OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum, a multi-dimensional creative, public relations and marketing firm, recently announced the promotion of Houda Elyazgi to senior account executive, Lisa Janssen to media relations supervisor, Rachel Leonard to account executive and Anthony Triana to media relations specialist.
Elyazgi is responsible for managing accounts, conducting research, writing, developing campaign strategies and planning special events for clients as a senior account executive. She also coordinates Saxum’s Step Up program, which provides a $50,000 pro bono service grant to one Oklahoma nonprofit each year. Elyazgi graduated with distinctions from The University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in Arabic.
As media relations supervisor, Janssen oversees writing, communications and media outreach for Saxum accounts, focusing on strategic media placements that reach clients’ objectives. She also oversees the firm’s social media presence and conducts trainings for clients in traditional and social media. Janssen brings a multimedia and journalism background to Saxum, after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and a minor in Spanish.
Leonard serves as an account executive at Saxum, focusing on account support and management, with a particular emphasis on Saxum’s health care clients. She also has experience using social media communications tools to effectively reach target audiences and garner media coverage for clients. Leonard graduated with academic distinction from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations
Triana leads the Saxum Intelligence Department, focusing on conducting research, writing and gathering information of interest to Saxum’s clients. As a media relations specialist, he also supports Saxum’s media efforts through strategic expert positioning of Saxum clients. Triana graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication with an emphasis in public relations and a bachelor’s of business administration in finance.
About Saxum
Saxum provides integrated strategies in public relations and marketing for clients at the local, regional and national level. Saxum also provides creative services through its wholly-owned subsidiary Maxus Creative. With offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and a presence in Austin and Dallas, Saxum is ranked 13th of 135 independent public relations firms based on annual revenue growth by O’Dwyer’s PR Services Report and is a member of IPREX, one of the world’s largest international public relations networks. For more information, visit www.saxumpr.com.
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I’ve been to a ton of receptions. Political receptions, anniversary receptions and meet and greet receptions, to name a few. I’ve been to more receptions than I can remember.
I’ve been to hundreds of events. Ground-breaking events, ribbon-cutting events and inauguration events. I’ve been to weddings, and I’ve been to banquets. I’ve been to rallies, and I’ve been to meetings. I bet you have, too.
I’d be hard pressed to remember details about any of them. The majority of them have been remarkably unmemorable. So why would Saxum spend our money and our time on an open house reception for our new office in Tulsa?
Our objective for last night’s open house was simple – make it memorable.
When you put creative minds together and throw out the traditional PR playbook to solve problems, good things happen and memories are made. Sustainable solutions mean campaigns that ultimately change public perception.
Good public relations is so much broader than making introductions, securing articles in the local paper and working political connections for board positions. If you say “contribution” and I say “oversized check” or if you say “grand opening” and I say “ribbon cutting” then you’ve hired the wrong firm. The days of hiring agencies only for traditional services is coming to a close. Today’s firms must be creative, serious, transparent, measureable, responsive, resourceful, thoughtful and effective. Or we get fired.
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It’s an exciting time for Saxum Tulsa. The last few weeks have been among the most fun in my career, doing everything from hiring staff and landing the best office space in Tulsa (We love you, Brady Arts District!), to whirlwind meetings across the state, writing proposals and working with our outstanding clients.
Having worked for years with the franchisees of Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Rent A Car, I received a strong dose of entrepreneurial spirit. But never in a million years had I dreamed I’d be part of the entrepreneurial world through helping to launch the Tulsa branch of Saxum, a creative public relations and strategic marketing firm.
Lucky for me, I’ve had great support from the Saxum troop, particularly from our newest team member, Chris Oden, formerly with the Tulsa Metro Chamber, where she served as executive director of TYPros (Tulsa Young Professionals). If Chris O. wasn’t already accomplished enough, she was recently named an “Achiever Under 40” by the Journal Record for her accomplishments as one of Oklahoma’s talented young leaders. Then she also made Oklahoma Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” The awards are stacking up on the many shelves in our new building.
We are up and running smoothly in the new Tulsa office at 200 E. Brady. Tom Wallace and his crew at Wallace Engineering are very welcoming, and we appreciate them greatly. Not to mention the added bonus of being smack-dab in the middle of a lot of exciting things happening in Tulsa.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum, a multi-dimensional creative, public relations and marketing firm, announced today it has selected Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma (BBBSOK) as the recipient of the firm’s $50,000 pro bono service grant for 2010-2011.
“Saxum is pleased to add Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma to our client roster,” said Saxum CEO Renzi Stone. “We look forward to a year-long partnership with this dynamic statewide organization, based in Tulsa. They have an important story to tell that we are excited to help share in the communities they serve.”
BBBSOK has offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Bartlesville, Claremore, Stillwater, Ada/Shawnee and Norman.
Step Up is a grant program that will provide BBBSOK with access to a suite of integrated public relations, marketing and creative services at Saxum that will include a combination of strategic counsel, media relations assistance and select creative services.
“We are so thrilled to have been chosen for the Saxum Step Up grant,” said Sharla Hall Owens, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma CEO. “We know that with Saxum’s expertise and guidance, the next year will be full of new opportunities to raise awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma and, ultimately, positively impact the lives of thousands of children in Oklahoma.”
