To celebrate the opening of our St. Paul office, we decided it would be super cool to profile local public relations players in our (new) second hometown. After all, we’re neighbors now, and there’s not much more of an Internet fishbowl than the PR community. There will be plenty of time for y’all to get to know AIMCLEAR and our services a bit better. For now, let’s highlight Minneapolis/St. Paul agencies that have bubbled up to prominence from the primordial PR soup.
We understand growing an agency at the intersection of PR, search & social media has its challenges and perks. For one, we get to stick fingers in a variety of exciting and fruitful sects of online marketing and reap dynamic benefits each provides. These days being a  “complete marketer” means integrating all online marketing disciplines, including blended search & social demographic research, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC), online reputation management, social media marketing, targeted press release distribution, custom training, SEO analytics monitoring & consulting, copywriting, data-driven community management and more. Skill-sets should not only be offered, but mastered.
Without further adieu, here’s a list of PRÂ & social marketing companies that come from our own backyard: the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
AIMCLEAR | www.aimclear.com
The AIMCLEAR PR team will work to boost your brand’s visibility to new heights. Blending old-school PR tactics with advanced digital strategies, your company and thought leaders can break through the noise in media and social channels in new and exciting ways.
Risdall McKinney Public Relations |Â www.risdallmckinneypr.com
Based in New Brighton, Rose McKinney heads up this team of 24 employees. Since 2006, Risdall McKinney Public Relations has offered specialized services for reputation management, branding and key messaging, marketing communications, crisis communications.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Risdall-McKinney-Public-Relations/74263097669
- Fans: 81
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/396505
- Followers: 33
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/RMPR
- Followers: 911
Weber Shandwick |Â www.webershandwick.com
Founded in 1986, Weber Shandwick specializes in consumer marketing, digital, tech & corporate communications, financial services, health care strategies, public affairs, media training, and crisis preparation. This Bloomington-based company boasts 2,700 employees in offices around the world.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/WeberShandwick
- Fans: 1,835
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/weber-shandwick
- Followers: 2,513
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/weberShandwick
- Followers: 4,269
Carmichael Lynch Spong| www.carmichaellynchspong.com
Since 1990, Carmichael Lynch Spong has offered a variety of marketing services, including on B2B, cause branding, consumer PR, corporate branding, events management, financial relations, internal communications, media relations, product and brand communications, social media, lifestyle marketing, experiential marketing.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook:Â facebook.com/pages/Carmichael-Lynch-Spong
- Fans: 1,835
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/carmichael-lynch
- Followers: 454
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/cl_spong
- Followers: 228
Exponent Public Relations |Â www.exponentpr.com
Founded in 1935, this Minneapolis-based company offers brand PR, media relations, media training, public affairs, social media, and experiential marketing services to clients around the country.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook:Â facebook.com/ExponentPR
- Fans: 114
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/exponent-pr
- Followers: 22
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/exponentpr
- Followers: 616
Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc. |Â www.psbpr.com
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc. offers services in the areas of search engine marketing, B2B & consumer marketing, crisis & critical issues management, creative & interactive, and employee & mobile marketing communications.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook:Â facebook.com/PadillaSpeerBeardsley
- Fans: 72
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/padilla-speer-beardsley
- Followers: 174
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/padilla_psbpr
- Followers: 160
Public Affairs Company | www.pubaffairsco.com
This St. Paul-based 14 person company is lead by Steve Knuth. Since 2003, Public Affairs Company has been issue advocacy, ballot campaigns, grassroots and grasstops communications.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/Public-Affairs-Company
- Fans: 460
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/PublicAffairsCo
- Followers: 854
Himle Horner, Inc. |Â www.himlehorner.com
This 18-employee company is based in Minneapolis. Since 1989, Himle Horner has provided services including PR and public affairs for the health care, transportation, energy, and financial services industries.
Check ’em out on:
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/himle-horner
- Followers: 15
Karwoski and Courage Public Relations | www.creativepr.com
Glenn Karwoski heads up this 22-person Minneapolis- based PR firm, which was founded in 1992 and focuses on influencer marketing.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/karwoskicourage
- Fans: 89
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/karwoski-%26-courage-public-relations
- Followers: 20
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/karwoskicourage
- Followers: 48
Haberman | www.modernstorytellers.com
Haberman is based out of Minneapolis, MN and was founded in 1994. Fred Haberman leads the 35-employee team that offers services such as business strategy, branding, media relations, cause-related campaigns, interactive marketing, Web and graphic design, investor relations, as well as event strategy and management.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/modernstorytellers
- Fans: 363
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/haberman
- Followers: 66
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/modernstories
- Followers: 881
Tunheim Partners | www.tunheimpartners.com
This Minneapolis-based company was founded in 1990, and today offers services including online strategy, public affairs, media relations, event marketing, B2B, recruitment & retention communications, consumer & retail crisis communications, energy & environment, health care, education, and transportation industries. Kathryn Tunheim heads up the 35 employees at Tunheim Partners.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/tunheimpartners
- Fans: 255
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/tunheim-partners
- Followers: 65
ASI Communications | www.a-s-i.com
Founded in 1980, Mike Brown heads up this 35-employee team out of Minneapolis. ASI Communications focuses on marketing, branding, advertising, public affairs, PR, design, interactive, events, alternative media, investor relations.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Minneapolis-MN/ASI-Communications/6674142733
- Fans: 43
- LinkedIn: Â linkedin.com/companies/asi-communications
- Followers: 36
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/asi_was_saying
- Followers: 716
Goff & Howard, Inc. |Â www.goffhoward.com
Goff & Howard is a St. Paul-based 14 person company founded in 1994. Led by Chris Georgacas, this company specializes in PR, public affairs, media relations, lobbying, crisis communications, community relations, grassroots organizing, event planning, media training.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/#!/pages/Saint-Paul-MN/Goff-Howard/53875466268
- Fans: 117
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/214249
- Followers: 14
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/GoffHoward
- Followers: 391
Broadhead + Co, Inc. | www.broadheadco.com
Broadhead + Co. was founded in 2001, and today is lead by Dean Broadhead. Based in Minneapolis, Broadhead’s 30 employees offer online services with a strong focus on agribusiness, food safety, energy, finance, and government.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=23459256680&ref=search
- Fans: 32
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/971608
- Followers: 26
Beehive PR, Inc. | www.beehivepr.biz
Founded in 1998, Beehive PR offices in St. Paul, MN. This 13-employee company offers services including media relations, social media marketing, executive and spokesperson coaching, message development, crisis management, corporate communications and is led by Lisa Kolrud Hannum.
