Here’s a good opportunity for Ottawa PR and communications student to learn what it is like to work in an agency and how best to go about getting a job with one….

Joint Agency Information Session – Thornley Fallis and Hill & Knowlton

When? Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Where? Thornley Fallis, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 730 (session one)
Where? Hill & Knowlton, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1100 (session two)
CPRS student member cost? Free
Student non-member cost? $20

About the Presentation
Are you interested in an intern position with a PR agency? Would you like to know what it’s like to be part of an agency team? Perhaps you’re curious to learn how your PR/communications program is preparing you for agency work? Then this joint information session is designed for you!

Thornley Fallis Communications helps organizations solve business problems using leading-edge communications tools and practices. Hill & Knowlton Ottawa is the nation capital’s leading full-service strategic public affairs, communications and government procurement consultancy. Join us as seasoned professionals and recent graduates employed at both organizations discuss the thrills of working at two of Ottawa’s trailblazing agencies!

Registration
The event is free for CPRS student members. The non-student member fee is $20 (via credit card) for this event. There are 40 spots available on a first-come basis. Please register by Tuesday, November 15, at the following EventBrite link: http://cprsnovember2011student.eventbrite.com/

Visit http://www.cprsottawa.ca/index.php/students-en/ for more information on the benefits of CPRS Ottawa/Gatineau student membership.

76design is looking for a talented and experienced Senior PHP Web Developer to join our team and help make our agency even greater.

Interested candidates should email their CV and/or portfolio to laura@76design.ca.

Candidates should be prepared to work in collaboration with other developers, graphic designers, marketers and public relations experts towards the development and implementation of industry-leading communications solutions.

Here is an overview of the experience, qualifications and abilities we are looking for.

Leadership

• Maintain visibility and respect in the online community
• Contribute to the development of the Studio’s culture and quality standards

Strategic and Analytical Thinking

• Understanding of fundamentals of new marketing and communications principles
• A solid understanding of informational architecture practices
• Gathering, reviewing and validating project requirements

Skills and Assets

• Demonstrated experience with the following: Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP5
• Experience with a modern MVC web framework like Zend Framework, Java Spring, etc.
• Background in web API programming; do you prefer api.twitter to twitter.com? code.google to google.com?
• Polylingual programming beyond PHP considered an asset (Java, .Net, Ruby, etc)
• Comfortable with use and function of a variety of modern CMS: WordPress, Drupal;
• Direct experience with social media tools and platforms, such as WordPress, Google+, Twitter, etc.
• Work with tiered deployment environments.
• Experience with a version control system like SVN.
• Experience with automated deployment using tools like Phing, Ant considered an asset.
• University degree in computer science or software engineering
• Use of OO and design patterns
• Working knowledge of web standards, SEO and accessibility
• Front end development experience working with XHTML, CSS, Javascript, Ajax
• Agency experience an asset
• A relentless and visible passion for and participation social and community engagement
• Experience and confidence presenting to clients

Bonus Points

• Unix system maintenance, shell scripting
• Apache web server configuration, virtual host management

Super Bonus Points

• Experience with Microsoft SilverStripe CMS
• Experience with modern ORM such as Doctrine
• Knowledge of Apache Software Foundation Projects: Lucene / Mahout

About Us

Thornley Fallis Group, which consists of Thornley Fallis Communications, 76design and Corum, provides organizations with the tools, platforms and methods to succeed in the Connected Era.

Thornley Fallis Communications helps organizations solve business problems using leading-edge communications tools and practices.

76design creates the tools and online spaces that lead to remarkable experiences.

Corum provides a platform and methodology to build public engagement online.

What we offer our employees:

• The opportunity to create amazing work and solve our clients’ problems in the coolest ways possible.
• Coaching, training and career growth.
• Centrally-located, well-appointed office space that is easy to get to.
• A relaxed, collaborative and creative work environment.
• When you are here, we want you to be comfortable, so we provide Herman Miller chairs and large 24″ to 32″ flat screen monitors.
• You’ll never wonder how fresh that pot of coffee is. Our Starbucks coffee machine grinds fresh Starbucks coffee beans for every single cup and makes a tasty cup of cocoa.
• TGIF starts first thing in the morning with breakfast treats. In the afternoon, the team caps off the week by kicking back with a few drinks in office. Frequently, this spills over to one of the many nearby pubs and restaurants.
• You work hard, so we provide our team with a little extra time off to recharge the day before all long weekends and stat holidays, and between Christmas and New Year’s. Of course, this is in addition to your regular vacation time.
• While we expect everyone to arrive at the office at a reasonable hour, we don’t ask you to use an hour of vacation time to go to the dentist.  We’ll trust you to make good decisions and organize yourself to get your work done on time.
• Oh yeah, and we’ll pay you too. We offer competitive salaries, attractive bonuses, recruitment and referral incentives, rewards for extra effort as well as a comprehensive medical and dental benefits program.

