I have just returned to Denver from the annual gathering of PROI Worldwide, which was May 9 to 11 in New York. MGA has been a member of PROI since 1992, and it was incredible to see how our network continues to grow in global reach and sophistication.

MGAers and representatives from our client, Vaisala, hit the red carpet last week at the annual PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards. MGA and Vaisala took home a Gold Pick for Media Relations – Business to Business and a Silver Pick for Advertorials for the Vaisala Across America tour. We were also honored to see our own Matt Rodriguez receive the Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year Award.

Neil Westergaard’s editorial (subscription only) in this week’s Denver Business Journal is well-written and insightful, describing RTD’s new West Line as an example of collaborative programs among business and government that “required tremendous foresight, planning and execution, and hard work” in order to make this community great. He then derides the public for having “parochial, self-centered, not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) attitudes that can cause similar projects to, well, de-rail.

I recently had the opportunity to take a pre-opening day light rail train tour of RTD’s West Corridor. It is a success story of design, engineering and construction preceded by years of community involvement, in which MGA played a large part.

While consumer spending is once again on the rise, it’s important to remember to build up savings and live within your means. Those are some of the lessons of a recent study by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, which found 57 percent of Americans are worried about a lack of savings. Another 78 percent said it would be useful to talk with a professional about their finances. So where can Coloradans find that kind of assistance? A good place to start is Money Smart Colorado.

A few months ago, ESPN offered a sneak preview of the new batting practice caps from Major League Baseball (MLB) in anticipation of spring training and Opening Day. It seems every three or four years all the baseball teams come up with new designs based on their existing logos and brands. Being a graphic designer, and a native of Chicago, I was most curious to see the Cubs’ new look.

People who know MGA know that we combine a business mindset with a commitment to the public good and we value the important contribution that the nonprofit sector makes in strengthening Colorado communities. That’s why we said yes when the groups involved with the Colorado Collaborative for Nonprofits asked us to help forge the organization’s new brand and visual identity.

My name is Jordan Dolph, and I was a PRSA Colorado Shadow Day student last week at MGA Communications. I am currently a senior at Black Hills State University, studying mass communications with a focus in public relations. I want share my Shadow Day experience with you.

What do social media, teacher training and the Capitol dome restoration all have in common? They are all elements of existing mining industry outreach programs targeting teachers, students, Colorado residents and decision makers.

A few months ago, I was going through the motions of a normal day of classes up at Colorado State University, where I am currently a junior double majoring in journalism (with a concentration in public relations) and apparel merchandising. As my teacher finished up the day’s lecture notes, he handed out a flyer for PRSA Colorado Shadow Day 2013. As a student in this field and member of the PRSSA chapter at CSU, I am always looking for new opportunities to expand my knowledge and real-world experience outside the classroom, so I jumped at the chance to shadow a professional at an agency in Denver.