By Rick Griffin
San Diego-based BAM Communications, led by Beck Bamberger, founder and CEO, has opened a New York City office. BAM said its new Midtown office will be led by Gabie Kur, BAM’s recently appointed East Coast general manager. Kur was previously with NYC-based marketing agency Codeword.
“It’s an exciting time at BAM as we take on new clients and talent at a breakneck pace,” said Bamberger. “New York City offers endless opportunities to support exciting companies while contributing to the art of modern journalism. I look forward to Gabie’s leadership to help us scale as we continue to expand both our presence and expertise.”
“New York City is the media capital of the world, so expansion to this market is crucial for an agency like BAM,” Kur said. “Through our Midtown-based office, we support innovative companies across both the B2B and B2C sectors, including several founded in Silicon Alley that have expanded East just as BAM has.”
Founded in 2006, BAM Communications has a staff of 23, including 11 new team members since January 2017. Services include PR and media relations. Clients include Coway, Fujitsu, European-based Neonode and several cybersecurity and healthcare technology companies on both East and West Coasts.
Former San Diego Zoo Marketing Exec to Build Balboa Park Brand
After nearly 21 years at the San Diego Zoo Global, including serving as associate director of communications, Michael Warburton has left to join the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership. He will serve in the newly created position of director of park-wide communications. The partnership is a nonprofit collaborative supported by Balboa Park’s 30 arts, science and cultural institutions.
“I’m ecstatic about this opportunity to build brand awareness, public visibility and mutually beneficial relationships for the overall betterment of the entire park community,” said Warburton, who held leadership roles in marketing with the zoo for the past 16 years.
With the Zoo, Warburton managed creative agencies of record and was involved in developing and executing the media strategy, content strategy and integrated communications campaigns. In 2016, more than 5.5 million people visited the zoo in Balboa Park and Safari Park in Escondido.
“Michael is the absolutely right person to assume this strategic role,” said Peter Comiskey, executive director, BPCP. “The position is very much integral in positioning Balboa Park as a premier destination. He possesses extensive expertise that will be called upon to build upon the Balboa Park brand and find creative solutions for moving the park and the member institutions forward, together.”
Since 2010, Warburton has served on the board of SDX. He was the advertising organization’s 2014-2015 president and 2015-2016 chairman.
Three Groups Presenting 2017 Cause Conference
Three marketing groups will present the 19th annual Cause Conference on Friday, Sept. 8, at the UC San Diego’s Price Center, 9500 Gilman Drive in La Jolla. The groups include San Diego’s American Marketing Association chapter, the San Diego Nonprofit Association and Conscious Capitalism San Diego. The conference brings together purpose-driven businesses and nonprofit community leaders for one of the largest cause and social purpose marketing events on the West Coast. This year’s theme is “Maximizing Your Impact Through the Power of Purpose.”
More than 50 speakers are scheduled to present. They include Neville Billimoria, senior VP of membership and chief advocacy officer for Mission Federal Credit Union; Tom Curren, founder and president of Hawthorne Edge; Denise Pirrotti-Hummel, chief innovation officer or Lead Inclusively; Beth Sirull, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego; and Jeff Johnson, senior director of innovation and new ventures at Kashi Foods. The keynote speaker will be Stan Phelps, author of the Purple Goldfish series and a futurist at IBM.
Topics will include how to build a purpose-driven organization, achieve measurable results and improve employee and stakeholder engagement to optimize job satisfaction, performance and profitability. Organizers also said attendees will receive guidance on how to nurture the well-being of individuals for a more fulfilled and engaged culture and how to make a positive impact on the lives of their stakeholders, audiences, communities and the planet.
The conference will begin with a kick-off reception starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7. The conference begins at 7 a.m. the next morning. A closing cocktail reception will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. Cost to attend is $179 for members and $299 for nonmembers. For more information, call (619) 402-7825, or visit www.CauseSD.org. Sponsors include UCSD Extension, Buchanan Brand & Design, Divergent Group, KyXy 96.5-FM and the San Diego Business Journal.
SDX to Discuss How UGC Can Power Marketing Campaigns
SDX will present “How to Drive Your Market with User-Generated Content” with Tyler Anderson, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at UCSD Extension, Room 317, 6256 Greenwich Drive. The presentation will be followed by a 5:30 p.m. networking reception. Admission is free for members and $40 per person for nonmembers.
Anderson will discuss how Americans are creating and trusting UGC when looking into a brand, product or service, as well as how marking professionals can use the content from a brand’s biggest fans to power effective marketing efforts. The presentation is part of SDX’s ongoing “Inspire” seminar series. For more information, call (619) 255-2281, or visit SDX at www.sandiegox.org.
With more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing, Anderson is founder and CEO of Casual Fridays, a San Diego social media and marketing agency. He also is the host of the “Social Media Social Hour,” a podcast. Founded in 2009, Anderson’s firm has created social media campaigns and content marketing initiatives for such brands as Marriott International, San Diego Tourism Authority, Penske Automotive, Jersey Mike’s Sub, Deloitte, KAABOO and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
