or buffet where you start out with a strong resolve to “eat healthily”? Over the course of the afternoon, facing a table full of dishes, your willpower starts to wane, and you eventually dig into Aunt Melissa’s chocolate pie. You also probably will “give in” after being offered…
Recently, the American College of Surgeons determined that identifying and managing “surgeon burnout” is one of its top concerns. Recent surveys of their members show that a majority demonstrate signs of “burnout” that are linked to excessive working hours, increasing paperwork, and bureaucracy that takes them away from patient interaction. This is on top of…
Do you ever worry that someday someone will realize you don’t know what you’re doing? Are you sure you will be exposed and your clients and colleagues will discover you have been pretending all this time? You might have “Imposter Syndrome.” Imposter Syndrome, a common issue experienced by many professionals, occurs when an individual has…
We’re proud sponsors of the American Roots Music Festival. Plan to attend Nov. 2. www.americanrootsmusicfestival.com (Salem, OR) Oct. 3, 2019 – In a generation with access to every type of music, traditional American styles like blues and jazz are often overlooked and underappreciated. The nonprofit, Keeping the Arts, is passionate about introducing youth to musical…
Salem, Oregon (Jan. 3, 2019) – VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. (VPR) has been ranked by January 2019 Oregon Business Magazine’s Power Book for Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations firms. This is the seventh time VPR has been included in the Power Book. The company was ranked 26th based on size as one of the leading firms in Oregon…
(Salem, Oregon) Nov. 8, 2018 – The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Oregon Chapter honored Mary Louise VanNatta, APR, CAE, owner, and CEO of VanNatta Public Relations with the (PRSA) Oregon Chapter William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes her years of excellence in public relations. The Oregon PRSA held the…
“If you’re not at the table, you are probably on the menu,” is a favorite saying of Fred VanNatta. Fifty years after founding VanNatta Public Relations (VPR) in 1967 (formerly named Public Affairs, Inc.), Fred VanNatta has made sure that his company will always be “at the table” representing its clients. VanNatta Public Relations, Inc….
Fred VanNatta spent his working career as housing advocate and governmental affairs representative for the homebuilding industry. On Dec. 1 he was awarded the 2017 Home Builders Association (HBA) Lifetime Achievement Award at the Builder’s Ball in Portland. The Home Builders Association presents the award “in recognition of involvement and leadership in the association, contributions…
VanNatta Public Relations (VPR) brought three trophies back to Salem from the 2017 Oregon Public Relations Society of America’s Spotlight Awards. The yearly event recognizes public relations excellence for practitioners and their clients. The Salem Fire Foundation’s (SFF) “Salem Fire Foundation CPR/AED Training Program for Students” took the top award for Public Service Campaigns. In…
VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. Listed in Oregon Business Magazine POWERBOOK list for PR/Marketing Firm 2017 Salem, OR) April 20, 2017. VanNatta Public Relations, located in Salem, Oregon, is listed by Oregon Business Magazine for Advertising/Marketing/PR in their POWERBOOK issue, for January 2017. Of the statewide firm listed, VPR was the only one from the Mid-Willamette Valley. Oregon Business Magazine compiles…
I recently listened to a presentation from a young woman who attended a leadership conference. As a result of what she learned, she was removing “non-contributors” from her life. I found the concept interesting and decided to investigate the “non-contributor” concept further to see how it might help in business. Contributors at work are people whose…
New York, NY, (March 8, 2017) – Mary Louise VanNatta, CAE of VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. (VPR) has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine professional communications organizations that directs this competency…
VanNatta Public Relation’s building, located at 3340 Commercial ST SE, is one of Salem’s newest locations for an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). The AED was installed by Willy Giddings, EMT-P of the Salem Fire Department. Mary Louise VanNatta, who serves as the volunteer Executive Director of the Salem Fire Foundation (SFF), received the AED as a thank…
