NEW BRIGHTON, MINN. (March 30, 2009) –If you visit the journalism or communication departments of Minnesota universities, chances are that you will encounter at least one of Risdall Marketing Group’s (RMG) nearly 80 employees participating at the school in some way. From teaching as adjunct instructors to serving as mentors, RMG employees give generously of their time. Here’s a look at the extent of the firm’s college-level involvement, both past and present:

• University of Minnesota
  • Two adjunct instructors (Eva Keiser, senior vice president of Risdall McKinney Public Relations; Jim Sandstrom, president of Risdall Sandstrom Media Works)
  • Five members and one president of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni Society Board
  • 10 mentors through the alumni mentoring program
  • Two advisers to Fusion Marketing, Risdall Marketing Group’s student-run advertising agency
• Iowa State University
  • One member of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication Advisory Council
• St. Cloud State University
  • One adjunct instructor (Joel Swanson, senior vice president of Risdall McKinney Public Relations)
  • One mentor
• Metropolitan State University
  • One adjunct instructor (Rose McKinney, president of Risdall McKinney Public Relations)
• Century College
  • One member of the marketing advisory team
• College of St. Scholastica
  • One adjunct instructor (Jared Roy, president of Risdall Integration Group)
• National American University
  • One adjunct instructor (Jared Roy)

“We are very committed to the future of our industry,” said John Risdall, chairman and CEO of RMG. “The Midwest is a hotbed of talent, and we consider it our responsibility to be deeply involved in giving back by developing the next generation of communication experts.”

RMG employees also regularly serve as guest speakers at universities. Beyond involvement with specific schools, RMG employees also have volunteered for the student relations and accreditation committees of the Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the collegiate relations committee of the Minnesota chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Numerous RMG employees got their start in the industry through RMG’s involvement at their school.

About Risdall Marketing Group
Founded in 1972, Risdall Marketing Group has annual capitalized billings of $190 million in 2008 and over 80 employees. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minn., Risdall is heralded as one of the oldest and most successful agencies in the Twin Cities market and is recognized nationally for its leading-edge interactive marketing capabilities. The full-service agency embraces an integrated approach offering marketing, advertising, public relations, promotion and collateral development, traditional and interactive media, research and fundraising capabilities. According to the 2008 Twin Cities Business Annual Business Information Guide, RMG is ranked as the largest Web developer, fifth largest PR agency and the seventh largest advertising agency in Minnesota. For more information, visit www.risdall.com.

Brant Skogrand
Risdall McKinney Public Relations
651.286.6729