Solem & Associates' client work covers the spectrum of California public affairs activity, including strategy, lobbying, media relations, videos, and website design. Among our newest work in 2009: communications strategy and media relations for the world's largest solar thermal energy project; media, videos and a new website for a company that produces all-natural fertilizer for vegetables and fruits; and public opinion research, community outreach and materials for Northern California's first Express Lanes.

10/2/09 Many Faces of Transportation

In Fall 2009 Solem tackled three transportation initiatives which all help people get around the Bay Area without driving their cars. Solem lobbied for San Francisco's para-transit provider, Veolia Transportation, which manages the bus-taxi system for senior citizens and the disabled; lobbied for City CarShare, which provides its members with a fleet of green vehicles for short-term use to supplement public transportation instead of car ownership; and manage the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Alameda County's biggest Park & Ride lot, the Ardenwood lot where 350 commuters leave their cars and take AC Transit buses to work each day.

Solem also teamed with Caltrans to announce a major congestion relief project for East Bay commuters -- opening the first segment of eastbound I-580 carpool lane in Pleasanton and Livermore. A bus-full of local leaders was the first vehicle on the lane, which is the first new lane on this busy freeway in 40 years. When the second segment is completed in 2011, the entire 11-mile stretch will open as an Express Lane, where solo drivers can pay a toll electronically to share the lane with carpoolers and transit buses.

7/24/09 "Green Roadway" Project

Genedics Clean Energy LLC hired Solem to publicize its patented “Green Roadway” project, a system to create and collect clean energy by placing solar panels or small windmills on the right-of-way along roadways and railways. Solem began a national media campaign by teaming with the Route 66 Alliance for a media event to demonstrate the Green Roadway system along America's favorite highway. Over the next month, Solem secured coverage of the Green Roadway in the New York Times, local newspapers from Alabama to Malibu, and digital media sites covering clean energy and investments.

5/26/09 Awards for Solem's Environmental Work

Solem & Associates won two 2009 Awards of Distinction from the International Academy of the Visual Arts and the Communicator Awards for three mailers we prepared last year for Pacific Gas and Electric Company's “Green Marin” program. The series of mail pieces to residents of Marin County described PG&E's environmental programs and clean energy plans for the county. We won the awards in the Direct Mail and the Community Awareness Program categories.

4/03/09 Protecting Miners

Client Compass Minerals turned to Solem for help in protecting miners working for a subsidiary, North American Salt Company, which provides salt for de-icing highways throughout the country from mines in Louisiana and Canada. The Louisiana miners have serious concerns about a proposal to store 46 billion cubic feet of pressurized natural gas adjacent to the underground salt mine. Solem is providing full communications services for the mine. In April 2009 Solem designed a new website, www.coteblanchemine.com, explaining the issue.

1/20/09 Don Solem at the Inauguration

Don Solem watched President Obama's Inauguration from special guest seats, then attended a congressional luncheon and the Western Ball on the historic day. "It was thrilling and inspiring and really, really cold," he said. For the rest of the week in Washington, Don met with journalists and policy-makers on Capitol Hill.

10/31/08 Here Comes the Express Lane

Solem & Associates put together (with Caltrans) the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bay Area's first Express Lane, a 14-mlle stretch of I-680 over the Sunol Grade. The Express Lane lets solo drivers pay electronically to use the lane while carpools continue to use it for free. Earlier, Solem's public opinion research division, SA|Opinion Research, conducted a survey that found commuters favor the plan by a 2-to-1 margin. The groundbreaking for the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency featured federal, state and local officials and our "how-it-works" video which you can see at www.680expresslane.org.

9/20/08 Solem Volunteers!

On September 20th, Solem employees Dave Hyams, Vanessa Lindlaw, Chris Nishimura and Pamela Davis participated in the "Community Clean Team" with the San Francisco Department of Public Works, SF Connect and Friends of the Urban Forest to clean Warm Water Cove Park in San Francisco's Bayview District.

The Community Clean Team visits a different district of the city each month, coordinating volunteers to sweep streets and sidewalks, tend to neighborhood trees and plants, work on gardening projects, and paint out graffiti in parks, schools, and neighborhoods all over the district.

4/9/08 ALS Patient Carries Olympic Torch

Solem & Associates handled public relations for the ALS Association of the Bay Area to draw attention to Lou Gehrig disease victim Lorri Coppola carrying the Olympic torch in San Francisco. As the torch parade's route changed amid protests about China and the Olympics, Solem staffer Chris Nishimura raced ahead to get the photo of Lorri's big moment.

3/18/08 Announcing a $100 Million Agreement

Solem & Associates managed communications and media surrounding a $100 million agreement between the governments of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians and Sonoma County, California, which clears the way for the Tribe to replace its interim casino with a world-class destination resort in the wine country north of San Francisco. Under the agreement, the Tribe will pay fees to the county for 12 years and restrict hours of alcohol sales at its resort-hotel. Solem worked under strict confidentiality with the Tribe, the county, and attorneys for both parties to develop the press release and fact sheet summarizing the agreement, then handled media coverage at the county government building, at the Tribe's headquarters, and at the Tribe's existing casino when the agreement was approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

2/3/08: Marin Independent-Journal Shows Some R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2/1/08: Solem & Associates Profiled in O’Dwyers PR Report

12/1/07: Solem Gets New Digs

9/22/07: Media abounds for Solem client, Alameda Congestion Management Agency

7/26/07 World’s Largest Solar Project

Solem & Associates is providing communications strategy, media and other services to Solel Solar Systems, developer of a 553-megawatt solar power project in the Mojave Desert to bring clean energy to customers of PG&E. In July 2007, we helped arrange the announcement of the project, called the Mojave Solar Park, to the media and to government agencies. This is the largest single solar power project in the world. We provide ongoing communications regarding the project and Solel’s solar thermal parabolic trough technology, which captures the sun’s heat to drive turbines to generate electricity.

Cleaire Diesel Exhaust Purifiers

Solem & Associates provides communications and media services to Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, which designs, manufactures and installs diesel exhaust filters for in-use vehicles. The filters help fleet owners meet California Air Resources Board requirements to reduce emission of toxic particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Solem created a well-covered media event on Treasure Island in September 2006 to celebrate the near-completion of the Clean Diesel Bus Program, which is installing diesel exhaust filters on 1,700 buses for 13 transit districts in the Bay Area. The event featured San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Metropolitan Transportation Commission Chair Jon Rubin, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District Executive Officer Jack Broadbent. Solem also organized media events for San Joaquin Valley school districts that are retrofitting their school buses with Cleaire’s exhaust purifiers.

Serving San Francisco, The Bay Area and California

One Daniel Burnham Ct., Suite 100-C, San Francisco, CA 94109
tel 415-788-7788 • fax 415-788-7858 • solem@solem.com

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