Check ’em out on:
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/217921
- Followers: 28
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/beehivepr
- Followers: 1,827
Strother Communications Group | www.scgpr.com
Strother Communications Group was founded in 1992 by Patrick Strother. This company, based out of Minneapolis, has 15 employees specialized in advertising, branding, research, B2B, direct marketing, interactive, design, media relations, and collateral.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Strother-Communications-Group/100439932592
- Fans: 41
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/65813
- Followers: 21
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/patrickstrother
- Followers: 13,152
Kohnstamm Communications | www.kohnstamm.com
Founded in 1991 by Joshua Kohnstamm, Kohnstamm Communications is an 11 employee team that focuses on consumer PR, including food and beverage, higher education PR and professional services PR.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Strother-Communications-Group/100439932592
- Fans: 13
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/82577
- Followers: 18
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/Kohnstamm
- Followers: 833
Olson|Â www.oco.com
Olson is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN– its 180 employee team is led by John Olson. Founded in 1992, this company specializes in advertising, brand anthropology, brand design, interactive, strategy, PR, media, and social networking.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/OLSONagency
- Fans: 1,543
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/165296
- Followers: 484
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/OLSONagency
- Followers: 2,100
Nemer Fieger | www.nemerfieger.com
Based out of St. Louis Park, Jim Fieger heads up this team of 27 employees. Nemer Fieger was founded in 1957, and currently provides clients with services including media relations, event marketing, creative production, media buying and planning, and hotel trade, primarily for franchises, restaurants, and the entertainment and automotive industries.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/Nemer.Fieger
- Fans: 156
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/companies/nemer-fieger
- Followers: 59
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/NemerFieger
- Followers: 351
Misukanis & Odden | www.misukanisodden.com
This Spring Park-based company was founded in 2001 by Susan Misukanis. With 15 employees, Misukanis & Odden provides services for media relations, online marketing, marketing for results, outsourced marketing services, and pay-per-click management.
Check ’em out on:
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/64302
- Followers: 4
Maccabee Group | www.maccabeegroup.com
Minneapolis-based Macabee Group was founded in 1996 by Paul Maccabee. Nine people make up the PR company, which focuses on media relations, social media and online reputation management, event marketing, and marketing.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/maccabeegroup
- Fans: 81
- LinkedIn: Â linkedin.com/companies/maccabee-group
- Followers: 29
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/maccabeepr
- Followers: 703
Snow Communications, Inc. | www.snowcommunications.com
Minneapolis-based Snow Communications was founded in 1985, led today by Joshua Schneck. With 7 employees, Snow Communications is specialized in PR, advertising, marketing, industry analyst relations, and public affairs, primarily for the food and food technology, high technology, medical technology, and professional services industries.
Check ’em out on:
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/695495
- Followers: 6
McFarland Cahill Communications | www.mcfarlandcahill.com
McFarland Cahill Communications is based out of Prior Lake, MN, and its team of 7 employees is lead by Teresa McFarland. Founded in 2002, this company specializes in public relations.
Check ’em out on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/pages/McFarland-Cahill-Communications
- Fans: 159
- LinkedIn:Â linkedin.com/companies/377726
- Followers: 4
- Twitter:Â twitter.com/mcfarlandcahill
- Followers: 72
Clarity Coverdale Fury | www.claritycoverdalefury.com
Clarity Coverdale Fury is lead by Tim Clarity, and was founded in 1979. This 60 employee company offers a variety of services including advertising, brand development, digital marketing, brand design, social media, PR, and guerilla marketing.
Check ’em out on:
- LinkedIn: Â linkedin.com/companies/clarity-coverdale-fury
- Followers: 54
KC Associates | www.kc-associates.com
Founded in 1988, KC Associates consists of 10 employees led by Kirsten Chapman. This company specializes in PR, Web marketing, lead generation, and go-to-market execution.
Check ’em out on:
- LinkedIn: Â linkedin.com/companies/117664
- Followers: 2513
- Twitter: twitter.com/KC_Associates
- Followers: 419
Bonus PR Blogs
- Minnesota Public Relations Blog
- Public Relations Society of America
- International Association of Business Communications
Watch for upcoming installments featuring social media, SEO, advertising and other agency models from around the country. Got a company we should consider sharing? Drop us a note on Twitter @AIMCLEAR.