VanNatta PR wins again at Spotlight Award Ceremony VanNatta Public Relations (VPR), a PR, consulting, and event planning firm in Salem, Oregon, was honored by the Public Relations Society of America Oregon Chapter (PRSA) during their Spotlight Award ceremony for the work with the Salem Police Foundation to fundraise for a mobile command center. This…
I admit it – I love social media. I enjoy seeing people’s pictures, jokes, and life updates. I also like to post and interact frequently. I usually opt for pictures of my Dachshunds Apple and Otto, the children or me and my husband when we dress up. I avoid posting pictures of my unfortunate cooking…
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…
Do you have employees who struggle with confidence? Are they afraid to voice their opinions or assert themselves? Do they seem anxious to communicate with you? If so, your office is like most others. People have different personalities; some are more confident while others prefer to stay behind the scenes. In many cases, encouraging less-confident…
“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….
In today’s economy, reasonable prices and good customer service aren’t enough. Modern consumers value experiences more. Eventbrite, an event promotion website, reports that 78 percent of millennial “would choose to spend money on a desirable experience or event over buying something desirable.” Businesses need to re-evaluate how they deliver value to consumers. In a 1998…
If you’ve spent any time in high school, chances are you’ve encountered a “slacker.” Slackers, while fun and perfectly nice people, do just barely enough work to pass a class (think Jeff Spicoli from the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont). In schools, slackers are fun to have as friends, but now, all grown up, not…
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…
