Padilla Speer Beardsley Inc.

As senior vice president of human resources of Padilla Speer Beardsley (PSB), Barb develops and implements programs and policies that encourage employee engagement enhance recruitment and positively impact employee retention. Since joining the firm, Barb has initiated most of the PSB human resource systems and processes currently in place. Barb has worked to establish programs for flex-time and part-time work, an enhanced paid time off program versus a traditional vacation plan, summer hours, holiday hours and telecommuting. Combined with other benefits, such as a health-care plan in which PSB typically pays 100% of the premiums, and retirement plans in which PSB usually makes a generous annual contribution, these policies make PSB a unique workplace. Barb previously worked in the human resource department at Pillsbury and has completed the administrative management certification program through the Administrative Management Society where she was a board member for several years. Currently, she is a member of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures, the Working Family Resource Center and the Society for Human Resource Management. She also serves on the Business Advisory Council through Employers Association and is a member of the Human Resources Roundtable for the Council of Public Relations Firms.

Matt's communications experience and versatility make his counsel valuable to a diverse range of clients. Since joining the firm in 1989, he has successfully implemented strategic public relations programs for technology and manufacturing players including Rockwell Automation, Entegris, Vocollect, RSA Security, Valspar, Genesys/Alcatel, Microsoft, IBM, 3M, Iomega, Retek, Net Perceptions, CNT, Labseek, Plural, Artesyn Technologies, Weather Shield, Cycore, Sega, Shavlik Technologies and Solutran. As leader of the Padilla Speer Beardsley technology practice and a key member of the firm's business-to-business marketing team, Matt has extensive experience in positioning and message development; marketing communications planning; media relations training; corporate, brand and product positioning; merger and acquisition announcements and issues management. He has conducted more than 150 Communicating for Action sessions - the firm's proprietary planning methodology. As a member of the Crisis Response Team, he advises clients on crisis and critical-issues communications and training. Matt serves as the Padilla Speer Beardsley liaison to the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world's largest and most established network of independent firms, and helps Padilla Speer Beardsley advise clients on how best to extend their programs around the world. He was responsible for establishing Worldcom partner protocols to improve consistency and uniformity across the network, and is chair of the Americas Region. Matt is an adjunct instructor in the journalism school at the University of Minnesota, a member of the board of directors of the Minnesota High Tech Association, a volunteer advisor for Pheasants Forever, a board member of the Fish Lake Area Residents Association, and an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America. Matt was named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's "40 Under 40" list of emerging business leaders in 2006. He frequently lectures at various colleges, universities and professional associations, and has authored several articles for local and national magazines. Prior to Padilla Speer Beardsley, he performed marketing and employee communications at Cray Research and U.S. Bank. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in journalism and business.

Tom has more than 20 years of professional experience in public relations and marketing communications, and leads the firm's consumer marketing communications practice. Since joining Padilla Speer Beardsley in 1981, Tom has applied his background in communications counseling, planning and implementation for a diverse group of local, national and international clients. For consumer products and service companies, Tom has planned and completed new product introductions, promotions and ongoing communications programs to internal, trade and consumer audiences. He has also implemented marketing communication research, communications audits and image assessments to help clients through the strategic planning process. Tom has worked with such clients as 3M, General Mills, Cub Foods and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Tom received a bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in behavioral sciences. Prior to joining the firm, he worked with the Minneapolis Public Library System public relations department and the University of Minnesota News Service. As an accredited and active member of the Public Relations Society of America, Tom served as Minnesota Chapter president in 1993 and Midwest district director in 1998. Tom is a director with the Children's Cancer Research Fund and formerly served on the executive committee of the United Way of the St. Paul Area. Tom has volunteered for many organizations, including the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Harriett Tubman Center.

A vice president in the New York office of Padilla Speer Beardsley, Malkie has a proven track record of garnering national attention for clients in Time, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Business Week, and other leading business, consumer and trade publications. Beyond placements, Malkie is a skilled public relations practitioner who delivers strategic insight and an in-depth knowledge of the media. She joined Padilla Speer Beardsley in 2000, with more than seven years of public relations agency experience in the business-to-business, consumer, health care and technology fields. Malkie has worked on U.S. and multi-national award-winning campaigns recognized by the industry. These include Western Union, which won a Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil, and Electric Fuel Corporation and Royal Kedem Wine, which received Big Apple awards from the New York PRSA chapter. She was also honored with International Association of Business Communicators 2004 Media Placement of the Year. Her experience includes a wide range of clients such as NOP World, Yankelovich Partners, Ernst & Young, MetLife, Clinique, and Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, among others. A cum laude graduate of Yeshiva University, she is an accredited member of PRSA.

No stranger to a crisis, Paul's diverse background in media and public relations make him ideally suited to lead media relations at Padilla Speer Beardsley. Since joining Padilla Speer Beardsley in 2001, Paul and his media relations team have successfully collaborated with clients on workforce reductions, plant closings, critical issues, crisis communications, and national publicity programs for product and service launches. His team has won numerous local and national awards, including a Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America for work on the St. Paul Winter Carnival's Ice Palace. For seven years, Paul led the communication and public relations efforts for the Northwest chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association. While there, he worked on everything from an airline's financial restructuring and return as a public company, to the 1998 contract negotiations and pilots' strike. He also is known for his work as communications director for attorney Mike Ciresi's 2000 bid for the U.S. Senate, where he gained national acclaim for his innovative Webmercials, award-winning Web site and campaign position papers. Paul graduated from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in journalism and political science. Not content to stray from St. Thomas for long, Paul returned to earn his master's degree in business communication in 1999. Long active in the community, Paul chairs the Resource Development Committee for Arc Hennepin-Carver and serves on the board of Vail Place. He also is president of the St. Louis Park Hockey Association and was elected to the St. Louis Park City Council in 2003.

Bob leads the Padilla Speer Beardsley Interactive & Creative Services practice, assisting clients with integrated online and offline strategies, and brand development. Using everything from e-mail and blogs to billboards and direct mail, he helps organizations differentiate themselves and motivate their audiences to take action. With an admittedly Web-centric view of the world, he asks the question, "If you build it, will they commune?" For the answer, Bob's team applies a sophisticated planning tool - iVenture Vision - to aid clients in seeing the forest, the trees and the leaves through a Web strategy project. The team's promotion toolbox includes traditional tools, plus competitive Web site audits, search-engine marketing, e-mail, Web casts and online surveys. Bob served two tours of duty at NCR/AT&T before converting to the agency side. A highly creative and versatile writer, he has penned annual reports, ads, e-mail campaigns and his own bio.

Dave Speer was the dreamer. He believed that no idea was too big. Don Padilla was the corner office guy. He knew that big ideas mattered only if they moved an organization forward. This thoughtful blend of creativity and business acumen from our founders is the cornerstone of our culture, and why our firm has grown steadily for more than 45 years. We know that creativity with results moves a business forward and that big ideas trigger the emotional response often needed to change behavior. So whether you're left-brained, right-brained or anywhere in between, we think you'll find the employee-owners of Padilla Speer Beardsley will add insight, imagination and practical know-how to any communications challenge.