WNS Celebrates Action-Packed First Year

 ATLANTA (May 18, 2010) - Happy birthday to me. Well, actually to my company. A year ago today, I opened Wilbert News Strategies LLC for business inside Carter's offices at Atlantic Station.

I started WNS, a PR/communications/social media company with several commercial real estate clients, during the worst commercial real estate market any of us can recall. This backdrop made the past 365 days challenging but satisfying. I realized my goal of firmly establishing WNS in time for the next upswing in real estate.

We also expanded WNS' client roster, anchored by Carter, to include a technology, wealth management and valet parking company and a four-star hotel in tony Buckhead. It pleased me to see my fascination/obsession with social media and social networking translate into new business opportunities. I knew all that blogging and tweeting the past couple years wouldn't be time wasted.

The year's been filled with several new business wins, a few losses and exhilarating and perplexing moments. The highlights include:

1) Working as the local communications rep for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during his May 9-10 visit to Atlanta. It was cool to meet him at a Buckhead party and ask him about the L.A. office market. He showed true class in helping raise awareness of and money for After-School All-Stars.

2) Being in Kasim Reed's room at the Hilton Atlanta when he got the call letting him know he would beat Mary Norwood to win the 2009 Atlanta mayor's race. Serving as mock moderator in the Kasim Reed for Mayor debate prep sessions was pretty cool, too.

3) Landing Carter Chairman and CEO a spot on Bloomberg TV when the national networking broadcast live Dec. 1 from Invesco headquarters at Two Peachtree Pointe.

4) Helping Georgia-Pacific get a story with color art and an info box in The Wall Street Journal's March 31 edition. G-P's $500 million investment in new equipment and technologies in conjunction with the success of Quilted Northern Ultra Plush was big news, especially during the end of the recession.

5) Winning competitive pitches to secure Transwestern Atlanta and The Mansion on Peachtree as new clients. Those calls always are nice to receive. We also received a couple that went the other way.

6) Kicking off Year 2 with great clients, a couple prospects and an improving economy.

As Thornton Kennedy and I embark on WNS' second year, the firm hopes to expand further and is seeking an intern. Come see us.

Comments

[Lisa Simmons]

Congratulations Tony! No one does a better job at covering Atlanta real estate than you. You deserve all your hard-earned success!!

Lisa Simmons
Community One Associates

[Thebuckheadoffice.blogspot.com]

Congrats Tony and Thornton, I love hearing about your success!

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