Marek & Company : Public Relations

May 29, 2008

2009-10-07T16:37:00.005-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Annemarie Marek
Marek & Company
(C) 469.235.2166; (O) 214.828.0634
Email: annemarie@marek-co.com

Marek & Company Completes TxDOT LINC Program;
One of 17 Small Businesses in North Texas Selected for Mentoring

Dallas, Texas, May 29, 2008 - Marek & Company, a brand consultancy firm specializing in brand strategies and publicity for the A/E/C and healthcare industries, has completed the LINC mentoring program sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation. The firm was among 17 small businesses in North Texas to be selected for the program.

According to principal and founder Annemarie Marek, “We were pleased to be included in this unique program which TxDOT sponsors for small and minority businesses interested in doing business with TxDOT. As a newly-minted LINC protégé, we look forward to serving as consultants to prime contractors who have established relationships with TxDOT and need a strategic, experienced professional services firm to help promote their projects or to develop communications outreach campaigns that support the project engagement.”

Marek & Company has practice partners in Dallas, Houston and New York City. Founded in 1992, the award-winning firm has been recognized for its media relations campaigns and branding programs as the recipient of the prestigious Katie Award from the Press Club of Dallas and the Marcom Gold Award for a branding campaign for a VAR of Hewlett-Packard.

October 7, 2009

2009-10-07T10:20:00.008-04:00

Make a Difference
by Annemarie Marek, LEED AP

To embrace sustainability, any step forward is better than two backward. I earned my stripes marching during the first Earth Day observance in San Antonio, Texas in 1970.

Still, it seems that two questions should be asked of anyone who speaks about “green” with ease.

The first question is personal:

Do you know how much you consume?

To change your lifestyle, you must take a baseline measurement, then focus on reducing your footprint. That's one step forward.

The second question is political:

For any community or neighborhood that is being developed, each of us should ask that developer, builder, retail merchant, business owner and, even, resident, what will you bring to our community that is green? In other words, how will you improve our local habitat? That's another step forward.

Keep these two questions handy, ask them about yourself and ask others to reflect on these questions. Make people think individually and collectively.

Responsible behavior begins with both internal and external commitments to change for the better.

July 14, 2008

2008-07-11T21:59:00.006-04:00

Green Schools
by Julius Pickenpack, Marcom Intern/SMU

With U.S. cities becoming more eco-friendly, schools are going green as well, designing curricula to teach students the importance of recycling and conservation.

Programs, such as those offered by the Go Green Initiative, are being adopted by schools in the U.S. and around the world, which teach children how to “go green." According to Jill Buck, founder of the Go Green Initiative, more than 1 million students and teachers are part of the program. Go Green realized that by teaching students the importance of recycling and conservation in the classroom, the students teach their parents and other family members what they have learned.

Another program in which schools participate is the Green Squad, which is a project of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The program encourages students to take action and to become aware of their environment. It encourages students to evolve into experts who understand what can hurt the planet and actions that can make a difference.

While the Green Squad and the Go Green Initiative are geared towards students from kindergarten up to 8th grade, university programs abound.

The University of Colorado at Boulder is a great example of a school with strong sustainability initiatives that have been in place and growing since 1970. The CU Environmental Center offers services to the campus that include recycling, clean energy, earth education and even an environmental library.

Check out gogreeninitiative.org for more information and how to get involved, as well as CU Environmental Center (ecenter.colorado.edu) to find out more about the Eco program of the University of Colorado.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Annemarie Marek
Phone: 214-828-0634
Cell: 469-235-2166
6928 Cornelia Lane
Dallas, TX 75214

July 1, 2008

2008-07-01T21:55:00.004-04:00

Job Growth: Green Jobs!
by Julius Pickenpack, Marcom Intern/SMU

Blue-collar and white-collar workers have been part of the U.S. workforce for generations. Now, there is a new color on the rise, and it is green. The demand for skilled workers in the green industry, such as building hybrid cars, installing solar panels, and constructing green buildings is growing exponentially.

