PR Weekly With Sari Cicurel

At 62, recently divorced, I started a new business to appeal to all women, all ages, all body types. Using my 35 year background in fashion designing a children and women's knitwear line - I came up with a one size fits most option to smooth us out. This was in the 2009 financial crisis and failure was never an option - I had bought a cute vintage house in Huntington Woods and the country was in the midst of the countrywide mortgage crisis.    Here’s what we discussed 

• Overcoming adversity  
• The idea that sparked it all  
• Selling on QVC and the changing business atmosphere  
• Building a philanthropic business 

Connect with Linda Schlesinger  Website: https://skinnytees.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skinnytees/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinnytees/   

Through advocacy, collaboration and strategic relationships, Daniel Cherrin has built a successful career, as an attorney, lobbyist and public relations professional. This includes serving as the Communications Director for the City of Detroit and Press Secretary to the Mayor of Detroit, a federal lobbyist for the Detroit Regional Chamber and the owner of an independent public affairs consultancy. Over the past18 years, Daniel has worked on a number of high profile issues, advising university presidents, mayors, CEOs, association executives and others, ranging from: Restoring the public’s trust in the City of Detroit after its’ mayor went to prison; serving as the spokesman for Michigan’s smallest and most historic city; representing one of the busiest international border crossings’ along the US Canadian Border; advising a university president on crisis management related to their kidney transplant program; and, leading a series of stakeholder meetings in Ontario around an 1,800 MW offshore wind farm proposal. Daniel believes the way forward is to engage! Through strategic communications, strategic relationships and something valuable to share, Daniel works to protect and enhance the reputation of organizations and people in the public eye. Now, let’s start the conversation! 

Here’s what we discussed 

• Moving from lawyer to activist to PR 
• Dealing with PR crisis. 
• The effects of the pandemic on Daniel’s clients  
• Running for office and making a difference in your community

Connect with Daniel Cherrin  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcherrin/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.cherrin 

Twitter: @dancherrin 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dancherrin 

Warm, welcoming and made from scratch with the finest ingredients - this has always been the cornerstone of the Culinary Combo, established by Jodie and Jim Polk in 1989. The business expanded from catering and pastries to include gift baskets filled with fresh baked goods. In 2018, the Culinary Combo’s world was turned upside down when Jim was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away one month later. With one half of the Culinary Combo gone, a new combo was born. Jessica Barris made the leap and left her job to partner with her mom, opening their first retail location Culinary Combo Bakery (CCB). Offering a range of baked goods, from a classic lemon bar to the outrageous muddy buddy cookie, CCB has the treats to satisfy every sweet tooth. Stop by our bakery for a goodie-on-the-go, assemble a custom order, or send one of our pastry-filled baskets as a delightful gift. No matter your choice, we provide a friendly, comforting, “cookies just out of the oven” experience.

Here’s what we discussed  

• Our favorite sweet treats  
• Running a family business  
• Rebranding and repositioning in business  
• Changing with the times during COVID-19

Connect with Jodie & Jessica  Website: https://www.theculinarycombo.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CulinaryComboBakery/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culinarycombobakery/ 

David Fishman, the owner of Cadillac Travel is the go to travel expert in the Detroit area for the media when there is a story to be told. He is a reliable voice for the media.    The Cadillac Travel Group is a privately owned and operated 37-year old Travel Management and Marketing company. Cadillac Travel Group specializes in Group, Incentive, Corporate and Leisure travel. Cadillac Travel has earned top rankings with many of the country’s leading travel providers along with numerous other certified and approved travel partners. In addition to Corporate travel, Cadillac Travel Group, Incentive travel, Cadillac Travel offers a full-service Leisure/Vacation Department specializing in many areas, including groups, destination weddings, honeymoons, spring break travel, and Disney.

