The West Fork of Oak Creek, a short drive from the Phoenix office near Sedona:

Photo by Rich Charpentier. Click on the image to visit Rich's website and see more stunning images of Arizona.

The Sandia Mountains, near the Albuquerque office:

Photo by Howard Holley. See more by Howard Holley by clicking on this photo.

The Wasatch Mountains, which surround the Salt Lake Office:

Wasatch Mountains in fall, by RIESTER.

The storied Sunset Boulevard, near the Los Angeles office:

Sunset Boulevard, by RIESTER.

Many voters believe our elections are closed affairs offering little choice—and few results.

That is why for the past few months, RIESTER has been honored to work under the direction of a respected group of business and community leaders as they have developed a truly ground-breaking ballot initiative that will be placed before Arizona voters in the November 2012 election.

The Open Government Act will fundamentally change and reform our election process by encouraging more qualified and independent-minded candidates to seek elected office. Candidates guided by common sense, instead of extreme ideology from either side of the political spectrum.

The current primary election system in Arizona, in which only a limited number of voters now participate and are only permitted to cast ballots for the partisan candidates from one party, will be eliminated. Replacing it will be a primary election open to ALL voters and ALL candidates. The top two candidates from that election—regardless of political party—will then face off in the November election.

The result—EVERY voter will be permitted to vote in EVERY election. Voters will have real choices, with candidates who better represent all the people of Arizona rather than just ideology and political parties.

Our task ahead is a big one, from securing the voter signatures, to putting the initiative on the ballot, to conducting the campaign to inform Arizona voters that we can indeed open up our governments in order to better meet our critical needs. As we typically do in ballot measure campaigns we are a part of, we’re putting the full resources of our firm behind this effort.

Of course, we will need lots of help.

Go to our web site at AzOpenGov.org and be one of the first to join our coalition.

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

We’ll stay in touch as we prepare to move forward.

Next year, Arizona celebrates its centennial. In many ways, our state is at a crossroads. Those of us who have taken up this cause are determined to choose a better path as Arizona enters its second century. I hope you will choose to join us.

Smokers’ lives are organized around their nicotine addiction. Forfeiting control to addiction is at the root of a new, original program to stop Arizona youth from smoking and an ‘on-the-ground’ extension of the public service campaign, http://www.venomocity.com.

Today and tomorrow, June 11, the Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease (BTCD) will immerse more than 200 youth from across the state, ages 13-17, into the 2011 anti-smoking youth conference being held at Arizona State University, Old Main Building, Tempe, Ariz. The first-ever 24-hour hands-on learning environment, called The Experiment. Brought to you by addiction. is packed with workshops and presenters.

“Today, teens know about the health impacts of smoking, there is a lot of information they can access,” said Wayne Tormala, Chief, Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco & Chronic Disease. “But, the health dangers may feel ‘far away’ to this audience so explaining the ‘instant impact’ of nicotine addiction leaves an impression right now. ”

On Saturday, they will wake up to a traditional Navajo tobacco ceremony, adapted for the attendees, presented by a Navajo tribal member.

Participating teens will preview a series of new interactive ‘choose your path’ videos that make saying ‘no’ cool. Designed especially for ‘Generation Net,’ participants will have a chance to create their own versions at the conference. The videos can be seen at http://www.venomocity.com.

Phoenix Theatre will unveil 15-minute plays, “Big Tobacco in the Boardroom” a theatrical performance and lab to explain big tobacco marketing tactics and “Anatomy of a Smoker” a theatrical performance and lab to explain the health effects of tobacco use, ‘live’ from a ‘coroner’s’ lab.

National anti-smoking advocate, Mackenzie Lowry will talk about how losing her dad to lung cancer inspired her work on a cigarette tax increase in her state. A Harvard graduate, she founded the Institute of Politics Tobacco Control Policy Group. Glamour magazine honored Mackenzie as one of the Top 10 College Women, coining her as “The Politician.”