For example, Abengoa Solar is jumping into action by building the world’s largest solar plant. Arizona will be home to a 280-megawatt solar plant that is scheduled to begin operating by 2011 and is estimated to sell $4 billion in electricity over 30 years. The plant will not only be great for the environment by avoiding 400,000 tons of greenhouse gases, but it will also create 1,500 construction jobs and employ 85 workers when fully completed. To reach out to others within the community, Green for All is a national organization based in Oakland, California that seeks to lift workers out of poverty and promote renewable energy through its green collar job training programs.

Looking for a green job? Check out the Green Dream Jobs section on SustainableBusiness.com, a job service website that specializes in connecting people with environmentally-friendly employers. The website was established 12 years ago, and, today, draws approximately 275,000 job seekers per month.

The demand for green-collar jobs will keep increasing as the world becomes more aware of the importance of going “green” and moves more aggressively toward conservation of our planet’s natural resources.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Annemarie Marek
Phone: 214-828-0634
Cell: 469-235-2166
6928 Cornelia Lane
Dallas, TX 75214

April 26, 2008

2008-04-28T12:12:00.006-04:00

Building a Greener Dallas
by Annemarie Marek, LEED ® AP

With the City’s adoption of a green building ordinance for new construction, Dallas has sent a clear message that local leaders are willing to act on the important issues of climate change and energy independence.

The work of the many builders, taxpayers and community leaders who have spent countless hours advising City staff on how best to achieve these goals for new construction is commendable. But the biggest job ahead will, most certainly, require everyone’s willingness to embrace sustainable goals and that will require greater personal involvement and investment.

Soon, the City’s green building task force will focus on existing buildings, both residential and commercial. The goal will be to identify sustainable initiatives that must be codified to reduce our energy and water consumption.

According to the North Central Texas Council of Governments, there are approximately 519,000 single and multi-family housing units in our City. Ninety-eight percent of these structures have not been built to green standards. Clearly, there are significant costs associated with retrofitting existing structures. So how do we embrace and integrate sustainability into our daily lives and at what price?

First, we have to recognize that no one group of politicians, community leaders, residents or business owners is responsible for changing our habits or greening our City. We are all responsible.

Second, we must find solutions that are affordable, practical and provide an impetus to change. We cannot forget the current economic forces that are testing the ability of many families and individuals to pay for even the basics.

Third, to achieve sustainability goals, both the public and private sectors of the City will, of necessity, be creating a new green labor force to participate in those solutions.

Finally, since the median household income in the City of Dallas is approximately $38,000, sustainable solutions that are punitive may seriously impact the lives and well-being of those in greatest need of more energy efficient homes. We need to remember the severe income inequality in our City.

So where do we begin? We should look at the best practices of other cities. In Austin, Texas residents receive rebates for replacing air conditioners, heat pumps, ductwork and windows that meet high efficiency standards.

To preserve Chicago’s historic bungalows, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation awarded the City $3.5 million in grant money to improve energy efficiency and provide special mortgages, higher purchase price limits and rehab tax credits.

In La Jolla, California, a property owner who signs an energy reduction contract with the city to meet specific energy goals based on targeted averages per square foot receives a substantial property tax reduction for up to a 10-year period.

Business owners in Anaheim, California who retrofit inefficient equipment with approved energy-efficient equipment receive waivers of permit fees, up to a maximum of $5,000 per customer.

If we are to achieve meaningful change, given our existing building and housing stock, Dallas must “live large and think big” when it comes to providing economic incentives for building owners and residents. We should consider incentives that are as aggressive as those given by the City for economic development.

One positive example from the state of Texas is the recent passage of legislation declaring Memorial Day weekend a sales tax-free weekend on purchases of certain energy efficient products, including Energy Star appliances, ceiling fans and programmable thermostats, among others.

Of course, sustainable solutions can be as simple as taking personal habits seriously. For example, to change consumer behavior and provide revenue for the city’s other green initiatives, Seattle is proposing a 20-cent green fee beginning next year for every new paper or plastic bag used by shoppers to carry away goods from grocery, drug or convenience stores.

