MARKOWITZ COMMUNICATIONS 2740 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-577-5140 www.markowitzcommunications.com

We ARe MARKOWITZ COMMUNICATIONS

After working in the public relations departments of several of Pittsburgh’s premier performing arts centers, taking on the role of public relations director at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts and then serving as the director of marketing and public relations at the Pittsburgh Zoo, Saul Markowitz decided to start his own agency.

Markowitz Communications officially opened its doors on April 1, 1997 —aka April Fool’s Day— (yes, there’s a punch line in there somewhere).

With Saul at the helm, Markowitz Communications has established a reputation as a small firm that takes on large, high-profile accounts. For example, MC was the agency of choice for AT&T when it decided to launch a public relations campaign designed to break Verizon’s hold on local phone service.

MC was the group Krispy Kreme Doughnuts turned to when it wanted to introduce western Pennsylvanians to the joys (not to mention the calories) of glazed doughnuts.

When Cirque du Soleil first came to town and then returned with a new production three years later, it looked to Markowitz to make its shows phenomenons. And when PetSmart opted to have one firm handle all of its public and media relations throughout the country, it was Markowitz Communications the company selected.

In addition to Saul Markowitz as president, Markowitz Communications’ senior staff includes Barbara (BK) Klein as creative director.

BK’s background is journalism. After working as an associate editor at Vogue, she returned to Pittsburgh and began a freelance writing career. Her articles have appeared in national (Family Circle, Redbook) and local (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, City Paper) publications and she was heard on NPR’s “All Things Considered”.

A Markowitz staple since November 1997, BK provides the agency — and its clients — a unique insight into what reporters and editors are looking for in terms of story ideas. As creative director, she oversees all copywriting, design, photography and videography and manages all production (including editing, printing and fulfillment).

Our support staff works to keep the Markowitz machine running. Together, the MC team develops and maintains targeted media lists, pitches story ideas, tracks results from various campaigns and reports back to clients.

Those reports reflect the hands-on attention given to each of our clients. For example, when there’s a grand opening, like the nine we coordinated for Krispy Kreme, Saul is always on site to personally handle the media relations. When there’s a photo shoot that requires dressing dogs and cats in Halloween outfits, BK is there working directly with the dogs and cats, as well as the photographer and designer. And when there are stories to be pitched, Saul and company are the ones sending the materials, making the phone calls and following up with both the reporters and our clients.

We work hard for our clients and genuinely enjoy what we do.

No matter what the project, we bring our unique combination of creativity,

connections and chutzpah to the table.

So, maybe the real question is “why not?”

2740 Smallman St. | Pittsburgh, PA 15222phone: 412-577-5140www.markowitzcommunications.com

Where?

Public relations (not to mention marketing and advertising) is not a 9-to-5 job and we are not a 9-to-5 agency. Cell phones and e-mail enable us to be accessible 24 hours a day – even during vacations.

How?

Why?

We’re able to deliver big-agency results with our

streamlined staff by scaling our operations as needed.

In other words, we tap into our network of resources

– photographers, designers, programmers, media

databases, tracking services – on a per client/per project

basis.

This keeps our overhead low, but our reach long.

When?

Develop media connectionsThe Markowitz staff enjoys a well-earned reputation among its many national and local media contacts. Reporters know and respect our work — and that has proven to be a valuable asset for Markowitz clients. Some of our greatest hits are: PetSmart in USA Today, Newsweek and BusinessWeek and on Fox & Friends and CNN Headline News; The Pittsburgh Zoo hosting Good Morning America live on site; The Children’s Institute in Family Circle Magazine; and Wentworth Gallery artist Peter Max on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.

Build and maintaintargeted media lists

Our staff uses multiple resources to compile effective media lists for our clients. We combine online databases, such as Cision and Mondo Times, with our own proprietary research in key markets. Our extensive history working with top media throughout the major DMAs has enabled us to develop a strong proprietary list of media contacts. We also actively manage our media lists so as to remain compliant with anti-spamming legislation.

Provide media trainingGiven Andy Warhol’s assertion, we understand that not everyone is prepared for his or her 15 minutes of fame. We help our clients feel more comfortable — by offering tips, rehearsing possible questions and answers, reviewing important points to be covered, providing background on individual reporters — talking with the media.

Deliver ROI analysisand media tracking

We are continually evaluating the pros and cons of services such as Cision, Burrell’s Luce, Factiva, News Library, LexisNexis and Cyber Alert to ensure that we’re able to customize our media tracking based on specific client needs. We acquire clips through both national and regional resources. We also work with our clients to establish the right formula for evaluating ROI so that we are able to provide consistent and relevant reporting.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 TOP 14

4

31

2

At Markowitz Communications, we offer our clients a proactive, integrated approach to marketing and public relations. In every thing we do — press releases to event planning, advertising campaigns to brainstorming — we’re always looking to maximize our clients’ media exposure while minimizing their expenditures.

