Florida News Straight From the Source
Sachs Media today announced its new hire of Tallahassee native Brooke Williams, an experienced young professional, who will join the agency’s outstanding public affairs team as an Account Executive. [Read more…] about Sachs Media Welcomes Brooke Williams to its Dynamic Public Affairs Team
As students across Florida prepare to return to school later this month, simple behaviors could become heroic to significantly stop the spread of the disease – things like wearing a mask, staying six feet apart and coughing into an elbow instead of a hand. [Read more…] about Sachs Media Group Donates Creative Campaign to Help Students Be “COVID Health Heroes™”
Earning six major awards including the “Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award” for the best single campaign of the year, Sachs Media Group continued its long-term legacy of excellence in the field of public relations and integrated communications campaigns at Tuesday’s Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Golden Image Awards gala in Tampa. [Read more…] about Sachs Media Group Receives Highest State Honors at 2019 FPRA Golden Image Awards
Sachs Media Group has been chosen as the Agency of Record for The Florida Bar, the organization of lawyers licensed to practice law in the state. [Read more…] about Sachs Media Group Named Agency of Record for The Florida Bar
Earning 11 total awards including the Grand All-Image, Sachs Media Group continued its 23-year legacy of excellence in the field of public relations and integrated communications campaigns during the Thursday FPRA Image Awards event in Tallahassee. [Read more…] about Sachs Media Group Receives Highest Honors at 2019 FPRA Capital Chapter Image Awards
Sachs Media Group is honored to have been named the 2018 “PR Firm of the Year” by PR News, the highly respected national industry journal. The PR News Platinum and Agency Elite Awards are bestowed annually on firms and individuals producing the nation’s most outstanding communications initiatives. [Read more…] about Sachs Media Group Named Small PR Firm of the Year Nationally by PR News
Sachs Media Group today announced that it has been named as the national agency of record for Sonny’s BBQ®, which was recently named “Nation’s Best BBQ Chain” by The Daily Meal for the third consecutive year. The BBQ restaurant chain currently has 112 locations spanning eight states including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky. As the company enlarges its footprint throughout the South and other regions of the United States, Sachs Media Group will lead public relations activities to support growth in the Sonny’s franchise and nonprofit divisions.
“Sonny’s BBQ is a beloved and landmark brand across the Southeast, and we are honored to have been selected for the important work of promoting its outstanding reputation across the United States,” said CEO Ron Sachs. “People get fired up about their barbecue, and we look forward to stoking their passion for Sonny’s – the finest barbecue around.”
Now in its 22nd year, Sachs Media Group is a full-service, award-winning agency headquartered in Tallahassee with offices in Orlando, Boca Raton, and Washington D.C. The company recorded its best year ever in 2016, as the nationally rated and regarded firm’s work expanded in multiple areas including public affairs, research, crisis communication services, and digital/web development. The company plans to continue to grow its lifestyle, travel, and hospitality division in 2017.
With 112 locations throughout the Southeast, Sonny’s BBQ is one of the largest and most popular barbecue restaurant companies in the country. Headquartered in Maitland, Fla., the restaurant chain employs more than 6,000 people. Sonny’s was founded by Floyd “Sonny” Tillman in 1968 in Gainesville, Fla., and is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Robert Yarmuth, a longtime Sonny’s franchisee from Kentucky, purchased the Sonny’s chain in 1991 and today serves as Sonny’s BBQ Chairman and CEO. Award-winning Pitmaster Bryan Mroczka leads the brand’s culinary division, and is responsible for spearheading the culinary direction and R&D to support the many pitmasters located at Sonny’s locations across the United States.
Sachs Media Group, Florida’s dominant public affairs communications firm, has been named Agency of Record for The James Madison Institute (JMI), Florida’s premier free-market think tank. The Sachs firm’s work will be targeted to elevate JMI’s profile in Florida and nationally by providing public affairs, public relations, digital media, targeted advertising, and strategic communications services in support of JMI’s initiatives.
Founded in 1987, JMI is one of the nation’s oldest and largest 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational organizations. Hailed as a “heavy hitter” by Florida Trend, JMI has produced work appearing in every Florida media market, as well as in such national outlets as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Bloomberg, POLITICO, Newsmax, and others. President and CEO Dr. Bob McClure is a highly regarded political thought leader and was named one of INFLUENCE Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Florida Politics.
