Cecilia Russo Marketing Awards $15,000 of Grants to Three Georgia Small Businesses During National Entrepreneurship Month

(GEORGIA) Cecilia Russo Marketing, an award-winning full-service marketing and public relations firm, proudly announces the three winning recipients of the firm’s 15th Anniversary Entrepreneurship Grants in celebration of National Entrepreneurship Month. New business owners, startup companies, and budding entrepreneurs applied for a $5,000 grant, which pays homage to the first payment received by Cecilia Russo Marketing from its first client.

“We were overwhelmed by the state-wide response to our grant program, receiving over 630 applications from passionate entrepreneurs from as far north as Calhoun, Georgia to as far south as Valdosta, Ga. and everywhere in between,” said Russo Turner. “It was a really tough decision.”

The deserving recipients of the Cecilia Russo Marketing 15th Anniversary Entrepreneurship Grants are:

Carmella Alexander – C.A Publishing
C.A Publishing LLC is an innovative publishing company in Lawrenceville, Ga. that aims to provide inclusion for the special needs community. Its concentration is on creating books that cater to the unique needs and interests of children with disabilities, focusing on developing story dolls adapted for play by those with limited mobility. Additionally, they offer a range of complementary products, including apparel and souvenirs, all designed to promote inclusivity and foster a sense of belonging among individuals with special needs.

The grant award monies will be used to fund the production of story plush dolls, some of which will be adapted with a switch device to allow children with limited mobility the ability to bring their favorite inclusive stories to life and participate actively in imaginative play.

Maggie Lilly – Party of Hive
Party of Hive is a granola business owned and operated by Savannah, Ga. native Maggie Lilly. The company uses local honey and gluten-free oats, along with other high-quality ingredients, to make the tastiest granola on the market. Party of Hive has three different flavors of granola that sell retail on the company’s website and wholesale in several shops in Savannah and nine other shops in Ga. and two in North Carolina. Since launching as a cottage food granola business, the company has grown into a commercial business with a successful website and several wholesale accounts. The grant funding will empower Party of Hive to significantly expand its outreach efforts.

Rickey Brown III – RBIII Academy
RBIII Academy is a music education studio in Marietta, Ga. that provides private one-on-one sessions to students of all ages and levels. The academy was founded by a Howard University graduate who was looking for a way to continue pursuing his passion for music during the COVID-19 pandemic. RBIII Academy has quickly grown into a successful business, winning the Best Music School of Marietta 2022 award.

The academy will use the grant to invest in musical instruments and technology, ensuring that their students have access to the best resources available. They also plan to use the grant to build an inventory of slightly used high-quality instruments to offer subsidized pricing for lower-income students. The academy believes that music lessons have a profound impact on students’ lives, both intellectually and emotionally. They are committed to providing exceptional music education to students of all backgrounds, regardless of their financial situation.

The Cecilia Russo Marketing Entrepreneurship Grants welcomed applications from small businesses operating within the state of Georgia. Applicants were asked to submit a written pitch of no more than 1,000 words explaining their business and how it would benefit from a $5,000 grant and continue to propel the economic impact in our state. Not only did the selection process consider various aspects of the applicant’s business plans, but also the need for financial support and the impact the grant would have on the growth of their business. Russo Turner aims to serve as a mentor for not only the three winners but also for the 15 finalists.

In 2008, Owner and President Cecilia Russo Turner left a stable and secure job to take on the publicity and event planning for Tour de Georgia, a U.S. professional road cycling stage race across Ga. The event took a couple of months and she was paid $5,000 for the successful completion of the project. Russo Turner went on to build a successful company over the following 15 years. With a wealth of experience in strategic communications, marketing, fundraising, and public relations, she has successfully guided executives in both large and small private enterprises as well as nonprofit sectors. Having worked and collaborated with countless businesses and philanthropic organizations in the southeast regional areas, she brings a unique expertise to the table.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, known for his leadership as a champion of small business, congratulated Russo Turner on the announcement of the grants. Governor Kemp established the Georgians First Commission to review state regulations, policies and procedures to streamline government, remove inefficiencies and secure Georgia’s place as the top state for small business in the country.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy, supporting both individuals and employees while providing vital services and character to communities across our state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As the No. 1 state for business, Georgia has the tools for entrepreneurs to succeed.”

