Olmstead Williams Communications, Inc.

By Talia Zimmerman

Unlike some of my friends’ internships, filled with coffee runs and paper filing, my summer internship with Olmstead Williams Communications has involved client meetings, brainstorming sessions, media pitching and learning the true art of public relations.

Having done prior PR internships in the fields of entertainment and fashion, my time at OWC introduced me to an entirely new world of PR. From technology to professional services, OWC understands the importance of representing a company with the utmost professionalism and sophistication. Interning at OWC has offered me a window into the day-to-day workings of a boutique business-to-business PR firm, from monitoring major headlines and researching potential clients, to developing targeted media lists and drafting press releases – even securing my first media articles for clients.

As an incoming senior at UCLA, this summer experience extended beyond just a 12-week internship. Interning at OWC has been one of the starting steps for my career and given me a glimpse into an exciting future in public relations. Although it has come to an end, it is only the tip of the iceberg for what lies ahead.

Tracy Williams (far right), president of Olmstead Williams Communications, moderated the discussion.

In a world of ever-emerging social media sites and tools, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogs are still the go-to social media sources for newsrooms across the country, according to the top-tier journalists who spoke on July 19 at the panel “The ‘New’ Newsroom: How Social Media Has Impacted the Way Newsrooms Operate.”

According to the panelists, today’s journalists monitor social media sites and blogs daily. Though they still prefer to be reached via email or phone (they’re faster), here are the main ways they’re using social media:

• Twitter – To check headlines and stories coming in – often a company will alert the media via Twitter of an upcoming company announcement. Reporters receive Tweets from sources as well, though they said they always make sure to vet any quotes or information sent via Twitter.
• Facebook – Reporters like it because it’s the only way to find certain people, and they can message them privately without being “friends.” They also like receiving pitches with photos through Facebook.
• Blogs – Reporters follow blogs, a lot, mainly very specialized ones by people who are true “experts” and spend 24/7 on a subject – journalists keep a list at-the-ready of these narrowly focused blogs by key players and influencers. (How do they find these blogs? Lots of Googling topics and researching. They said if you have a great blog, let them know about it and they’ll check it out. However, if you claim to be an expert, you better be an actual expert, locally based and well-versed on the issue.)
• LinkedIn – Not used as often for networking but good for researching biographical background on sources.

Tracy Williams, president of Olmstead Williams Communications, moderated the discussion between: Ron Grover, L.A. bureau chief for Reuters; Rachel Brown, deputy L.A. bureau chief for CNN; Anthony McCartney, entertainment writer for the L.A. bureau of the Associated Press; and Peter Pae, technology editor at the Los Angeles Times.

The panel was hosted by the Legal Marketing Association and the Business Marketing Association at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Los Angeles.

From the “Women CEOs of LA’s Hottest Emerging Companies” event hosted by Broads Circle — which brings together women in a variety of industries who share the same career and personal drivers to generate revenue and assume leadership positions — recently at the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Calif.:

Pictured from left to right, Catalina Vergara, partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Tracy Williams, president and CEO of Olmstead Williams Communications; Katherine Goodman, educator at High Tech-LA and co-owner of LA Sparks; Claudia Hollingsworth, CEO of i2CEO; Jennifer Sargent, CEO and co-founder of HitFix; Alli Webb, co-founder and president of Drybar; Darya Allen-Attar, founder of Broads Circle and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; and Donna Gates, founder of Body Ecology.

For more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.

Tracy Williams, CEO and president of Olmstead Williams Communications

Los Angeles-based Olmstead Williams Communications, a business-to-business public relations and social media firm focusing on technology and professional services, has been named a finalist for the 2012 PR Daily Awards. The firm is joined by three other finalists – the Department of Labor, LIMRA, and NETGEAR/Weber Shandwick – in the “Best Speech” category for its work with interpretation industry leader Language Line Services.

Winners of the inaugural 2012 PR Daily Awards will be announced at a luncheon presented by Ragan and Dow Jones in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2012. The awards program was launched to celebrate talent in the public relations industry and received hundreds of entries in categories spanning traditional, cause-related, crisis-related, event and social media campaigns.

“We’re proud of this nomination because it reflects our commitment to our writing craft and to helping clients truly inspire and connect with their audiences,” said Tracy Olmstead Williams, president and CEO of Olmstead Williams Communications. Williams founded the firm in 2008 after more than 25 years as a top public relations and crisis communications expert.