76design is looking for a talented and experienced WordPress Web Developer to join our team and help make our agency even greater.

Interested candidates should email their CV and/or portfolio to laura@76design.ca.

Candidates should be prepared to work in collaboration with other developers, graphic designers, marketers and public relations experts towards the development and implementation of industry-leading communications solutions.

Here is an overview of the experience, qualifications and abilities we are looking for.

Required:

• Experience customizing WordPress development, themes, and plugins
• Front end development experience working with XHTML, CSS, Javascript, Ajax
• 4+ years with strong core PHP related development  
• Ability to work with and modify existing code
• Ability to develop applications from scratch
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment
• Ability to understand and work with people in a creative environment
• Strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated experience with MySQL

Bonus Points:

• Familiarity with object-oriented programming style
• Understanding and awareness of web application security
• Self-motivated and excellent problem solver
• Self-manageable with an ability to multi-task
• Experience with WordPress VIP a plus
• Direct experience with social media tools and platforms, Google+, Twitter, etc.
• Working knowledge of web standards, SEO and accessibility

About Us

Thornley Fallis Group, which consists of Thornley Fallis Communications, 76design and Corum, provides organizations with the tools, platforms and methods to succeed in the Connected Era.

Thornley Fallis Communications helps organizations solve business problems using leading-edge communications tools and practices.

76design creates the tools and online spaces that lead to remarkable experiences.

Corum provides a platform and methodology to build public engagement online.

What we offer our employees:

• The opportunity to create amazing work and solve our clients’ problems in the coolest ways possible.
• Coaching, training and career growth.
• Centrally-located, well-appointed office space that is easy to get to.
• A relaxed, collaborative and creative work environment.
• When you are here, we want you to be comfortable, so we provide Herman Miller chairs and large 24″ to 32″ flat screen monitors.
• You’ll never wonder how fresh that pot of coffee is. Our Starbucks coffee machine grinds fresh Starbucks coffee beans for every single cup and makes a tasty cup of cocoa.
• TGIF starts first thing in the morning with breakfast treats. In the afternoon, the team caps off the week by kicking back with a few drinks in office. Frequently, this spills over to one of the many nearby pubs and restaurants.
• You work hard, so we provide our team with a little extra time off to recharge the day before all long weekends and stat holidays, and between Christmas and New Year’s. Of course, this is in addition to your regular vacation time.
• While we expect everyone to arrive at the office at a reasonable hour, we don’t ask you to use an hour of vacation time to go to the dentist.  We’ll trust you to make good decisions and organize yourself to get your work done on time.
• Oh yeah, and we’ll pay you too. We offer competitive salaries, attractive bonuses, recruitment and referral incentives, rewards for extra effort as well as a comprehensive medical and dental benefits program.

Joe Thornley (right), Chairman and CEO, and Keelan Green (left), President, of Thornley Fallis Group having dinner at The Spoke Club in Toronto with the Thornley Fallis and 76design Leadership Team.

Several members of the Thornley Fallis & 76design team participated in the 2011 Army Run on Sunday, September 18th.

Samantha Hartley (front row, third from right), Kelly Rusk (middle row, fourth from left) and Keelan Green (top row, third from right) are in the photo below. We ran on our client’s team, the Textron TAPV Team.

Here are our times:

• Keelan Green – 5K – 28:35
• Laura MacHutchon – 5K – 28:36
• Kelly Rusk – 5K – 32:26
• Samantha Hartley – 5K – 32:22
• Kristine Simpson – Half Marathon – 2:13:16

Several members of the Thornley Fallis & 76design team will be participating in the 2011 Army Run on the morning of Sunday, September 18^th.

We will be running on our client’s team, the Textron TAPV Team.

Here are pics of the team shirts that we designed and will be wearing.

Yesterday Thornley Fallis was pleased to sponsor and participate in a charity golf tournament planned and hosted by Rivermead Golf Club and Telus in support of the Royal Canadian Dragoons Guild.

