Eric Rob & Isaac

Arkansas PRSA – 9.23.11

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Sept. 23, 2011) – Little Rock-based Eric Rob & Isaac won the Best of Show Award presented by the Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America during the chapter’s annual Prism Awards held Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Capital Hotel.

The agency won for the Riverfest 2010 Campaign. Playing on Riverfest’s corporate slogan, “Where the Fun Runs Deep,” ERI developed the theme/tagline “Real. Live. Fun.” for the 2010 festival in an effort to communicate the unique sights and sounds of the event. This theme was featured throughout all festival communication vehicles. More than 250,000 festivalgoers attended the 2010 event, with an estimated economic impact of $25.9 million on the community.

Public relations professionals from across the state were recognized in 30 categories ranging from Media Relations to Internal Communications to Special Events and Observances. A group of professionals from the Mississippi chapter of PRSA judged the entries.

“The Prism Awards are the biggest night of the PRSA year,” said Stacey M. Jones, APR, Arkansas chapter president. “It’s always a celebration to get together with our colleagues and friends to recognize achievements in public relations — the innovation, the creativity, the real work of our profession.”

The Tom Steves Sr., Compass Award was also awarded, memorializing long-time chapter leader and public relations executive Tom Steves, APR. Instituted in 2009 by the chapter’s Past Presidents Council, the award recognizes an Arkansas PRSA member who has an outstanding record of advancing the profession through a lifelong commitment to mentorship. Brenda Scisson, APR, executive director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation Fund at UAMS, received the Compass Award.

Top Prism winners include Mangan Holcomb Partners with twelve Prisms and Eric Rob & Isaac with five. A complete list of winners and finalists can be found here.

Arkansas Business – 8.29.11

The Arkansas board of the federal Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan has hired Little Rock marketing and advertising firm Eric Rob & Isaac to design its 2011-12 marketing campaigns. ERI serves as the agency of record for the program.

The PCIP is offered through the temporary federal risk pool created by the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act of 2010. The Arkansas part of the plan is designed to help up to 2,500 Arkansans who have been unable to obtain health insurance for at least the past six months because of a pre-existing condition.

ERI will create a new name and logo for PCIP’s Arkansas program, as well as design advertising for online, print, radio and TV and oversee public relations, social media and website development for PCIP.

The Markham Group will take the lead on public affairs, Ghidotti said, while ERI will provide all the advertising, marketing and public relations services, including creative development, media buying and public relations and social media strategy.

Arkansas Business – 3.21.11

On Tuesday, the Little Rock National Airport Commission hired Little Rock marketing firm The Markham Group, which beat out Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods and contenders Mangan Holcomb Partners and Stone Ward.

The Markham Group will be working with another Little Rock firm, Eric Rob & Isaac, as the airport’s marketing team.

Natalie Ghidotti, director of public relations for ERI, said Robert McLarty, principal with The Markham Group, would serve as the account executive for the airport, and both firms would play a role in strategic consulting for the airport.

The Markham Group will take the lead on public affairs, Ghidotti said, while ERI will provide all the advertising, marketing and public relations services, including creative development, media buying and public relations and social media strategy.

T.J. Williams, manager of media and marketing for the airport, said that a contract looked to be about 30 days away. In the past, the contract has been worth about $300,000 a year, according to Williams.
Williams said CJRW’s contract, which began in 2005, expired in December.