The Buzz on zcomm
When you build as much buzz for your clients as we do, you can't help but draw a little attention yourself. Some of our latest headlines:

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ZCOMM APPOINTS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Tim Casey to Manage Operations for Broadcast PR Agency

Bethesda, MD., March 3, 2010 - zcomm, a nationally-certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) marketing and communications agency specializing in audio and video production and Broadcast and Digital PR, has appointed Tim Casey as its Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Casey will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining the daily operations of the company and ensuring all business operations remain efficient and effective.

“Coming off our most successful, record-breaking year, it is important that we have the tools in place to continue gaining momentum,” remarked Risë Birnbaum, founder and CEO of zcomm. “Tim’s expertise and enthusiasm will play a key part in helping ramp up exciting initiatives, such as social media and TV PR, and growing the staff with talented pros.”

Casey has more than 23 years of management experience. Prior to zcomm, he was with Lockheed Martin, the Bethesda-based aerospace and defense contractor.  In his roles, Casey developed and delivered human resource services and systems to support more than 140,000 employees. He has also served as a contractor supporting the US Environmental Protection Agency at Ft. Meade, MD and held management positions within several New Jersey-based commercial laboratories.

Casey holds a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University and Masters degrees in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and Systems Engineering from The George Washington University.

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ZCOMM HITS RECORD BREAKING REVENUE
Radio and PR Agency Posts Largest Revenue Increase in 20 Years Despite Economy

Bethesda, MD., January 7, 2010 - zcomm, a nationally-certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) marketing and communications agency specializing in audio and video production and distribution and Digital PR, closed out the year with a bang. With 52% growth, the company beat economic trends for its largest jump in revenue in 20 years.  

“This year has been about staying ahead of the curve by developing a suite of innovative services to ensure our clients maximize their budgets for the highest possible ROI,” said Risë Birnbaum, founder and CEO of zcomm. “Our success is directly related to a staff that consistently exceeds client expectations and clients that continue to understand the value of PR.”

By adding additional video and radio public relations services as well as social media and digital PR packages for clients, zcomm has expanded its offerings to keep ahead of the changing PR industry.  Additionally, zcomm expanded its staff by more than 30% in 2009 and will continue to ramp up with additional hires.

Birnbaum added, “We’ve proved that businesses that are innovators, provide top-notch client service and achieve solid metrics can do well regardless of the economy.”

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ZCOMM STRENGTHENS LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT COMPANY'S RAPID GROWTH
Radio, Video and Digital PR Agency Bucks Trends with Record Breaking Year

Bethesda, MD., December 9, 2009 - zcomm, a nationally-certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) marketing agency specializing in audio and video production and Broadcast and Digital PR, strengthens its leadership by adding Robin Lane as the Director of Client Services and Eric Minuskin as the Broadcast and Radio Team Lead. The two new hires will help support the company’s continued success and growth.

Risë Birnbaum, founder and CEO of zcomm stated, “With our rapid and record breaking growth over the last year, it is important to add talented individuals to help us continue to serve our clients with the same high level of service. I am thrilled to have Robin and Eric join our team and add their expertise to bolster our account management and servicing capabilities.”

As the Client Services Director at zcomm, Lane brings more than 10 years of experience developing and executing traditional and social media strategies and events, creating successful thought leadership programs and integrating SEO and other digital tools into PR campaigns. Lane will work with both clients and staff to develop effective PR strategies that provide measureable results to meet each organization’s goals. Prior to zcomm, Lane was the director of public relations for Vocus, the leader in PR management software and for its online news distribution service, PRWeb. 

Minuskin joins zcomm’s Broadcast and Radio Team to develop and oversee national account activities for clients in the consumer, healthcare, technology, sports and entertainment industries. He previously managed a variety of national consumer and healthcare accounts for agencies including Cohn & Wolfe in New York.

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ENTREPRENEUR IS HONORED WITH A BRAVA! WOMEN BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Risë Birnbaum of zcomm Celebrated as Community Role Model

Bethesda, MD, June 9, 2009 – Entrepreneur Risë Birnbaum, CEO and founder of zcomm, a national broadcast marketing and PR firm, will be honored with a Brava! Award on Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. at The Tower Companies in Rockville, Maryland.   Presented by SmartCEO, a regional business magazine that focuses on growing companies in the Washington and Baltimore regions, the Brava! Award honors women who are active leaders and role models and who provide services that people trust and rely on.

A Teaneck, New Jersey native, Birnbaum is joined by an elite group of 25 women who are growing successful companies and contributing to the community through philanthropic acts. Nominees are evaluated by an independent committee of business leaders and must have company headquarters in the Greater Washington D.C. area.  