Russo Turner said, “Through diligent efforts, fervent prayers and the incredible support of our clients and the thriving Savannah community, I have witnessed the remarkable growth of my business far beyond my most ambitious expectations. It brings me great joy to mark this milestone by extending a helping hand to a business facing the same circumstances I once navigated during my inception, allowing the cycle of support and success to perpetuate.”

The Cecilia Russo Marketing 15th Anniversary Entrepreneurship Grants program is just one of the ways that Cecilia Russo Marketing is committed to supporting small businesses.

For more information about Cecilia Russo Marketing and its services, please visit www.crussomarketing.com.

ABOUT CECILIA RUSSO MARKETING, LLC
Based in Savannah, Ga., Cecilia Russo Marketing is an award-winning boutique agency delivering trusted and successful results since its founding in 2008. Owner and President Cecilia Russo Turner is a native of Savannah and uniquely understands the local and regional trends of brand-building strategies and reputation management while leveraging traditional and digital platforms to engage with key publics and consistently exceed client expectations. For more information, visit www.crussomarketing.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Cynthia Cradduck
cynthia@crussomarketing.com
crussomarketing.com
912-856-9075

Adjusting Your Business’ Marketing and Public Relations Strategy After the Initial Shock of Coronavirus: 4 Principles to Put Into Practice

Adjusting Your Business’ Marketing and Public Relations Strategy After the Initial Shock of Coronavirus: 4 Principles to Put Into Practice
By Cynthia Cradduck

We have all been operating in a time of uncertainty due to the coronavirus, and businesses and brands are already feeling the ripple effects of the shelter-in-place orders and shutdowns. 

During a time of crisis, it’s important to button down the hatches and weather the storm, but it’s also important to keep your communications clear and consistent.

Now, with our state’s reopening right around the corner, you may be ready to restart your public relations efforts, but questions probably remain: Should I showcase how my brand can help in these trying times or will it come across the wrong way? Should I share my story that’s not about COVID-19 or is that insensitive? 

Some folks have continued marketing as if nothing has happened. Their posts are completely tone deaf. If they did not pause scheduled or pre-written content for campaigns and continued to market as if business was going on as usual, negative comments and public backlash ensued.

With crisis communications, it’s always better to face a challenge head on than to pretend nothing has happened.  Especially now, people’s lives are being drastically changed and you as a company must show you are as loyal to your customers as they are loyal to your brand. 

Other businesses have been extremely aggressive with their marketing, which runs the risk of being perceived as opportunistic in a crisis. Brands launching campaigns in response to COVID-19 must tread carefully. 

Even social media platforms, such as Twitter, publicly made statements to advise that companies and marketers avoid capitalizing on the outbreak in an effort to promote themselves or their brand on the platform during this time. 

So how do you balance between being relevant and being respectful? It’s important to remember all of your communication strategies are fluid and we all must continue to shift appropriately with marketing efforts. Here are four overarching guidelines to keep in mind: 

1. Proceed with positivity: 

How are you helping people with the current situation? Could you make a donation to charity? Can you help with the distance learning movement? Offer a discount for first responders or people who were personally impacted. Start something you’ve never done before, like a 14-day free trial. Launch a giveaway on social media.   

If your brand has a positive story to share, it will be more in-demand now than ever before. There are many journalists looking for ethical, encouraging stories to add variety to their news coverage. We all want to hear how we as a community are supporting each other and coming together during this time. Just be mindful of remaining empathetic with the current situation, which brings me to my next point.

     2. Continue with caution: 

On the flip side of the coin is that old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. It is important to consider how your actions will be perceived by everyone involved because the last thing you want to do is to come across as taking advantage of this situation.  

