Press Room Item
Lambert, Edwards & Associates Expands Consumer Practice
11 October 06
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 11, 2006 – Lambert, Edwards & Associates (LE&A), West Michigan’s top – ranked public relations agency, today announced two new additions to the firm’s Consumer Practice. Senior Associate Brian Burch and Associate Kristen Heffern will serve LE&A’s client roster of national brands, including Mattress Firm, Old Orchard, Tech Lighting and Zondervan. Brian Burch brings six years of media relations and brand management experience as well as a rich understanding of interactive design and online communications to Lambert Edwards & Associates.
Prior to joining LE&A, Burch was public relations specialist for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where he managed media relations, online communications and public events for the organization and its programming of exclusive sculpture exhibitions, including Tom Otterness in Grand Rapids, the largest public art exhibition in the history of Grand Rapids.
Prior to his time at Meijer Gardens, Burch was a senior account executive at Ruder Finn Public Relations in Chicago. There he coordinated media relations and interactive marketing for a variety of clients including Millennium Park, now one of the city’s most popular cultural destinations. Burch began his career at Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, supporting public relations activities for clients including Kellogg’s, SBC (now AT&T) and Harley-Davidson.
Burch holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University and is president of the WIDR Alumni Society.
Kristen Heffern joins the team as an associate, supporting a number of key LE&A client assignments. Heffern previously served as the marketing director at Boardwalk Management Company’s Fort Henry Mall in Kingsport, TN where she oversaw all aspects of marketing, including strategic planning, research, advertising, public relations, sales promotions, special events, and customer service.
Prior to that, she managed media relations efforts for the Women’s Studies Program at East Tennessee State University where she was responsible for advertising and organizing departmental activities on campus and within the Tri-Cities community. During her tenure at ETSU, Heffern received the “Outstanding Contribution to the Graduate Program” award for her work.
Heffern holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Maryville College and a master’s degree in public relations from East Tennessee State University. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
“The addition of both Brian and Kristen significantly bolsters the LE&A team and the consumer group specifically,” said Tara Powers, LE&A partner and Consumer practice head. “They both bring different backgrounds and skill sets to the firm, which I’m confident will benefit our regional and national clients.”
About Lambert, Edwards & Associates
Lambert, Edwards & Associates (www.lambert-edwards.com) is West Michigan’s leading public relations firm and the largest investor relations firm in the state, serving more than 80 clients in 19 states. Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., LE&A works extensively with middle-market companies and national brands in three primary practice groups: Business & Financial Communications, Healthcare & Technology, and Consumer.
