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Durée & Company Celebrates Year 24! Looking Back and Forward

By January 2, 2024No Comments
Durée & Company Celebrates Year 24!

2024 marks the 24th year that Fort Lauderdale and Aspen-based public relations and marketing agency Durée & Company has been in business — and we are better than ever! What founder Durée Ross launched on December 30, 1999, has evolved to become a multi-faceted agency serving international, national and local clients spanning 25 industries.

The past year was certainly active for us, not only did we win several industry, national and local leadership awards, but we also expanded our focus on the marine industry, supported our South Florida and Aspen communities while engaging in many events and launched a brand refresh.

Awards Galore

Our work did not go unnoticed by esteemed industry organizations in 2023! Durée took home the PRNEWS People of the Year national award. This honor celebrates the strategic vision and innovation of key executives and PR professionals, highlighting Durée’s role in advancing the industry. Receiving this national recognition was a major milestone for us. Our team was proud to travel to New York City for the award ceremony, which not only celebrated our achievements but also reinforced our connections within the public relations community. Our agency also received an honorable mention for the PRNEWS Nonprofit Awards for PR on a Shoestring Budget, reflecting our work with nonprofit client Feeding South Florida® throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, we won bronze in the Bulldog PR Awards’ Best Crisis Management category representing our work with Sea Tow. Our agency’s adept handling of complex situations has once again set a benchmark in the industry.

Our accomplishments this year also took us to the Cannabis Marketing Summit in Denver, where we were recognized as the only winner in the “Best Use of PR” category at the inaugural Cannabis Marketing Association Seven Awards. This accolade was for our innovative work with Columbia Care/The Cannabist Company during their launch in West Virginia’s budding cannabis market. Being surprised with this award in person was not only a testament to our team’s dedication but also a memorable highlight of the year, underlining our expertise in cannabis PR and marketing.

As for local awards in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale Magazine readers named us the Best PR Agency in Fort Lauderdale, and Durée was a South Florida Business & Wealth magazine Apogee Award honoree.

Expanded Focus on the Marine Industry

Our Fort Lauderdale headquarters, situated in the hub of the boating world, allowed us to further our involvement in the marine and yachting industry in 2023. Our involvement in the marine and yachting industry has deepened, reflected in our active memberships with the International Yacht Brokers Association and the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, among others. We’ve applied our PR and marketing expertise to elevate clients including Port 32 Marinas, Sea Tow and Leopard Catamarans, demonstrating our deep understanding of this specialized field.

Our team has been instrumental in brand positioning, orchestrating product launches, promoting companies’ services, and publicizing growth and expansion, among other things, ensuring each campaign is tailored and impactful. We’ve leveraged our knowledge to develop narratives that resonate in the marine marketplace, combining traditional PR with strategic social media campaigns to enhance our clients’ digital presence.

In a field where the currents of market trends are ever-changing, Durée & Company has been the guiding force in charting a course for success. Our innovative strategies and precise execution have positioned us as the go-to compass in marine industry marketing and public relations.

A Snapshot of Durée & Company’s Eventful Year

2023 was a year filled with exciting events for us at Durée & Company, and what we’re sharing here is just a small recap of some of the many events we attended. Our time at MJBizCon in Las Vegas was particularly memorable. It offered us a great opportunity to build connections in the cannabis and hemp industry and keep up with the latest trends. This event was an ideal blend of learning, networking, and growth amidst the vibrant Las Vegas atmosphere.

We also celebrated a significant milestone with Sea Tow at their 40th Anniversary during the Marine Marketers Association’s Networking cocktail reception at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS). This event was a fantastic way to honor Sea Tow’s decades of service in maritime safety and assistance. Additionally, our participation in FLIBS was more impactful than ever. As members of key marine organizations, we were actively involved with industry leaders, enhancing our role in the marine industry.

A highlight of our year was the Profile Miami’s ProfileConnect event, where we served as the exclusive PR partner. This event was a celebration of Miami’s real estate market. We were thrilled to be a part of this gathering of Miami’s top real estate professionals, offering insights into both residential and commercial real estate. It was a night of making new connections, sharing valuable insights and toasting to the thriving Miami real estate scene.

Giving back to the community has always been a cornerstone of our culture. This was evident at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s 15th Annual “Wild About Kids” Gala. By participating in this fundraising event, we continued to support the vital work for the youth in Miami-Dade.

