Minneapolis, MN (May 5, 2010) Preston Kelly’s work on behalf of the Minnesota Zoo has recently garnered national acclaim, earning finalist status in the Magazine Publishers of America’s 2010 Kelly Awards.and the 2010 One Show. This campaign was previously selected for the Award of Excellence by Communication Arts (CA) and appeared in its 50^th Advertising Annual. CA also selected the campaign’s “Who Pooped” website as the web “Pick of the Day”.

“Honestly, this international recognition is only worth a damn because the campaign led to the best attendance in the Minnesota Zoo’s history,” said Chris Preston, Executive Creative Director at Preston Kelly. “I’ve seen lots of agencies win big awards for work that pushes the envelope but doesn’t push customers. These worked on both levels.”

Aiming to recognize agency creative teams and advertising clients for their innovation, creativity and effectiveness, the MPA’s Kelly Awards offer a range of prizes for this year’s pool of 26 finalists. Preston Kelly will have an opportunity to win one of 12 prizes, including the Grand Prize, Gold Kelly or Silver Kelly for general excellence, each of which is accompanied by a bonus of $25,000.

In addition, the agency could add a number of other prizes to its proverbial wall of fame, including the RR Donnelly Innovation Award, the Effectiveness Award or Best Public Service Campaign. The winners will be announced at an invitation-only reception in New York City on May 18.

Preston Kelly’s small space print ads for the Minnesota Zoo’s “Africa!” campaign also bested a large field of international entries at the One Show, which honors the year’s best creative advertising, design and interactive achievements worldwide. Along with a deep pool of finalists, Preston Kelly will have an opportunity to win a Gold, Silver or Bronze Pencil at an awards ceremony in New York City on May 13.

With a mission to elevate the standards of excellence in creative advertising, the New York-based One Club produces the One Show, which attracted a batch of entries from more than 60 countries for this year’s competition.

“I wish I could be all cool and act like this is no big deal,” Preston said, “but with this kind of international field and thousands and thousands of entries, it’s probably the hardest award show to get into in the world. I see it as a vindication of our collaborative process with clients who trust what we do.”

Of course, the nominations are their own rewards. But Preston Kelly has a history of bringing home the goods, including a 2009 Gold Effie for its “A New Way to Look at Healthcare” campaign on behalf of HealthPartners. Honoring a campaign’s multiple brand touchpoints and results, the Effie Awards are considered one of the industry’s preeminent awards programs. With only 24 Gold Effies awarded nationally each year, only seven of those awarded in 2009 went to independent shops like Preston Kelly.

About Preston Kelly

Preston Kelly is a full-service, independent agency that creates Iconic Ideas for its clients, including financial services, insurance, restaurant, consumer packaged goods, outdoor recreation, retail and gaming. In 2009 Preston Kelly was an O’Toole finalist, selected for the Communication Arts advertising annual and Webpick of the week, and received a Gold Effie—the top marketing award based on communications that lead to outstanding results. Preston Kelly is a member of Worldwide Partners, the world’s largest network of independent marketing and communications firms. To learn more about Preston Kelly, visit www.prestonkelly.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/prestonkelly or join the conversation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/prestonkelly.

A number of highly qualified and experienced candidates applied for Preston Kelly’s new copywriter position. Brett Knutson was selected based on his experience working with brands such as Target, UV Vodka and Chinet. Along with his agency and freelance experience, Knutson was an army sergeant and has degrees from Miami Ad School, Bethel Seminary and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Two positions began as formal internships which transitioned to full-time employment. Emily Jolly was hired as an Interactive Project Manager. Jolly is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota with a major in advertising and previously interned at the Twin Cities radio station KS95.

Kate Zingsheim was hired as an Assistant Account Manager. Zingsheim graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she also worked for RJ Schinner, a supply source for wholesalers. After attending the Extra Bold Portfolio School in Madison, she moved to Minneapolis, taking an internship at Hunt Adkins and Preston Kelly respectively.

The hires follow a series of new business wins for Preston Kelly including Baker Tilly, a national accounting firm, and Grand Casino, operator of two top gaming facilities in Minnesota.

We thought we’d take advantage of Communications Arts’ recent highlight of this Minnesota Zoo online game, and remind you that you should visit http://www.whopooped.org/. Tucked amid the snickers and giggles, is a fun, educational game that launched last year as part of the Africa! exhibit campaign for the Minnesota Zoo. It gained national attention when Rachel Maddow included it in a segment of her MSNBC show that reaches an audience of 1.1 million viewers. Rachel considered it laugh-out-loud fun and tweeted the site to more than 1,000,000 of her followers.

