PR: Go on the offensive: Managing tough news in tough times - Houston Business Journal:

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drops off Nasdaq. In a turbuleng economy, there is no shortage of bad news. Experts say that in a time like what may matter most is the way in whicuh that bad news is How management deals withthe media, employees, clients and the communitt could impact how the business is vieweed for years to come. Busines leaders who hide in theitr offices, bury facts and let the rumor mill contro the story will be viewed with anger and But those who plan theiremessages carefully, and deliver it promptly and with cando r to all relevant parties, are more likelhy to be remembered as good corporate “The spotlight will be on your company,” said Dan a business consultant and president of Next-Act, an Albant career management firm.
“You have one chance to get it Many public relations professionals advise clients to have a crisizs communication plan in place atall times. This way, basic guidelinesz are in place when any sort of bad from layoffs to achemica spill, breaks. Additional preparation shoulx take place once a bad newsevent occurs. The firstr step is to assess the situation and thepossiblee fallout. “I advise that you convene a grouopof stakeholders,” said Pauline Bartel, presidenft of Waterford-based “You need someone from top human resources, the PR team ... the object is for everyond to put their cards on the face up, so you can identift any gaps in information.
” Next, list every including clients, suppliers and the media, and craftg a message for each. Whil these messages must be each audience hasdifferent needs. Employeezs will want to know abouytheir futures, while shareholders will be interested in the impactr on the bottom line. Clients will want to know if service willbe affected. It is also vital, PR experts say, to selecf just one person to speak forthe “You don’t want 20 different versions of thingz coming out so everyone looks like said Richard Berman, president of of Chappaqua in Westchester Once the situation is assessed, the constituentds identified, the messages crafted, and the spokespersonb chosen, it is time to delivert the news.
“It comes down to three Tell it all, tell it early, tell it said Edward Parham, director of public relations forin Colonie. Ideally, the news should be sharee with all parties at thesame time. In the age of textingv and Twittering, “news can travel at the speed of an saidMatthew Maguire, spokesman for in Albany. “Yoju want to deliver your news before anyone else Bartel suggestsgiving “a few select reporters” a heads-u p that news is coming. “That way, the reporter has gotte n the company line befor e a disgruntled employee pickd upthe phone,” she said.
When the news is delivered, it must be completes and truthful, with as many details as can be shared. It is especiallyy important that the CEO or other designated spokesperso n be availableand responsive. “There is no such thingb as not taking the call and having the paper the next day sayyou weren’ available,” said Dean Rueckert, CEO of Rueckert “That is not acceptable. And a good answer is neved ‘no comment.’ Back it up with the reasonj you can’t comment—confidentiality, legalities, what have you. You don’g want to look like you are dodging the questio n orhiding something.” This candot extends to employees.
Moran said that when he works with companiewsin bad-news situations, he institutes a “no close door for three rule on top managers.

Andrea Guardini wins Giro stage; Joaquin Rodriguez in lead - USA TODAY

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AFP	Andrea Guardini wins Giro stage; Joaquin Rodriguez in lead USA TODAY VEDELAGO, Italy (AP) â€" Andrea Guardini edged out favorite Mark Cavendish in a bunch sprint to win the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday as Joaquin Rodriguez kept his grip on the over »

SAHA to spend $14.5 million on local housing project upgrades - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

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million in federal stimulus fundes to repair and upgradse a number of public housing Out of 349 housing authoritiexs in Texas that received money from the Americab Recovery andReinvestment Act, San Antonioo Housing Authority, or SAHA, receivede the largest amount. SAHA is required to use the moneyg for capital improvements and all the funds must be speng withinthree years. “These fundse will allow us to make much-needed repairds to our public housing properties and improvde the safety and quality of life for our SAHA President and CEO Lourdeas CastroRamirez says.
Among the properties slated for major upgrades is the Lewis Chatham Apartments, a 119-unit apartment complex for seniorsa on the city’s South Side. Lewi Chatham also will undergo anextensive modernization. In addition, stimuluw funds will be used to upgrade the elevators and fire safety at nearly 20 elderly Other projects will involvereplacing fencing, roofing, cabinets, and heating, ventilation and air conditioningt systems. SAHA Board Chairman Ramiro Cavazosa says the agency will encourage the participationh of smalland minority-owned businesses.
“Wew will also give additionalp weight to contractors that commit to activelh recruiting employees from the neighborhoods in and arounsd where this workwill occur,” he SAHA will issue requests for proposals to perforj engineering and architectural services related to stimulus-approveds projects. Web site: www.saha.orgy

PUMA AG buys Westford building, likely new HQ - Boston Business Journal:

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Germany-based PUMA considered buildinga brand-new U.S. headquarters for PUMA Nortjh America but ultimately decided to purchas anexisting building, according to real estatwe sources who were familia with the footwear company's search and askes not to be named. PUMA'sd purchase of 10 Lyberty Way from couls close as early asnext week. Callse to Franklin Street Properties' offices in Wakefield were not A callto PUMA's broker at was not PUMA's spokeswoman Kristina Fields said she could not releasd any details about the pending acquisition of 10 Lybert Way. The acquisition price was not publicly available.
The companyy considered building a headquarters from scratchg and looked at developmen sitesin Westford, but ultimately decided against new constructiom and preferred to buy a property rather than lease "There are very few large blocks of space left in the said Matthew Daniels, a senior vice president at Daniel was not involved in the transaction. "When I say largee blocks of space I'm talking 80,000 squar feet or more," he said. The buildingy at 10 Lyberty Way will likeluy serveas PUMA's new headquarters, but it was unclear whethee the company planned to vacate the 80,0090 square feet of space it occupies at 5 and 6 Lyberth Way.
One real estats source said PUMA would vacate the buildingse at 5 and 6Lyberty Way, whicbh are reportedly being marketed for lease now. In addition to the two buildingsz PUMA currently occupies in the company's global marketing and designh center is located at the Boston Design Center in South Boston.

Tampa Bay Business Journal: Business Events Calendar

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List event sponsor(s) (Example American Company Inc., USA Businessz Ltd.) Use this area to give a precisse location ofyour (Example: Downtown Marriot 345 Main St., New NY 000001 Provide the start time for your eveng (Example: 9a.m. - 12p.m.) List any charg e for your event. Please note if there is no (Example: $9 for members, $35 for Choose a category that describesyour event. Fill out one or more of the fieldds to the left to provide readers with a way to contacgt your organization to register for your Please give usyour name, phone and e-mail address where we can contacft you in the eventf of questions about your event listings. This informationh will not appear onthe website.
This information will only be used to contactr you foradministrative purposes. bizjournals.com reserves the right to removw listings if it is determined they are offensive or not relevan tothe bizjournals.com or of "community interest" to our

AFIT will open to contract civilians - Chicago Tribune

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AFIT will open to contract civilians Chicago Tribune Timothy Lawrence, AFIT commandant. "... It's a way that helps us get relief when we know we're in a budget-constrained environment." The Air Force faces $54 billion in budget cuts over the next decade and the school was forced to eliminate 49 civilian ... Civilian takes the reins at AFIT Dayton Daily News  »

Covington artist exhibits assemblage - NOLA.com

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Covington artist exhibits assemblage NOLA.com By Linda Dautreuil Assemblage as art existed in the cultural tradition of the rural South before the practice was explored by artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Picasso and Braque, Jean Dubuffet, Joseph Cornell and, later, Robert Rauchenberg among the ...