With the rising price of municipal water and drought restrictions, the simple act of rainwater harvesting can become a significant act of conservation and savings. At 80 percent collection efficiency, a 2,000 square-foot roof should yield about 1,000 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall. Similar to the City’s recycling program, perhaps the City can distribute rain barrels to residents.

The bottom-line is that we must all pitch in by resolving to collaborate on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Sustainability is a moral and economic imperative, and it is incumbent on all of us to participate.

In the words of environmentalist and entrepreneur Paul Hawken, “Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them.”

Annemarie Marek, LEED ® AP is principal of Marek & Company, a brand communications consultancy group. She currently serves on the green building task force of the City of Dallas and was recently named by D Magazine as one of the City’s top sustainable advocates.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Annemarie Marek
Phone: 214-828-0634
Cell: 469-235-2166
6928 Cornelia Lane
Dallas, TX 75214

December 25, 2007

2007-12-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Annemarie Marek
(C) 469.235.2166; (O) 214.828.0634

Marek & Company wins Gold MarCom Award for Corporate Branding Campaign from the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals

Dallas, Texas, December 24, 2007 - Marek & Company, a boutique marketing and public relations firm in Dallas, Texas, has won a gold MarCom Award from the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals for its corporate branding campaign for Current Business Technologies, a member of Hewlett-Packard’s SVIP Elite Partner Community. The corporate branding campaign included a new logo, brand tagline, website, online sales flyers, packaging design and brand standards.

According to Annemarie Marek, president of Marek & Company, “We were very pleased to receive this recognition, especially in view of the keen international competition with other branding agencies. Our senior team delivered a quality, creative solution that has helped to reposition and reinvent CBT’s brand in its niche market space.”

The MarCom Awards recognize outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals. More than 5,000 entries from throughout the United States and several foreign countries were received in the 2007 competition. The competition is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals.

About Marek & Company

Dallas-based Marek & Company celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2007. The boutique agency serves the commercial real estate and healthcare industries nationally and regionally with a team of senior specialists in brand planning, identity and promotion. The firm is considered a leading authority on sustainable business communications and public relations practices. Annemarie Marek is a LEED ® AP and was recently named one of the top 13 leaders in Dallas on sustainability by D Magazine. To learn more, visit www.marek-co.com

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A digital photo of Annemarie Marek is available upon request from: sharon@marek-co.com

October 8, 2007

2007-10-07T11:57:00.000-04:00

Multi-Family Green Living Spaces:
by Elizabeth Gore, PR Account Coordinator

New green living complexes are beginning to pop up everywhere. These complexes are for multi-family living and focus on a healthier living environment.

Building planners are getting more creative when it comes to being ecologically conscious. They are recycling rainwater, purifying the inside air 24 hours a day and putting gardens on rooftops. Did you know that Chicago has some of the greenest rooftops? Other residential buildings use solar panels instead of lawns on rooftops to generate energy.

Some places like the Morrisania Homes in New York even train their residents on how to conserve energy. This training is a requirement of a LEED-Home certified residence. A LEED-H certified residential building means that the space meets the criteria of being a green project that is suitable for its inhabitants.
Another green factor of these multi-family spaces is “walkability.” The goal is to have retail, medical, office and other necessities of the residents within walking distance. This initiative cuts down on the need to drive to the store late at night for a gallon of milk, or to the pharmacy for a prescription. It creates greater convenience for the residents while reducing emissions from vehicles at the same time.

Take a look at the Green Street Properties in Atlanta and The Solaire in New York to read about their green initiatives. Also, check out the U.S. Green Building Council to learn about LEED-Home certification.

