Knutson Construction Services
Using a company's past to build for the future is what Blue Grotto does best. We helped Knutson Construction to produce an 8-page publication that celebrates the history of their Rochester office, it also defines Knutson's important place in Minnesota's construction industry. {Click here to view full publication}
Blue Grotto also works with Knutson, providing copywriting and strategic thinking to augment their extensive marketing efforts. Blue Grotto's input has helped Knutson articulate the outcomes of its research in its new business proposals, communications outlets such as newsletter and website, and other materials vital to its sales efforts in its Minneapolis, Rochester and Iowa City offices.
Blake Schools
Expecting Good Things of All was published to celebrate the centennial
of the Blake Schools, one of Minnesota's most prominent private
educational institutions. This rich story of thousands of students,
teachers and the school that shaped them has an eye for historical
context within both the Twin Cities and 20th century education. Blake
used the publication as a community-building instrument and an outreach
tool for future students and faculty.
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Dakota
This residential program serving persons with
disabilities focused on communicating the organization's values in its
25th anniversary year. The 30-page publication produced for its
anniversary was widely distributed to donors as well as prospective
donors, families of clients, staff and volunteers.
Despatch Industries
The manufacturer of heating solutions and ovens
marked its centennial with an extensive anniversary program that
included promotional materials and events for customers and employees.
Despatch produced two anniversary publications: a 64-page book telling
the story of the company's traditions and success; and a 32-page
magazine-style publication celebrating the company's history and
establishing Despatch's role as an industry leader.
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Farmers Home Mutual
The company chose to highlight its elaborate
100-year history in a 38-page publication, They Built Better Than They
Knew: The Tale of Farmers Home Mutual. Farmers used their publication
as an opportunity to reflect on the people, decisions and market forces
that shaped them over a century in business. The publication defined
their strengths and successes by demonstrating how they adhered to
sound business principles and convservative practices throughout their
century in business, all while surviving economic tailspins, two world
wars, and monumental industry changes.
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Minnesota Families Career Community Leaders of America
The Minnesota State Chapter of FCCLA’s
60th anniversary offered the organization a great way to raise
awareness of the values of its organization, the contributions of
student chapters, the commitment of their members and advisors, and the
important role FCCLA plays in Minnesota communities.
With planning and communications support from Blue
Grotto, Minnesota FCCLA used their milestone to:
- Share the history of FCCLA as an organization
that has helped shape the lives of thousands of Minnesotans.
- Reach out to the 350,000 state alumni who have
participated in their programs during the past 60 years.
- Gain media recognition for the highly
successful and long standing work of the organization.
- Attract the attention of new sources of support
for FCCLA’s future in Minnesota.
The Frey Family Legacy
The family of Gene and Mary Frey commissioned From Waldorf to Wabash:
The Frey Family Legacy, a publication documenting Gene's career growth
from sales assistant to CEO of Waldorf Paper, and the family's
tri-generation history during that same 45-year period. The 64-page
book articulates the values of dedication, perseverance and faith that
were present throughout Gene and Mary's life, and provides insight and
guidelines for future generations in managing the family business and
foundation.
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Hamline University
Extensive planning work helped the University's
executive team incorporate the school's 150th anniversary into its
strategic plan. Audiences and ownership opportunities were identified;
measurement and evaluation tools developed; and a comparative study of
other university and college milestone celebrations allowed the
university to confidently prepare its own anniversary program.
Health East
An oral history program was begun to document the
organization's collective 150-year history from the sisters of St.
Joseph beginning the first hospital in the Minnesota Territories to a
recently established Woodwinds Campus that offers a holistic approach
to health care.
The James J Hill Reference Library
The Saint Paul-based business library created a
50-page publication to honor its 75th anniversary, using it to
introduce the organization and its services to business leaders,
potential clients, donors and patrons. The publication was distributed
to corporate research staffs across Minnesota to help generate business
for its fee-based, custom research division. An anniversary-year
promotional campagin focused on raising the Library's visibility and
increasing donations.
