We asked our associates what their moms taught them, and here’s what they had to say:

Growing up on a farm in Iowa, my mom was a teacher and mentor on many fronts.  One of her favorite lines she used with me was: “Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can get done today.  Because tomorrow there will be just as much to do, if not more.”  She is still alive and doing well with her garden and hiking near the Cedar River in northern Iowa. — Greg Nickerson, CEO

Ashley Schaible and her motherMy mom taught me to give people the benefit of the doubt. More often than not, they are trying their best and are well-intentioned. Help if they ask and work to understand where they are coming from if you don’t see eye to eye. — Ashley Schaible, PR account executive

My first summer job was watering grass at a condominium complex where my mother worked as an administrative secretary. We drove to work together, and once we were there, I was just another worker. There was no messing around. She expected to be treated as a colleague, and she made clear that she would tolerate no nonsense from me. She showed me that you need to take what you do seriously, and that how you conduct yourself at work matters. — Bob Helbig, proofreader

The Word of Mouth Marketing Crash Course is one day jam-packed with 12 how-to classes, 12 case studies from big brands (including Costco, Domino’s, Boeing and Maker’s Mark) and six amazing authors. Have you seen the books Grant received before the conference? These @WOMorg people really mean business!

Follow Grant tweeting from the conference (@TosaRover), and look for a blog post next week.

We’re thrilled about more than just getting to know Greg better; having a CEO who is willing to embrace social media is great for business. A recent study claimed that “77 percent of people say they are more likely or much more likely to purchase a product from a company if its higher-ups are tweeting.” That’s a pretty substantial reason to start sharing your 140-character thoughts!

Inc.com recently published an article about why CEOs should tweet, including relationship-building and connecting personally with employees. And not too long ago, Mashable created an infographic with a similar message — “Social media is no longer a fad. Since sites like Twitter…and LinkedIn are a part of daily life, we’re starting to expect more social engagement from CEOs.”

Well, that’s exactly what you expect from Greg. And you never know, he may even answer some of your questions from time to time. Happy connecting, everyone!

Even if you’re not counting down the days until football season, the draft offers several lessons for your brand.

1. Challenge corporate transparency norms.
Originally developed as an equitable way for teams to acquire top collegiate talent, the NFL draft is now a calendar event. The meeting could easily be conducted behind closed

Quinoa-crusted diver scallops perched on top of wilted spinach and potato-parsnip purée, with golden beet and crabmeat “cannelloni,” and a duet of red beet and passion fruit reductions.

I recently attended a presentation by Louie Gentine, president and chief customer officer of Sargento. He was speaking to the Milwaukee chapter of the American Marketing Association about top food trends that are influencing his business. He mentioned that there is a rising trend of people looking for a shared food experience. Social media and mobile technology have allowed us to be more connected than ever — and what better way to connect than over food?

Think about all the food blogs out there where self-proclaimed foodies share their experiences about the food they make or eat. And consider the mobile food carts where people gather to try new things. Is this phenomenon really about the food? Or is it more about the sense of community these foodies feel as a result of hunting down their favorite food cart? But this trend isn’t exclusive to bustling city streets.

The purpose for my overnight trek was to attend the Business Marketing Association of New York City’s ACE Awards ceremony at the legendary Edison Ballroom near Times Square. After picking up Best of Show in our local BMA program, as well as multiple first-place Bell Awards, we thought we would “take our act to Broadway,” so to speak, and enter our clients’ work in the prestigious ACE program. Our work was going up against some of the country’s largest B2B agencies, as well as such prominent national brands as IBM, American Express, GE and Google.

1. Remember that thing called networking?
Yes, I know it gets old hearing about it, but it’s true. Since Jan. 1 of this year, more than 50 percent of our new hires have been employee referrals. It’s time to reconnect with people via LinkedIn, Twitter and even Facebook. You just never know whose friend, sister or brother can make the connection.

2. Google yourself
Make sure potential employers are seeing you in a positive light. After all, not everyone is as fortunate as Brangelina to have a publicity team, so make sure your brand makes the right statement about you.

 3. Show off your work (for free!)
Review your Linkedin profile and make sure it has the most up-to-date information. Whether in digital or creative, there is no better way to promote your brand (for free) than by attaching your portfolio or SlideShare account to your public LinkedIn profile. Recruiters not only look for experience but also what you are capable of doing on the job. Showcasing your work can be the extra piece of the puzzle that gets you in the door.

4. Don’t hesitate to make a good first impression
When inquiring about positions, it may feel uncomfortable reaching out to someone you don’t know via email or LinkedIn, but this kind of outreach can really pay off. Just remember, this is your first impression, and it counts, regardless of what the attached resume reflects. Craft your email as carefully as you’d write a cover letter. This email should include a high-level overview of your experience and express your personality. Give the recruiter a sense of who you are. Plus, don’t forget about the subject line. Be concise but creative. You want to get attention.

5. Do your research
Here at Bader Rutter, we have a very small recruitment team; don’t hesitate to pull up Google and find out who we are. “Dear Sir or Madam” just doesn’t cut it anymore with the vast amount of information at your fingertips.

6. Share your personal brand
If your outreach does lead to an interview, be prepared to talk about your personal brand. In the social-media-obsessed world we live in, your personal brand is everywhere. The strategy you have for building awareness about your personal brand says a lot about what you likely understand about building awareness for our clients’ brands.

7. Look the part
Dress to impress. Even if you’re interviewing at an agency where jeans are acceptable work attire, you want to dress professionally for your interview. No one says you have to wear a three-piece suit, but putting on the right outfit will prove that you’re serious about the position and the work that you do. 

These are a few suggestions for getting noticed, especially in an area of marketing that’s rapidly growing and changing. Refresh your presence and see where it takes you. Good luck!

In today’s culture, the meaning of “social life” extends far beyond personal interaction and into the world of mobile and social media. Twitter, location-based applications such as foursquare and other mobile applications are the easiest way for visitors to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings around the city.

If you’ve read through our career opportunities recently, you’d agree — Bader Rutter is looking for employees who have a digital understanding and can contribute to conversations about new media. And in the Journal Sentinel article, John sums up the reason why: “Digital is just becoming so pervasive across all communication channels.”

For the past few months, a senior colleague of mine has been mentoring a group of younger Bader Rutter associates biweekly during our lunch breaks. Outlook deems the meeting “Writing Workshop,” but I think of it also as a time to improve and grow in areas beyond just writing. Typically, we convene to discuss topics and share what we’re learning. We also leave with a homework assignment to discuss the next time we gather. 

Homework assignments range from bringing in a great piece of journalism (I brought a Marie Claire article on breast cancer), to reviewing a news release from a company enduring a crisis, to making a list of areas where we’re uncomfortable writing (maybe this