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Augie’s Quest



As many of you know, the best part of my job is that I wake up every day never knowing “who” I am going to meet or “what” wonderful and exciting experience will come my way on any given day. Last Wednesday was one of those days. I had the opportunity to meet one of the most inspirational men I have ever met – Augie Nieto.

In 2005, Augie was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, as it’s more commonly known. The disease has taken a huge toll on Augie physically, but has done little to diminish his spirit. Over the last five years, Augie has raised nearly $27 million for ALS research through his fund-raising campaign, “Augie’s Quest.” Augie and his wife Lynne have partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS Division to raise awareness through public appearances, speaking engagements, media interviews, and public service announcements. He was here last week to share his story with the Young President’s Organization, which held its Global Leadership Summit in Denver.

Augie was able to talk with me via a computer he controlled with his feet and eyes. He has a wonderful sense of humor and an amazing will to help others. While visiting with Augie – I was moved to tears – – literally – – I can’t express what a beautiful experience it was! Below is a photo I will treasure for a lifetime.



I was privileged to help promote Augie’s appearance and the upcoming ALS fundraiser, The 5th Annual A Gift of Time Mile High Bash, which takes place at Invesco Field on March 19th. Radio host Stephanie Riggs interviewed Lynne about Augie’s work and the fundraiser on her show, Divine Calling, which airs on KRKS 94.7 FM. 850KOA Health Reporter Robbyn Hart also conducted an interview with Lynne, which should air in the coming weeks.

I hope you’ll consider supporting the Nietos’ efforts by attending the Mile High Bash. The event includes cocktails, a silent auction, dinner, a live auction and entertainment. Tickets are $150. More information can be found here.

And please take a moment to watch this footage from the Today Show to learn more about Augie’s story. I am certain it will move you as it did me.

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Mountain States Employers Council Poll Grabs Headlines

We consider ourselves lucky to work with clients who make our job easy. Take Mountain States Employers Council, which supplied us with a great story to plug for Valentine’s Day. The organization polled its members and found that a whopping 77 percent had employees who met their spouses at work. We thought the survey results were interesting and so did local media, who featured the Mountain States poll in several stories about workplace romance.

Our release about the survey was picked up by the Colorado Springs Business Journal, the Northern Colorado Business Report and Dow Jones News Columnist Al Lewis, who featured the poll on his blog.

In addition, we landed interviews for Mountain States Membership Development Director Lorrie Ray with three television stations and Denver Post business columnist Penny Parker, who lead her Sunday column with the pros and cons of workplace romance. You can read all about it here. Kudos to Lorrie for spending Valentine’s Day making the morning news rounds. She was interviewed on 9News, KWGN’s Daybreak and Fox 31’s Good Day Colorado.

Check out the photos of Lorrie in action. The first two feature Lorrie on the set at Daybreak. Fox 31 Anchor Melody Mendez interviews Lorrie in the second, while the third shows Lorrie getting prepped for her 9News interview with Gregg Moss.


Interestingly, Lorrie was just interviewed last week by 9News reporter Kyle Cabodi about the recent resignation of Douglas County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Egnor. The interview can be viewed here.

With experts on a variety of workplace issues, Mountain States is in a good position to capture more attention in the future.

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Stasko Clients Spreading the Love This Valentine’s Day

Our clients are offering something for everyone this Valentine’s Day – from couples who want to start the day toasting with mimosas to singles looking to end the day with a great burger and beers.

Gallop Cafe is giving sweethearts a good reason to get up early, with a Valentine’s Day brunch featuring a blend of breakfast specialties as well as heartier fare. Available from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., the brunch will also include half-priced wines, two for one margaritas and two for one Bloody Marys.

The Gabby Gourmet gave Gallop lots of love earlier this month during her noon segment on 7News, highlighting such Gallop mainstays as Soul of Autumn Eggs Benedict and Shepherd’s Pie – both included in the Valentine’s Day brunch. Here are Gallop owners Glen Baker and Dave Grafke getting cozy with Gabby on the set.

For those searching for evening options, Highland Tap and Burger is offering a four-course dinner for two, complete with wine and beer pairings. The special Valentine’s Day deal (which is $38 not including alcohol), includes an Amuse Bouche, Two Hearts Salad (fried artichoke hearts, Haystack goat cheese and hearts of palm), and the Surf ‘N Turf burger – a one-third pound burger topped with lump crab meat, grilled asparagus and bearnaise sauce. The restaurant was recently reviewed by the Denver Post’s Bill Porter, who called Highland Tap and Burger “a place for a raucous good time in a sprawling room, a wide range of brewed beverages, and an ambitious menu presided over by a top-drawer chef, Elijah Odell, and a friendly, attentive staff.” You can read the review here.

Of course, if you want to give that someone special a gift that will last a lifetime, consider couples massage classes. In honor of Valentine’s Day, Symmetry Therapeutic Massage spa is offering three-hour massage classes for just $150 per couple. Couples can choose from traditional massage or specialties such as Thai massage and hot stone. Symmetry also has couples massage sessions if you prefer leaving the work to someone else.