For instance, a popular home goods brand has gotten backlash for email advertising “the perfect WFH (work-from-home) desks.” Although they were marketing relevant products for people stuck inside, they also offended those followers who were recently laid-off.  

Another example is a popular Tik-Tok influencer with more than 8 million fans who started selling COVID-19 branded face masks for $25. He claimed that the campaign was to create awareness of the seriousness of the virus, but his efforts were viewed poorly. After a lot of pressure, he decided to donate all of the proceeds from the sales to Meals on Wheels. It was a smart decision in the end, but the time it took to get him to that decision may have been detrimental to his brand. 

Go ahead and prepare statements for all of the possible scenarios that may result from actions you plan to take. If you are reopening, draft statements for employee safety measures. Create a Q&A for customer concerns on hygiene and new procedures. Try to answer all possible questions before they are even asked and this will help you avoid a sticky situation. 

    3. Transparency and tone: 

A company’s overall messaging and tone should be one of safety, sensitivity and humanity. When creating content to share, be sure to soften the language, remove corporate jargon, and show that there are human beings behind the brand. We are #allinthistogether – so show us! Give a behind the scenes look at your home or backyard or take us along on your afternoon bike ride around your neighborhood. 

Customers are also looking for absolute transparency right now, so communicating in an honest, open manner is a safe bet. Tell us what you are doing to reopen, the extra steps to keep your customers and staff safe. Or maybe you have decided not to reopen for a few weeks – tell us why! Share what thoughts you have right now, and let us connect over these feelings. 

     4. Plan for Post-Pandemic:

In the long term, how you are and continuing to respond to this will affect the reputation of your company, but even more importantly, your operations may change permanently. If you haven’t already, create a crisis media plan for a protocol detailing what you (or brands you identify with) did correctly this time around. Creating this roadmap now will help you be more prepared in the future. 

Also, continue to monitor trends you currently see developing. What do you notice in your niche market? Is this something the media would want to know about? In a few months from now, this may be a story worth sharing. 

This COVID-19 chaos created a whole new rulebook for public relations and marketing professionals, and I’m sure that within a year, what happened will be studied in universities around the world. 

The bottom line is that now is the time to focus on high-level strategic PR and marketing. Strategy matters and your response is going to be crucial for your brand’s public image. 

Cynthia Cradduck is a Partner at Cecilia Russo Marketing, where she oversees business development and coordinates reputation management strategies for clients, media relations and online SEO-PR.

Cynthia Cradduck, Partner at Cecilia Russo Marketing

August Open for Business: Content Marketing

August Open for Business: Content Marketing
(SAVANNAH, GA) Join Carriage Trade Public Relations®, Inc. and Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC for the August session of their monthly Open for Business® series. This month’s topic is content marketing. The conversation takes place via Facebook Live on Carriage Trade Public Relations’ Facebook page. This month’s session will be held on Wednesday, August 29, at noon. Interested parties can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1998693787022192/?active_tab=about

Open for Business® is a monthly online social media article review series, where current marketing articles are discussed that will help your business become more competitive. We meet on the last Wednesday of every month at noon via Facebook Live.

ABOUT CARRIAGE TRADE PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.
Carriage Trade Public Relations, Inc. is Savannah’s premiere reputation management company. Founded in 1995 by Marjorie Young to help businesses increase their visibility in their community and globally online through its trademarked strategy, the REPUTATION MATRIX™ method.

ABOUT CECILIA RUSSO MARKETING, LLC
Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC was founded by Cecilia Russo Turner in 2008. The firm puts the power of publicity to work, helping organizations, businesses and individuals move the needle and achieve their specific communications objectives through key reputation management strategies. For more information, call 912.665.0005 or visit https://ceciliarussomarketing.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Cynthia Wright
912.856.9075
savannahpublicrelations@gmail.com

Five Common Social Media Mistakes in Business

Five Common Social Media Mistakes in Business
By Cynthia Wright

Social media is the 21st-century version of the backyard fence, allowing people to connect with each other, nurture personal relationships and express their opinions. It also has become a powerful tool for business owners to gain customers and foster visibility.