C a p a b i l i t i e s L i s t

Provide strategic planningand brand development

We sit down with our clients and help them establish goals and objectives. We then develop materials (micro sites, press releases, media alerts, pitch letters); a public relations plan (key markets, key media outlets); and/or an advertising campaign (broadcast, print, outdoor) that work towards achieving those goals and objectives. In addition, we always stress the importance of presenting a clear and consistent message that reflects their brand or identity in the marketplace.

Offer consumer trend monitoringWhen we set up media monitoring, we don’t

just watch for our client, we scour news resources for our client’s competitors, large and small, as well as other industry keywords. For example, with the United Way of Allegheny County, we track the media for United Way stories throughout the country. We also monitor the local, Western Pennsylvania media for mentions of other nonprofits and social service providers. Through these efforts, we remain proactive and ahead of the curve.

Offer news monitoringMany public relations opportunities come on the heels of news events. Heat waves, snow storms, disasters, recalls, medical breakthroughs — these types of breaking news stories allow us (when appropriate) to position our clients as resources or experts for the media to use when covering these events.

Provide art directionand manage design projects

We never simply hire a photographer or a designer and leave them to their own devices. Our creative director is on set during all photo and video shoots and is in constant contact with designers. This type of hands-on management results in high quality projects that exceed our clients’ expectations.

Provide editorial servicesWe don’t believe in sending out press release after ordinary, predictable press release. Sometimes we write entire press releases in Spanish, sometimes we don’t write them at all, and instead create micro sites or tip sheets (like the PetSmart Smart-e). Whatever the medium, our message is always well-crafted and never ordinary.

Handle crisis communicationsEvery organization experiences its share of crises; it’s just a fact of modern life. We’re available to help minimize any damage and find effective ways of moving forward. (Confidentiality and discretion prohibit us from going into greater detail.)

Meet deadlinesand work within budgets

You need it when? Ok, we can do that. At what price? We’ll make that happen and suggest ways of streamlining costs. The one thing we never do is surprise our clients with hidden charges.

Develop and implementadvertising campaigns

From the creative to the buy, we present clients with a complete campaign designed to get the right message to the right audience.

Orchestrate grand openings and press events

And when we say “grand,” we really mean it. Through the years, we’ve had the opportunity to coordinate some high-visibility events for PetSmart, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Cirque du Soleil, AT&T and Aramark at PNC Park.

Brainstorm and troubleshootSometimes clients simply want someone to talk to. We’re here to listen, but we’re also not shy about sharing our opinions.

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Cancer Support for the Whole Family,the Whole Time

cancer support for the whole family,

the whole timeRESTAURANT • ROTISSERIA • BAR

W

AS

HINGTON COU

N

TY

TO

UR

I S M P R O M O T I O N AG

EN

CY

Some of our clients

“Saul and his team know every reporter and are

well respected by them. In PR, you can’t ask for much more than that. It wouldn’t even

occur to me to use any other agency – ever – in Pittsburgh.”

Lance Taylor Marketing Manager Cirque du Soleil

“Saul Markowitz is one of the most talented media relations

and marketing professionals around. He can fine tune a message, create a package that excites

the media, and he is hugely entrepreneurial in terms of taking advantage of opportunities for his clients.”

Teresa ThomasAssistant Vice President, Media Relations

Carnegie Mellon University

“Markowitz Communications has mastered the art of pitching a story. In

any market throughout the state, whatever the assignment, they have found a way to make it work for AT&T. Markowitz is our secret weapon.”

Lenora Vesio Director of Public Relations

AT&T Pennsylvania

“It’s been great working with Saul and the gang at Markowitz

Communications! They’ve been able to secure positive media attention for artists Peter Max, Paul Stanley and Grace Slick in

many markets throughout the country. They always give 100% on every Wentworth Gallery show.”

Richard O’Mahony

Vice President/Director of MarketingWentworth Gallery

“Saul Markowitz? Is that the guy who feeds us every

day? We like him, but we don’t want to make a big deal about it.”

Henry & ChelseaTop Cats

Markowitz Home

“Markowitz Communications has produced exceptional work for us,

including a certain flare and attitude in our advertising. Saul and his gifted and talented staff

are most definitely considered an asset to CoGo’s.”

Joseph N. DonasExecutive Vice President

CoGo’s

“Markowitz Communications is hands down the best agency I have

ever had the privilege of working with! They are extraordinarily creative, exceptionally knowledgeable

and extremely well connected to key members of the media and community. “

Daniel Stainer Regional Marketing Manager

Cricket Communications, Inc

Some of theircomments

w w w . m a r k o w i t z c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . c o m