“The James Madison Institute is one of the most influential centers for public policy thought leadership in Florida and beyond,” said Michelle Ubben, president and partner of Sachs Media Group. “We deeply respect the commitment to core values and strong principles that guide all of its important work and we’re excited to collaborate with JMI’s talented staff, dedicated board, and loyal supporters.”
JMI’s already-successful media presence will be reinforced through the guidance of Sachs Media Group’s expertise in public affairs communications. Last year, leading industry publication O’Dwyer’s ranked Sachs Media Group as the Southeast’s and Florida’s top public affairs firm. The addition of JMI to Sachs Media Group’s extensive client list will further underscore the firm’s stature in public affairs communications.
Sachs Media Group provides exceptional results in public affairs, branding, digital, and crisis communications. The firm combines unparalleled relationships, news judgment, messaging, and storytelling ability with cutting-edge strategies to engage audiences with content they seek and share. Sachs Media Group is home to the team best known for smart, strong, and strategic counsel across the diverse and ever-changing media landscape.
For more information about The James Madison Institute, visit https://www.jamesmadison.org/.
Preparing for future growth following a record year in 2016, industry-leading strategic communications firm Sachs Media Group today announced major new roles for key company leaders, Michelle Ubben, Ryan Cohn, and Lisa Garcia.
“The real strength of our firm is the depth of our excellent team of stellar professionals – the best in our field,” said Ron Sachs, founder and CEO. “We are going to maximize the advantage that our diverse talent can provide for every client and project as the essential strategic communications partner for organizations looking to leverage a major opportunity, overcome a significant threat, consistently excel and win.”
Sachs named Michelle Ubben the firm’s President, following her longtime service as senior partner and Chief Operating Officer, managing a diverse staff and client roster. Sachs, as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, will focus on top-level strategy, targeted client priorities, business development, and crisis management.
“Michelle’s super power is her ability to listen to any client’s challenge or problem, to synthesize a flood of seemingly disconnected information, and distill it all into a compelling narrative that solves the problem or breaks through any barriers,” Sachs said. “She sets the bar for laser-effective messaging, combining it with brilliant strategies to connect with the audiences our clients need to reach. She inspires our clients, staff, and collaborators.”
Ubben is a 20-year veteran of the firm, who previously had a successful 14-year career in state government, with stints as Communication Director for the Florida Senate, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Insurance.
Under her leadership, Sachs Media Group earned national Bulldog Awards for Small Agency of the Year, Best PR Agency for Non-Profit Communications, and was honored as one of Florida Trend’s Best Companies to Work For. The work she directed to rebrand the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs earned the All-Florida Grand Golden Image Award for the top public relations campaign of the year in 2012. Her work has also earned multiple Emmy Awards and a national Gracie Award.
Ryan Cohn, the firm’s Vice President of Digital, was named Executive Vice President and is part of the core leadership team setting a course for the firm’s future direction and growth. Sachs Media Group acquired Cohn’s firm, What’s Next Marketing, in 2012. Since then, he has grown the firm’s social media and digital practice and has played a pivotal role in forecasting and navigating the changing communications landscape for the firm and its clients.
“Ryan’s ascent into top leadership ensures our firm’s continued growth and success now and down the road,” Sachs said. “Ryan has shown an outstanding ability to forecast where our fast-changing industry is going and to leverage those trends to actively benefit our clients.”
Lisa Garcia was named Chief Operating Officer, taking on responsibility for the firm’s working processes and daily operations. Garcia also will head up the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
“Lisa is a veteran public relations strategist with excellent management capabilities,” said Sachs. “She is a terrific mentor to the staff and she ensures client priorities are met and exceeded.”
Other key members of the leadership team include Vicki Johnson, Senior Vice President of Central Florida Operations; Herbie Thiele, Vice President and Director of Public Affairs; Drew Piers, Deputy Director of Public Affairs; Jon Peck, Vice President of Public Relations; Karen Cyphers, Vice President of Research; and Mark Pankowski, Vice President, Director of Washington Operations.
