FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:

Jim Hughes
The Brand Establishment
949-633-3254

Teddie O’Keefe
Smith O’Keefe and Associates
800-222-0461

Ken Smith, CEO of  Smith O'Keefe and Associates in southern New Jersey, becomes one of only 10 Certified Brand Strategists in the U.S.

Orange County, Calif. (April 25, 2006) – The Brand Establishment, the only organization in the U.S. certifying brand development experts, announced that Ken Smith, CEO and a principal in Smith O'Keefe and Associates, Egg Harbor Township, N.J., has achieved the designation of Certified Brand Strategist (CBS). Ken becomes only the 10th agency principal in the country to achieve that designation.

"The certification process is like graduate school in brand development," stated Jim Hughes, founder of The Brand Establishment and a nationally recognized expert in the field. The Brand Establishment was formed to educate and train an elite group of the best-of-the-best agency principals nationwide at a graduate school curriculum level. Certified Brand Strategists employ a proven methodology to identify a client's Claim of Distinction and the compelling evidence that clearly differentiates it from competitors – a process perfected over 20 years of assisting hundreds of clients unearth their brand essence and develop a brand positioning strategy to compete effectively in their marketplace.

"Ken is a national-level strategic thinker and an extraordinarily astute brand expert," said Tony Mikes, chairman of the Brand Strategies Institute Certifying Board and founder of Second Wind, the largest network of advertising and public relations firms in the U.S. with over 850 member firms. The Certifying Board is comprised of academic leaders in brand development from the University of North Carolina, Syracuse University and the University of Oklahoma, as well as national leaders from the marketing and advertising fields.

"Ken's expertise is at such a high level that we selected him to be our lead consultant in developing the structure and content of our new web site," added Hughes. "We expect Ken to be a major force nationally in shaping brand development’s increasing importance and recognized value in growing and sustaining company profitability," he said.

Smith O’Keefe provides brand strategy, marketing, public relations, advertising and Internet services to clients nationwide and internationally. Contact Smith O’Keefe and Associates at 609-653-0400 or via email at info@smithokeefe.com.

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