The families who stand beside and behind those who serve Canada in uniform often sacrifice much and carry an enormous load in anonymity and without asking for anything back.

The event raised more than $35,000 for the Guild which will give its family programs a transformative boost.

A unique feature of this particular golf tournament was that the Canadian Forces arranged to have a variety of vehicles and equipment (listed below) on display around the golf course, with soldiers stationed at each display to provide participants with information on what it does, how it is used and what it is used for.

• Leopard C2 tank
• Coyote Reconnaissance light armoured vehicle
• LAV III LORIT armoured vehicle
• Ferret Scout car used by the Royal Canadian Dragoons from the 1950′s to the 1980′s
• Staghound, an American armoured car produced during the Second World War
• A number of weapon stands throughout the course

It was a great day for a great cause!

Thornley Fallis Communications is pleased to announce that Sherrilynne Starkie has joined our team as an Account Director in our Ottawa office.

From 2006 to 2011, Sherrilynne was the owner and manager of Strive Public Relations, a boutique communications services company in the UK offering specialist services in corporate reputation management, digital public relations and social media engagement. During this time Sherrilynne was also the technology columnist for the Isle of Man Examiner, was named in the top three of the UK PR Weeks’ Power Players of Social Media Index and was No.1 on ZDnet UK Tech PR list.

From 2000 to 2003 she was Chief Operation Officer for Ignition Strategic Communications, a Washington DC-based PR agency (now part of The Chandler Chicco Agency) serving technology and start-up firms across the nation.

From 1994 to 1999, Sherrilynne held a variety of roles with UK-based public relations agencies including The Reputation Managers (then a PR Week Top 10 Agency) and with AIMM Limited (now part of The Sequel Group). 

For almost 20 years, Sherrilynne has been advising blue-chip organisations on both sides of the pond…covering Britain, Canada and the United States. She brings to Thornley Fallis a wide breadth of international experience in strategic communications, media relations, social media strategy, and in employee and stakeholder engagement. Her track record for success covers such industries as Internet, IT, financial services, postal services and  travel and tourism.

An Ottawa native, Sherrilynne graduated from Algonquin College Public Relations Program. You can connect with Sherrilyne online: Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Thornley Fallis Communications is pleased to announce that Darren Cunningham has joined our team as a Vice-President in our Ottawa office.

From 2008 to 2011, Darren served as Director of Communications then Chief of Staff to Industry Minister Tony Clement.  

During the period 2006 to 2008, he was Chief of Staff to Minister of National Revenue Gordon O’Connor, Director of Issues Management and Parliamentary Affairs to Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, and Senior Media Advance for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

From 2003 to 2006, Darren held a variety of roles with the Conservative Party of Canada, including Manager of Media Relations, Director of Public Communications and Director of Operations.

Darren brings an exceptional track record in strategic communications, media relations, crisis and issue management to the Thornley Fallis team. As a determined brand and reputation manager, Darren has implemented creative media strategies, ethnic outreach programs, and social media strategies to ensure Canadians better understand their government.  He has also helped define what accountable and transparent government means while handling some of the government’s most controversial, including the restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler — recognized as the 2009 business story of the year by the Canadian Press.

Originally from Calgary, Darren graduated from the University of Regina, before starting his career in the financial services sector, first with TD then with Fidelity Investments.

On Wednesday, June 8^th, Thornley Fallis and our client CIRA won two awards at the IABC Ottawa Excel Awards, which are held annually to recognize Ottawa’s communications, marketing and creative design talent.

Thornley Fallis and CIRA won an Award of Excellence for Brand Communications

As Agency of Record for CIRA since August 2010, Thornley Fallis worked closely with the CIRA team to develop and launch a brand awareness campaign around the .CA product. The campaign included print and online advertising, an online brand video, an awards program and a community engagement program. The campaign launched in November 2010 at the meshmarketing conference in Toronto with the announcement of the .CA Impact Awards via video produced by Thornley Fallis.

Thornley Fallis and CIRA also won an Award of Merit for Publication Design

To ensure CIRA members are engaged and value being a member, Thornley Fallis worked with CIRA to create a New Member Kit. The kit includes a printed booklet with a branded USB card adhered with removable glue. On the USB key (which pulls out from the USB card) is an interactive PDF. The kit is filled with information on benefits for members, the value of .CA, background information on CIRA, and a QR code that takes members to the newly created CIRA member web portal.