This year's BRAVA winners represent a variety of industries, including steel manufacturing, employment, Web site design, education and marketing.  They collectively employ 5,200 individuals and generate over $500 million in revenue. Winners also support over 150 local charities and nonprofit organizations. In addition to the July 16 event, winners are highlighted in the July issue of Washington SmartCEO magazine.

Birnbaum was recognized not only for zcomm’s success in representing well-known brand name companies such as:  Burger King Corporation Worldwide, The Alzheimer’s Association and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, but also for her ongoing support of philanthropic and non-profit organizations such as:  The Lombardi Cancer Research Center, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, the Jewish Federation of D.C., and the University of Rochester.

The award comes on the heels of the Washington Business Journal (WBJ) honoring Risë with its prestigious, annual “Women who Mean Business” award and the WBJ ranking of zcomm as #15 in revenue for Independent PR Agencies. 

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EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY
zcomm Partners with Washington Animal Rescue League and Celebrates "Take Your Dog to Work Dog"

Bethesda, MD, June 11, 2008 - zcomm is really embracing the "dog days of summer" this year, partnering with the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) to celebrate Take Your Dog To Work Day (TYDTWD) on June 20th.

The 13 members of the zcomm team, all avid dog aficionados, will come to work toting more than just a briefcase on TYDTWD, bringing their furry friends to help increase awareness, and provide donations for the WARL.

A private, not-for-profit organization, the WARL relies solely on volunteers and donations to maintain their animal rescue facility. zcomm is doing its part to help, serving as host to a dog adoption day, donating money to the WARL and sponsoring an animal until its adoption into a loving home. read more

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PRSA-NCC RECOGNIZES ZCOMM TEAM MEMBER

Bethesda, MD, December 10, 2007 - zcomm Manager Derek Berry participated as committee co-chair this past year in the PRSA-National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) Diversity Committee. Berry worked with fellow committee members in making other public relations professionals aware of more diverse publics both in the PR industry and outside in other professions.

Berry assisted in coordinating a breakfast seminar in June held at the Capital Hilton in Washington which focused on reaching out to minority audiences with key messages, and also organized a 'Futbol' night in September at a DC United match at RFK Stadium.

For his work, Berry received a PRSA-NCC recognition clock for his service to the committee and the PRSA-NCC Board for 2007.

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ZCOMM CEO RISË BIRNBAUM MEANS BUSINESS
PR Agency Founder Wins Washington Business Journal's 2007
"Women Who Mean Business" Award

Bethesda, MD (October 30, 2007) - Entrepreneur Risë Birnbaum is being honored as one of the Washington Business Journal's 2007 "Women Who Mean Business." Her company, Z Communications Co. (better known as zcomm), was recently recognized by the same publication as one of the top 15 public relations agencies by revenue in the D.C. Metro area.

zcomm has grown tremendously in the last year and increased revenue by more than 50% over 2006. In order to maintain the level of client service for which it is known, Birnbaum has recently added five new executives to meet the increasing demands.

"'The Women Who Mean Business' program honors women like Risë who are some of the most successful and influential women in the region," says Alex Orfinger, publisher of the WJB. "The honorees represent women from every industry and profession who have had a significant impact on business in the D.C. Metropolitan area. Each honoree is also recognized for making tremendous community contributions. Finalists were nominated by their industry peers and selected by Washington Business Journal editors."

This woman-owned small business is carving its own path in the industry; they were recently tapped as a Proctor & Gamble preferred vendor, and launched a series of edgy print and video ads that leverage national news to gain attention.

Birnbaum's creative flair and business skills make her a charismatic CEO. Leading her staff by example, she makes client service the agency number one priority. Birnbaum draws on her experience as an ABC network correspondent to package a story that generated maximum placement for her clients. Since founding zcomm in 1989, Birnbaum is continually on the cutting edge of new media, incorporating podcasting, webisodes, and Spanish language services into her company's services.

zcomm is a recipient of the prestigious PRSA Silver Anvil Award, Galaxy, Astrid and Apex awards. Birnbaum enjoys tournament tennis and screenwriting and won a Monterey Film Festival finalist award for one of her scripts. Birnbaum graduated from the University of Rochester and received her Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University's School of Communications.

Other honorees include: Kathleen Matthews of Marriott International, Linda Zecher, of Microsoft Corporation, and Stacey Stewart of Fannie Mae.

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ZCOMM LAUNCHES HUMOROUS AD CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE ITS UNIQUE STYLE OF CLIENT SERVICE
Small PR Agency Takes a Wide Stance

Bethesda, MD, October 12, 2007-Starting Oct 1, 2007, zcomm launched a cheeky advertising campaign that leveraged some politically charged news.

