- O'Connor Communications
-
O’Connor Communications, Inc. 
Type Public Relations Agency Industry Communications Founded 1989 Headquarters 
Lake Forest, IllinoisKey people James V. O'Connor, founder & Principal
Lynda O'Connor, PrincipalProducts Public relations Website www.oconnorpr.com O’Connor Communications, Inc. is an American publicity firm run by Lynda and James O'Connor. James founded the firm in 1989[1] and his wife Lynda O'Connor joined as the head of new business development and media relations in 1993.[2] After the release of James O'Connor's book Cuss Control in 2000, the couple began specializing in book promotion. They have subsequently served as publicity panelists at multiple book and publishing conferences.[3][4] The firm is based in Lake Forest, Illinois.[5]
Contents
Management backgrounds
- James V. O'Connor
Jim O'Connor attended Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois, where he developed the firm belief that he was meant to be a novelist. After college he joined the Army Corps of Engineers and was sent to Korea as an officer, where he oversaw finances for recreational activities.[6] After he was discharged O'Connor became assistant editor for Rotarian Magazine, leaving several years later out of familial obligation.[6]
At age 32 he joined a Fortune 500 company and was soon moved to their publicity department. He later served as director of corporate communications at Alberto-Culver. He also worked in public relations for G.D. Searle & Company, the Brunswick Corporation, and the LTV Corporation.[5][7][8] After leaving the corporate world O'Connor spent two years as senior vice president of Ruder Finn, a Chicago-based public relations firm.[6]
- Lynda O'Connor
Lynda O'Connor attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.[9] In 1961 she began attending the University of Southern California, where she majored in English and graduated in 1965 with a B.S. from their School of Education.[10] She went on to become a teacher, before beginning a career in public relations at Edelman Public Relations in Chicago, Illinois. Before joining O'Connor Communications, Lynda managed publicity for the Chicago International Film Festival. She was also in charge of publicity for a $20 million fund-raising campaign for the Field Museum of Natural History. She was also co-founder of director of publicity for the Children's Legal Clinic.[10]
Founding
James O'Connor founded O'Connor Communications, Inc. in 1989.[1] In 1993, his wife Lynda O'Connor joined as the head of new business development and media relations.[2][10][4] Lynda is now a Principal in the company with James and takes the lead in book and author publicity.[8][2]
They are based in Lake Forest, Illinois.[5]
The company originally focused on business to business public relations.[5] Jim and Lynda began promoting books when O'Connor published his self-help book Cuss Control: The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing in 2000.[11][4] The book was widely publicized in hundreds of media outlets, including The Oprah Winfrey Show.[10][10]
In 2000 the couple won three national awards for the best publicity campaign in the country for Cuss Control.[1][2][4][10][12] They currently specialize in non-fiction books, though they occasionally represent authors of novels and photography as well. Their primary goals are to increase sales and enhance the author's reputation in their field.[8] They organize national and regional book campaigns, book tours, media interviews, speaking engagements, online reviews, and press material.[2][8]
Clients
They are currently representing over 20 authors from around the United States,[4] including historian Dean King, 'Mrs. Senior California' and 'Mrs. Senior Nebraska' Patricia Starr, Judy Valente, Charles Reynard, the broadcast journalist Teresa Rodriguez, award-winner James Campbell, Greg Davenport, child psychologist Dr. Eitan Schwarz, Joan A. Friedman (the country’s expert on twin behavior), David Freedman, Diane Katz, Kevin Davis, and travel writer and former Playboy Magazine editor Barry Golson.[8] They also work with Irene Sullivan, a Circuit Court Judge from Florida who is re-vamping the juvenile justice system.
They have worked with architects Nugent and Associates and O'Donnell Wicklund Pigozzi & Peterson, and for consumer products Bella Bears, Confectioner Magazine, the Liposuction & Cosmetic Surgery Institute, Grill 21, and the Malavat Art Gallery.
They've done work for businesses Anixter, Network Services Company, Atlas Paper Mills, General Binding Corporation, Rytec Corporation, Shoes for Crews, Technical Concepts, Altschuler, Melvoin & Glasser, Deloitte & Touche, Sears Mortgage Corporation, Transamerica Distribution Finance Corporation, Efficient Market Services, Promotion Information Management, and Strategic Systems.
They've also worked for the non-profit organizations The Book Worm Angels, the Chicago Community Trust and Lake County Community Trust, and the National Association of Professional Organizers.[9]
As speakers/panelists
They have spoken at the James River Writers Conference in Richmond, Virginia,[1] The Clarksville Writers Conference in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Lawyers for the Creative Arts book conference in Chicago, Illinois, [4]and The Oxford Conference for the Book (2010) in Oxford, Mississippi, the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association Book Conference at Seeley Lake, MT, The San Francisco Writers Conference, and the University of Wisconsin Writers Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.[4] Lynda has been interviewed on Women's Radio about book publicity.[2]
Awards
- Gold Bulldog Award for Excellence in Media Relations and Publicity for Personality/Celebrity (2000)
- Bronze Bulldog Award for Book Publicity (2000)
- Silver Trumpet Award for Book Marketing - The Publicity Club of Chicago (2000)[9]
Memberships
They are members of the Midwest Writers Association,[13] the Publicity Club of Chicago, the Society of Midland Authors, and the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "JRW Conference 2008 - Speaker and Moderator Bios". James River Writers. 2008. http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/jrw_programs/conference/conference_2008/bios08.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ a b c d e f Wilkov, Jennifer. "Your Book is Your Hook! Lynda O'Connor". Women's Radio. http://www.womensradio.com/articles/Your-Book-Is-Your-Hook!--Publicist-and-Fiction-Novelists-Dream-Come-True/4278.html. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ "The Interviews:: FUCK - Four Letter Film". Four Letter Film. http://www.fourletterfilm.com/interviews.html. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g "2010 Writers Institute Instructors". University of Wisconsin - Madison. 2010. http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/LSA/writing/awi/instructors.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ a b c d "James O'Connor on Profanity". OurBlook. 2010. http://www.ourblook.com/Miscellaneous/James-O-Connor-on-Profanity.html. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ a b c . PRcrossing. http://www.prcrossing.com/article/250254/James-V-O-Connor-Publicist-Author-and-Cussing-Adversary/. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ "James V. O'Connor - Communicating with Civility". Professional Speakers Bureau International. http://www.terrificspeakers.com/html/james_o_connor.html. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ a b c d e "About Us". O'Connor Communications, Inc.. http://www.oconnorpr.com/about_oconnor_pr.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- ^ a b c d "Lynda O'Connor at Linkedin". LinkedIn. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lynda-o-connor/3/976/bb7. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ a b c d e f "John Egerton to keynote fifth annual Clarksville Wrters Conference". Clarksville Online. March 3, 2009. http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/05/03/john-egerton-to-keynote-fifth-annual-clarksville-writers-conference/. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ Burling, Alexis (January 2007). "Four-letter foul: if you think it's cool to curse, think again. The real test of maturity is learning how to express yourself without resorting to swearing". Scholastic Choices. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3415/is_4_22/ai_n29316268/. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ O'Connor, James (April 2006). "James V. O'Connor Bibliography". http://www.amazon.com/James-V.-OConnor/e/B001IXMQVY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0/183-3556568-2135403. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ "Membership Directory". Midwest Writers Association. 2010. http://midwestwriters.com/directory.html. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
External links
Categories:- Public relations companies of the United States
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