September 24, 2007

2007-10-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

Green Urbanism:
by Elizabeth Gore, PR Account Coordinator

Urbanism is defined by Merriam Webster as “the characteristic way of life of city dwellers.” With that definition, then, green urbanism must be the environmentally conscious characteristic way of life of city dwellers. Today, green urbanism is moving to the forefront of new urban planning. Planners want to make living spaces more ecologically friendly, useful and durable. Apartment and residential dwellers want to save on energy and the other resources required to live lightly.

Sustainability, as it relates to green living spaces, means close-to-work transit, a healthy indoor air quality, low energy costs, reuse and recycling of materials, and, for most urban dwellers, affordable housing. Seems hard to achieve, right?

Actually, today’s new living environments offer adaptability and flexibility in floor plans and open spaces while achieving energy efficiencies for the families who live in them. Thus, the green urbanism goal is to not only keep the Earth’s best interests in mind, but also to ensure that there are resources available for generations in the future.

June 21, 2007

2007-06-19T19:26:00.000-04:00

Living The Green Life:
An Interview with Annemarie Marek

Recently, Advocate Magazine, a community publication that serves the neighborhoods of Lakewood, Lake Highlands and East Dallas, interviewed Annemarie Marek, president of Dallas-based branding firm Marek & Company, about her professional and personal commitment to “living green.” Following is an excerpt from that interview:

Tell me about your business as a PR person and how you have stayed true to your ideals while in this profession?
Frankly, if you were pitching green stories in Texas before 2006, people might have thought you were crazy. Fortunately, I had worked with an executive in Dallas who went on to become CEO of Shaklee Corporation in Pleasanton, California, and he engaged me to help promote their new corporate headquarters – the first facility in the U.S. to become certified as a Climate Neutral Enterprise. That was in April 2000 and, even then, green stories were rarely mainstream.

Since then, we’ve promoted the green achievements of numerous architecture, engineering, construction and healthcare clients.

You are the first green PR HUB in Texas, what does that mean, what is a HUB exactly - what does that designation mean?
Actually, we believe that Marek & Company is the first G.R.U.B. in Texas. Our firm is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and, locally, the North Texas chapter of USGBC. I’m also a LEED Accredited Professional. To earn that designation, you’ve got to pass a pretty rigorous exam sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council. I’m not aware of other public relations professionals who have this credential in Texas.

We also received our Texas HUB last year which enables us to bid on city, county and state projects under their Good Faith Effort plan. It’s a way for smaller, minority or women-owned businesses to participate in larger public projects. We’re hoping that our green PR track record opens doors to help publicize the green building projects of other communities and businesses throughout Texas.

An associate suggested that these two designations made us the first G.R.U.B. or Green PR HUB in Texas. We “googled” it and couldn’t find any other firm that could stake the claim so we did.

What exactly does the term "green building" mean?
Green building is environmentally responsible building. A green building strives to be highly efficient in its use of energy and natural resources during the life cycle of that building. A green building provides a healthy place for people and incorporates a range of green features, such as: solar shading, reflective or vegetative roofs, natural daylighting, fluorescent lights, recycled materials, and low or no-VOC paints, among others.

What green projects have you promoted both nationally and locally - give me some details on a few of them. What have been your favorite projects?
One of my favorite green PR engagements was to pitch Bransom Elementary, a new prototype school for Burleson ISD, to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. My client was the architect for the school.

Bransom used many "smart" energy features, such as low VOCs, extensive daylighting, rainwater harvesting, and a naturalist curriculum but the challenge of the pitch was to get it placed on Earth Day. Complicating that pitch was the fact that the school had recently been profiled but not about its green attributes. Luckily, I did a lot of homework on the Internet and found a passionate green writer at the paper who did a terrific piece on it.

Do you plan to involve yourself more in the green areas and less on the other projects as you continue to evolve?
Yes. We would like our entire portfolio of projects to reflect our commitment to the green business movement, including strategic planning that embraces a green philosophy, branding efforts that leverage those green strategies, and, of course, publicity that promotes them.

What are you doing personally to live a green life?
As a teenager, I advocated for our environment and marched in the first Earth Day. In college, I walked to classes, rode a bike off campus, and caught a bus or a taxi to go downtown. When I graduated and moved to Boston to teach, I rode the green line of the “T” which is the busiest light rail line in the U.S.