Kids who weren’t able to join us in person, can catch some of the The Experiment in real-time online, at http://venomocity.com/experiment or follow it on Twitter #addictionexperiment.

Event organizers plan to stay in touch with all of the attendees and will encourage organization of anti-smoking efforts in their communities.

PHOENIX– January 18, 2011—RIESTER (www.riester.com), a full-service marketing firm has added two high-profile clients, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations and the California Central Coast McDonald’s Advertising Co-op, to its client roster.

“Our tourism and McDonald’s teams are energized as they begin to build lasting relationships and develop effective marketing solutions for these prestigious new clients,” said Tim Riester, president and CEO of RIESTER. “We are extremely proud to team with such influential national companies to turn their consumers into life-long believers in their respective brands.”

ARAMARK Parks and Destinations has enlisted RIESTER for development and fulfillment of an online consumer engagement marketing strategy, the launch of its multi-property social media initiative and public relations services. As a leading provider of outdoor vacations and adventures, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations is the steward of several federally-protected parks located in and around pristine areas in the United States. The parks include Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Denali National Parks and Preserve, Washington State’s Olympic National Park, Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park, destinations such as Lake Powell, in Utah and Arizona and many other cultural attractions and lodges detailed at www.aramarkparksanddestinations.

An experienced McDonald’s agency, RIESTER has been providing marketing and advertising services to McDonald’s co-ops in Idaho and Oregon since 1991. With the acquisition of assets from the New Mexico advertising firm Rick Johnson & Company (RJC), RIESTER is broadening its McDonald’s services into California. On January 1, 2011 RIESTER became the agency of record for the California Central Coast McDonald’s Advertising Co-op with restaurants from northern Los Angeles to Monterey.

About RIESTER

As one of the top marketing firms in the Western United States, RIESTER offers its clients a complete range of services, including: research, brand planning, media planning and buying, broadcast and print ad creative services, public relations, government relations, digital and multi-cultural marketing. The agency has offices in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque. Visit us on the web at www.riester.com.

If you watched the news this past weekend and saw one person after another come on television or release statements saying Gabby was their friend and she is one of the most wonderful people they know, believe it, it’s true. Gabby is a gem among us.

I met Gabe Zimmerman a few times, an aide to Gabby who died Saturday. I remember Gabe as someone who was very much like Gabby–engaged in the lives of others and committed to making a difference in his community.

My heart goes out to all who were affected by Saturday’s shooting.

All of us at RIESTER are hoping for a full recovery for Gabby.

Gabby Giffords

Nobody does glam like our own Christina Borrego. Here she is with her husband as they step out in high fashion from the Roaring Twenties.

How many people could pull this outfit off? Will Hayes, from our media department, owns it as Hulk Hogan.

Ali Moellering is Super Mario.

Mike Rushing as the Skipper from Gilligan's Island.

Kayla Dash and Steven Byers--the company sailors.

Simon and Sandrine groove to a seventies beat.

View more on our Facebook page. You do not need to be on Facebook to view these photos.

• 94% of Americans think it is important for the nation to develop and use solar energy. This was consistent across all political party affiliations.

• 80% of Americans agree that Congress should consider reallocating federal subsidies from fossil fuels to solar.

Source: Schott Solar via Patrick O’Grady of the Phoenix Business Journal.

Funny video via the Rose Law Group with fact about Arizona’s solar potential:

“Keeping True to their Heritage” discusses how FFKR worked with the Maricopa and Salt River Pima Indians to create a triumph of design in the desert.

Congratulations to Jim Dissett and Shanna Wolfe of RIESTER for your amazing work for these two clients.

Congratulations to FFKR and Talking Stick Resort for a job very well done.

Read the full article in Lodging Magazine.

The HEMMY Awards are held in conjunction with the annual Arizona Public Health Association Fall Conference. The award will be formally presented at the conference on September 16, 2010. Toni Means will accept a commemorative glass plaque on behalf of the Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health (Arizona Department of Health Services).

We are very proud of this campaign!