(410) 227-3228|Andrea@ChoptankCommunications.com

IRONMAN Events Deliver Economic and PR Boom

Events generate large sales, foot traffic for Eastern Shore businesses IRONClub Maryland, the non-profit organization formed to support large-scale, high-impact endurance events in Dorchester County, today released the results of an economic impact report revealing that the 2015 IRONMAN races attracted 3,500 participants and generated almost $5.5 million for the region. The findings were announced at the Dorchester Visitors Center during a morning reception recognizing new sponsors and board members including an unveiling of a locally fabricated metal IRONMAN sculpture.
By |May 9th, 2016|Events, News, Public Relations|Comments Off on IRONMAN Events Deliver Economic and PR Boom|
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Choptank Creates Original Content for Chesapeake College

Choptank Communication’s Public Relations Director Brent Burkhardt contributed this article on Chesapeake College’s basketball standout Ashley Pelgram to the Star Democrat as part of their original content campaign.
By |February 2nd, 2016|News, Public Relations|Comments Off on Choptank Creates Original Content for Chesapeake College|
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Choptank Communications Celebrates Successful Year

Thanks to our clients, colleagues and community, 2015 was a banner year for Choptank. We were look forward to celebrating our fourth anniversary and are thankful for the opportunities to serve and support our clients and community. Here are a few highlights from the past year:
January
Launched interactive website and searchable map of aviation destinations for Air Fare America.

February
Redesigned Cambridge Engineered Solutions’ website. Increased visitors and page views 40% over 2014.

March
Managed communications for 1880 Bank, including public relations for acquisition of Easton Bank & Trust. Generated 47 articles and 1.6M impressions.

April
Conducted marketing analysis and produced white paper positioning Anne Arundel’s cyber security assets for the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation.
May
Created ‘water moves us’ 2015 marketing campaign for Dorchester County Economic Development Department.

June
Produced comprehensive branding initiative, ad campaign and social media program for 1880 Bank.

July
Developed digital ad and social media campaign to showcase Cambridge Architectural Mesh in key architectural markets.

August
Launched comprehensive enrollment marketing campaign and branding for Chesapeake College.

September
Brought visiting writers to Dorchester County to profile key tourism assets in Mid-Atlantic media.

October
Produced new exhibits and façade improvements for Chesapeake College’s Cambridge Center.

November
Initiated proactive public relations program for Chesapeake College.

December
Placed 55 articles in architecture and real estate media for EYA resulting in 3.8 M impressions & $300,000 advertising equivalency value.

By |January 1st, 2016|Brand Marketing, Events, News, Public Relations, Strategic Planning|Comments Off on Choptank Communications Celebrates Successful Year|
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  • Permalink Chesapeake College Athletic Trainer Nick Williams, right, works with Skipjack men’s basketball player Kamron Hall during a treatment session. Hall credited Williams’ work with helping him return for the 2015-16 season. Credit: Tom MillerGallery

    For Skipjack’s Athletic Trainer, it’s More than Water Bottles and Taping Ankles

For Skipjack’s Athletic Trainer, it’s More than Water Bottles and Taping Ankles

By Brent Burkhardt, Special to The Sunday Star WYE MILLS — When Chesapeake College point guard Kamron Hall suffered a PCL knee injury during a preseason basketball workout, he turned to the Skipjacks’ new full-time athletic trainer, Nick Williams, to evaluate his condition and treatment options. Joined by head coach Allen Mitchell, Williams met with Hall’s parents and discussed whether to have season-ending surgery or rehab the injury. On-campus rehab was not a viable option for Chesapeake athletes in prior years, but Hall feels working with Williams in the athletic training room was ultimately the right decision to get him back on the court for the 2015-2016 season.
By |December 20th, 2015|News, Public Relations|Comments Off on For Skipjack’s Athletic Trainer, it’s More than Water Bottles and Taping Ankles|
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Dorchester’s Media Coverage on the Upswing

It was great to receive this thoughtful endorsement of our work with Dorchester County’s Office of Tourism in their annual report detailing FY 2015 marketing. One of the highlights of the report is the growing amount of positive media coverage related to visiting the county.

A July 2015 article in the Star Democrat noted:
“This year, we’ve had an unprecedented number of positive stories in regional and national media,” said Amanda Fenstermaker, director of Dorchester Tourism, in addition to ongoing coverage in the local media. She pointed to multiple mentions in USA Today, as well as Capital Region USA naming Cambridge one of “10 fun riverfront towns” (the only one on the Eastern Shore) and one of “8 picturesque coastal towns.”

In addition, the Baltimore-based Examiner and the Mid-Atlantic Day Trips blog both did a series of stories on various attractions in the county. There have been numerous other stories in a range of media, Fenstermaker said, such as Baltimore magazine, Philadelphia Sun and Prop Talk.

