Press Room

“Pets nationwide continue to be at risk for heartworm disease,” said Dr. Wallace Graham, DVM, president, American Heartworm Society. “Our work with Exponent aims to help address the high incidence of this preventable disease.”

Exponent has extensive experience with a range of animal health issues. The agency works with leading veterinary organizations, pharmaceutical companies and nutrition companies.

“With heartworm disease diagnosed in every states, we look forward to helping increase public awareness about the need for year-round prevention,” said Tom Lindell, managing director for Exponent PR.

The Food & Agribusiness practice offers integrated, multidisciplinary expertise in strategic planning, advertising, public relations, marketing, interactive, public affairs and media planning. Clients include CHS, DuPont, Purina Feed, Land O’Lakes, Novartis Animal Health, Winfield Solutions, General Mills and the North American Olive Oil Association.

Anderson, who worked at Colle+McVoy in the 1990s, rejoins the agency after founding Mariposa Partners, a boutique food and agriculture communications consultancy based in Kansas City. She also previously led the food and agribusiness practice at Fleishman-Hillard’s Kansas City office. A recent past president of the National Agri-Marketing Association, Anderson has counseled many leading brands, including Pfizer Animal Health, Iams, Washington Apple Commission, Chick-fil-A, National Pork Board, Monsanto, Welch’s, Caterpillar, Diamond Pet Food, DeKalb, Arysta LifeScience Corporation and John Deere, among others.

Carver has more than 20 years of communications experience in corporate, agency, non-profit and journalism, including strategy development for clients in agriculture, food, health care and technology. She was most recently director of public affairs at Broadhead + Co. where she worked with several agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Carver has held communications leadership positions at Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions and Andersen Windows. Her agency background includes Miller Meester, where she worked with American Cyanamid and its Harvest Partners program, as well as with clients in food, health and aviation markets. Previously she worked with DuPont and Agway brands at Saatchi & Saatchi/Rumrill Hoyt.

“Carol and Julie are joining us at an exciting time. We continue to integrate our successful legacy in food and agribusiness with our interactive expertise to develop break through new ways for our clients to engage, connect and stand out,” said Johnson.

More than half of the agencies’ 170 employees have experience in the food, nutrition and agriculture industries, making the practice one of the largest of its kind. More than 12 new employees have joined the practice in the last six months. Other members of senior leadership include:

• Greg Wetzel, group creative director, who has overseen the development of award-winning creative work for more than 20 years at Colle+McVoy

• Ed Bennett, design director, who has developed award-winning culturally relevant consumer design work

• Cynthia Clanton, practice leader, who is an all-around pr practitioner, writer and strategic counselor on award-winning agribusiness programs for more than 15 years at the agency

• Bernice Neumann, practice leader, a public relations counselor who has helped expand the consumer food business

• Craig Pladson, director of interactive innovation, who has been instrumental in the development and tremendous growth of the agency’s interactive practice

• Laurie Christen, media strategist, who has lead the media planning and buying activities, as well as helped guide the agency’s expertise on new and emerging media strategies

Exponent PR received recognition for its work on behalf of a range of clients including, Bikes Belong, Caribou Coffee, CHS, Inc., DuPont Crop Protection, General Mills, Nestlé Purina and Winfield Solutions. Following are the specific awards:

- Marketing Products (Established budget more than $75,000): “Time’s Up, Cupcake. It’s Time for Pie!” for General Mills

- Public Service (Business/Industry): “Pedaling to Mainstream” for Bikes Belong

- Special Events/Observances (Less than seven days): “Caribou Coffee Grows Hope with Amy’s Garden” for Caribou Coffee

- Institutional Programs (Business/Industry): “Amy’s Blend Brews Hope” for Caribou Coffee

- Creative Tactics: “Staying Awake for Success” for Caribou Coffee

- Websites: “Linking Advocates to peopleforbikes.org” for Bikes Belong

- Speech Writing: “Paying Respect to Environmental Respect” for DuPont Crop Protection

- Feature Writing: “Follow These Steps to Improve Pasture Productivity” for DuPont Crop Protection

- Magazines: “’C’ the World Through CHS” for CHS, Inc.

- Newsletters: “Nourishing Veterinary Know-how” for Nestlé Purina

- Media Kits (More than $15,000): “Larger Than Life Granola Thins Make Media Hungry For Nature Valley” for General Mills

- Brochures: “Winfield Solutions Proves Seeing is Believing” for Winfield Solutions

Minnesota PRSA is the tenth-largest chapter of the PRSA, the world's largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. Minnesota PRSA comprises more than 400 members who represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.

Hoffer, an associate, has extensive experience in media relations, event marketing and strategic planning in agriculture and healthcare. She works on the DuPont Crop Protection and Medtronic Foundation accounts. Hoffer previously held positions at Karkowski & Courage Public Relations and Girl Scouts.

“Exponent is experiencing tremendous growth in our agribusiness and healthcare clients, and the addition of Bryan and Sarah sets us on a course for continued client success,” said Tom Lindell, managing director, Exponent PR.