We feel so lucky to have so many great Valentine’s Day options so close to home. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Little Man Strikes a Chord with Chilly Deal

Little Man Ice Cream owner Paul Tamburello found a unique way to drive sales of frozen treats on the coldest day of the year. On Tuesday – when the high was a one below zero – he offered $1 pints of ice cream (two per family) for those brave enough to weather the cold. The deal not only resonated with bargain-hunting ice-cream lovers, but also caught the attention of 9News
and 7News, which both ran stories on Little Man’s offer.

Believe it or not, the chilly deal was so popular that Little Man nearly ran out of ice cream and at one point, people lined up on the sidewalk on 16th Street for what Paul had dubbed the “pink-cheeked pints”! Check out the photos of Paul’s interviews with the stations and customers taking advantage of the offer. You can also view the 9News story here.



We had a great time helping Paul publicize the deal. Thanks to the hearty camera operators for covering the story and the loyal customers who made the offer such a success. Remember, Little Man also has sandwiches, soups and hot drinks if you’re in the mood for something warm.

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Stasko Adds Highland Tap and Burger as Client


We’re thrilled to share the news that popular hot spot Highland Tap and Burger is our newest client! The neighborhood eatery and pub opened last September and has been drawing steady crowds ever since, thanks to its friendly atmosphere and food that is several notches above typical bar fare.

If you want to learn more about the mastermind behind Highland Tap’s delicious dishes, check out Westword writer Lori Midson’s interview with Executive Chef Eli Odell here. Several of the restaurant’s signature items were also featured by the Gabby Gourmet as part of her “Food Finds” feature on 7News. Here’s a great pic of Gabby with Eli and Highland Tap Owner Juan Pardo.



Even more impressive than the food, is just how entrenched Highland Tap is in the community. The restaurant sponsors the North High School wrestling team and has hosted fundraisers for A.C.T.S Resource Center and Servicios de la Raza among others. The restaurant has also created a Wednesday night running club, whose members meet at the bar and then embark on a 5K loop around the neighborhood. <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} —

We’re proud to call Highland Tap a client and can’t wait to help them grow their business! Hopefully, we’ll see you there on Super Bowl Sunday!



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Stasko Agency inks deals with Mountain States, Dawson Foundation, Urban Dwellers

We’re proud to announce that we’ve been retained again to provide publicity services for Mountain States Employers Council and the Alexander Dawson Foundation. Mountain States is the region’s largest employer services organization, with 3,000 member employers. The non-profit offers guidance on employment law and human resources and also provides training and informational surveys.

The Alexander Dawson Foundation is a Las Vegas-based non-profit, which provides educational enrichment opportunities for high-achieving, public school students. The organization offers a tuition-free summer program for middle school students in Lafayette.
Check out students from last summer’s program hard at
at work at last summer’s Denver TEDx educational event.

Finally, we’re proud to share the news that we’ve recently become the agency of record for Urban Dwellers, a Denver design firm that engineers smart, engaging, and high-quality products to meet the needs of city dwellers. We’ll be working to raise awareness of the company’s innovative collections, which include space-saving, customizable, wall units, natural lightscapes and streamlined water features (pictured below).

We look forward to gaining more exposure for these clients in the coming months!

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The Stasko Agency’s 2010 Highlight Reel

Between new opportunities, go get’em clients and major life events, there was rarely a dull moment in 2010. Before we jump into 2011, let’s take a look at some of the highlights from this past year at The Stasko Agency.

January 2010: The Stasko Agency joins facebook! Find and friend us at www.facebook.com/thestaskoagency

February 2010: We help promote the grand opening of two fantastic new businesses in Denver: HBurger Co (16th and Blake) and Highlands Wellness Center (32nd & Zuni). Check out the picture album from HBurger’s soft opening.

March 2010: Root Down wins the Mayor’s Design Award for Reclaimed Splendor, making them our 3rd client in a row to be recognized for this award. See the pictures.

April 2010: The Stasko Agency promotes Webbchange’s involvement in the “I am Free Enterprise” video contest hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Read our blog and watch their video entry here.

Lu, Shelby, & Dan attend the Denver Press Club’s Runyon Awards Banquet featuring P.J. O’Rourke.

May 2010: We get the unique opportunity to offer publicity services to the National Cohousing Conference in Boulder. Despite a tight schedule, we see great results, with articles in The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera, and insiderealestatenews.com, and an interview on Channel 9. Learn more about this unique conference…

June 2010: Peloton homeowner Jeff Pedelty moves to his new condo by bike! Pedelty’s story is picked up all over Colorado and a documentary of his journey is shown at the Boulder Film Festival on the official Bike to Work Day. Read the story on the Boulder Daily Camera.

We plan, promote and execute a successful Merchant Happy Hour in downtown Littleton for our client Nevada Place.

July 2010: The Stasko Agency works with the Dawson Center Summer 2010 program as the students participate in TedxDenverEd alongside colleague Janine Underhill. Read more!

Mountain States Employers Council and UnitedHealthcare announce an innovative health plan that encourages wellness for Colorado small businesses.