“Dorchester is on a roll,” Tourism Director Amanda Fenstermaker said. “These stories show us that Dorchester County has built up good momentum in what it offers visitors, from lodging to restaurants to outdoor activities. The great press coincides with the ‘Water Moves Us’ marketing campaign that we launched a year ago, as well as our increased focus on media relations with help from Choptank Communications, based here in Dorchester.”
Read full article and see report here:

 

By |July 24th, 2015|News, Public Relations|Comments Off on Dorchester’s Media Coverage on the Upswing|
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Choptank Promotes New Shady Grove Townhomes

By Brent Burkhardt. Townhome sales at EYA’s Westside at Shady Grove Metro, a new transit-oriented, mixed-use residential and retail community, begin May 2. Just steps from the Shady Grove Red Line Metro station in Rockville, the 45-acre smart-growth community is one of the largest development projects in Montgomery County in 2015. A groundbreaking with County Executive Isiah Leggett will be held on May 12. Westside at Shady Grove offers homebuyers 407 sleek and spacious townhomes. Market-rate homes are available in four models (Bancroft, Copeland, Davis and Erving) that range from 1,678 to 2,427 square feet with three or four bedrooms and 2.5 or 3.5 baths. Homes are three or four floors and include a private, two-car garage and a rooftop terrace with available outdoor kitchen and gas fireplace.
By |April 20th, 2015|News, Public Relations|Comments Off on Choptank Promotes New Shady Grove Townhomes|
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Aquaculture is Transforming Maryland’s Oyster Industry

Choptank Communications’ Partner Brent Burkhardt explored how aquaculture is transforming Maryland’s oyster industry. The article showcases how Dorchester County – a traditional oystering region – has become a hub of oyster farming in Maryland. Ask the nation’s seafood lovers about where the best tasting oysters are found, and choices from Long Island, New England, Prince Edward Island and the Pacific Northwest frequently come to mind. If Dorchester County’s local oyster farmers have their way, bivalves from the waters of the Choptank and Hooper’s Island will soon join that list. Dorchester is the hub of Maryland oyster farming. The county outpaces all others with a total of 64 shellfish aquaculture leases out of 322 statewide, according to Karl Roscher, Aquaculture Division Director for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Included are 22 leases issued since 2010 for farms coming into production. They represent a quarter of new leases in Maryland. An additional 12 Dorchester leases are under review.
By |November 1st, 2014|News, Public Relations|Comments Off on Aquaculture is Transforming Maryland’s Oyster Industry|
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Customer Outreach Promotion Delivers Results

On October 6, 2014, we stood in the audience with more than 50 employees of Cambridge Engineered Solutions  and looked on as CEO Tracy Tyler launch the “Heavy Metal Tour” as she unveiled a customized RV. Choptank PR worked with Cambridge to develop this unique customer outreach and appreciation campaign. Developed to introduce new product lines at plants across the U.S., the Heavy Metal Tour combined elements of a musical tour with today’s popular food trucks. See article below or the comprehensive feature in the Star Democrat by Dustin Holt. “My favorite experience with Choptank would have to be the idea to do a Heavy Metal Tour. From the initial idea to brainstorming with our internal teams, Choptank led this effort which included buying an RV, turning it into Cambridge’s “Heavy Metal Tour Bus”, and taking it all over the U.S. as a way to show our appreciation to our customers.” Tracy L. Tyler
By |October 6th, 2014|Events, News, Public Relations|Comments Off on Customer Outreach Promotion Delivers Results|
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Choptank PR Promotes Oyster Industry

We were pleased to facilitate Tim Wheeler’s visit to five Dorchester oyster farmers to learn how aquaculture is opening up new business ventures for traditional watermen. Wheeler’s resulting article – “Passion Grows for Oyster Farming” – along with a wonderful photo gallery by Kim Hairston, appeared in the Baltimore Sun in November 2013.
Oysters may or may not be an aphrodisiac, but they sure bring out passion in those who raise them for a living. Tim Devine barely knew from oysters when he was growing up in Easton, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. Now he’s growing them on 10 acres of bay bottom near here that he’s leased from the state, and professing to love the hard work and challenges involved in cultivating and selling his prized bivalves.

“It just seemed like the stars aligned,” Devine, 37, said of his transition from commercial photographer in New York City to yeoman oyster farmer. Offering a sample to a visitor, he describes the glistening gray gob on a half-shell as if it was a fine wine, pointing to its mild, buttery taste, with just enough salt.
Read full article here. Photo credit Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun.

By |November 26th, 2013|News, Public Relations|Comments Off on Choptank PR Promotes Oyster Industry|
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