While people might not mind when friends or family members rave about their perfect kids or rant about the political climate, they are less tolerant of companies that are overly self-promotional or express controversial opinions. When businesses make such social media blunders, the results can be impactful, ranging from lost followers to serious brand damage.

Here are the five most common social media mistakes that companies make and should avoid:

1) Ignoring followers

Your customers want to be heard, and they often turn to social media to engage with you. Don’t you get annoyed when you’re trying to talk to someone and they are clearly not listening? The same is true for your followers if you provide no response or a blanket response.

2) Being too self-promotional, political or polarizing

By focusing social media content on hard-sell promotions or product discounts, you’ll likely forfeit the opportunity to build relationships and you may even train your customers to shop with you only when they get a discount.

Instead, consider adding content that provides value. Always balance your site with content your followers are likely to find engaging and encourage their interaction by providing links to helpful information or appealing offers.

You should also avoid posting information that is too political or polarizing. That doesn’t mean ignoring your core values and beliefs, but you risk losing followers and upsetting audiences if your corporate social media posts take political stances for or against issues or political leaders.

3) Forgetting or misusing calls to action

Every post should have a call-to-action, but if you’re simply offering a link to your homepage URL, you’re missing the opportunity to collect leads, increase sales and measure results. Instead, put a link to your purchase offer, downloadable resource or coupon. Send them directly to what they are looking for and you’ll see a significant increase in conversion rates.

4) Being too trendy

One of the biggest mistakes a brand can make is not staying true to its core message. Although a little controversy or edginess might be okay to keep your stream from becoming boring, be careful not to go too far. Don’t attempt to capitalize on trending topics by creating “viral” content that does not relate to the company brand or mission.

Additionally, only use hashtags that are relevant and appropriate to your content, products/services and brand.

5) Having no social media strategy

Be realistic. Get started by focusing on the social media outlets that are a good fit for your business and invest in the long term with strategies to grow your impact.

Set goals and objectives that you can use to measure impact. By identifying your goals, you can monitor and evaluate how well you use your social media channels to distribute content that fosters engagement. Your objectives should also include how the company will respond to comments, questions and backlash.

Regularly monitor any negative feedback and respond authentically on a timely basis. Avoid creating costs or responses that might cause followers to “hide” your posts. Once they are gone, you will probably never see those followers again.

Most of all, remember social media was created to nurture relationships. So use it for that purpose. Develop and build a loyal community that will be connected to and energized by your brand.

Cynthia Wright

Cynthia Wrightis the Junior Partner of Carriage Trade Public Relations®, Inc. and Cecilia Russo Marketing, creating word-of-mouth in the community and online through reputation management strategies. For more information, contact Wright at cynthia.wright@carriagetradepr.com

American Red Cross Youth Heroes Awards Breakfast

American Red Cross Youth Heroes Awards Breakfast

(SAVANNAH, GA) TheAmerican Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgiawill host its fifth Youth Heroes Awards Breakfast at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 20, at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St. in downtown Savannah.

This fundraising event will recognize local students who are giving back to their communities by volunteering at school and for religious organizations, various non-profits, camps and more. It will also honor Cecilia Russo Turnerfor her volunteer work in the community, as well as her philanthropy and advocacy.

“We hold this fundraiser each year to recognize outstanding youth for their commitment to improving our communities through volunteer service and to help increase awareness of the difference a commitment to service and compassion makes in the lives of our neighbors in need,” said Esther Sheppard, the agency’s executive director. “We know their potential is boundless. Therefore, we also honor a community mentor of the year to inspire and encourage them in their work.”

Cecilia Russo Turner of Cecilia Russo Marketing

Turner, this year’s community honoree, is CEO of Cecilia Russo Marketing. During her 23-year career, she has managed and participated in philanthropic activities that have raised millions of dollars for nonprofit charities and civic improvements in Savannah and the Lowcountry. Turner also was one of the creators of the Youth Heroes event.

