By Rick Griffin
Scott Mires, principal and creative director at MiresBall, will retire in September after more than 30 years in San Diego’s creative design industry. Mires, who launched his career in 1985, will bequeath the firm’s leadership to current co-owner and co-creative director John Ball, who has worked with Mires since 1986.
“I reached this decision after a lot of thought,” said Mires in a statement. “I’m leaving the agency in good hands. John has been a trusted partner all these years. I know the work the firm produces under his leadership will continue to add tremendous value for clients.”
“From my first day on the job 30 years ago, Scott inspired me with his energy, passion, and work ethic,” said Ball. “And it’s those same qualities that will move us forward today.”
Over the years, MiresBall has worked with many iconic San Diego-based companies, including Qualcomm Inc., Brigantine, Rubio’s, Taylor Guitars, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, Samsung, Shure, Pirch, Chicken of the Sea, and Coronado Brewing Company. For two decades, MiresBall has supported Father Joe’s Villages and the many homeless families that aided by the organization. Mires also has frequently opened the studio to visiting art students and instructors.
As a surfer, art collector, and classic car aficionado, Mires said he is looking forward to immersing himself both in new areas of creativity and some downtime. Slated for double knee replacement surgery, he said, “I’m looking forward to getting my new knees and surfing into retirement.”
XTRA 1360-AM Fox Sports Announces New Weekday Lineup
Sports talk radio station KLSD-AM, known as XTRA 1360 Fox Sports San Diego, has announced a new weekday show lineup, effective Monday, Aug. 15.
The lineup includes: “Hardwick & Richards,” featuring former Chargers player Nick Hardwick paired with local personality Judson Richards, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” a nationally syndicated show, 9 a.m. to noon; “The Mark & Rich Show,” a new local show with veteran broadcaster Mark Willard and former NFL player Rich Ohrnberger, noon to 3 p.m.; and, “Loose Cannons with Hartman & Costa,” with local hosts Steve Harman and Mike Costa.
Gone are the team of Dave Palet and Jeff Dotseth, who held morning shifts at the station since 2014. Stations officials also said Hardwick, Richards and Ohrnberger will be part of this season’s San Diego Chargers gameday broadcasts heard on KLSD-AM, the NFL team’s flagship radio station.
“The caliber of local talent additions to XTRA 1360 speaks volumes to the station’s commitment to deliver first-rate sports talk in San Diego,” said Brian Long, program director.
KLSD-AM is one of seven stations owned and operated by iHeart Media San Diego, along with KGB-FM, KHTS-FM, KIOZ-FM, KMRI-FM, KOGO-AM and KSSX-FM.
IABC San Diego Announces 2016-2017 Board of Directors
The International Association of Business Communicators San Diego chapter has announced its 2016-2017 board of directors. Anna Davison, VP of corporate communications and investor relations for Bridgepoint Education, will serve as president. Her term began July 1.
In April, Davison was the recipient of the chapter’s 2016 Communicator of the Year award. She succeeds Sarah Bilyeu, senior VP of community relations and business development, San Diego County Credit Union.
Other IABC/San Diego board members include: Heidi Everly, senior corporate communications specialist, AMN Healthcare, as VP of marketing and social media; Alison Winkler, corporate communications partner, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, as VP of communication; Justin Carey, business development officer, SDCCU, as VP of membership; Robynn Rockstad-Rex, volunteer director of marketing and social media, Education First, as VP of programming and special events; Jan McGinn, consultant, as VP of finance; Sheila Garcia, communications manager, Cox Communications, as VP of administration; Chantal Ramirez, customer service representative, Bank of America, as director of web content; Christine Infante, vice president of communications, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, as director of member retention; Liz Neely, senior employee communications specialist, Qualcomm, Inc., as director of special interest groups; Nolan Sundrud, director, ROI Communications, as director of sponsorship and development; Erica Butler, senior strategy management consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton, as director of events; Denise Tanguay, director of workforce communications, Scripps Health, as director of brand and design; Kate Hardman, senior manager of employee communications, Qualcomm Inc., as president-elect.
“I am honored to serve as the president of the IABC San Diego Chapter and work with a team of exceptional communicators representing different industries,” said Davison. “The board is extremely excited about this next year, and we look forward to providing learning and development, networking, and career enhancement opportunities that connect, inform and engage communications professionals in the greater San Diego area.”
IABC San Diego is a 100-member trade association for business communicators who live or work in the San Diego area. IABC serves professionals in the field of business communication, bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines and offering education, certification, awards program, resource library, an online magazine and an annual World Conference. For more information, visit http://sandiego.iabc.com/.
Direct Marketers to Examine `Growth Hacking’
SD Direct, formerly the San Diego Direct Marketing Association, will host “Growth Hacking Social Media Channels,” a program on using organic tactics to grow social media channels, from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at UCSD Extension, Room 317, 6256 Greenwich Drive in San Diego.
Topics will effective growth hacking techniques to use and why and how to increase brand awareness, audience size, overall engagement and ultimately website traffic and conversions across such channels as Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
The speaker will be Devon Gardner, founder of San Diego-based Devon Victoria Communications, a boutique communications company specializing in social media outreach, influencer marketing and digital PR. He has worked with such clients as Time Life, Jazzercise, Legoland, Auberge Resorts, Westin Hotels and Resorts, LegalShield, National University, Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series and GreatCall.
Cost to attend is $20 for members, $40 for guests and $12 for students. Lunch is included. To RSVP, visit www.sddma.org/events.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