In addition, we proudly supported the PAWS Fall Fashion Show, an event that aligns with our commitment to community causes. This fashion show, benefiting the Humane Society of Broward County’s mission, was a stylish way to make a positive impact.

The Third Annual Pumpkins & Palm Trees Fall Fest at The LOOP in Fort Lauderdale Beach was a unique and enjoyable event. This family-friendly fall celebration was a perfect mix of local culture and seasonal festivities, reflecting our strong community engagement.

Alongside these, our participation in a variety of other events, such as the Marine Industry Association of South Florida’s Member Mixer, numerous groundbreaking ceremonies and significant real estate project unveilings with landmark projects including 7918 West Drive in North Bay Village, Alina Residences in Boca Raton and Forté Luxe in Jupiter and global conferences like the PRBI Annual General Meeting in Milan, showcases our versatility and commitment to excellence in the PR and marketing industry.

Durée & Company’s Aspen office continues to expand, taking on new opportunities and clients. Our work with Valley View Hospital goes beyond standard public relations; we’re deeply involved in supporting and promoting Valley View’s community events and ongoing initiatives, showcasing our commitment to Aspen’s community development.

This year, we also played a key role in promoting a high-profile longevity event hosted at a multimillion-dollar property in Aspen. From soup to nuts, we managed every aspect of the event. Our office remains committed to effective, straightforward communication and exceptional service as our Aspen operations expand.

These events are just a few examples of how we’ve engaged with different industries and communities throughout the year, highlighting our commitment to being a dynamic and influential force in the world of public relations and marketing.

A Brand Refresh for 2024

Reflecting our evolution as a company and our commitment to staying at the forefront of the PR and marketing industry, we’ve launched an exciting brand refresh with new colors and fonts, mirroring a modern look and feel. This fresh aesthetic is being seamlessly integrated across all our platforms, from our website to social media pages, as well as in our marketing materials and promotional products, ensuring a cohesive and revitalized brand experience for all our clients.

Happy anniversary to us! Here’s to many more years of shaping stories, building brands, and navigating the ever-evolving world of public relations and marketing. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help positively impact your bottom line in 2024 and into the future, contact us.

 

About Durée & Company, Inc.

Founded in 1999, Durée & Company is a full-service, well-respected and highly creative public relations and marketing agency serving a diverse client base of local, national and international consumer brands, landmark industries, business leaders and philanthropists from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Aspen, Colorado. Practice areas include nonprofit, hospitality, business, lifestyle, health and wellness, legal, real estate, yacht and marine as well as cannabis, psychedelics, and other emerging industries. Durée & Company is a member of some of the nation’s most elite professional organizations including PR Boutiques International™ (PRBI), The Florida Hemp Council, The Cannabis Marketing Association and is a corporate partner of Cannabis LAB. To learn more, call 954-723-9350; go to dureeandcompany.com; cannabismarketingpr.com; or psychedelicpr.com. Join the social conversation and follow Durée & Company on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn at @DureeCoPR.

 

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OFFICIAL CONTEST AND GIVEAWAY RULES NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND OTHER COMMONWEALTHS, TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), 18 YEARS OR OLDER.

  1. Terms. By entering this 20/20 contest (“Contest”) and accepting these terms, you agree to be bound by the following rules (“Official Rules”), which constitute a binding agreement between you and Durée & Company, Inc. These Official Rules apply to all online (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) contests unless otherwise noted.

 

  1. Official Rules: Entrants must fill out all required fields on the entry form to participate in the Contest. After submitting the required information on the entry form, the entrant will receive one (1) entry into the 20/20 Contest. The Contest will begin on January 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET and end on February 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET (“Contest Entry Period”). All times in the Contest refer to Eastern Time (“ET”). Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. Limit one (1) Entry per company during the Contest Period. Entries generated by a script, macro, or other automated means or by any means that subverts the entry process will be disqualified. Entries must be received before January 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET to be eligible for the Contest.

 

  1. Eligibility. Contest is open only to individuals participate in the Contest or submit an entry and who are eighteen (18) years of age as of the date of entry (“Entrant”). The Contest is only open to legal United States residents who have at least one physical location in Florida, and is void where prohibited by law. Employees of Durée & Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Employees”), and immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of Employees are not eligible to participate in the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

 

  1. Agreement to Rules. By participating, the Entrant agrees to be fully unconditionally bound by these Official Rules. Entrant represents and warrants that they meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, Entrant agrees to accept the decisions of Durée & Company as final and binding as it relates to the content of this Contest.