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On the heels of major change in leadership, 3M
created an anniversary publication as a key part of a worldwide
centennial anniversary program
that included employee events and a public relations campaign. More
than
250 interviews were conducted for the project in an effort to identify
best practices and philosophies that have guided the company during its
century of growth and innovation.
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Lakewood Cemetary
Haven in the Heart of the City celebrates the
100-year history of one of the country's most beautiful and influential
cemeteries. This four color, coffee table sized book traces the history
of an emerging business that paralleled the growth of the city of
Minneapolis itself. Through its anniversary publication, Lakewood
claimed its role in community leadership, social history and as a
prominent Minnesota institution.
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Lifetouch
The Lifetouch Family Album was created to
celebrate the growth of Lifetouch's business curing its first 50 years.
The publication tells the story of a company that achieved substantial
growth while addressing the complexities of providing school
photography across the country. By focusing on the stories of business
pioneers who built the company from scratch, the employee-owned
business was able to articulate the values and dedication that formed
the basis for its success.
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Lyngblomsten
Lyngblomsten realized that their Centennial
represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get the attention of
multiple audiences. With the Blue Grotto team’s help,
Lyngblomsten found ways to recount their history of service to the
community. Targeted communications, a revamped newsletter, a Centennial
logo, special events throughout the year and even commissioning a Hymn
– all served as tools to maximize the opportunity of this
milestone.
An oral history project helped Lyngblomsten to
gather the organization’s “DNA”
– the inherent philosophies, values and best practices that
make up Lyngblomsten’s competitive advantages. The oral
history process also complemented ongoing brand development efforts by
assessing how well the people important to the organization’s
success know and understand its culture.
Medtronic
The objective
of this half-century anniversary
project was to articulate the unchanged
mission and core values of the company while communicating growth and
continuing
development of new products. Patient stories were used to illustrate
the company's commitment to solving the most challenging, life-limiting
medical
problems. The 36-page publication, which was used as Medtronic's annual
report
in its 50th year, was also used as a vehicle to introduce the company's
new logo
and branding strategy.
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Merchant & Gould
Merchant & gould, a leading intellectual
Property law firm, created Advancing Innovation: Merchant &
Gould-100 Years of IP Law to articulate its century-long traditions of
teamwork, growth and expansion. This 32-page publication profiled how
the firm's strong culture of employee loyalty and industry expertise
helped it to build a reputation for excellence and become nationally
prominent in its industry.
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National Car Rental
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the company
published 50 Years Behind the Wheel, a historical corporate publication
that celebrated its reaching of this major milestone. NCR distribued
the book to employees and corporate partners worldwide.
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Royal Bank of Canada
A benchmarking study of competitors in the Twin Cities financial
services market assisted the company in its due diligence before
merging with Dain Rauscher. The project relied on the interview process
and synthesis of information generated by Blue Grotto Inc. staff.
Risdall Advertising Agency
To commemorate their 30th anniversary, the
advertising firm commissioned a series of one-on-one interviews with
owners, employees, customers and community partners. Risdall Linnihan
incorporated anecdotal information into marketing efforts, staff
recruitment and retention and strategic planning.
River Hills
A series of one-on-one interviews captured the
history of the school, begun 35 years earlier in response to the need
for a kindergarten in fledgling Burnsville, Minnesota. Anniversary
themes were incorporated into student recruitment, church
communications, development efforts, and community relations.
Robinson Rubber Products Company
The story of Robinson Rubber Products Company pays
homage to a family patriarch whose courage and entrepreneurial spirit
enabled him to create a forward-thinking business during the Great
Depression. The Robinson family chronicles the history of their family
business to demonstrate how hard work and preseverance created economic
security for themselves, their employees and future generations.
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University of Minnesota Alumni Association
This publication shares the extensive stories of
the UMAA and its
volunteers' devotion to the University throughout its 100-year history.
From the founding of the organization through its emergence as a
prominent source of funding and support for the University, the 36-page
publication communicates the important role that U of M alumni have
played in the institution's success.
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Yamamoto Moss
Extensive planning work helped the company
maximize a two decade milestone. A strategic plan was developed to
align tactics with corporate objectives ensuring that year-long
activities, including the company's pro bono work reflected the
company's values system.
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