Last year State and Federal Communications took part in The All-American Soap Box Derby and United Way of Summit County Corporate Derby. On a hot and sunny July day, we showed up with a fearless driver, a handy pit crew, and we built a car. I have to say it was a terrific car. Here is what happened:

Most of the staff from our office showed up at Derby Downs in Akron to cheer for Team State and Federal. We had an exciting time!

If any of our readers in the Summit County area are thinking about participating in this event, we encourage you to do it! It is a fun way to help out the United Way of Summit County and the All-American Soap Box Derby. And best of all, you get to keep the replica Soap Box car that you build! The big day will on Friday, July 15, 2011.

You can get your registration form for the event here.

It was an honor being a participant and exhibitor at the annual Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) convention this year in Columbus, Ohio.  The convention was held at the Hyatt Regency on May 4 – May 6, 2011. This has been State and Federal Communications’ second year participating in the convention and we are looking forward to attend many, many more.

Congratulations to the OSBA team, who beautifully planned and orchestrated the three-day event.

Why does State and Federal Communications look forward to and enjoy the OSBA convention so much?

• We are always hiring to facilitate assistance across research and compliance departments in our expanding company. Since attorneys make up 50 percent of our staff, OSBA is a great place to recruit attorneys from different fields and levels of expertise.
• We love to “switch it up” when typically attending more “government relations/affairs” type conventions. We support our attorneys in continuing their education with CLE certifications. Also, it is refreshing to attend conventions where the subject matter is different, whether it be our neighboring booths in the exhibit hall or the topics of the CLE seminars.
• Attorneys have a unique perspective about consulting, campaign finance, and lobbying work – one of the many reasons we recruit at OSBA. The member attorneys are direct with their questions and sincerely try to learn about our company. Likewise, it is nice to hear their thoughts about recent news and issues regarding our line of work. We appreciate OSBA members’ professionalism and look forward to staying in touch.

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We would love to see you! Come visit us at booth #5 in the exhibit hall, right next to the voter registration. Or, chat with some of us in the OSBA conference classes Wednesday evening, Thursday, and Friday morning.

Here is a link to the event.

Recently DiversityBusiness.com held its 11th Annual National Multicultural Business Conference at the Gaylord National outside of Washington, DC.  Their conference proclamation was “American business has arrived at the next step in its evolution – the era of global diversity.”

Diversity has included the following: 1] businesses owned by people of color; 2] by women; and 3] by the disabled.  But, in 2011 this organization wants you to know that it includes innovative ideas, varied products, greater quality, greater efficiency, and lower costs.  Additionally, it includes a multicultural platform in markets, products, services, and experience.

State and Federal Communications, Inc. and Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO has been chosen to receive a DiversityBusiness.com award for its success in business in Ohio.

The conference host presenting the awards was Joan Lunden.  Her keynote speech titled “10 ways to Reinvent Yourself” is featured in our May 2011 Compliance Now newsletter.

April 3-5, 2011 – NASPO, Boston, Massachusetts

April 14-16, 2011 – NCSL Spring Forum, Washington, D.C.

April 20, 2011 – DiversityBusiness.com Award, Washington, D.C.

May 5-6, 2011 – Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention, Booth 5, Columbus, Ohio

May 5-7, 2011 – NCSL Spring Executive Committee Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, and staff members attended Akron’s State of the City Address, which was presented by Mayor Don Plusquellic. The luncheon was held at the Tangier.

Mayor Plusquellic discussed the challenges Akron faces in the difficult economy amid state and federal budget cuts to local causes. He also praised the hard work of City of Akron employees, as well as the dedicated work of the police, the firefighters, and the school teachers.

Plusquellic spoke of balancing the city’s budget, of exciting economic opportunities with the development of Akron’s biomedical corridor, and of manufacturing initiatives such as $1 million in seed money from Medical Mutual to help establish small businesses.

You can read the full text of the address here.

Here are a few scenes from the Public Affairs National PAC Conference 2011 in Florida.  We have here the Monday reception and the Tuesday breakfast.

