LKM - Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy

LKM Promotes Nina Holbrook to Partner Programs Manager

Nina Holbrook advances to Partner Programs Manager for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development account at LKM.

CHARLOTTE, NC (Nov. 5, 2009) LKM, a Charlotte-based strategic communications agency, has promoted Nina Holbrook to Partner Programs Manager for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development account. Holbrook’s creative thinking, passion for technology and communication skills landed her the new position.

As the Partner Programs Manager, Holbrook is responsible for partner program development and execution. She will provide coordination between web, print and online disciplines for these programs and work closely with all team members to assure positive outcomes for partners, the Division of Tourism and LKM.

“Here at LKM, Nina is a key person in building the client’s online presence,” says Donna Forbes, president of the agency. “Her collaboration with multiple disciplines, knowledge of website development and insight into online trends is vital in expanding brands.”

The LKM PR team on behalf of the North Carolina Division of Tourism hosted The Weather Channel, in partnership with Transylvania County, for a live broadcast from the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest on Thursday October 15 as part as their “Why I Love Fall” series. The Weather Channel selected the location for the broadcast after the Division invited the network to visit for a feature on fall color. Morning segments aired Thursday from 6 – 9 a.m. along with tapings shot a few weeks prior with footage of Transylvania waterfalls, a local zipline and Gorges State Park. Dr. Howard Neufeld, the Division's fall leaf reporter from western North Carolina on VisitNC.com, was interviewed live during the morning segment, bringing nationwide coverage to North Carolina’s fall season.

On Friday, September 25, 2009, LKM lost a beloved team member to cancer. Suzanne Baur grew up in Bradford, Pennsylvania and moved to Pittsburgh to become a travel agent. Her love for travel infused her life, and favorite stops included Hawaii, the French countryside, Costa Rica and Belgium. In 1989, Suzanne moved to Charlotte, where her career at Mann Travels moved from travel agent to manager of the Matthews office.

In 2003, she quickly parlayed a receptionist position with LKM into a career as Media/Production Coordinator, then Production Services Coordinator and finally Interactive Projects Manager. In this role, Suzanne worked on developing the highly successful partner programs on VisitNC.com and travel destinations from across the state readily acknowledged Suzanne’s ability to take their ideas and convert them into effective advertising and projects that drove traffic to their web sites and kept their destinations vital and busy.

On September 29, family, friends and colleagues gathered at a memorial service to remember Suzanne and celebrate her enthusiasm for life, her fight against cancer and her indomitable, sunny spirit. In lieu of flowers, Suzanne’s family is requesting donations to a scholarship fund set up for Suzanne’s teenage son, Ben. Contributions may be made to SouthPark Christian Church at 6650 Park South Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210; phone 704-554-1066 or 704-554-1071.

Nearly 550 tourism, business and government leaders from throughout North Carolina participated in the 2009 N.C. Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism at the Raleigh Convention Center March 1-3. On the third day of the conference, the LKM public relations team produced a media mission on behalf of the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. Approximately 40 North Carolina travel industry partners from across the state met with the 31 media attendees at Raleigh’s Artspace. Press participants were treated to an overview of what’s happening locally with travel partners as well as statewide tourism initiatives. They also sampled North Carolina-style refreshments and the state’s wine and beer. Attendees included writers and producers from the Raleigh metro and surrounding areas, editors from Southern Living, Cooking Light and freelance writers for several state and national publications.

Gulf Stream Asset Management, LLC, an institutional asset manager of $3.8 billion of corporate credit portfolios for global institutional investors, has selected Charlotte-headquartered marketing agency LKM to revamp the company’s website and develop a new corporate identity.

EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, N.C., has hosted plenty of hit film productions in recent months including “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Nights in Rodanthe,” but it was the New York City-based studios of Fox News Network that hosted EUE/Screen Gems COO and Co-Principal Chris Cooney recently on Fox’s “Money for Breakfast thanks to stategic pitching by LKM's PR team.

”During the “Media Land” segment of the show, Cooney addressed challenges facing the film industry, shared his thoughts on the potential impact of the newly passed Economic Stimulus Bill and explained why EUE/Screen Gems is investing $15 million right now to construct the 37,500-square-foot “Dream Stage 10” in Wilmington when U.S. production facilities are battling overseas competitors for film work.

To see the live interview visit: http://interdubs.com/r/euescreengems/?al=r17IVp

Construction is progressing according to schedule, with “Dream Stage 10” scheduled to open this Spring. www.stage10nc.com.