The Chapel of Love in the Mall of America celebrated its 15th anniversary by having 15 couples get married on April 15. The couples exchanged vows and rings on the Pepsi Orange Streak roller coaster. The Mall of America, which has Weber Shandwick as PR AOR, handled PR in-house for this event, and publicized it on its Web site and through e-mail alerts. The wedding event was covered on local TV affiliates and by newspapers and the AP. A photo is included after the jump.

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PepsiCo and Porter Novelli joined forces earlier this month to host a Twitter party discussing the latest trends. The April 1 event brought together 100 of Pepsi’s top communicators, as well as social media experts Peter Shankman, Stephanie Agresta, and Maury Postal. It was run by PN’s Marian Salzman.

The discussion reportedly generated over 1,400 tweets with topics including the use of social media in marketing.

“The goal of the event [was] twofold,” writes Bonin Bough, global director of social media at PepsiCo. “First is to send the message that PepsiCo is here to support, enable and participate within the social media space, and the second goal was to hear what the world had to say about global trends.”

Still trying to figure out what the hub-bub is about the Twitter? Check out this from PRWeek and a story from

Just stopped in for the Friday morning panels at the Arthur Page Society’s spring seminar, which took place over two days at the Jumeirah Essex House - a great spot that faces Central Park.

Saw lots of top agency CEOs, a number of academics, and plenty of the group’s corporate-side members as well. The membership group emphasizes recruiting senior-level PR pros that work in or on corporate communications.

The morning’s speaker that probably impressed me the most was Carlos Gutierrez whose resume includes stints as US Commerce Secretary and chief executive of Kellogg Company. In describing the value that communicators offer - whether distilling a 700-page new bill or a new product - Gutierrez remarked that “the real genius is in simplification.” He surmised that “people can’t agree with something they don’t understand,” nor can they “fall in love” with what they don’t understand. That really struck a chord.

He ended by telling the receptive audience that their jobs are “one of the most strategic roles” in a corporation.

Too bad I missed Thursday’s session. I hear CNBC’s Charlie Gasparino stirred up the strongest reaction.

Sears launched a new tag line - “Sears. Life. Well spent.” - that will more strategically align the company’s branding efforts with consumers’ increased interest in quality of life and thoughtful consumption. The new tag line reflects consumers’ changing ideas about the American dream and how Sears’ products fit in with these values, said Tom Aiello, division VP of PR for Sears Holdings. Euro RSCG Worldwide PR will provide PR support.  “As we move ahead, you’ll see strategies and tactics come out that really bring the tag line to life,” Aiello said. One example is the Heroes at Home program, which provides support to service members and their families. Sears will be expanding the scope of this program’s reach to include other “everyday heroes,” such as teachers, police officers, and fireman. Projected to begin this expansion in the fall, these changes will “bring focus into local communities,” says Aiello.

On Wednesday evening, I attended a panel on online marketing for books. The NYC Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association hosted Getting the Word Out: Marketing Your Book on the Web, held at the Jefferson Market Library in New York. The well attended event focused on topics including being authentic when using social media, how blogging and social media translates to book sales, and ().

Susannah Greenberg, principal of Susannah Greenberg PR, moderated the panel, which included several authors and book publishing insiders: Fauzia Burke, founder and president of Internet marketing firm FSB Associates; Peter Costanzo, director of online marketing for Perseus Books Group; Ron Hogan, founder of Beatrice.com and senior editor at MediaBistro’s Galleycat; Kelly Leonard, executive director of online marketing at Hachette Book Group USA; and Abby Stokes, author of Is This Thing On?: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers, Technophobes, and the Kicking and Screaming. Read more after the jump.
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Jay Leno is doing his part to help the unemployed—by making them laugh. The comedian’s latest publicity stunt offers free tickets to the April 7 taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for anyone who is unemployed in Detroit. “Jay’s Comedy Stimulus Plan,” held at the home of the Detroit Pistons, the Palace of Auburn Hills, will also have free refreshments and parking.

Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby are kicking their PR efforts into high gear, after recently hiring Cramer-Krasselt for PR support. Leading up to the Derby on May 2, Churchill Downs announced that celebrity chef Bobby Flay will serve as the official host and spokesperson for the Kentucky Derby Party program and Web site for the second year.

The company also recently closed applications for its CPO—Chief Party Officer—to run the festivities on the Kentucky Derby infield. Churchill Downs accepted online video applications for the position until February 28 and the new CPO will be announced soon. The company is also planning a press conference on March 11 about a new partnership with a nonprofit organization.

Last night’s awards ceremony seemed to start on a note of exuberance that escalated as the night wore on. Hanna Lee from HannaLee Communications floated into the reception with her staff and clients at about 5:30, one of the first to arrive. Soon after, the team from George Washington University got there, energetic and friendly. Each group, including the evening’s most excited bunch, the staff of Coyne PR, brought the party with them. Even the host, Richard Harris, seemed in high spirits, entertaining the audience and being entertained them in return. It’s great to give awards and recognize good work, but it’s cool to just have a good time as well.

As some of my colleagues have mentioned, the event gives everyone the opportunity to either catch up with the folks they know or meet those they’ve only spoken with on the phone and by e-mail. This is my third time at the awards and, indeed, that was true for me. Whether we had the chance to speak or not, don’t wait until next year to give me a buzz, shoot me a message, or suggest a day for an after-work drink.

Last night was my first PRWeek Awards and the evening really was a lot of fun! From hearing the excitement from agencies and companies as their hard work was recognized (here’s to you, Coyne!), to sipping cocktails and swapping stories with great PR pros, I had a great time. I’ve been at PRWeek for a little less than a year, so I’m still putting faces to names and getting to know people outside of a last minute phone call to get a quote. I enjoyed talking about our Awards dresses with Lisa Sepulveda, CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, and had plenty of laughs with the hilarious Julian Green, director of media relations of Miller Coors. From ringing the Nasdaq bell earlier this week to laughing over cocktails at the After Glow last night, it’s been a great couple of days of getting to know you all a little bit better. And that’s been great!

Last night was my first time at the PRWeek Awards - and wow. What a show. I met so many great people:  the PR team at McDonald’s, Viacom, George Washington University, Pfizer, and a great agency leaders, as well as folks from PRNewswire, DS Simon, and KRC Research. While the reception was a whirlwind of meet-and-greets, dinner turned serious as folks waited to hear who took home the awards. Check ‘em out here.

My table included Rick French (FWV), Shannelle Armstrong from Sears, Lynn Hanessian (Zeno), Patrice Tanaka (CRT/Tanaka), and a number of other great folks. We cheered on everyone, though it was really unnecessary because we were seated next to that rowdy group of nine Coyne PR tables. Yes, nine! I saw Tom Coyne at the reception, and he told me about his nine tables. “Well, I told the staff if we were ever up for agency of the year, I’d bring them all,” - to paraphrase. Of course, a roar went up when the firm took home Midsize PR Agency of the Year. That was followed shortly by some wild screaming at the group of Edelman tables when it won first Large PR Agency of the Year, and then the top prize of Agency of the Year.