We are proud to announce that we’ve been selected by the American Academy of Pediatricians Vermont Chapter to develop and implement a public information campaign to help reverse the trend of declining immunization rates in the state.

The campaign will aim to inform parents and policy makers of the importance of immunizations – and their track record of eliminating or greatly reducing numerous horrible diseases – across multiple platforms, including broadcast television and radio, online, publicity and social media.

In our minds, protecting children from potentially deadly and disabling diseases such as measles, meningitis, polio and whooping cough is an extremely worth goal and we’re honored to be a part of the effort.

We are proud to announce that Tom Gray has joined ThinkSpark Media as a writer.  Tom has an amazing amount of experience with the written word, ranging from being a reporter at a daily newspaper to heading up a major trade association in Washington, D.C.

We feel quite lucky to have Tom’s talent and experience on the team, and are certain ThinkSpark’s clients will feel the same way.

Welcome aboard Tom!

A big congratulations to ThinkSpark Media client GOODE Skis and their pro team skier, Nick Parsons, for landing the cover on this month’s WaterSki magazine.

To learn more about the world’s No. 5 ranked skier, check out the GOODE blog.

We are excited to announce that GOODE Skis has joined ThinkSpark Media as our newest client.  Based in Ogden, Utah, GOODE is the world’s premier manufacturer of performance water skis, snow skis and ski poles.

The company has made its mark in skiing through the introduction and use of advanced carbon fiber materials and technologies.  At each year’s U.S. Water Ski National Championships, top finishers overwhelmingly ski on GOODEs and both the Men’s and Women’s water ski slalom world records have been set multiple times on the company’s skis, including the current marks held by GOODE Team skiers Chris Parrish and Regina Jaquess.

ThinkSpark Media will provide an array of marketing services to GOODE Skis, including managing its various consumer communications and social media platforms.

As many of you know, Vermont was hit pretty hard by Irene.  Fortunately, the town we live in escaped most of the damage experienced by many of our neighbors and my family’s home was never in any danger.  We got off pretty easy.  But that didn’t stop Ford from checking in on us.

Background: When my family bought our Ford Explorer we purchased our loan through their credit arm, Ford Credit.  We’ve loved the car and considering our only interaction with Ford Credit has been the monthly receiving a bill/sending a check routine, we’ve been satisfied with their service.

But that service was kicked up a notch or two the other day when we got a letter from Ford Credit in which they hoped that we weren’t affected by Irene, and if we were, expressed their “sympathy and concern.”  They then offered to defer our monthly payments for “a month or two” if the storm created financial problems for us.  It isn’t needed, but we appreciate the offer nonetheless.

Like most people we have accounts with a few other companies that we owe money to, and haven’t heard a peep from them (I’m talking to you, Subaru. About half your customers are in Vermont, right?).  I don’t expect them to so that’s OK; it just makes what Ford did even nicer.

This is one of those simple marketing strategies that don’t require research, 10-point plans for success or even a marketing agency to come up with.  Show that you care about your customers and you’ll give them a reason to care back.

Thanks for thinking of us Ford.  We’ll definitely return the favor the next time we buy a car.

- Justin

ThinkSpark Media is proud to announce the launch of CatchData.com, a new website for health care billing IT consultant Catch Data Systems.  The Drupal-based site dramatically updates and increases the company’s Web presence by presenting a modernized image, enabling easier in-house content management and enhancing functionality and browser compatibility.

The new CatchData.com sets the stage for a public relations and social media program ThinkSpark Media is conducting on behalf of the Lebanon, N.H.-based company.

ThinkSpark Media heartily congratulates client Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center for a record-breaking 30th Prouty Bike Ride & Challenge Walk.  The event raised $2.45 million for cancer research and patient services at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, putting the event past $14.5 million in total funds raised in its 30-year history.  We can only hope that the fundraising total was helped a bit by some of the great media coverage we earned them, including coverage from WMUR, WCAX and the Valley News.

Besides raising funds for a great cause, The Prouty has a well-earned reputation as THE Upper Valley community event of the year.  It is absolutely amazing to see how the entire Upper Valley community, as well as many from across New Hampshire and Vermont, New England and even the country, come out to support this great cause.

Congrats to Jean Brown, Rebecca Gray, Susan Whelihan and the entire team of dedicated staff and volunteers at the Friends.  We’re looking forward to 2012.

Here’s a portion of the press release announcing the new record below.

The 2011 Prouty Breaks Fundraising Record, Raises $2.45 Million

Lebanon, N.H. (August 9, 2011) – The 2011 Prouty Bike Ride & Challenge Walk made history for more than just celebrating its milestone 30^th year, it also raised an all-time record of $2.45 million for cancer research and patient services at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

The new record exceeds the previous one of $2.34 million set last year, and pushes the event past the $14.5 million mark in total funds raised since it began in 1982.  The 2011 total, which has grown by more than $100,000 since the end-of-event tally from July 9^th, is expected to edge up even higher as event organizers continue to receive donations.

“There was an amazing amount of excitement among participants, volunteers and corporate supporters about this being the 30^th Prouty,” said Jean Brown, executive director of the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, the event’s organizer.  “It is so wonderful to see that enthusiasm translate into a record amount of funds to be used in the fight against cancer.  The amazing support The Prouty received this year will make a difference in the lives of many, many people in the Upper Valley and beyond.”

More than 1,100 volunteers and 4,872 cyclists, walkers – and for the first time ever – rowers, took part in The Prouty, July 8 and 9.  Cyclists rode distances of 200, 100, 50, 35 or 20 miles, while walkers walked between three and 20 kilometers and rowers chose between 5, 10, 15 and 20 mile distances.  Cycling and walking routes – excluding the 200-mile, two-day Prouty Ultimate which started in Manchester, N.H. – began and ended at Richmond Middle School in Hanover, N.H., and included scenic towns and countryside on both the New Hampshire and Vermont sides of the Connecticut River.

A report released by the Vermont Medical Society Education and Research Foundation, a ThinkSpark Media client, suggests that Vermont’s doctors are facing increasing time and financial pressures that threaten to jeopardize care quality in the state.

For details, visit http://bit.ly/iHXK0d or read stories from Vermont Public Radio, WCAX and Seven Days.

ThinkSpark Media is happy to announce that Catch Data Systems and its affiliated VOBA Solutions have joined its expanding roster of clients.  The Lebanon, N.H.-based companies are national leaders in health-care related IT consulting and solutions.

ThinkSpark will redesign and re-launch the companies’ websites, as well as support their marketing efforts through ongoing public relations, social media and brand consulting.

ThinkSpark Media is proud to announce the launch of ProutyPeople.org, a new website that celebrates the 30^th year of the Prouty Bike Ride & Challenge Walk.

TSM teamed up with client and Prouty event organizer Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center to create the site, which features a navigable map with user-submitted participant, sponsor and supporter profiles. The TSM team not only developed the site’s design and architecture, but also the behind-the-scenes database that drives the mapping function.

The initiative is designed to build Prouty community spirit and boost fundraising efforts by giving supporters an opportunity to share the stories behind their involvement. The Prouty is northern New England’s largest fundraiser and has raised more than $12 million for cancer research and patient services at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center.  This year’s event takes place July 8-9.