Communication Arts, now in its 51st year, continues to showcase the current best-from industry veterans to tomorrow’s innovators-in design, advertising, illustration, photography, and interactive design. Preston Kelly’s Minnesota Zoo print campaign for Africa! recently appeared as one of 155 winning projects from 6878 entries in Communication Arts’ Advertising Annual 2009.

Minneapolis (Feb 12, 2010) Preston Kelly has been selected as the branding communications partner for Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, formerly Virchow Krause. Baker Tilly is the 17th largest CPA and consulting firm in the U.S., and a member of Baker Tilly International, the 8th largest accounting and business advisory network in the world.

Preston Kelly will lead the strategy and communications initiatives as they relate to increasing awareness and strengthening the firm’s brand within the U.S.

“Our company has been around for nearly 80 years, so we’re simply looking to build on a strong operating platform combined with our newly acquired international brand, “ said Tammy Barboni, Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re confident that Preston Kelly will guide us in these efforts both internally and for top-level clients.”

The high quality of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause’s expertise and service is something that Preston Kelly will look to communicate and leverage among companies that can benefit from the many services the firm provides. Many of its current and prospective clients are increasingly seeking a partner who can provide unique industry insights and have dedicated, talented professionals working on their behalf.

“From experience, we know that transitioning to a new brand is a very energizing process,” noted President Chuck Kelly. “Our strength is bringing ideas to the process that everyone, both employees and clients, can rally around and get excited about.”

About Preston Kelly
Preston Kelly is a full-service, independent agency that creates Iconic Ideas for its clients including: financial services, insurance, restaurant, consumer packaged goods, outdoor recreation and retail. The agency has been honored with top awards including 3 EFFIES in the last 4 years, Best of Show at the Minneapolis Ad Competition – The Show, and MediaWeek’s Media Plan of the Year. Preston Kelly is a member of Worldwide Partners, the world’s largest network of independent marketing and communications firms. To learn more about Preston Kelly visit www.prestonkelly.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/prestonkelly or join the conversation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/prestonkelly.

About Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP
With staff totaling more than 1,400, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP provides a wide range of accounting, tax, assurance and consulting services. The firm has offices in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Washington, DC, and throughout Wisconsin.

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, the world’s 8th largest network made up of 145 high quality, independent accounting and business firms in 110 countries, with more than 25,000 professionals. The combined worldwide revenue of independent member firms exceeds $3 billion.

Iconic Ideas Win Over Search Committee

Grand Casino has selected Preston Kelly as its Agency of Record. After a comprehensive search for a strategic and creative branding partner, Grand Casino and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians chose Preston Kelly based on its ability to build powerful, iconic ideas that motivate and connect with consumers.

As part of the agreement, Preston Kelly will also plan and place Grand Casino media. Adding Grand Casino to the collective media placements of current clients such as Roundy’s and the Mall of America, will position Preston Kelly as a leading media buyer in Minnesota.

Joe Nayquonabe, Vice President of Marketing at Grand Casino noted, “Preston Kelly clearly showed us how the power of an idea can propel an organization. They instilled confidence with their passion and insights for our brand. Their ideas are motivating and show a true understanding of our guests. We’re looking forward to building on the success of Grand Casino in new and iconic ways.”

Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs are two of Minnesota’s eighteen tribal gaming casinos. The casinos are nationally recognized as leading gaming and entertainment destination resorts, with comfortable hotels, first-class restaurants, and headline entertainment acts.

“Grand Casino is one of Minnesota’s iconic attractions. Our experience in helping brands like Mall of America, HealthPartners, Rainbow grocery stores (Roundy’s) and the Minnesota Zoo grow makes Grand Casino a perfect fit,” said Preston Kelly President Chuck Kelly. “We’re identifying new strategies to talk with gaming and entertainment audiences and we’re looking forward to creatively putting that into play throughout the Grand Casino markets.”

About Preston Kelly

Preston Kelly is a full-service, independent agency that creates Iconic Ideas for its clients including: financial services, insurance, restaurant, consumer packaged goods, outdoor recreation and retail. The agency has been honored with top awards including 3 EFFIES in the last 4 years, Best of Show at the Minneapolis Ad Competition – The Show, and MediaWeek’s Media Plan of the Year. Preston Kelly is a member of Worldwide Partners, the world’s largest network of independent marketing and communications firms. To learn more about Preston Kelly visit www.prestonkelly.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/prestonkelly or join the conversation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/prestonkelly.

About Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley

Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, which are owned by the Corporate Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, are two of Minnesota’s premier entertainment facilities, offering gaming, accommodations, dining, conference and banquet facilities, live entertainment and The Grand Harmony Spa at Grand Casino Hinckley.