Avenue Vine

Chosen from more than 700 national entries, Brown-Miller Communications’ work to build brand recognition and reputation for a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) program was awarded the coveted Silver Anvil by a panel of public relations judges. At the same awards ceremony, the small East Bay firm was presented with the Public Relations Society of America’s Award of Excellence for their media advocacy efforts aimed at improving school nutrition environments.

“I guess there’s a bit of a David and Goliath story here,” said Brown-Miller Communications President Michael Miller. “We may have been dwarfed by some of the multinational agencies we were up against, but this award shows that creativity and innovation obviously aren’t the sole domain of the giants.”

By helping to create a positive identity for the CDFA’s Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board, the Agency rallied support for the critical program among winegrape growers, wineries and local communities, earning it the Silver Anvil. Brown-Miller's worked with the California Center for Public Health Advocacy to mobilize attention and support for landmark legislation to improve the nutrition of California school campuses, earned the Society’s Award of Excellence.

“The PRSA Silver Anvil Awards are the highest watermark of success for any public relations practitioner,” said David M. Imre, APR, 2006 PRSA Silver Anvil chair. “We congratulate Brown-Miller Communications for their public relations programs that incorporated measurable and sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. These programs contribute to the best practices of our industry.”

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), based in New York City, is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has more than 29,000 professional and student members.

About Brown-Miller Communications, Inc.

Since its inception 18 years ago, Brown-Miller Communications (www.brownmillerpr.com) has worked to promote fruit and vegetable consumption, improve nutrition and further health issues in California. The agency has built innovative campaigns to promote client products, change attitudes about consumption patterns and raise awareness of critical health issues.

And More About Brown·Miller – What They Do and How They Do It:

Their toolbox looks about the same as any other PR agency — what's different is how they use those tools. Getting attention in today's message-saturated world is tough. It's not enough to trump out the same old tricks — you have to back those up with a dedicated zeal to make them work, even in the toughest situations. Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is the muscle you're willing to put behind those tools. When it comes to P.R., they're buff!

Project Basis
Special events and projects of a limited nature are billed on an hourly basis. An estimate is submitted to the client prior to initiating the project and agency hours are closely monitored. Should the scope of the program expand, necessitating additional agency time, prior approval is secured from the client.

Retainer
For full public relations campaigns, monthly retainers are recommended. Based on the proposed program to be executed, the agency determines its level of involvement and establishes an appropriate monthly fee. In addition to guaranteeing their clients a continuing media presence, the retainer provides budgeting and accounting benefits. Monthly bills include the retainer cost for the upcoming month, as well as expenses incurred in the previous month.

Expenses
Out-of-pocket costs are billed to the client on a monthly basis. Outside services listed are provided to the client as a service. Upon client request, all vendor invoices will be submitted

Every good recipe calls for quality ingredients. While they don’t exactly see theirselves as another jar on the spice rack, they each jump at the opportunity to meld their unique set of skills, talents, relationships and ideas together to stir up strategies and actions for success. The experience of seasoned veterans, fueled by the fresh thinking of a younger generation lets them mix together a batter that always rises to the occasion.

There’s nothing they enjoy more than turning a problem into a solution. Given ingenuity, experience and a quirky need to spin out something new, they do what small agencies can’t and large agencies won’t do. Don’t believe them? Take a look at a few examples of how they’ve helped their clients.

They know they do good work, but it’s always gratifying to have their peers say so. Competing against thousands of other agencies from around the nation, Brown·Miller Communications regular hauls home an inordinate number of awards.

Now where do you store all these Plexiglas thingamajigs

More than anything else, it's their clients that set them apart. Their passion for their programs and products drives them. Their willingness to step outside of the box frees them to execute their own brand of innovative, novel programs. And ultimately, it's the partnerships they forge with their clients that are their biggest success. Do those partnerships work? Ask the people who pay the bills. The bulk of their business is built on their recommendations.

They know that journalists are always pressed for time, so they strive to make it easy to get the story and materials to them.

Hopefully they've saved them some time and given them a little room to breathe.

Website for Brown-Miller