News: March 2009

Medical Technology Panel on Social Health Livens the Launch of the “O Mission” Film at Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center
 

March 2, 2009, Chicago, Ill. – Kellee Johnson, founder of The Ballast Group, a Chicago-based PR and marketing strategy firm, will guest lecture on April 17 for the Introduction to Public Relations course at Columbia College Chicago. This course is part of the Public Relations Studies program in the School of Media Arts.

The content of the lecture is to be focused on print media relations, one of the most important aspects of PR. This component includes a discussion of objectivity, “handling of the media”, and the relationship between journalism and PR practitioners. It includes discussion of the power and value of publicity and how to obtain it in the print media.

Johnson plans to offer students first-hand insight of real-world experience with several case studies demonstrating proven results since she founded The Ballast Group in 2005. Clients include established and entrepreneurial companies focused on technology, consumer products, healthcare, and more.

Johnson holds a B.A. degree in English and communications from Rollins College and a M.A. degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida. She has held senior positions at Tropicana Products and Abbott Laboratories, managed communications for medical and technology start-ups and consulted to companies such as Global Hyatt Corp.; DelMonte Foods; Eastman Outdoors; Takeda Pharmaceutical; Kaiser Permanente; Safeway, Inc; Symantec; Ultimate Software; and more.

  

About The Ballast Group, LLC
The Ballast Group, a national marketing and integrated communication strategies firm, keeps clients tied to best practices to maximize the flow and stability of relationships that influence business growth. The company creates initiatives that help clients analyze business relationships that influence stakeholders and maximize organizational objectives and goals. With a focus on four primary areas, the firm develops partnership strategies; builds accountable and engaged internal teams; deepens current and prospective customer relationships; and creates PR and media opportunities. Visit www.ballastgroup.com or contact 312-751-3959.