MERIT Media Relations LLC
Providing SUPERIOR public relations for North American manufacturers since 1998.
Company announcements about capabilities, patents, new plants, equipment additions, appointments/promotions and new technologies: all targeted specifically to trade news organizations and websites worldwide that reach YOUR customers.
Experience the VALUE of "third-party endorsements."
Instead of you tooting your own horn, have the editorial content of publications talk about your capabilities.
Which Means It's a Good Time For:
News Releases
We have our own internal database of news organizations specifically selected to reach your precise audience.
News Backgrounders
For information that may affect your customers, bring employees and suppliers together with concise, clear information to ensure everyone's on the same page.
B2B Communications
Put your specific industry and customers in sharp focus via a business-to-business database honed over decades within MERIT Media Relations LLC.
Appointments & Promotions
Provide your staff with a real boost by announcing their success to your local news media and industry trade publications worldwide.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Show positive news about how your company is growing. New equipment, personnel and capabilities - - they all depict positive movement forward.
Local, National & International Focus
Since MERIT's founding in 1998, we continually add and update an internal database of news outlets unique to each client.
On time... on target.
Why Using a PR Firm Like MERIT Makes Sense.
Diligent Use of the AP Style Format.
The AP Stylebook is the world's leading professional grammar and punctuation guide used throughout corporate communications. MERIT follows the AP Style 100%. The result? Editors don't have to rewrite news releases from Don's clients.
Well-Researched & Factual Communications.
MERIT's news releases are accurate: well-documented information containing source references (as needed) provide the client's news release with credibility
News Releases Are Concise, Tightly Written.
Exactly what editors are looking for: well-written and always including the Who, What, When, Where, Why & How.
Since 1981, Don has been a guest columnist published in business and daily newspapers across the United States.... relentlessly seeking letter-perfect, easy-to-read communications for audiences worldwide.
Trade Industry Editors Know & Trust MERIT's Work.
Working closely since 1989 with trade media in: packaging, food & beverages, law enforcement & security, pet food, can manufacturing, parenting, label industry, meat trades, plastics industry, inks, candy/confectionery, food safety, medical devices & pharma-related news.
Knowing what editors are looking for, Don fine-tunes a selection of hometown print & electronic news media in the cities where clients are located: let your corporate neighbors and local business editors know your good news.
And Then There's MERIT's Superb Database.
A work-in-progress for over 30 years, Don's expansive database of B2B news outlets is continually updated to include print, electronic and online news outlets that welcome MERIT's news releases and visual images.
Upon completion of a project, clients also receive Don's list of those organizations receiving a specific news release.
In Others' Words.
Peter H. Coors (Chairman, Molson Coors, Golden, Colorado)
"Don Shook is a total professional in the communications arena... experienced, clever, thorough and dependable... a pithy sense of humor (and) a unique ability to serve clients."
Pat Reynolds (VP/Editor Emeritus, Packaging World, Chicago, Illinois)
"Don Shook brings a rock-solid, down-to-earth ability to communicate effectively and accurately. He is a PR person I trust."
Lisa McTigue Pierce (Editor, Packaging Digest, Oak Brook, Illinois)
"Don Shook is tops in his profession... (he) easily balances being aggressive for his customers without being irritating to editors... and let me tell you, that isn't always easy to do!"
Yolanda Simonsis (Editorial Director [retired], Paper Film & Foil Converter, Chicago, Illinois)
"Don Shook delivers. He's never failed me over the course of 30+ years he's served my industry. Don is an editor's best friend and a client's dream."
Jeffrey H. Coors, Executive Chairman, Graphic Packaging International Inc., Golden, Colorado
"Don Shook's combined knowledge of packaging processes (and) attention-to-detail, and his expertise were valuable tools in keeping our name in front of the industry."
About Us.
Knowledge & Experience.
After a successful 14-year career in Corporate Communications management with Adolph Coors Company at their headquarters in Golden, Colorado, Don Shook founded MERIT Media Relations LLC in 1998. At that time, Don's immediate supervisor, President Jeff Coors - - and his subsidiary - - became Don's first client.
While with Coors from 1984 through 1998, the brewery expanded its products into all 50 United States, multiple foreign countries, saw the end of a 10-year strike and boycott, and grew substantially amidst the backdrop of the nationwide "Beer Wars."
For media relations programs Don developed and implemented at Coors, he received Bronze Quills, a Silver Quill and the Gold Quill Award of Excellence (team award) from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Academics & Communications Background.
A native of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Don was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is a member of the national Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
He then began an eight-year career in network-affiliated TV news and professional motion picture production in the major markets of Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Minneapolis and Denver.
Then, A Switch into Law Enforcement.
In 1975, Don joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Golden, Colorado (in the mountains just west of Denver and the state's most populous county).
Following the Training Academy and certification as a commissioned officer, his tours of duty included the County Jail, Civil Division and uniformed Patrol. Don then served three years as JCSO's first-ever Public Information Officer, reporting directly to the longtime Sheriff, Harold Bray.
During his nine years with JCSO, Don received FBI training following his appointment as a Kidnap / Hostage Negotiator for the Sheriff's Office.
He also achieved Marksman, Sharpshooter and Expert levels in police weapons and was one of three high-ranking officers selected to serve as a member of the Oral Review Board: the final step for applicants seeking careers with the Sheriff's Office.
Don's Interests.
Photography, international travel, motion pictures, puns, classical music, current events and "collecting" American state capitals and world continents. His late model car has been driven in all 48 of the continental United States.
Family.
Don and his late wife of 37 years, Maggie, have a grown daughter living in the Boise, Idaho, area. Like her father, Danielle has also set foot in all 50 of the United States.
Alas, his daughter is pathetically missing many of the 49 state capitals Don has visited.
Military Service.
Don is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he was selected for Officer Training School and pilot training.