FLORIDA LOTTERY PR GOES INTO PLAY
The Florida Lottery is reviewing a three-year PR contract with a search for an agency with a Sunshine State presence and $2M in annual billings.
The 23-year-old Lottery issued an “invitation to negotiate” with PR firms on June 17 with a deadline for proposals of July 11.
Florida Governor Rick Scott in February named the lottery’s PR chief, Cynthia O’Connell, head of the nation’s No. 3 lottery. She is a Hill & Knowlton/Tampa vet.
While the PR contract budget has been $250K-a-year, the Lottery said the scope of work has increased and projected a tentative budget for planning purposes of $1M.
MRD Consulting replaced Weber Shandwick in 2002 and has handled the account since then.
The Lottery, which raises money for public education in Florida, plans to award a three-year contract for the development and maintenance of its public image and brand.
The Lottery said it desires a firm with a Tallahassee office, but will sublease space in its own headquarters to an agency if necessary. Download the review document at odwyerpr.com/rfps.
CULP STEPS DOWN AT KETCHUM
Ron Culp, a partner at Ketchum and director of the firm's North American corporate practice, is stepping down to consult and pursue interests in teaching and career coaching.
Culp, an agency and corporate veteran for over 35 years, directed Ketchum’s Midwest operations for three years before adding oversight of its corporate practice in 2009.
Culp |
London corporate practice head Rod Cartwright will take over global director duties for the corporate unit in the fall when his own successor is named.
Culp is well-known in PR for his “Culpwrit” blog for mentoring students and young PR professionals, as well as his role as adjunct professor at DePaul University and guest lecturer at other schools.
He moved to Ketchum from Sard Verbinnen & Company and earlier served as senior VP, PR and government affairs, for Sears, Roebuck and Co. Earlier stints included Sara Lee Corp., Pitney Bowes, and Eli Lilly. |