Here’s what we discussed:  

• The ebbs and flows of travel due to outside events  
• How much time is really wasted when you plan your own trip 
• The Internet doesn’t care about you  
• Why travel will be safer than ever before  

   

Connect with David  Website: http://www.cadillactravel.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cadillactravel/  Email: [email protected] 

Christina Liedtke is a seasoned executive in the beauty care and fashion industry as well as founder and CEO of ASTOURI. Christina has over 20 years of experience from sales to marketing in fortune 500 global beauty care brands and has started two fashion brands. Christina's background in design, marketing, market insights, and sales has lead her to the company she recently founded as a solution to travel and community apparel.    Here’s what we discussed:  

• Starting a career as a designer  
• Creating multi-functional clothing for women with ASTOURI 
• Having a brand that starts a conversation  
• Supporting the local economy  
• Changes to the Fashion Industry during COVID-19   

Connect with Christine   Website: https://astouri.com/ 

Nicole Neer is the owner of Bloom Administrative Services, an agency that provides marketing support for entrepreneurs. She's also a mentor for done-for-you service providers looking to build resilient businesses. Like many of her clients, Nicole is an entrepreneur living with chronic illness. Through her agency and her mentoring, she helps people to build systems and processes in their business to help it withstand whatever life throws their way. Nicole is also the host of the Spooniepreneur Podcast, a show that takes people behind the scenes to show what it actually looks like to be an entrepreneur living with chronic illness    Here’s what we discussed  

• Social Media Marketing and the importance of consistency and analytics  
• Running a resilient business with chronic illness  
• Setting boundaries when you work from home

 Connect with Nicole

Website: www.theresilientva.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresilientVA/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wnicoleneer/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresilientva/    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theresilientva/ 

Julie and Mark Fisher are the co-founders of Echo70, an Employee Advocacy Consulting firm. Mark combines his experience as a business owner, lawyer, salesman and risk management consultant with his partner’s experience as a Social Media expert, author, trainer and keynote speaker.    Julie is also the creator of The Resiliency Puzzle, a book and curriculum for parents and educators; and the founder of The Social U. For 10 years, she served as the executive director of BBFA (Building Better Families through Action), a non-profit parent education organization.   In this episode we discuss:  

• The disconnect between employers connecting their message through their employees  
• Your employees as a second marketing channel  
• Guidelines for kids when using social media  
• Working with your partner 

Connect with Mark & Julie   Website: https://www.echo70.com  Julie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieschwartzfisher/  Mark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-a-fisheresq/

After Elli’s divorce, twelve years ago, she knew she needed additional income beyond the job she had at the time. Elli had been involved in rescuing greyhounds from the racing industry, had a greyhound of her own and wanted to be home with him. A home-based business seemed ideal. Dog-sitting (technically it's dog boarding) seemed to be a 'natural' fit for Elli. She came up with a business name (Elli's Bed & Biscuit), had car door magnets made to advertise and was 'off and running'. Since then, she’s learned about running a business and about dogs (health, behavior and pack mentality) along the way. Elli is certified in Pet CPR and First Aid and has taken classes in decoding dog behavior. As well, she’s met with legal, insurance, social media, and other professionals to run a safe, responsible and profitable business.

Here’s what we discussed  

• What should you look for in a dog boarder 
• Your dog can read your energy  
• Turning your love and passion into a business 

Connect with Elli   Website: www.Ellibandb.com 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ellisbedandbiscuit Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellisbedandbiscuit

Here’s what we discussed:  

• Putting your logo on products  
• The return on a promotional product’s investment  
• The importance of client care  
• The importance of packaging

Connect with Valerie  

Website: https://www.corporatespecialties.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriehaymansklar/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Corporate.Specialties.LLC 

Jason brown is the founder of PublicCity PR. His company is focused on building the buzz around town for its clients. Jason was a public relations executive with 10+ years of extensive media and community relations experience. He launched PublicCity so companies could have an efficient, affordable, reliable and seasoned professional solution driving their public relations and publicity needs.    Prior to founding PublicCity, Jason gained considerable experience working at various Detroit-based public relations agencies over the last 10 years, where he functioned as a media relations specialist. He has developed and managed communications programs and projects for leading companies, such as Dunkin’ Donuts, eBay and Microsoft and also spent significant time working on various General Motors project work. Jason leverages his vast network of media and community contacts to benefit his existing clients.    Among the highlights of his accomplishments include placing various regionally-based clients in front of the national media spotlight. Jason has secured national placements in Business Week, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Entrepreneur, Inc. and Fortune Small Business. Outside of the agency, Jason supports the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, Michigan Chapter and also sits on the board of Yad Ezra, Michigan's Kosher food pantry. Jason is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism. He currently resides in Beverly Hills, Mich. with his wife Hope and two daughters, Eliza and Libby.