A facility reborn

In late 2010, Lilja client United Properties announced it would undertake the historic renovation of Ford Center, an office building just north of downtown Minneapolis.

The 1912 building was home to the first showroom and vertical assembly plant for Ford Motor Company in the Twin Cities. Model Ts regularly rolled off (or should we say dropped down?) the assembly line.

We invited the Star Tribune in for a hardhat tour of the building as the final details took place, and to see the painstaking measures taken by United Properties and RJM Construction to ensure its historic preservation.

The result was a beautiful story about the renovation and history of this building.

Photo courtesy of United Properties

Meet Lilja's newest staff member: Linda Tedford

We are happy to announce that Linda Tedford has joined our team in the newly created role of vice president. Linda brings 25 years of major and planned gift fundraising to Lilja as the firm seeks to broaden its services to nonprofits and increase its LifeStories work.

First job: I was a counter girl at Cathay Chow Mein on 54^th and Nicollet when I was 14.

Favorite book: The Short History of a Prince by Jane Hamilton is probably the novel I will always consider my favorite. Hamilton's prose is beautiful, painful and full of compassion for her characters.

Something surprising about yourself: I worked as a singing telegram to earn money for law school!

Favorite quote: Be the change you wish to see in the world. – Mohandas Gandhi

What you enjoy most about your work: Being part of a small team of highly talented and creative people to help our clients tell their stories. Honoring the heart of a story, whether it is for a press release or a client's personal story, is among the most wonderful things we do at Lilja!

A crisis of social media proportions

There are volumes written about media best practices in a crisis situation. But in today's world, social media is the new force to be reckoned with. Just ask Rush Limbaugh, Invisible Children or Susan G. Komen for the Cure about the power of social media to shape and convey public opinion. Are you prepared to respond to a crisis in this new world of communications?

The best way to address a crisis is, as always, to 1) be prepared; and 2) react thoughtfully, quickly and completely. Reacting too quickly without care is problematic; so is waiting too long to respond while the flames flare higher. Here are four questions to ask yourself as you prepare for potential crises.

What is it you want to communicate? In this new social media world, key messages are more important than ever. Make sure you're communicating the same message across your website, all of your social media platforms – and in the traditional media, too.

How robust is your social media presence? In a crisis, your current friends or followers can be your biggest allies. It's important to start the conversation in good times. Then give them genuine responses when something goes wrong.

Who will manage and respond via social media during a crisis? Will it be your CEO? One or two point people?

How will you balance traditional and social media? Don't forget the traditional media, particularly those outlets and reporters who already know you well. If they aren't knocking on your door, knock on theirs. Use every avenue to tell your story.

In the words of Louis Pasteur: "Chance favors the prepared mind."