  

  1. How to Enter. Entrants must fill out the contest form entirely and send to the name/contact information as instructed. Any automated computer receipt, such as one confirming delivery of email, does not constitute proof of entry for the purposes of these Official Rules. The entry must fulfill all Contest requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Durée & Company. Fraudulent methods or other attempts to circumvent the rules will disqualify an Entrant’s eligibility at the sole discretion of Durée & Company. Durée & Company may disqualify any Entry for any reason, In its sole and absolute discretion.

 

  1. Prizes. The Winner(s) of the Contest (the “Winner”) will receive 20 hours of free services per month for 3 months. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Durée & Company’s discretion. The prize is nontransferable. Any and all prize-related expenses, including without limitation any and all federal, state, and/or local taxes, shall be the sole responsibility of Winner. The prize is awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. No substitution of prize or transfer/assignment of prize to others or request for the cash equivalent by Winner is permitted. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Durée & Company to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

 

  1. Rights Granted by You: By entering this Contest, the Entrant understands and agrees that Durée & Company, anyone acting on behalf of Durée & Company, and Durée & Company’s licensees, successors, and assigns, have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the world, without limitation, the Entrant’s entry, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Contest, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes, without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.

 

  1. Terms & Conditions: Durée & Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other cause beyond Durée & Company’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Durée & Company may select the Winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Durée & Company. Durée & Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or website or violates these Terms & Conditions.

 

Durée & Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to maintain the integrity of the Contest, to void votes for any reason, including, but not limited to: multiple entries from the same user from different IP addresses; multiple entries from the same computer in excess of that allowed by Contest rules; or the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such attempt be made, Durée & Company reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

  1. Disqualification. If an Entrant is found ineligible, or if he/she does not comply with the Official Rules, then such Entrant will be disqualified. If a prize, prize documentation, or prize notification is returned as undeliverable or unclaimed, this will result in disqualification. In the event an Entrant is deemed ineligible or disqualified for any reason, then an alternate potential winner will be selected.

 

  1. Disputes. THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND FLORIDA, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES. As a condition of participating in this Contest, participant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Minnesota having jurisdiction. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances shall participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Contest). Entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

 

  1. Winner(s) will be announced by March 20, 2020.

 

  1. Sponsor. The Sponsor of the Contest is Durée & Company, Inc. 10620 Griffin Road, Suite 208, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328

 

  1. Social Media. The Contest hosted by Durée & Company is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Five Things That Need to be in Your Resume or Cover Letter

To paraphrase Jerry Maguire, help us help you. As we sift through the paperwork, here’s what we are looking for:

1. What you love to do and why.

In PR, you may love writing, editing, interviewing, pitching the media, researching, coordinating events, networking, posting to social media … whew! While we would love it if you had a passion for it all, we’d never believe you if you said as much.

What part of this zany, crazy, whirlwind, yet meticulous, tedious, detail-oriented, profession calls to you and why? Help us make the connection as to how PR is really for you, and call it your Professional Summary.

2. Something you did that changed something or someone else.

If you never showed up to your last job, what wouldn’t have happened? That’s right. Erase yourself. Now which clients disappeared with you? Which articles just fade away? What press releases cease to exist? How much social media did NOT get liked?

We are just meeting you. So take a moment to spell out your impact, and it will be easier for us to see what you can do for the clients of Durée & Company. Share this under your Job Responsibilities.

3. Anything you created.

Feeling humble? Well, stop it. This is the part where you brag. If you craft a delightful blog, master a mind-blowing website, shoot crazy video or direct wonderful events, show us.

Then tell us a bit of how you did it, so we trust that it was your brilliance and not the intern’s. Let’s dub this Your Portfolio.

4. An indication of why you belong here.

At PR firm Durée & Company, we have a culture. Really, all companies do. To learn about ours, do some legwork. At this point, if you’re on our blog, you are in the right spot to begin learning. Hate pink? Not good with women? Live in Kansas? Low energy? Then you might want to reconsider applying. However, if we resemble a group that you’d like to hang out with, share why. You can do that in the Cover Letter.

5. Correctly spelled words – all of them.

Do more than hit spell check. Know how to spell or ask someone to proofread. Correctly spelled words work everywhere, all the time. Consider them the Little Black Dresses of resumes.

So consider these five tips – we’ve just given you a “cheat sheet” about what we’re watching out for. Even if our position may not be for you, feel free to use our advice for another – it may just get you the job!