In moving home to Texas, during my first two years of work, I tried to ride the bus. Unfortunately, Dallas didn’t have a well-developed mass transit plan until years later, so I bought my first car, a Subaru stick without air conditioning. You couldn’t get more energy efficient than that in Big D.

As an adult, I have incorporated “best practices” by living small both personally and professionally.

My home in Lakewood is a 2,100-square-foot, remodeled single story ranch, built in the 1950s and made of “good bones.” I’ve replaced the single pane windows with energy-efficient, double-hung ones and use the attic fan often, except during the dog days of summer. My home is protected by trees on the west side to keep it cooler in the afternoons. My laundry area uses a front-loading washer/dryer. I’ve been switching to fluorescent light bulbs.

Outside, I have a compost pile that produces about 150 pounds of dirt annually for my yard. I use drip hoses around the foundation of the house. The driveway and sidewalk are pervious brick. Solar lights flank the driveway, and front lights are on timers. I recycle paper, glass, aluminum and plastic.

You were idealistic as a child, what were some of the things that stuck out for you when you were kid?
I enjoyed reading, writing and travel. I felt passionately about the power of words, and how they could move people. That’s why I pursued the field of business communications. I also loved the outdoors and the inspiration that a mountain stream or a field of wildflowers can have on the human spirit.

Where did you grow up in the area?
I grew up in San Antonio, left to go to school at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, moved to Boston after graduation, and then came back to Dallas for my Masters degree. I’ve been in Dallas since 1976.

What do you remember about that first Earth Day march and does that ideology still keep you focused even today?
To this day, I remember the fresh air and the clear blue skies. Reflecting on that experience, I realize I was an early adopter of the green movement. It wasn’t mainstream then but it is now.

What are your plans for the future with your company and personally in regard to staying "green."
We want to continue to align ourselves with companies that believe that being green is healthy for business, people and the planet. After all, living green acknowledges the symbiotic relationship we have with each other and the natural world around us.

Your firm celebrated its 15th, what do you think has been the key to your success all these years?
I enjoy being an entrepreneur so the drive to succeed and achieve is a big motivator. We also have a quality, talented team that works hard, along with down-to-earth, loyal clients we’ve been fortunate to have along the way.

Where is your office located?
We’re virtual. Everyone on our team, including our copywriter, senior designers, digital media producer, business strategist and public relations intern – office from home. We live everywhere -- from Dallas to New York, Houston to Franklin, Tennessee. At Marek & Company, we embrace the R.O.W.E. philosophy – results only work environment.

June 8, 2007

2007-06-04T13:12:00.000-04:00

Health Care “Going Green”: Corporate Practices
by Elizabeth Elliott, PR Intern/UTA

The first step a health care facility should make is to become certified with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This allows for greater credibility. It shows the desire to create an optimal working environment.

Green health care facilities know that a healthy environment is part of the healing process. There are numerous ways that hospitals have improved their facilities. New health care facilities are being built with larger windows in the patients’ rooms to let in more natural light and healing gardens in which patients can walk and sit. This exposure has proven to speed healing.

Another way in which hospitals are focusing on going green is by managing their waste production more carefully. They have re-usable sip cups rather than using disposable cups and pitchers. They recycle paper from shredded documents. They are also going to “green” vendors for services like lawn and landscape care. The left over clippings and debris are composted.

By implementing these initiatives, heath care facilities will seize a high ground earlier.

June 4, 2007

2007-06-04T13:10:00.000-04:00

Health Care “Going Green:”
Patient Healthy Living and Personal Conservation
by Elizabeth Elliott, PR Intern/UTA

Educating one’s public is a key ingredient for progress. Companies are making sure their clients know where to find health information. They are using their websites to post links, articles and tips for everyday conservation and better living.

