Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 11.30.22 AM.png

Media Relations Highlights from 2021

The continuation of COVID-19, an insurrection and an unexpected and deadly winter storm...2021 was another doozy. But it wasn't all grim. Check out our favorite 20+ stories from the year. Yes, some were a response to major crises, but others were focused on feel good and fun!

Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 9.27.52 PM.png

Dry January

While technically an end-of-2020 piece, The Buzz Magazines shared this Dry January story featuring Eighteen 36 head mixologist, Josh Saphier, throughout the first month of the year.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

Recipe: Dessert Gallery’s Diner Cake

What's better than Dessert Gallery's famous Diner Cake? The ability to make it at home thanks to an above-the-fold cover story!

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 10.06.44 PM.png

92-year-old Holocaust survivor says white supremacist imagery during Capitol riot "gave me taste of the past"

Unfortunately 2021 began in a way none of us could have imagined. While the images that we saw during the Capital riot were like nothing we'd ever seen, we knew that our client, Holocaust survivor, Ben Lesser, must have even more intense feelings. We pitched his reaction and the importance of Holocaust education in the aftermath of the riot and CBS national interviewed Ben.

Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 9.36.45 PM.png

Want a Better Workplace? Your Team’s Strengths, Risks and Passions Can Lead the Way

Training Industry is one of the top publications within the HR and talent management industries. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure that CDR Assessment Group founder, Nancy Parsons, would be able to share her expertise with the publication through an editorial byline.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.52.39 PM.png

Women-focused coworking space in Houston celebrates one year

After joining the Sesh Coworking community a few months before, our team was honored to be able to share the news of its one year anniversary through a brief project.

KHOU came on site to interview Sesh's founders and it was a wonderful way to acknowledge their hard work and celebrate the community they created and sustained despite the hardships of COVID-19.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

Sweet way to celebrate Black History Month in Houston

Our team knows how committed client, Dessert Gallery, is to creating an inclusive community and celebrating all of its customers. As such, we developed a Black History Month campaign inspired by inspirational black Houstonians.

The campaign was a huge success, with many of the celebrated black Houstonians visiting, tasting and promoting the cookies made in their honor. And of course, the media hits (including this one on Houston Press) made the campaign even sweeter.

KPRC-TV_Logo.png

Longtime Houston bakery loses delivery van to thieves during winter storm

After nearly a year living with COVID-19, a winter storm was not something most Houstonians or Texans had on their radar. A true crisis for Texan residents and business owners that resulted in lives lost, one of our clients also suffered an unfortunate robbery.

While we revel in the opportunity to tell stories that make others smile, we often find ourselves in the position to manage crisis communications, as well. COVID-19 was a year full of crisis planning and response and the winter storm was no different.

We wanted to help Dessert Gallery find its stolen delivery truck and so we shared the news with the media members and influencers who have been so supportive of our client over the years.

We are so appreciative of KPRC, Houstonia, Eric Sandler and nearly a dozen local influencers for helping Dessert Gallery spread the word!

Screenshot 2023-01-16 at 9.02.34 PM.png

CenterPoint: People without power longest are at front of line for restoration

The winter storm provided an opportunity for our team to position client, Infinity Power Partners, in front of media to explain why and how this was happening and what to expect in the future.

While our own team members were struggling with loss of power in their homes, they still managed to secure three stories and a print story with Houston Business Journal in just a few days, all featuring Peter Selber.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 10.03.43 PM.png

Have Your March Madness Bracket Ready? Get a $100 Jewelry Gift Certificate

After a successful "Book For A Book" project with the Dubin's Fine Jewelry team, we once again threw ourselves into a short-term project. Dubin's was excited to host its first-ever March Madness bracket and was entrusting our team to raise awareness for it and encourage Houstonians to enter!

With an integrated strategy that included media relations, influencer relations and paid digital advertising, we were ready to win for our client! In addition to the Houstonia feature, the bracket was included in Jewish Herald Voice, by freelancer reporter Joanna O'Leary and influencer, Cup of Charisma.

Plus, the CultureMap promo alert we coordinated was delivered to more than 20,000 subscribers with a nearly 25% open rate and more than 7% open rate!

Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 9.38.39 PM.png

10 tips for fostering a culture of continuous learning

The end of the first quarter ushered in another opportunity to showcase CDR Assessment Group, Nancy, as a thought leader in her field, this time with industry publication, CIO.