August 2010: For a second year, The Stasko Agency puts together a media tour for former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros. The resulting message from this year’s tour was “Worst may be over for Colo. housing market“

The Stasko Agency’s Shelby Bernard becomes Shelby Arnold after she gets married in Golden!

September 2010: Root Down is recognized in the New York Times.

Lu Stasko is featured on Blacktie Colorado’s Have you Met…

Erika Gonzalez of Scoop PR joins the Stasko Agency team.

October 2010: Bruce Jenner participates in the Mudstock 2010 training summit hosted by our client Mudlick Mail. Read the blog for the full story…

Gallop Cafe is featured on Channel 2’s Daybreak and Everyday. Check out the pictures or visit our blog to see the coverage.

We help promote the Colorado Culture of Health Conference, co-hosted by the Colorado Business Group on Health, LiveWell Colorado, the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, and Mountain States Employers Council.

The Stasko Agency lends a hand with the grand opening of Guy Harvey’s Perfect Spot in Northfield. Read more!

November 2010: Solera Apartments’ launch party is a smashing success, with over 550 guests touring and partying in their newly finished building. After months of planning, we couldn’t have been more pleased with the turnout. See the professional pictures on Solera’s facebook page.

Wyland’s Ocean Blue hosts their grand opening in Northfield, attracting media and fans alike. The Stasko Agency worked alongside PR colleague Tina Menditto to promote the event, which was featured on Channel 9, Metromix, Westword and more. Check out our blog entry…

Root Down holds a Winter Cocktail Competition for the Denver Media. The Dama Lama and Duck a l’orange are the winning drinks.

December 2010: The Stasko Agency’s client, Wyland’s Ocean Blue, is the chosen venue for a beautiful and intimate Gabby Dinner, hosted by Gabby Gourmet.

A special thanks to our family, friends, clients and colleagues for making this such a memorable year. We look forward to all that 2011 holds and hope to reconnect with you soon!
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Gabby Dinner at Wyland’s Ocean Blue


Acclaimed Denver restaurant critic Gabby Gourmet hosted one of her Gabby Dinners at Wyland’s Ocean Blue this past Wednesday in the Northfield Shopping Center. We had a lovely evening dining with Gabby and 30+ friends and guests, enjoying a flavorful four-course meal and wine pairing. Wyland’s elegant and playful atmosphere proved an ideal space for our intimate party.

You may remember that The Stasko Agency helped host the Wyland’s Ocean Blue Grand Opening back in November. Check out our blog post to see pictures from the event.

If you haven’t had a chance to experience this marine-inspired restaurant, we highly recommend stopping by. Enjoy daily happy hour specials from 4-6pm and 9-12am. Call 303-574-0449 for reservations.

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Root Down Hosts Winter Cocktail Contest

Last month, we were lucky enough to spend an evening at Root Down sampling an array of creative cocktails with some of our favorite media gal pals. But this was no ordinary ladies’ night. Our task was to choose Root Down’s official Winter Cocktail, grading nine unique drinks on such important criteria as taste, aroma and presentation.


Our lovely judging panel included: Westword Staffers Patty Calhoun, Lori Midson and Nancy Levine; Denver Post Business Writers Penny Parker and Margaret Jackson; Heidi McGuire of 9News/Metromix and Denver Daily News Publisher Kristie Hannon.



Check us out listening to Root Down’s master mixologists Anika Zappe, John Manwaring and Allie Geppert explain their approach to crafting cold-season cocktails. (Can you see how eager we are to perform our duty)?


Anika, John and Allie concocted three cocktails each for the competition. The holiday-themed drinks, such as Red Rider, (named after the BB gun Ralphie pined for in A Christmas Story) and Silent Sigh, had us feeling pretty festive.


While we enjoyed many of the offerings, our favorites were drinks that distinguished themselves with hot and hearty flavors. The Dama Lama, a spicy drink featuring Espolon Tequila, Habanero pepper-infused agave and cilantro tied for the top spot with the ginger and duck-flavored Duck a la Orange. Both drinks will be featured on Root Down’s winter menu, along with the runners up – Red Rider and Silent Sigh.

You can read about the contest in the Denver Daily News!

Thanks to all of the judges and to Anika, John and Allie for crafting such tasty contenders!
Cheers!

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Happy Thanksgiving from The Stasko Agency!

In 2010, our reasons to be grateful have been abundant! We’ve had the opportunity to work with many brilliant and talented people, have seen our company grow, and have shared in our clients’ successes.

This year, our entire office building–the Frawley House–got together to celebrate an early “family-style” Thanksgiving around our conference table. We even spiced things up with some festive hats and decorations.

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As we went around the table, sharing our thanks, it was obvious how much we have going for us. Even the smallest blessings make a huge difference when we take the time to notice them.

We felt thankful to have such a fun group of people to share the holiday with. Take a look at some of the pictures from the day and click the picture to see our facebook album:

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We wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving! As you celebrate the holiday, consider this quote:

“The secret of happiness is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – The Way of the Peaceful Warrior

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