The team at Olmstead Williams Communications

Olmstead Williams Communications has been honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal for the third straight year as one of the 25 largest independent PR agencies in L.A. County. The agency earned the No. 18 spot on the list, which ranked agencies by their 2011 county fee income.

“We’re thankful to be recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal for doing what we enjoy,” said Tracy Olmstead Williams, CEO of Olmstead Williams Communications, which she founded in 2008 after more than 25 years as a top public relations and crisis communications expert.

Public relations and marketing professionals: Please join us from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, for a free five-star breakfast, networking and panel discussion about major awards programs such as Inc. magazine’s prestigious “Inc. 500/5000“ and Ernst & Young’s global “Entrepreneur Of the Year” awards. You’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of getting your company (or client) nominated so they reap the rewards of local, regional and national recognition. You’ll also learn how to fully leverage each step of the process as an opportunity for even more acclaim — from the initial nomination to being named a semi-finalist and ultimately winning the award.

This free panel, sponsored by PR Newswire and Olmstead Williams Communications, is open to all marketing and public relations professionals. Junior staff and interns are welcome.

Please RSVP to info@olmsteadwilliams.com

Olympic Collection Banquet and Conference Center, Regency Ballroom
11301 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

Thursday, Feb. 2
7:30 a.m. – Breakfast and networking
8 to 9 a.m. – Panel discussion

Our Esteemed Panel:

Patrick Hainault
Inc. magazine, Vice President, SMB Marketing

Bill Dube
PR Newswire, West Region Director

Linda Whalen
Ernst & Young, Associate Director, External Communications & Marketing

Tracy Williams
(moderator)
Olmstead Williams Communications, President and CEO

Joel Russell of the Los Angles Business Journal features Olmstead Williams Communications in his “Advertising and PR” column this week for winning two PRisms from the Public Relations Society of America in LA earlier this month.

The other agencies winning more than one award are: GolinHarris, Citizen Paine, Hill & Knowlton, Edelman, Ketchum and Calvin Nieto.

Tracy Williams is president and CEO of Los Angeles-based Olmstead Williams Communications.

Broads Circle, the executive level women’s networking group in Los Angeles, honored Tracy Williams, president and CEO of Olmstead Williams Communications, recently at its first annual “Bottom Lime Broads Awards.”

Williams was named the “Bottom Line-Oriented Service Provider,” one of six awards categories. The luncheon honored Broads Circle members who have absolute commitment to the bottom line and full support of women’s leadership in the corporate world.

Pictured, from left, the team at Olmstead Williams Communications: Derek Houck, Carla Collado, Kaitlen Murphy, Trent Freeman, Tracy Williams and Ashton Uytengsu. OWC won two PRisms this past week for its work with Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP ("Ongoing Product or Service Program") and FlexEnergy Inc. ("Green/Sustainable Programs").

Los Angeles-based Olmstead Williams Communications, a business-to-business public relations and social media firm which focuses on technology and professional services, won two PRism awards for its work with Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP (“Ongoing Product or Service Program”) and FlexEnergy Inc. (“Green/Sustainable Programs”) during the 47th Annual PRSA-Los Angeles PRism Awards Wednesday, November 9, at the Renaissance Grand Ballroom in Hollywood.

The Los Angeles chapter of PRSA annually recognizes outstanding programs created by public relations professionals who have completed assignments for LA-based clients. This year’s program included 59 winners in a wide range of categories and sub-categories.

Olmstead Williams Communications has been named a finalist in two categories for the 47th Annual PRSA-Los Angeles PRism Awards. The firm will compete in the “Ongoing Product or Service Program – Business to Business” category for its work with Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP and the “Green/Sustainable Programs – Ongoing Corporate/Consumer Brand” category for its work with FlexEnergy Inc.

“This shows the power of a hard-working OWC team and two outstanding clients,” said Tracy Olmstead Williams, president and CEO of Olmstead Williams Communications. “We’re honored to be a finalist in one of our industry’s top competitions.”

This year’s program features 29 categories. The Los Angeles chapter of PRSA annually recognizes outstanding programs created by public relations professionals who have completed assignments for L.A.-based clients. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 at the Renaissance Grand Ballroom in Hollywood.