Category: Blog

lessons in crisis communications

by Joel Rubin, APR

Founder and CEO, Rubin Communications Group

Fortunately, we don’t have a crisis every day in Hampton Roads. We often bemoan the fact that we are not major league in sports, but we also do not have many major-league emergencies either – political, criminal, natural or otherwise. Unfortunately, we do have our share of tragedy and turmoil and on occasion, clients ask Rubin Communications Group to be the go-between with the outside world.

So it was on Sunday morning June 23. The attorney for Guadalajara at Town Center in Virginia Beach contacted me for assistance. He told me someone had shot and killed a man and wounded four others outside the restaurant nine hours earlier. That’s all he knew and all, I would learn, police reported at the time. I drove to Guadalajara and met the owner, Jerry Rodriguez, who was in his office rewinding surveillance tape, looking, as police had done earlier that morning, for images of the victim or possibly the perpetrator walking in or out of his establishment sometime before it closed at 1:30 am. There was no sign of either person.

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After many weeks of brainstorming, designing and re-designing, the new RCG Web site is open for business.

We think it’s high time to polish our image and showcase our people, clients and services in a fresh way. Take a tour of our new online digs. Here’s what you’ll find:

  • Enhanced home page. See the latest news on RCG and our clients through a colorful slideshow; the photos and stories change often so make sure to come back and see what we’re up to.
  • Our new blog. Led by RCG’s Danny Rubin and Rachael Keshishian, the company blog will feature PR/communications strategies, RCG announcements and all kinds of creative ideas that make a blog worth reading.
  • Social feeds. Monitor RCG across a range of social media channels. We’re always posting, sharing, tweeting or re-tweeting about something.
  • Our services: From branding and advertising to comprehensive social media campaigns and SEO-driven research, RCG does it all.
  • Newsroom. If you see a news story about one of our clients, chances are we’re behind it. RCG clients want their stories told, and we have the tools, resources and relationships in media to make it happen

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We’re thrilled to announce that the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Hampton Roads chapter has named our founder and president Joel Rubin its 2013 PR Practitioner of the Year.

The honor is even more significant because it’s now named after the late P. Lee Starkey, the ‘father of public relations’ here in Hampton Roads.

Starkey, a legend in the local PR community, earned the first-ever PR Practitioner of the Year award in 1986 and was a mentor when Joel started the business in 1991. Starkey’s widow Earlene and Mindy Hughes, last year’s award recipient, presented a plaque to Joel before fellow PR and marketing professionals during a recent chapter luncheon.

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Rubin_1837Rubin Communications Group is excited to announce that Danny Rubin has officially joined the company as an account manager. Danny is the son of Joel and Sara Jo, the company’s CEO and COO.

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If the metric of popularity is longevity, Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom (ABR) contest is still connecting with consumers.

RCappy Menuubin Communications Group conceived the competition a dozen years ago, and nominations are now being accepted for 2013 through July 23. Finalists will be announced August 6.

“Nominees and finalists run the gamut, from historical buildings or five star luxury hotels and restaurants in big cities, to gas stations along remote highways and mom & pop style diners in the rural Midwest,” says RCG’s Sabrina Zimring, who doubles as Survey Editor for ABR.

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The votes are in for the 2nd Annual Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest, a competition created by Rubin Communications Group to recognize the toughest winter workers in the United States and Canada.

This year’s winner is James Tatem, an arborist foreman from Hooksett, NH who said he depends on Carhartt rental uniforms and well insulated coats to survive blistering New England winters. His grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the CMA Music Festival June 6 – 9 in Nashville, TN.

Dave Bensette, a mail carrier from Tecumseh, Ontario, and Dawn Martin, a cattle rancher from Beulah, ND finished second and third and each received Carhartt merchandise.

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