On the Radar at Omni

Laura Nestler Promoted to Executive Vice President at Omni

Kathy at Omni — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:57:12 +0000

Laura Nestler has recently been promoted to Executive Vice President at Omni Communications Group in Springfield, IL. Her newly acquired managerial responsibilities include the cultivation of client relationships with the advertising agency along with providing guidance and support to the entire agency staff in a supervisory capacity. Nestler will continue with her previous responsibilities in client services, working closely with Omni clientele to guide marketing projects from strategic planning through creative development and completion.

Congratulations to Laura after many years of dedicated service to Omni!

Illinois workNet Disability Resources Launched

Kathy at Omni — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:06:01 +0000

Omni recented completed a graphic design and website design project to communicate new programs through the Illinois workNet website that will help disabled workers to find jobs and resources, allowing them to reenter the workforce. Visit http://www.illinoisworknet.com/vos_portal/Disabilities/en/Home for more information.

Chic Gamine at Sangamon Auditorium April 10, 2010

Kathy at Omni — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:00:14 +0000

Omni Communications Group is proud to support the arts by sponsoring the performance of vocal quintet Chic Gamine at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield, IL on Saturday, April 10, 2010. Take a look at Chic Gamine, then head on over to www.sangamonauditorium.org to get your tickets!

Entrepreneur Competition Rewards Innovative Ideas for Medical Improvements

Kathy at Omni — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:46:04 +0000

Project Innovation, a Sangamon County medical contest to provide funding to entrepreneurs and pioneering companies for innovative medical solutions through cash prizes, has just been announced by the Greater Springfield, IL Chamber of Commerce Quantum Growth Partnership. The goal of Project Innovation is to encourage creative thinking by providing financial and business resources to advance medical care and treatment, therefore increasing opportunities for business and economic growth in the community. Innovative ideas will be considered from a broad spectrum of healthcare fields, including but not limited to new medical products, improved patient services, technological innovations in medicine, or advances for existing products or services. Project Innovation will award $15,000 to the first place winner, $8,000 to the runner-up, and $1,000 to the remaining three finalists of the competition. Applications are now available and the deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. April 30th, 2010. For more information or to download the application, visit www.sangamonprojectinnovation.com or contact Mikal Sutton-Vereen, Director of Medical Development for The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce at 217-525-1173 ext 221.

Omni was pleased to work with both the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Q5 and the Mid-Illinios Medical District and provide custom website design services, marketing consulting, media planning and collateral materials for Project Innovation.

Omni Valentine’s Day Card Swap

Kathy at Omni — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:50:25 +0000

The gan g from Omni decided it would be fun to create custom designed Valentine’s Day cards to exchange anonymously between co-workers. Take a look at our creative card designs matching the creative personalities at Omni!

The Stables on Horse Farm Road Website Design

Kathy at Omni — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:25:57 +0000

Omni has had the pleasure of working with The Stables on Horse Farm Road to design and implement their new website in support of their new horse boarding facility in central Illinois just 15 minutes south of Springfield. The Stables on Horse Farm Road offers horse boarding, horse stables, horseback riding, and horses for sale. And in 2010, they will also offer a summer horse camp for children. President Mike Heren had this to say about his custom designed website by Omni:

Omni has been a huge part of our business success. We are entering our third year of business and are expanding again.

Mike Heren, President

Social Media Article In Springfield Business Journal

Kathy at Omni — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:38:39 +0000

Here is an interesting social media article from the February 2010 issue of the Springfield Business Journal with insight from local businesses on the subject, click on thumbnail to read.

Kathy Wheeler, director of media services at Omni Communications Group, agreed with this approach. Omni uses social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogs and YouTube – as a way to build relationships, generate interest and educate readers, not necessarily to directly promote its company.

Springfield Business Journal, from Local companies find social media to be winning move

Rantings on Super Bowl “Super Bad” Advertising

Jill at Omni — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:33:44 +0000

I am among those who watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. (Sorry sports fans.) I am usually under-whelmed, and this year is no exception. The hype and dollars spent just don’t live up to the reality. What I found was an overwhelming percentage of spots devoid of any real creativity and meaningful marketing messages, instead giving in to stereotypes of men, women, and generally stupid behavior. Don’t even get me started on the bipolarity of Anheuser Busch doing ads about partying once Budweiser pops into the picture, and then flashing a tiny “drink responsibly” tagline on the screen at the end. There were a few bright spots, namely the Google “Parisian Love” search ad; it told a great story while demonstrating its functionality and benefits of the product (brilliant marketing!).

Makes me long for the days of Apple computer’s unveiling of the Mac computer. That was ground-breaking, trend-setting, interesting, and actually made the audience seem a little higher up on the intelligence scale than ‘beer=party=stupid’. And while I initially found the Doritos’s dog bark collar spot funny, it still ultimately poked fun at a stereotypical jerky guy getting his comeuppance after teasing a dog. The beaver ad for Monster.com was funny and cute, but don’t we always see ads with humanized critters? Nothing new here.

I’m not sure if it’s the large billion-dollar clients calling the shots and directing financially at-risk advertising agencies to do these commercials, or just a total dearth of real intelligent marketing by these firms. But I have hope that a continuously challenging economy will actually make people turn away from cheap stereotypical advertising and do something smart and interesting. Like Google did. There’s always Super Bowl 45, right?

IPA Custom Design Website Launched for IL Model Student Handbook Service

Kathy at Omni — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:19:15 +0000

Omni Communications Group is proud to announce the completion of another custom design website for the Illinois Principals Association in support of their new Model Student Handbook Service. The mission of the Illinois Principals Association is to advance learning through effective educational leadership, and the new Model Student Handbook Service offers a continually updated compilation of over 65 attorney-drafted model handbook policies and procedures to help Illinois educational administrators draft their own district handbooks. Omni previously designed the main Illinois Principals Association website and created various program brand identity elements, websites and collateral materials, including the Illinois New Principal Mentoring Program website and logo and the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute logo. Brian Schwartz, Associate Director & General Counsel at IPA, had this to say about Omni’s marketing services:

IPA has worked with Omni on several projects, and we are always thoroughly pleased with the results. Omni’s creative and innovative ideas give our company a competitive edge.

Brian Schwartz, IPA

Cookies from Lisa Burris of The Batch Support Contact Ministries

Kathy at Omni — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:30:51 +0000

As a follow-up to our Christmas blog post, kudos to Lisa Burris of The Batch! Cookies baked and sold in November and December of 2009 through her fundraising ministry raised $11,200 to finance a much needed bathroom renovation project for Contact Ministries, a faith based, not-for-profit organization which has an emergency homeless shelter for women and children and provides food, clothing and other essentials to people in need in Springfield, IL. Lisa Burris was also personally responsible for recruiting Curt Trampe of Dream Maker Bath & Kitchen to donate $8,400 worth of labor and supplies to Contact Ministries for a second bathroom project. Lisa Burris had this to say about the success of her endeavors on behalf of this organization:

There are really no words to adequately describe the joy that has been mine while working towards the goals set for the bathroom projects! Thank you for the privilege of serving along side of you as we have witnessed God provide a miracle for the needs of Contact Ministries. All glory to Him and may many be changed because of all He has allowed to be accomplished.

Lisa Burris will continue baking in support of other faith-based charities and is already working towards goals set for 2010. You can learn more about her inspirational mission and how to help by ordering cookies from the On the Radar at Omni blog or a recent article in the State Journal Register.