“Five years ago, I could not have imagined this idea would take hold, take shape and grow to be embraced the way it has by both this organization and the community it serves,” said Turner. “Professionally, my mentor is Cliff McCurry, who was, incidentally, the first recipient of this award. He and the other recipients have mentored untold numbers of young people, and each knows the power of hard work and rising above doubt, adversity and rejection.”

In addition to McCurry, who is a managing trustee at the University of Georgia Foundation; previous honorees are Cathy Hill, who recently retired as a senior executive with Georgia Power; Celia Dunn, owner of Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty; and former Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson.

Students in the sixth through twelfth grades who will be recognized are enrolled public or private schools or are home-school students in the 2017-2018 school year. They each have at least 30 recorded and verified volunteer activities addressing community needs within southeast and coastal Georgia.

The public is invited to support the Youth Heroes Breakfast and contribute to the American Red Crossthrough tax-deductible gifts that range from purchasing individual tickets or corporate-level packages to making donations to recognize the honorees.

“Contributions make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors in need when disaster affects their lives,” said Sheppard. “We hope that, like these volunteers, members of the community will answer the call to help by supporting this organization and this event.”

For additional information, to buy individual tickets or to sponsor a table, email esther.sheppard@redcross.orgor call 912-651-5349.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF SOUTHEAST AND COASTAL GEORGIA
The American Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgiawas established on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1917, and has served the community for more than one hundred years, now providing services in 17 southeast Georgia counties. Volunteers constitute 96 percent of the workforce, serving as members of the board, instructors teaching lifesaving skills, disaster action team members, office administrators and event organizers. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/southeastgeorgiaor call 912-651-5300or 800-733-6767.

ABOUT CECILIA RUSSO TURNER
Cecilia Russo, of Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC,is a marketing professional with a proven record among Savannah’s top-tier non-profit and for-profit organizations, businesses and corporations in the areas of fund development, marketing, public relations and event planning. As a native Savannahian, Cecilia’s knowledge and experience give her unique insights into channeling the efforts of volunteers and constituents into effective, mission-driven public relations activities that translate into measurable results. She was voted one of Savannah’s “40 Business Leaders Under 40” by the Savannah Business Report and Journal in 2005. For more information, visit online at https://ceciliarussomarketing.wordpress.com or call 912-665-0005.

MEDIA INQUIRIES
Cecilia Russo Turner
Cecilia Russo Marketing
912-665-0005
info@crussomarketing.com

Mark Howard to Present “Avoiding the 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make Regarding Retirement” to Savannah Jaycees

Mark Howard to Present “Avoiding the 3 Biggest Retirement Mistakes”

(Savannah, GA) Mark Howard, President and founder of Howard Financial Group, will be the featured speaker at The Savannah Jaycees meeting on Tuesday, August 1st. Open networking will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the program will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Savannah Jaycees’ headquarters, located at 101 Atlas Street.

Howard will present “Avoiding the 3 Biggest Retirement Mistakes” during the Jaycees August gathering as a part of their “Leadership Now” series. Attendees will learn:

· How to earn consistent returns in today’s economy

· What “true diversification” is.

· The hidden costs of the most common form of investments.

Howard has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry. He is recognized as an expert on Retirement Income Planning and has been featured many times on news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Barron’s Magazine, South Magazine, AM 750 WSB, AM 1290 WTKS and Savannah Morning News.

In 2014, Howard founded Howard Financial Group, which is headquartered in Savannah. His firm focuses on strategies to grow their clients’ retirement dollars while taking less risk. “We specialize in protection of principle, providing a reasonable rate of return over time, and keeping things simple for our clients”, said Howard.

Howard Financial Group services clients from all over the country, many that are recognizable names from the world of sports, entertainment and politics.

Last year, Howard and his firm were chosen to be a part of Advisors Excel, an elite group of financial advisors nationwide that were recently highlighted in the New York Times bestseller Money: Master the Game, written by Tony Robbins.

“From our work helping thousands of families and individuals from all walks of life prepare and transition into retirement, I’m able to give a unique perspective into what works and what doesn’t,” said Howard. “I hope to share some timely information with this group of young business professionals and area leaders to help them avoid the same mistakes so many others have made.”