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I was 25 years old when I started Saxum. Looking back, it was pretty presumptuous for someone who had been out of college only a minute (my term now, not then) to think that I could add value to would-be clients. Never one to think much about the competition, I was always somewhat offended by being called the “young” firm back then.
Recently, Saxum hired a professional services firm for some consulting. Sure enough, our small account was handed to a 25-year-old to serve as our account manager. Not too far removed from the days of being told I was too young, I found myself skeptically thinking that we had a “young” account representative.
Shame on me.
Five meetings later, I sat astonished at the resourcefulness, flair and confidence from this talented individual. It served as a good reminder that account managers can be just as effective (or ineffective) at 25 as they could be at 55.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum Public Relations, an integrated public relations, strategic marketing and creative firm, today announced the hiring of Jeff Smith as senior vice president. He will be responsible for creative services integration, national account development and branding initiatives.
Smith has more than 25 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, working with companies and organizations to help them achieve growth through promotional marketing concepts and communications strategies.
“We are excited to add Jeff to our talented team, especially because of his previous experience as a CEO,” said Saxum CEO Renzi Stone. “His leadership, innovative ideas and strategic approach have consistently improved performance for businesses and organizations of all types and sizes.
“His experience will play a key role in helping our clients with all aspects of their communications and marketing programs. Also, he will help grow our portfolio of regional and national clients.”
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum Public Relations, an integrated public relations, strategic marketing and creative firm, announced today it is accepting applications for the firm’s $50,000 pro bono service grant for 2010-2011.
Step Up is a public relations grant program that will provide the selected nonprofit with access to a suite of public relations services at Saxum|PR and its sister agency, Maxus Creative. Those services will include a combination of media relations assistance and select creative services.
Qualifying nonprofits must be agency members of United Way of Central Oklahoma or Allied Arts. Applications are due April 30. Applicants can visit www.saxumpr.com/stepup for details and to fill out an online application.
“We are excited to once again offer the Step Up service grant to an Oklahoma City area nonprofit,” said Saxum CEO Renzi Stone. “We believe this program is a great opportunity for local nonprofit organizations to focus their fundraising dollars on services and allow us to help them tell their story through strategic counseling and execution.”
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum Public Relations, an integrated public relations, strategic marketing and creative firm, today announced the opening of its new Tulsa office in the heart of the Brady Arts District, 200 E. Brady Street. Located on the ground floor of the Wallace Engineering Building, the approximately 3,000-square-foot space will be home to Saxum’s Tulsa office.
“We were strategic in our choice of the Brady District as home to Saxum’s new office,” said Christopher Payne, vice president and general manager in Tulsa. “While we are effectively a start-up in Tulsa, we wanted to be part of the Brady District, with its artistic roots and ongoing transformation. It is our plan for Saxum Tulsa to grow in tandem with the city’s revitalization efforts.”
Six weeks ago, Saxum announced the opening of the Tulsa office and the hiring of Christopher Payne, APR, formerly of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Additionally, the firm has hired Christina Oden as account supervisor. She previously served as executive director of the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Tulsa Young Professionals (TYPros) program.
“We are energized by being in this historic part of the city, just blocks away from the Brady Theater and Cain’s Ballroom and steps away from Tulsa’s ONEOK Field,” said Renzi Stone, Saxum president and CEO. “Given the proximity to downtown, the Blue Dome and Greenwood districts and a number of our Tulsa clients and the buzz of excitement in the Brady area, we found this location especially appealing.”
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum Public Relations, an integrated public relations, strategic marketing and creative firm, today announced the results of the “Saxum Snapshot of Media,” a poll conducted to measure traditional and social media usage among likely voters in the state.
The survey showed that the social networking site Facebook is accessed by 59.2 percent of likely voters surveyed between the ages of 18-44; 37.1 percent ages 45-54 and 22.4 percent ages 55-64. The survey also showed that 41.4 percent of participants ages 18-44 watched a YouTube video in the last 30 days, with 32.1 percent ages 45-54 and 20 percent ages 55-64 engaging on the popular video hosting site. Twitter was used by 15.3 percent of the 18-44 age group surveyed; 5.1 percent of ages 45-54 and 2 percent of those ages 55-64.
“Social media sites are increasing in popularity both for personal networking and as an inexpensive and effective means for businesses to communicate with targeted audiences,” said Lisa Janssen, media relations account executive at Saxum. “While social media usage in Oklahoma is lower than the national average, we do believe there is tremendous potential for growth.”
The Saxum Snapshot also showed that 62.2 percent of those surveyed trust the accuracy of reporting by local media.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum Public Relations, an integrated public relations, strategic marketing and creative firm, achieved 2009 revenue growth of 22.6 percent, which led to the firm being ranked 13th out of 135 independent public relations firms by O’Dwyer’s PR Services Report magazine.
The growth ranking was based on annual revenues, which were provided to O’Dwyer at no cost to Saxum and were verified by an independent certified public accountant.
Saxum has recorded year-over-year revenue growth of more than 20 percent each year since it was founded in 2003 by CEO C. Renzi Stone. Revenue increases in 2009 were primarily due to growth of the firm’s health care and social media practices, as well as a significant growth in revenues from creative services, including Web design, video and branding services.
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