Tom Ortega, executive creative director for RIESTER, was recently named to the board of directors of Audubon Arizona, the Arizona branch of the National Audubon Society. As a board member, Ortega will guide the organization’s marketing strategy and work toward its mission of furthering the protection of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through science, education and conservation.
For Ortega, an artist and passionate environmentalist, joining Audubon Arizona was an easy decision. “Environmental issues are what I care about. It feels like a natural fit, and Audubon Arizona is doing amazing things, not just in terms of preservation, but also education.”
“We feel tremendously fortunate to have Tom Ortega join the Board of Audubon Arizona,” said Sam Campana, executive director of Audubon Arizona. “Tom is passionate about environmental conservation, and his exceptional abilities in marketing and public relations will help people across the state understand what Audubon is doing in Arizona and how they can become involved.”
One of the first projects Ortega will be assisting with is the grand opening of the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. The project, which broke ground in September 2008, marks the first environmental education center for Audubon Arizona and is the result of a capital campaign that raised more than $7 million, most of it locally. Once complete, the center will serve as a gateway to the city of Phoenix’s 595-acre Rio Salado Habitat, a restored, five-mile stretch of the Salt River in the heart of Phoenix, and will provide a forum for community-based education programs across the state.
“We are especially thrilled to have Tom’s help in getting the word out about the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, scheduled to open this spring, and will serve as the hub of Audubon Arizona’s environmental education and conservation programming for many years to come. We know that Tom’s leadership will make an immeasurable difference to Audubon and therefore to the survival of Arizona’s wildlife and habitats,” added Campana.
Ortega’s affiliation with Audubon Arizona builds on RIESTER’s staunch commitment as Brand Activists™, turning consumers into believers through a deep understanding of behavior change and an ability to motivate lasting involvement. It is with this dedication to activism that RIESTER has helped motivate consumers to use alternative modes of transportation to reduce air pollution, increase recycling efforts and the prevention of tobacco use among children.
“Making a positive difference is at the core of RIESTER, for us and on behalf of our clients,” said Ortega. “RIESTER employees are passionate about what they do in their business and personal lives and we know that if we are going to talk the talk, we must walk the walk.”
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 creation, public relations, government relations and Web marketing. The agency has offices in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Phoenix.
RIESTER is the agency of record for multiple regional and national clients including: McDonalds; Culligan; Hormel; HERDEZ; Veterinary Pet Insurance; Arizona Lottery; Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; Casino Arizona; the Arizona Meth Project; the Utah Methamphetamine Public Awareness Campaign; and the California Department of Conservation. RIESTER’s public affairs activities include statewide and local ballot measure campaigns, as well as candidate campaigns, for municipal, state and federal offices.
RIESTER has been named the fastest growing, privately held advertising and public relations agency in the country by Inc. magazine four consecutive years. In 2001, Creativity Magazine listed RIESTER among the Top 20 Creative Agencies to Watch in America. Visit us on the web at www.riester.com.
About Audubon Arizona
Audubon Arizona’s mission is to further the protection of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through science, education, advocacy and conservation, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. Visit http://az.audubon.org/ for more information.