For further information, or to register, visit the Savannah Jaycees web site at http://savannahjaycees.com/savannah-jaycees-leadership-now-series/ or visit them on facebook at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savannah.jaycees/

For more information on Howard Financial Group, visit www.howardfinancialgroup.com or call 912-777-6944.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE SAVANNAH JAYCEES
The Savannah Jaycees is a nonprofit organization of young professionals, between the ages of 21 to 40, whose mission is to inspire leadership development through community involvement. The Savannah Jaycees have been an organization since 1942 and are celebrating their 75th Anniversary this year. Among the Savannah Jaycees’ most notable projects were the installation of voting booths throughout Chatham County, spearheading efforts to build the Civic Center, helping to build the Kicklighter School and Chatham Nursing Home, founding Toys-for-Tots with the Marines and the fire department, renovating the Forsyth Fountain, and creating Jaycees Park on Tybee Island. The United States Jaycees was founded in 1920 with vision is to be the leading global network of active young citizens. To learn more, visit http://savannahjaycees.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/savannah.jaycees?ref=br_tf
Cecilia Russo
Cecilia Russo Marketing
912-665-0005
info@crussomarketing.com

Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations, Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Cynthia Wright, One of Savannah’s Rising Stars of Business, to be honored Jan. 18

Cynthia Wright, One of Savannah’s Rising Stars of Business, to be honored Jan. 18

(SAVANNAH, GA)  Savannah magazine and BiS (Business in Savannah) are recognizing Generation NEXT, Savannah’s Rising Stars of Business.

For the seventh year in a row, the two publications have teamed up to profile the area’s 40-and-under leaders who have distinguished themselves by their professional achievements and philanthropic service within Savannah and the Coastal Empire.

“The breadth and depth of talent and creativity exhibited by the Generation NEXT class of 2017 assures me that the future of our community is in good hands,” said Amy Paige Condon, editor of Savannah magazine. “Individually and collectively, these young leaders possess such a strong commitment to building their businesses here and an even stronger ethic for giving back to greater Savannah. They stand shoulder to shoulder with previous honorees, and I’m eager to see what impact they’ll have in the years ahead.”

Winners of the 2017 “Generation NEXT: Savannah’s Rising Stars of Business” are:

• Candace Adkins, Ameris Bank
• Kristen Baird-Rabun, Kristen Baird Fine Jewelry
• Erica Cannon, Savannah Pet Sitters LLC
• Emily M. Doherty, Georgia Tech Savannah
• Vernon Donovan, Vernon Donovan State Farm Insurance
• Christy Edwards, Horizons Savannah
• Bryan Ferris, JE Dunn Construction
• Jack H. Green Jr., Northwestern Mutual
• Jamie Gwaltney, Moffatt & Nichol
• Jackie Johnson, Page International Inc.
• Jessica L. Kelly, Engel & Völkers Savannah
• Britnee Kinard, SD Gunner Fund
• Heather Lundy, Hunter Maclean
• Kris Patel, HOS Management
• Brian J. Prevatt, CPA, Hancock Askew & Co. LLP
• Ryan Sewell, TK, CPCU, Seacrest Partners Inc.
• Whitney Shephard, Green Truck Pub
• Meredith Anne Sutton, Service Brewing
• Anthony Valdez, Clark Creative
• Cynthia Wright, Carriage Trade Public Relations and Cecilia Russo Marketing

These honorees will be featured in the January/February 2017 issue of Savannah magazine, on SavannahMagazine.com and in the Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2016, issue of BiS.

The 20 dreamers and doers who comprise Generation NEXT will be honored at an event hosted at Cohen’s Retreat, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 5715 Skidaway Road.

Tickets are $20. Admission includes light appetizers and two drink tickets. A cash bar will be available. Tickets can be purchased at generationnext2017.cityspin.com.

