Michael Levine, a media commentator, Hollywood publicist and the author of multiple books, has a new client.
It’s Grant Cardone, a media commentator, sales guru and author of multiple books.
L.A.-based Cardone has hired Levine Communications Office in Beverlywood to help promote his books and publicize a new website, SalesTrainingVT.com, which he recently launched. Levine has a six-month plan to connect him with talk show hosts and writers in radio, TV, print and the Internet, as well as booking him for speaking engagements.
Cardone currently hosts business program “Turnaround King” on National Geographic Channel.
Levine was asked if he noticed that he had a lot in common with his client. He said it all comes down to one common interest: They’re both entrepreneurs.
“He really wants to focus on the message that this economy can be a curse or an opportunity,” Levine said. “If you adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, it’s an opportunity. If you adopt a victim’s mentality, it’s a curse.”
Plant PR
After a competitive review, the American Public Gardens Association has named Pollack PR Marketing Group its new PR agency.
The Century City firm will handle media relations with the goal of establishing the organization’s expertise in plants, conservation and public space. The eventual goal of the campaign is to increase membership and fundraising.
The agency previously worked with the APGA on a project basis, setting up an internal communications program to reach its membership.
Based in Kennett Square, Pa., APGA has a membership of more than 500 public gardens and zoos in the United States, Canada and seven other countries.
Fantastic Age
Fantage, an online virtual world for children, has enlisted West L.A. firm Wonacott Communications as its PR agency to raise its profile and promote future product upgrades.
The firm will handle contacts with media that targets families and teachers. The agency will mix traditional media relations with social PR and online community marketing.
Fantage, in Fort Lee, N.J., has about 7.7 million registered users, or Fantagians. The company’s name is short for “fantastic age,” a reference to the quasimedieval world the site hosts.
Wonacott’s client roster includes other tech companies such as New York’s Autumn Games and City of Industry’s Nox Audio.
Slice of the Pie
Dailey, a West Hollywood ad agency, has launched its first campaign for L.A.-based California Pizza Kitchen since winning a slice of the restaurateur’s business earlier this year.
The billboard campaign promotes 10 new menu items by targeting consumers who already eat at CPK. Dailey selected board locations near existing restaurants to reach that audience.
While Dailey, a unit of marketing conglomerate New York’s Interpublic Group, handles traditional media advertising, the digital element of the campaign is managed by Red Interactive Agency in Santa Monica. Draftfcb, another Interpublic agency in Chicago, markets CPK’s line of frozen foods sold in supermarkets.
The campaign targets key cities such as Los Angeles, Atlanta and St. Louis. It will continue into the fall with support online from Red Interactive.
Agencies & Accounts
Team One in El Segundo has hired David DeRoma and Eric Arnold to lend creative expertise to the ad agency’s Lexus account team. Creative director DeRoma previously worked at Crispin Porter & Bogusky in Boulder, Colo., where he led the creation of ads for Microsoft Windows and Burger King. Arnold, associate creative director, spent the last nine years at TBWA/Chiat/Day in Playa del Rey, handling ads for Visa, Adidas, Energizer and Infiniti. … Blaine Group in Beverly Hills is the new PR agency for Bogart, Ga.’s Body Ecology, a nutritional supplement company. The company was created to supply consumers with foods recommended in the 1996 book “The Body Ecology Diet” by Donna Gates. Blaine Group will promote Gates’ new book, “The Baby Boomer Diet,” which will be published in October. … Ad agency Blitz in Santa Monica has appointed Tamer Kattan as head of strategy. He will manage campaigns that involve various media, including Hasbro and automotive accounts. Kattan previously worked as a strategist at TBWA/Chiat/Day in Playa del Rey on the Apple and Coca-Cola accounts. … Farmers Insurance in Los Angeles has signed a partnership with the LA Galaxy and the Home Depot Center in Carson. The deal includes in-stadium advertising and promotions. Also, Farmers will become the official insurance partner of the LA Galaxy. … Don Lupo has joined West Hollywood ad agency Dailey as director of digital production. Lupo comes from Deutsch LA, where he led a team on the Volkswagen and Sony PlayStation 3 accounts.
Staff reporter Joel Russell can be reached at [email protected] or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 237.
