You’ve probably heard about the Gap and its new logo debacle. Last week the clothing retailer announced it was returning to its original logo following a firestorm from consumers scrutinizing the new design. But what’s interesting…
It’s my turn to write a column for the Cookerly blog and I am going to use it to pay tribute to a man with whom I had the privilege of working many years ago. Gary…
As most know, BP mercifully announced their runaway Macondo well is permanently sealed, thus resulting in a lost summer along the Gulf Coast. The Deepwater Horizon saga played out for 153 days and released approximately 4.1…
As you might recall seeing or hearing, the much-hyped, professional basketball star, LeBron James, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, decided to take “his game to South Beach” to join the Miami Heat. Not only did James…
PR professionals are responsible for messages that are disseminated to the public about a company’s products, services and/or image. We are responsible for giving the public something favorable to think about a brand and tasked with…
Quick – name that logo. If you said “Chevy,” you’re right. . . and you’re wrong. Technically speaking, this is the logo for Chevrolet. And in a memo leaked last week, General Motors showed that it’s…
Melts in your mouth, not in your hands. We didn’t invent chicken, just the chicken sandwich. Just Do It. Sound familiar? You’ve probably heard these slogans many, many times and can rattle off the companies to…
I don’t know how you feel about change, but my feelings on the subject are mixed. Dictionary.com seems to share my view. Look up the word “change” and you get 38 entries. Given my love of…
Spring is here! It’s time to throw open the windows and wash away the dreariness of winter. If you’re like me you’ve got a long list of spring cleaning projects around your house. But before you…
I write this from the floor of Ballroom D at the Austin Convention Center, on my first trip to the South By Southwest Interactive conference (SXSWi), a five-day tech fest before the more well-known music festival. In my first…
Cookerly helps steer major corporate and executive initiatives for the nation’s #1 luxury automaker including recent award-winning programs such as “Greatness Lives Here” and “No Limits,” initiatives designed to empower the next generation through community activism and education. We recently helped launch the Mercedes-Benz A-Class vehicle line including MBUX artificial intelligence including tie-ins with the Super Bowl, Ludacris and the Ron Clark Academy. Leveraging paid, earned, shared and owned media, the Cookerly team supports MBUSA across both external and internal channels.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Matt helps organizations protect and advance their reputations and bottom lines through strategic communications programs. Using creativity, planning and flawless execution, he works with a team to deliver compelling public relations campaigns that produce results and support clients’ business objectives.
Industry expertise includes banking/finance, energy and automotive across clients such as SunTrust Banks, Colonial Pipeline and Mercedes-Benz USA. Recently, Matt helped launch SunTrust’s first Super Bowl ad and generate earned media for the grand opening of SunTrust Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves.
Matt is also a member of Cookerly’s crisis response team and has experience managing major crises generating national headlines.
Other areas of expertise include designing/implementing communications campaigns, media relations, executive speech writing, media training, survey design and execution, and more.
A Georgia State University graduate with a degree in economics, Matt served as managing editor of the student newspaper. He attended graduate school at George Washington University, receiving a master’s degree in strategic management, public policy and economics (MPA).
As senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman specializes in building and maintaining relationships with the media and has an excellent track record of landing significant placements in print and broadcast media including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Money Magazine.
Mike comes to the firm with more than a decade of public relations and journalism experience. As a former news editor, Mike understands how to work with his clients to craft stories that garner recognition on traditional and social media channels. He has led numerous award winning campaigns for a number of clients, including Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Construction Market Data Group and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia campaign. Favorite recent assignments include a campaign to announce McDelivery, McDonald’s new delivery service.
Mike is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and a graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned a degree in speech communications. He serves on the PRSA Georgia Chapter Programming Committee and is an avid sports fan and trail runner. He resides in Marietta with his wife and two children.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.
An award-winning speechwriter, Sheryl comes to the firm with over 20 years’ expertise in media relations, employee communications and community affairs. Some of her best work has occurred while leading product launches, handling crisis situations, managing senior leadership meetings and overseeing employee events.
Sheryl is a Georgia native with an MBA from Amber University and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University. Active in the community, she is a Leadership Atlanta graduate currently serving on several boards including Bethany Christian Services. Sheryl is an author, pen collector, avid runner, mentor and philanthropist.
NAPA AUTO PARTS, the nation’s top brand in the automotive aftermarket, is ramping up its retail operation across the country with grand reopening celebrations to show off its transformed “top stores,” expanded inventory and “NAPA Know How.” Cookerly designed a creative program that has successfully sparked conversations across media and social media channels in the target markets, enhanced community relationships, built awareness/visibility, increased customer traffic at store events and helped boost NAPA sales and follow-on business.
The Arthritis Foundation has undergone significant changes and seeks to build upon a renewed direction with fresh perspectives. The foundation relies on Cookerly to infuse new ideas, raise national awareness and engage internal stakeholders to support the organization’s new and powerful “Champion of Yes” branding. The comprehensive communications strategies and tactics conceived and implemented for the foundation put a national focus on the critical nature of arthritis and are helping reinvigorate the organization’s image of one committed to conquering the insidious and debilitating disease.