Houston_Food_Finder_logo_f5f5f5matte_CROP.png

Eighteen36 in Upper Kirby is Making Its Mark on Houston’s Cocktail Scene

Our team secured this delightful feature with Houston Food Finder for our client, Eighteen36 at the perfect time! After just over a year in business, we were hoping for a deeper story to showcase how and why Eighteen36 had been a success in Houston's hospitality scene, despite the pandemic.

Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 10.14.17 PM.png

Retaining Talent in a Virtual World: It Starts With Really Knowing Who Your Employees Are

Another month, another byline for CDR Assessment Group's Nancy Parsons. This time, we worked with website Recruiter.com to submit an article centered on retention.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

Easter Seals celebrates 10 years of Walk With Me at the Houston Zoo

After supporting Easter Seals Greater Houston's 2020 Walk With Me fundraiser and helping to tell its story through the remainder of the year, we once again were anxious to spread the word about Walk With Me. We knew Suzane would be a fantastic reporter to pitch based on our experience working with her the year before to visit and feature Camp For All.

images.png

Time to go to CAMP FOR ALL!

Reporter, Shannon Lanier, is brave! In April he committed to going Over The Edge (literally scaling a building) for Camp For All. He was so moved by his experience that he visited Camp in May to share more about its mission.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

Houston restaurants, bars, bakeries support Pride

One of the reasons we love supporting socially-interested hospitality clientele? Because they care about the communities and they're not afraid to show it! This Chronicle story and an accompanying Houston Press story were major wins for our clients Dessert Gallery and Eighteen36! We sure are proud...pun intended!

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

More Texas companies are plugging into electric vehicles. Will shoppers follow?

Our team worked with EV experts, REVS, to launch its new business in Houston. In doing so, we were able to position its founder in front of Houston Chronicle for a larger piece on the EV industry's growth in Texas.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

With new laws, to-go cocktails are on a rise in Houston

As Eighteen36 continued to pivot to ensure it could keep its doors open, it became one of several Houston-area establishments to offer cocktails to go. We worked with publications like Houston Chronicle and Houston Press to spread the word.

Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 9.31.47 PM.png

Houston Girls Clothing Entrepreneur Celebrates 10 Years of cuteheads With Priceless Family Photo Tips

Cuteheads isn't simply an adorably cute clothing brand. It's a business born and bred in Houston that was celebrating ten years of outfitting Houston kids. Founder, Esther Steinfeld Freedman, is a true example of an entrepreneur who is committed to doing what's right and supporting the local business landscape. As such, we were honored to help her tell her story ten years later!

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.46.25 PM.png

ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation launches 'Generation Now' campaign

After months of working with the ZACHOR Holocaust Foundation team to develop the "Generation Now" campaign, we were elated when international publication, The Jerusalem Post, picked this story up!

KPRC-TV_Logo.png

Pediatric cancer awareness: How one Texas camp for kids with cancer have changed during the pandemic

Part of what makes our client Camp For All so darn special is its partnership model. Camp For All partners with more than 60 non-profits across the state and country to bring their patients/campers to Burton throughout the year. One such Camp is Camp Periwinkle, a camp for children living with cancer.

During September's Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, the Like Minds team joined forces with Camp Partner, Periwinkle, to shine a light on this special Camp.

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.50.49 AM.png

Bellaire resident helps create company designed to democratize internships

Ampersand, a start up created to bridge the education-to-employment skills gap, came to Like Minds to support its official launch. As part of our media relations plan, we started with founder, Allie Danziger's hometown, Houston. This Houston Chronicle piece was a fantastic start!

KXAN_Austin_News_logo.png

Lindsay Pinchuk’s Guide To Shop Local For Holiday 2021 With Texas-Based Businesses

After partnering with Lindsay Pinchuk and her website, Bump Club and Beyond, to offer Dessert Gallery packages to moms-to-be, we jumped at the opportunity to be a part of her gift guide.

Not only did Lindsay feature Dessert Gallery's holiday treats in a jar, but she also included our holiday card fundraiser campaign for Camp For All as a gift option that gives back. Camp For All and Like Minds have been working towards a goal of expanding media reach beyond Houston and the greater Camp area and this KXAN story was a great foray into the Austin market!

Screenshot 2023-01-18 at 10.45.40 PM.png

12 Holocaust Books That Everyone Should Read

An end-of-year scoop from a national publication. What more can a group of hardworking publicists ask for?

Screenshot 2023-01-17 at 9.52.39 PM.png

Decoding your professional DNA | How a personality analysis can help you find the right fit

While much of our focus for client, CDR-U Coach, had been on trade publications, we decided to take a step back and highlight Nancy and the company through local efforts. This KHOU story was a fantastic way for Nancy to get in front of Houston audiences and share more of what makes the CDR assessment so unique.