Ghostwriting has been recently discussed at length in the professional medical writing community, especially AMWA. See this great article entitled “The Art and Economics of Ghostwriting.” It offers useful insights and advice that are applicable to medical communications and other disciplines. As of today, 173 people like the article and the 22 comments are helpful too.
Category: TRA360 Blog
Mass High Tech Citizenship Awards: Giving Back Begins At Home
Along with employees from TRA360, I attended the Mass High Tech Citizenship Awards Breakfast this morning at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. TRA360 was honored as one of 23 organizations for our work with non-profits and charitable organizations. Read the Mass High Tech profile of TRA360 at http://bit.ly/f5GZyw and report of the morning event at http://bit.ly/fro4P1.
Even though the event started at 7:30am, there was huge energy in the room. Companies with fewer than 50 employees and as many as 250,000 were represented. This group of about 150 business professionals works hard at giving back. So many people I met were truly passionate about why they, as both individuals and companies, donate their time, technology, services, and “people strength” to doing community service. As Renee Connolly, Vice President, US Communications of EMD Serono said to me privately: “it’s important for us to walk the talk.”
Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, charmed the audience by telling us what all 3-year-olds have in common: a love of dinosaurs, a love of whales, and a love of robots (even if they don’t yet have the words to talk about them). Angle told us about the challenge he gave his employees to do more good on the occasion of iRobot’s 20th anniversary. The results? “20 in 20,” a program to giving 20 interactive presentations about robotics technology to elementary, middle and high school students in 20 schools. We heard the mantras of “lead by example”, “get your employees involved”, “set big goals”, and “ask for help” from distinguished panelists at Wilmer Hale, EMD Serono, Verizon, Microsoft, and Citizens Schools. They shared their success stories and challenged all of us to do more.
As for TRA360, we’ll be doing more active charitable work in 2011 and involving a lot more people. Check back on the TRA360 blog for updates.
TRA360 Receives Mass High Tech 2010 Tech Citizenship Award
I recently found out that TRA360 is 1 of 23 technology companies that will be receiving the Mass High Tech 2010 Tech Citizenship Award. The award honors companies for “their charitable work through contributions to non-profit community organizations.” I’m humbled, surprised, and very pleased with this recognition.
Other honorees include Cisco, EMD Serono, Genzyme, IBM, Microsoft, Raytheon, and Shire. To be included with this list of name-brand companies is a huge honor for TRA360 and a tribute to our employees. We’ve been doing community service work with the Pan-Mass Challenge, Room to Read, CleanTech Open (formerly the MIT Enterprise Forum Ignite Clean Energy), and other organizations for many years. Giving back is part of our DNA.
To read the 2010 Tech Citizenship Award announcement, go to http://bit.ly/fHBUx3.
Southwest Delivers on its Marketing Message
I’ve been a fan of Southwest Airlines for many years. Quick personal story…
Last year I rode in the Livestrong Challenge, a bike fundraiser sponsored by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I flew Southwest because it was a direct Boston-to-Austin flight, they had the best fare, and my bike was only $50 one-way vs. at least $125 with all other carriers. Even though my bike was in a hard-shelled case, I was worried it was going to get damaged. The result? When I got off the plane Southwest’s PA system called for me and a baggage handler personally wheeled out my bike…nice!
What does the Southwest represent to me?
- Commitment to customers and employees
- Efficient operations
- Quality product
- Courage to be different
- Fun
It’s no surprise that these marketing messages are consistent with Southwest’s overall marketing strategy. But, at least to me, they work; they aren’t just empty marketing communications. For example, who can watch the Southwest Airlines Rap on YouTube and not imagine being one of the passengers enjoying the rap?
Jad Mouawad recently wrote an article in the New York Times entitled “Pushing 40, Southwest Is Still Playing the Rebel” about the history and future of the airline. While some have lauded Southwest’s business practices, the company is not without its critics. But most airline and business experts agree that Southwest’s targeted acquisition of Air-Tran will be among the biggest challenges it has yet to face. I, for one, wish them every success…they’ve earned it, at least from this happy customer.