Get ready to take on the 2014 River North Challenge June 24

Let the games begin! Competitors are eagerly forming teams to compete in the 5^th Annual River North Challenge hosted by the River North Business Association June 24. Teams will spend a memorable evening adventuring through River North hotels, partaking in mental and physical challenges. Each check point presents a new challenge, when accomplished earning competitors “challenge points” towards a grand prize as well as a stamp on their “passport”. A team’s overall point sum, completed passport and the accuracy of their challenge answers will ultimately determine this year’s River North Challenge winner!

The locations along the River North Challenge will keep you fueled for success. This event, which delivers in the fun and games department, is accompanied by complimentary food and beverages at River North’s favorite destinations -- Challenge Stops.

Each Challenge Stop presents teams with the choice of an active challenge, mental challenge or both to gain maximum points. Upon completion of each challenge the team will be provided with the location of their next challenge.  Bonus Checkpoints along the journey will provide competitors with additional opportunities to increase point totals.

Start getting your team together because you won’t want to miss out on these prizes. The winning team will take home a tremendous prize package from the Businesses of River North. All event participants also will be entered in a Door Prize Drawing to further their chances of taking home great prizes such as gift certificates from restaurants, bars, hotels and spa packages.

Teams are encouraged to wear costumes and uniforms, or design their look around a team theme. Go big or go home, because the teams with the most creative attire will win big!

Upon completion of the challenge, enjoy the River North Challenge After Party at Cantina Laredo. While waiting for the Challenge winners to be announced, competitors can relax with food and beverages.

Register as a team of four for $150 or purchase a Single ticket for $40 and be placed on a team. Food and beverage will also be provided at each major hotel stop.

Registration takes place at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza beginning at 5:30 pm. The Challenge takes place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is followed by the after party at the Cantina Laredo at 8:30 p.m. June 24.

River North Challenge is presented Comcast Business Services and brought to you by the River North Business Association. Registration Sponsor is  Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza and After Party Sponsor is Cantina Laredo. Hotels involved in the event include Aloft City Center, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn and Suites, Homewood Suites and Hyatt Place.

For questions call the River North Business Associations at 312-645-1047.

River North Business Association represents more than 325 businesses in the area bounded by the Chicago River to the south and west, Division on the north and Wabash on the east. The area boasts the highest concentration of restaurants and entertainment venues and is Chicago’s most exciting neighborhood to live, work, shop, dine and play. For more information, visit www.rivernorthassociation.com.

Kurman Communications Opens Southeast Regional Office in Miami Area

Chicago-based Kurman Communications Inc. announced today the opening of Kurman Communications Southeast to provide the Southeastern region, including the greater Fort Lauderdale area south to Miami and out to the Keys, with integrated public relations, brand marketing, strategic communications planning, and social media networking, plus a wide variety of related services for the restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment industries.    

"South Florida's vibrant dining and entertainment venues are in the forefront of the culinary arts and Kurman Communications Southeast is uniquely positioned to assist those well-known establishments, as well as new entries to the scene," President Cindy Kurman Barrie said. "With 30 years of outstanding service to the restaurant industry, as well as our work in the hospitality, entertainment, technology, automotive and business fields, this is a perfect and exciting time for expansion into the Southeastern region."    

"We've created Kurman Communications Southeast to offer clients in the region our full complement of services, including maximum capabilities in social networking, social media and internet-based word of mouth marketing to create buzz, solidify the public's perception, and build excitement and loyalty for the brand," Kurman Vice President Lee Barrie remarked. "Our agency blog, www.gotbuzzatkurman.com keeps the media and consumers up to date and blissfully aware of our client highlights."   

Kurman Communications Southeast is managed by seasoned veteran and Fort Lauderdale resident Rick Karlin. "Rick has been a fixture on the Chicago dining and entertainment scene for more than 30 years," said Kurman Barrie. "He brings a breadth and depth of experience and passion for this business that will help make our clients succeed. He's a delight to work with. I know that under his direction, clients will be in skillful hands."    

Kurman Barrie's agency has represented a wide array of restaurant, hospitality, entertainment, philanthropic and business clients, many of which have been nationally recognized under Kurman's artful direction. They have represented many well-known brands from automotive giant Chrysler and General Motors to business start-ups, independent and franchise businesses and entrepreneurs. 

Known for its successful marketing of restaurants and hospitality venues, Kurman has represented national brands such as Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Quiznos, Houlihan's, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Devon Seafood Grill, and Gordon Biersch. They are equally accomplished in marketing independent ventures such as Coco Pazzo, Nick's Fishmarket, and Tru, offering the Southeastern region a proven track in establishing and building brands.    

Kurman is equally respected in the hospitality industry arena. The company has opened and marketed many national brands including Crowne Plaza Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Le Meridien Chicago, Omni Chicago Hotel, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, South Floridian Hotels, Whitehall Hotel, and Wyndham International.    

The company has a long history in automotive marketing and public relations stemming from Kurman Barrie's background with Crain Communications' Automotive News. The company has represented such highly respected projects as the Chicago Auto Show, World of Wheels, and served as the Midwest public relations director of Chrysler Corp. for 10 years under Lee A. Iacocca.  

 

About Kurman Communications Southeast Regional Director, Rick Karlin  

Heading up the operations at Kurman Communications Southeast is Rick Karlin, a writer and communications specialist with more than 30 years of experience in the dining and entertainment industry.   

"It's an incredible opportunity for the local restaurant, hospitality, entertainment and business community as we launch Kurman Communications Southeast," Karlin offered. "Cindy Kurman Barrie's leadership, expertise and absolute dedication to her clients speak for themselves. What we're doing is bringing all that talent and skill to the Southeast region to deliver a face-to-face presence for our clients."  

Karlin has been a "snowbird" for a number of years, while continuing to write and edit for a number of Chicago publications and web sites. He has relocated to Fort Lauderdale permanently to head up the Kurman Communications Southeast office as Southeast Regional Director. In addition to reporting on and reviewing restaurants, hotels, entertainment and travel, he has both back and front of the house experience in the restaurant industry. He is also a published author and produced playwright.  

His reportorial work has appeared in print nationally in Genre Magazine and on such internet sites as Metromix, Huffington Post and GoPride.com. In Chicago, he has written or edited for Outlines/Nitelines, Windy City Times, Chicago Free Press and boiMAGazine. He has also written for The Wisconsin Gazette and Florida Agenda.

"Rick and I have known and worked with each other for years," Kurman Barrie said. "He always delivers full value with an absolute dedication to his craft. This is truly an exciting time for Kurman Communications Southeast."  

For more information about Kurman Communications Southeast, please contact Rick Karlin at kurmanSE@kurman.com or (786) 571-7428. Visit the Kurman website at www.kurman.com and the Kurman blog, www.gotbuzzatkurman.com.