Some hospitals are providing easy access to organic and nutritious foods by having a type of farmer’s market at their facility. This initiative is ingenious! They are devoted to educating their patients, and this improves credibility for the hospital. People notice and appreciate it when a company becomes intimately involved in their care. Check out Kaiser Permanente’s Farmer’s Market site for health information and recipes.

“Green teams” are being formed, and they are generally made up of staff and employees of the hospital. This gets the employees involved with practicing conservation in their daily living. The teams bounce ideas off of each other for more ways in which the hospital can continue to increase their green initiatives. By forming Green Teams, the hospitals show the patients that they, too, strive to live healthily, and it builds trust with the patients.

June 1, 2007

2007-06-04T13:05:00.000-04:00

Health Care “Going Green:” Introduction
by Elizabeth Elliott, PR Intern/UTA

Being environmentally friendly is booming, and it’s clearly here to stay. When I graduated from high school in 2002, the concept of ‘going green’ was just blooming. And now, here I am, at the end of my college journey, and it’s rare that more than a day goes by that I don’t hear or read something about environmental conservation. Green is the new black.

Businesses are realizing this pressing need for a healthier earth. They are not only coming up with unique ways to make their facilities more environmentally efficient. Health care facilities seem to have taken a big step forward. Their practices are two-fold.

First, health care providers are educating their patients on these practices. They are telling patients specific things they can do that will help them live better. These facilities are also getting the employees and the community involved. “Green teams” are being formed to help spark a passion for conservation.

Secondly, they are improving the buildings and utilizing more environmentally friendly products throughout the facility. For example, the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is continuing in their green efforts and is building a new ‘green campus.’

For more information on making your facility more environmentally friendly, go to National Geographic’s “The Green Guide.”

February 27, 2007

2007-02-28T14:50:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Annemarie Marek
Marek & Company
(C) 469.235.2166; (O) 214.828.0634
Email: annemarie@marek-co.com

Marek & Company Becomes a “G.R.U.B. ©” –
First Green PR HUB in Texas Aims to Capitalize
on Green Building Movement,
Promoting Healthy Places for Niche Industries

Dallas, Texas, February 27, 2007 - Marek & Company, a boutique marketing and public relations firm that specializes in national publicity for the commercial real estate and healthcare industries, has recently received its HUB designation from the State of Texas and founder and president Annemarie Marek has earned her LEED ® Accredited Professional designation from the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Both designations are part of the firm’s overall strategy to help cultivate and place more green stories that support the green building movement and its favorable impact on the environment.

According to Marek, “The HUB designation is very common for most women-owned firms in Texas but, when I studied for the LEED ® AP and earned it, one of my associates said that we were now officially a ‘GRUB’ or green HUB, and the word stuck.”

Marek marched in the first Earth Day held April 22, 1970 and still has the original T-shirt from the march. Says Marek, “That T-shirt will be 37-years-old in April. Why did I keep it? I was 16 and had this ideal notion that our relationship to this planet – how we treated every living thing – was critically important. I’ve kept that t-shirt as a reminder that our planet is a precious place, and that our footprint should be light and small.”

Over the years, Marek & Company has been engaged in promoting green buildings, technologies and achievements, among these: the ground-breaking announcement of Shaklee Corporation in Pleasanton, California as the first Climate Neutral certified enterprise in the U.S., SHW Group of Dallas’ sustainable design of Bransom Elementary School in Burleson, Texas, and Jaster-Quintanilla’s structural engineering prowess involved in the construction of Houston’s new UT School of Nursing and Student Community Center, which was recognized last year as one of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Green Projects in the nation and is expected to receive a LEED gold rating.

Says Marek, “We’re eager to help promote those building owners and developers who believe that going green is a wise business decision, both for the health of their occupants, as well as for our environment. The payback for owners is already well-documented, too.”

Marek & Company celebrates its 15-year anniversary this spring – not surprisingly on April 22, 2007.

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A digital photo of Annemarie Marek is available upon request from: sharon@marek-co.com

For more information about Marek & Company, visit the firm’s website at: www.marek-co.com