The initial ads that appeared in the Oct 1, 2007 PRWeek read: "For a Small Agency, We've got a Wide Stance: Our messages touch millions of people and we're not afraid to admit it." The ad turned heads within hours of its publication and became the topic of many PR blogs because it leveraged the news coverage around Senator Craig's now infamous bathroom incident.

Risë Birnbaum, CEO and founder of zcomm, said the company has launched a humorous recruiting campaign which will include a short video in the style of "The Office" and will be debuting a corporate blog this month.

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CONNECTING GEN 'Y' TO THE 'Z'
CEO Expands Staff With Four Fresh Faces

Bethesda, MD, September 30, 2007-CEO and Founder Risë Birnbaum proudly announces the addition of 4 new staff members to the zcomm team.

Paula Malozowski joins zcomm as a Senior Associate and will work on radio promotions as well as RNR and PSA. A 26-year-old Argentina native who earned both her BA and MA from American University, Malozowski brings her bilingual expertise in emergency communication through her work with the Department of Homeland Security, and has also worked for the National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA's mitigation division.

Joining zcomm as Associates are Patrick Delaney, Jeffra Stafford and Taryn Nicholas.

Patrick Delaney joins us from Clear Channel Washington, DC. He will create, design and execute radio promotions and head the Media Research team. A 26-year-old native of Kansas City, Mo., Delaney earned his BA, Cum Laude, in Persuasive and Political Communication from George Mason University. Proficient in Spanish, Delaney brings 8 years of radio promotions experience, from previous work with Cumulus and CBS Radio in Kansas City.

Jeffra Stafford is the newest member of our Radio Services team. Stafford will also maintain the zcomm website and help with external marketing. A 23-year-old Maryland native who earned her BA in Communications and Studio Art from American University, Stafford brings non-profit experience from her work at A Wider Circle, helping impoverished areas in DC, and she assisted in the organization and execution of a focus group on AIDS awareness at Ogilvy PR Worldwide.

Taryn Nicholas will design and execute radio promotions, handle external PR, design advertisements, and work with our Media Relations team. A 22-year-old New Jersey native who earned her BA in Communication and Studio Art from the University of Maryland, Nicholas brings both publicity and graphic design experience through her work with the public relations department at MIRAMAX Films in New York and on the Maryland 2007 Solar Decathlon promotion team.

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ZCOMM EXPANDS STAFF AS BUSINESS GROWS
CEO Reports Record Profits in 2006

Bethesda, MD, January 19, 2007 - With increased revenue of over 30% for FY 2006, zcommunications (better known as zcomm) CEO and Founder Risë Birnbaum proudly announces the addition of a new staff member to her Marketing, PR and Promotions team:

Joan Carrese Sineni joins zcomm as the General Manager and will oversee day-to-day management of the agency as well as focus on new business development. A native Washingtonian, Joan has over twenty years experience in the public relations and event marketing field. She ran her own Washington, DC based PR agency, Carrese Productions for eleven years specializing in entertainment, consumer branding and hospitality industry marketing and promotion.

In addition, she was a PR Manager for five years at the Tysons Galleria, VA then Bal Harbour, FL Neiman Marcus stores. Most recently she served as a consultant for healthcare and social issues clients including AARP and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. Joan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Maryland.

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zcomm KICKS OFF '07 WITH THREE NEW CLIENT CAMPAIGNS
Bethesda-based PR firm signs American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, MedSculpt and American Veterinary Medical Association

Bethesda, MD, January 18, 2007 - Bethesda-based public relations, communications and marketing firm zcommunications (better known as zcomm) has been tapped by three organizations to launch large media relations campaigns for 2007.

zcomm will launch a year-long integrated media and marketing campaign for the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, which involves the production of an educational video about the benefits of a career in the profession, TV and radio PSAs and media relations.

zcomm has also been hired to develop and execute an annual media relations campaign including radio promotions for MedSculpt, a Rockville, MD-based company that specializes exclusively in medical body sculpting or non-surgical fat removal. MedSculpt is creating a network of centers in the U.S., where specially trained physicians and nurses provide clients with this procedure, also known as Lipo-dissolve.

The American Veterinary Medical Association chose zcomm to produce and distribute a series of radio news releases (RNRs) and conduct several radio media tours (RMTs) on subjects ranging from pet disaster preparedness to the growing problem of pet obesity. zcomm will also distribute a series of radio PSAs highlighting the importance of veterinarians in areas such as food safety, biological research and homeland security.

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