State and Federal Communications will be attending the Public Affairs Council National PAC Conference in Miami Beach, Florida from February 21-24.

Just as it always is with the Public Affairs Council conferences, the agenda looks rewarding. We are excited to be going – to see old friends and to meet new ones.

If you are planning to be there too, please come and say hello! If you’re not planning on attending the conference, fear not – you can follow the conversations on Twitter: @PACouncil #PAC11 and keep up on Facebook. These are definitely worth “following and friending”.

Maybe we’ll see you there!

Five members of the staff of State and Federal Communications attended the Public Affairs Council National Grassroots Conference in beautiful Key West, Florida last week. It was a great chance to learn more about what is happening in grassroots advocacy, to see old friends, and to make some new ones!

One of the best takeaways from the conference, I think, was the way it presented social media as a tool for grassroots advocacy. The offerings at the conference were not an introduction to social media, nor were they making an effort to convince everyone of the value and importance of social media’s arrival. The sessions this year provided insight into best practices of social media. I witnessed much more dialogue in the sessions as more people are aware of it and using it.

There were other high points as well. We really enjoyed hearing the 2010 Grassroots Innovation Awards Winners – Portland General Electric, the American Heart Association, and American Express – talk about the exciting things they are doing in public relations.

Another excellent moment was listening to former U.S. Representative Bill Paxon (R-N.Y.), who spoke at the Friday morning general session. His talk was on the 2010 elections, how they will affect business and public policy, as well as what to look for in the upcoming legislative session.

The conference gave us so much more than we can blog about. We had a great time. We cannot wait until next year!

Thank you very much to the Public Affairs Council for hosting this marvelous conference.

Photo of Elizabeth Bartz welcoming everyone at the Registration/Networking breakfast.

I am a proponent of professional development. Sitting in front of a computer all day long can help in the knowledge department, but getting out and meeting folks is the best way to show initiative and sharpen your skills.

One of the best is the Annual Meeting from the State Government Affairs Council. This year, the program will be held March 30^th to April 1^st (no foolin’) in Austin, Texas. Sessions include:

• Secret Language of Success: The Importance of Nonverbal Communication;
• Effective Advocacy Tools;
• Challenging the Myth of Work-Life Balance: How to have the Time of your Life and Get Work Done Too;
• Social Media in Action;
• Associations and Members: Working as Partners;
• Achieving Success with Coalition Advocacy;
• Navigating the New Legislature with Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte; and
• Election Law and Government Ethics with former FEC Commissioner Michael Toner.

You can obtain information about the program, SGAC, and its new lobbying certificate program at www.sgac.org.

Elizabeth Bartz and several staff members from State and Federal Communications will be attending the Public Affairs Council’s National Grassroots Conference in Key West, Florida from January 25-28.

The conference is offering an exciting lineup of speakers presenting on grassroots leadership, best practices, and the use of social media.

If you are attending, be sure to stop by and say hello! We would be pleased to see you!

Alexandra Constantinou, who worked as an intern with Jim Sedor on our News You Can Use™ publication, attended the 108th Charity Ball for Akron Children’s Hospital. The event took place on December 28th, with the festivities including the presentation of 35 debutantes. The aim of the ball was to raise $100,000 for the hospital.

Alexandra interned at State and Federal Communications during the summer of 2009 and is currently studying in the Honors College at The Ohio State University.

Here is an Akron Beacon Journal article featuring the event.

Photo of Alexandra Constantinou and her family.

As we bid goodbye to 2010, we are also saying goodbye to Research Associate David Dobo, Esq. He is leaving to work for newly elected Congressman Jim Renacci.

Congressman-elect Renacci won the seat from Congressman John Boccieri who only had it for two years after Congressman Ralph Regula retired in 2008.

David came to State and Federal Communications after working as a District Aide for Congressman Regula. He is returning as a Constituent Service Representative for the 16^th District. His past 15 months at the company have helped us increase the information posted on our website.

We will miss his knowledge on government history.  We wish him all the best as he returns to a role that is in his DNA and that is helping people in Ohio.