612.716.0556 [email protected]

Public Relations and Communications Consulting

 We’ll deliver thorough, smart, friendly, and frequent communications — including writing; editing; messaging; proofing; and media relations.

Crisis Management

Uncertain times call for a cool head and wise counsel. We help companies proceed strategically — whether boldly or cautiously — and stay on top of messaging all the while.

... and so much more

Event planning; media coaching; guerrilla installations and media stunts; copywriting and design; branding; digital marketing; and just about any other client marketing need.

What we can do for you

  • Strategic message development
  • Media relations
  • Relationship building
  • Ongoing consulting
  • Big ideas
Our Services

There’s more to PR than sending a press release out into the ether and hoping it sticks.

Conducting a successful media outreach campaign begins with a well-crafted strategy long before the first word of that brilliant and engaging release is typed. An effective press release requires compelling support to spark interest in your company and product, as well as the people behind that business.

We deliver the news beyond the release, targeting specific writers, editors, bloggers, and influencers — the media that inform the decisions your customers make. And we work with them to craft your story.

Owl has created public relations plans and helped place stories for businesses, consumer products, websites, non-profits, advertising agencies, travel destinations and restaurants nationally from The New York Times to BusinessWeek to Forbes.com to Advertising Age and Adweek and in almost every local Minneapolis/St. Paul media outlet, including City Pages, Minnesota Business, the Minneapolis Star Tribune,  St. Paul Pioneer Press, Twin Cities Business, Downtown Journal, and Minnesota Monthly as well as KARE-11, FOX-9, FM107, WCCO-AM. And the Ely Echo.

We are big-picture thinkers, but we’re not above taking care of the the “little stuff” too: brochures, web copy, POP floor clings… you name it, we’ve done it. We have a crack squad of industry partners we can call on to make anything happen, from a radio campaign or web video, to a giant, grocery-themed obstacle course. And yes, that includes building a comprehensive brand strategy from the ground up. You know, little stuff.  

Owl has done communications work for both bread and circuses. And we can do it for you.

Client coverage in the media

Ely

Winter in the Wild: Ely, Minnesota

The Minnesota Cup

How One Org. Is Building A Network For Female Entrepreneurs

Kalettes

A Brand-New Veggie You Should Know About

Urban Organics

This Old Factory—Now Full Of Fish And Kale—Is Revitalizing A Neighborhood

ELY

Beware the April Fools’ Jokes Coming From Madison Avenue

ELY

Ely, Minnesota Social Media Ban: Town Announces Mandatory Unplugging

Case Studies

This is Northfield

This is Northfield

May 14, 2020
Afton Alps

Afton Alps

May 14, 2020
Ely, Minnesota

Ely, Minnesota

May 7, 2020
AmericInn

AmericInn

January 19, 2015
American Swedish Institute

American Swedish Institute

January 19, 2015
Kalettes

Kalettes

January 19, 2015
The Drink

The Drink

January 19, 2015
OLSON

OLSON

January 19, 2015

WE WORK WITH SOME OF THE BEST

Don’t just take our word for it.

Here are testimonials from our biggest fans —
our clients, and the media.

Whenever I want to pull the wool over someone’s eyes, I know to call Jennifer Weismann. For most PR people, that might not be high praise, but Jennifer has helped me and the Ely Chamber of Commerce fool plenty of people over the years into thinking Canada was going to buy Ely and move it across the border, Ely was going to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, Dairy Queen was buying the naming rights to the Boundary Waters, and more. Every one of those efforts drew international attention on a miniscule budget. Of course, I know she can do more serious work because I worked with her for years at Colle+McVoy where she helped us shift the perception of the agency from a stodgy, B2B agency in the suburbs to a hip, up-and-coming creative powerhouse in the warehouse district. Over the past twelve years, she’s demonstrated time and again the ability to quickly generate a plethora of creative ideas, focus in on the best ones and bring them in on-budget. She’s always my first call when I need some public relations support. Or I need to pull a really good April Fool’s joke.
John Jarvis

Chief Creative Officer, The Lacek Group

Jennifer Weismann and OWL have led all PR efforts for our organization since 2007. She has been instrumental in our growth because Jennifer has effectively helped communicate our mission and vision, and today we are a respected and well known nonprofit in the marketing and business communities. She does her job, and allows us to focus on what we do best: create quality youth programs for students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to learn about careers in a creative business. Jennifer is not only a brilliant writer — she is strategic and savvy, and can make quick decisions, based on experience, that are critical to capturing a story. She is able to move between agency and corporate worlds effortlessly. She thinks through and considers the potential impact —both positive and not so positive for every message communicated from The BrandLab. Her speed in accomplishing goals does not impact quality. She works with us to ensure we are hitting the right audience at the right time. Jennifer’s reputation goes beyond knowing pretty much everyone in town (which of course is a huge asset), but she is respected by everyone who has worked with her. I highly recommend Jennifer and OWL.
Ellen Walthour

Executive Director , TheBrandLab