The Bernhardt Agency Sees Strong Demand for Public Speaking Services; Agency Adds Silicon Graphics and National Semiconductor to Client Roster

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2002

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2002

Announces Strategic Alliance with Gilchrist & Associates

The Bernhardt Agency, Inc. (TBA), a high-tech strategic marketing and communications agency widely recognized for its expertise in the High Performance Computing (HPC) industry, announced today it has been named the agency of record for Silicon Graphics (NYSE:SGI), partnering with the company to provide strategic planning and tactical execution for a corporate-wide public speaking program.

The agency also announced it has added National Semiconductor to its client roster, providing both speaker placement and executive speaker training services.

"As companies start to release their budgets for next year's corporate communications programs, we are seeing an evolving trend to reduce the overall number of vendors, and instead engage with a few strategic partners that bring a versatile set of capabilities and a high value add," said Mike Bernhardt, president and CEO of The Bernhardt Agency. "We are thrilled and honored to add such prestigious accounts to our client family. Bob Bishop, CEO of SGI, and Brian Halla, CEO of National Semiconductor stand out as paragons of authentic leadership, and we look forward to representing their companies as we all start to climb out of this frayed market."

"The Bernhardt Agency has a long history and excellent track record in High Performance Computing, a primary market for SGI. The timing is right for us to take advantage of their strategic capabilities and public speaking expertise," said Marty Coleman, director of public relations for SGI. "Mike Bernhardt is well known and widely respected throughout the HPC community and we welcome him as a partner and member of our communications team."

"The Bernhardt Agency has a proven track record in executive speech services," said Jeff Weir, director of worldwide public relations for National Semiconductor. "Identifying, analyzing, pitching and securing optimal speaking opportunities among the overwhelming number of high tech trade shows and conferences requires expertise and trusted relationships with show organizers -- qualities that TBA possesses."

At the same time, TBA announced it has formed a strategic alliance with Gilchrist & Associates -- a Portland-based marketing communications agency providing its clients with branding programs, advertising, collateral production, packaging design, tradeshow support and website design.

The collaboration with Gilchrist & Associates will further extend TBA's capabilities in providing full-service marketing and communications support to a growing list of clients.

"Having a truly compatible strategic partner allows two companies to think and act like one, delivering tremendous value to mutual clients," said Bonnie Gilchrist, principal of Gilchrist & Associates. "Mike Bernhardt and I have successfully collaborated on a wide variety of technology clients in the past, and have already established the synergy of our two firms. We look forward to leveraging TBA"s strategic marketing and speaker placement capabilities as additional added value for our clients."

TBA has seen a steady rise in demand for its public speaking, executive speaker placement and speaker training services in the past year. "With fewer executives on the road due to lingering corporate travel restrictions, more companies are taking the time to add some `polish' to their executives' public speaking skills," noted Bernhardt. "We've also been heavily involved in helping companies reposition and articulate new messages following an extremely difficult year. Our depth of marketing expertise and communications planning, combined with our growing network of strategic alliance partners, enables us to fulfill numerous marketing support roles for our clients."

About The Bernhardt Agency, Inc.

Founded in 1994, The Bernhardt Agency, Inc. (TBA), is a full-service strategic marketing and communications firm, based in Portland, Oregon. TBA's main business focus is on high-tech marketing, public relations and public speaking services. The agency's speaker services division, consistently one of the top rated, works with companies of all sizes to secure speaking slots at trade shows and conferences around the world. More information on The Bernhardt Agency's public speaking services can be found at www.speakerplacement.com. General information on The Bernhardt Agency can be found at www.BernhardtAgency.com.