Business in Savannah (BiS) and Savannah magazine are both publications of the Savannah Morning News. Since 2009, the monthly BiS has been keeping Savannahians apprised of the business trends shaping our city’s economy. Go to businessinsavannah.com.

For 27 years, the bimonthly Savannah magazine has served as Savannah’s premier city magazine, interpreting the community’s unique cultural identity with smart, layered, inclusive stories and arresting imagery. For a curated escape from the everyday, go to SavannahMagazine.com.

The Savannah Morning News is owned by Morris Publishing Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morris Communications Company LLC. The Savannah Morning News publishes six weekly newspapers, numerous monthly publications for the Savannah and Lowcountry area and digitally publishes at savannahnow.com. Its diverse portfolio also offers a wide range of digital services, solutions and websites, community events, commercial printing and a ticketing platform.

Cynthia Wright

Cynthia Wright is the Junior Partner at Carriage Trade Public Relations and Cecilia Russo Marketing, where she oversees business development, manages the Visibility Team, and coordinates reputation management strategies for clients, media relations and online SEO-PR.

Cynthia was named a Rising Star in Business by Savannah Magazine and Savannah Morning News in 2017. She serves as President of the Savannah Jaycees, which is celebrating their 75th anniversary.

Cynthia graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelors in Communications focusing on Public Relations. She is one of six students to receive L.E.A.P. certification, which recognizes PR professionals who have gone through Leadership, Experience in Communication, Academics, and Professionalism training. Cynthia also received a certification from the Dale Carnegie LIVE online training program, Getting Results Without Authority, and Savannah Speechcraft for Professional Women course sponsored by Toastmasters International. In 2004, she earned national recognition at the International Student Media Festival for “Escape from Vietnam,” a website created by Cynthia and three of her peers.

Cynthia was the Publicity Chairperson for the Savannah United in Prayer event held on September 11, 2016, in Forsyth Park by the Community Intercessors. Cynthia has additionally supported community relations efforts of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Carriage Trade PR and Cecilia Russo Marketing Announces New Intern from Virginia Tech

(SAVANNAH, GA) Colleen Ridder, senior at Virginia Tech, was selected as Carriage Trade PR, Inc. and Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC’s intern for Spring 2016. She will be responsible for writing press releases; search engine optimization; creating social media calendars and digital press kits; compiling media lists and coordinating interviews.

Ridder is currently working toward a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Psychology and a cognate in Marketing.

“Being one of the oldest Public Relations firms in Savannah, we have a unique opportunity to share our expertise with new professionals coming into our field,” said Marjorie Young, CEO and Founder of Carriage Trade PR. “We look forward to showing Colleen what projects our publicists have for our corporate, small business and nonprofit organizations looking to manage their reputation.”

Ridder is involved on campus with Hokie Ambassadors, a volunteer position that leads tours for prospective students. The organization was named in honor of the school’s mascot, the Hokie bird.

In addition, Ridder is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and has previously served as the Panhellenic Delegate, a position that works as a liaison between the chapter and the Panhellenic community. In this role, Ridder was responsible for coordinating collaborative efforts within the Greek community.

Ridder was a previous intern at Tote, Inc. in Princeton, NJ. During the position, Ridder developed social media launch plans and strengthened communication between internal and external companies.

Ridder said, “I am excited for the opportunity to apply my education to real world scenarios and develop a professional relationship with two amazing companies.”

During her time off, Ridder enjoys horseback riding, running, and training guide dogs for the blind through Seeing Eye, Inc. Ridder graduated from Montgomery High School in Montgomery, NJ and is daughter to Debbie and Jerry Ridder and sister to Sean Ridder, 24.

ABOUT CARRIAGE TRADE PR, INC:
Carriage Trade PR, Inc. and Cecilia Russo Marketing, LLC. are a collaborative PR / Marketing team combining over 30 years of experience helping businesses increase their visibility in their community and globally online through reputation management strategies. For more information, visit carriagetradepr.com or crussomarketing.com. Follow Carriage Trade PR on twitter at @carriagetradepr.com

CONTACT

Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade PR
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
912.844.9990