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Text 100 Selects Employees to Support Entrepreneurship in TechnoServe Volunteer Program
TechnoServe Program Provides Unique Business and Communications Opportunities in Developing Nations
New York, NY, 09/22/2008 — Text 100, a global public relations agency, today announced that the company has selected two employees to participate in the agency’s pilot volunteer consultant program with TechnoServe, a not-for-profit organization benefiting entrepreneurial men and women in developing countries.
Matthew Mors of Text 100’s Seattle office and Alyssa Weir of Text 100’s Rochester (New York) office will embark on two month development projects in Tanzania and Latin America, respectively, where they will act as marketing advisors while sharing skills and expertise with the local project teams. Text 100 began partnering with TechnoServe as its PR agency of record in February 2008, and this initiative is a natural extension of the company’s existing global secondment program where employees have opportunities to work in other offices to further their professional and personal growth.
“We have a very strong culture at Text 100 that focuses on the growth of our people both personally and professionally,” said Aedhmar Hynes, CEO, Text 100 Global Public Relations. “We already have a long standing, fully paid sabbatical program for our senior staff but sensed that some people were looking for ways to take a break from work and to also do something meaningful with that time. Our relationship with TechnoServe has given us the opportunity to meet that requirement. Text 100 employees across the world have responded very positively to the new sabbatical program and we’re excited about seeing how we can build on this initiative in years to come.”
In Tanzania, Matthew will serve as a volunteer communications consultant in TechnoServe’s Believe Begin Become National Business Plan Competition. The program selects entrepreneurial men and women who possess a demonstrated drive to build their businesses, and provides them with the skills, training and resources to achieve a profitable enterprise. Matthew will play an active role in branding and promoting this year’s competition with public relations campaigns designed to drive submissions from finance-ready enterprises. In addition, he will help develop and facilitate a marketing and branding curriculum for a Master of Business Administration (MBA)-style training that this year’s finalist will receive, and will also individually meet with and advise last year’s finalists on PR and marketing strategies to continue their business development process.
Alyssa will immerse herself in the Idea tu Empresa program, the first linked multi-country business plan competition for aspiring entrepreneurs focused on development, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. The program is designed to attract, train and support entrepreneurs in various countries to grow the small to medium enterprise (SME) sector and has been conducted in four Central American countries, with 2008 marking the inaugural year for South America’s Peru, Chile and Colombia. In her consultant role, Alyssa will assist in developing a communications plan framing strategies in all three countries to raise visibility of the program and deliver recommendations and strategies to competition winners, empowering them to build strong businesses.
“TechnoServe is thrilled to be able to collaborate with Text 100 on these sabbatical assignments that not only provide a valuable learning experience, but also bring its talented communications professionals to engage in our programs,” said Bruce McNamer, President and CEO, TechnoServe. “With Alyssa and Matthew applying their expertise in the field, I am confident that the entrepreneurs we work with will benefit from the expertise that our partners from Text 100 can apply.”
In addition to this program, Text 100 offers a variety of employee benefits focused on progress and well-being. As well as the in-house classroom style learning via Text 100’s “PRotocol University,” employees have online access to a curriculum of tools and resources to help them focus on their individual development needs. Global cross-training initiatives include secondments, a short stay in another Text 100 office with the goal of supporting clients’ business needs, fostering a true sense of team across offices working on key clients, and instilling the spirit of global awareness while exchanging ideas and best practices around the world.
About Text 100
Text 100 is a global public relations agency working with progressive and innovative companies around the world to manage and build brands. The agency’s globally-minded consultants offer industry expertise and specialized knowledge in local markets across 31 offices in 21 countries around the world. With eight practices (including Clean Tech, Corporate Social Responsibility and Peer Media) combined with a leadership position in the social media revolution, Text 100 delivers advanced communication across the globe. Text 100 represents market leaders including Cisco, Fujifilm, IBM and Xerox. Named Best Midsized Agency to Work for by The Holmes Report, Text 100 is also renowned for its commitment to the growth of its people and industry leading benefits. For more information about Text 100, please visit www.text100.com.
About TechnoServe
TechnoServe is leading a movement that empowers people in the developing world to build businesses that break the cycle of poverty. Growing enterprises generate jobs and other income opportunities for poor people, enabling them to improve their lives and secure a better future for their families. Since its founding in 1968, the U.S.-based nonprofit has helped to create or expand thousands of businesses, benefiting millions of people in more than 30 countries. The Financial Times has rated TechnoServe one of the top five NGOs for corporate partnerships. Charity Navigator has also awarded its highest Four Star ranking to TechnoServe.
