Lisa Sheehy, Director of Equine Marketing at Peritus, will appear on the Regular Guy Handicapping Show live from River Downs Racecourse in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lisa will be on-air to share her thoroughbred expertise with viewers on Sunday, May 31 throughout the races. The Regular Guy Handicapping show live video airs throughout the U.S. and portions of South America at racetracks and off-track betting parlors every Tuesday and Sunday starting at 1:45 p.m. and lasting through the last race of the day.

The Regular Guy Handicapping Show interacts with the fans through trivia contests and spontaneous interviews with prizes and giveaways. It highlights the casual enjoyment of a day at the races, while advising track guests on contenders for the upcoming races.

After more than 20 years in the thoroughbred industry, Lisa joined Peritus earlier this year to launch the Equine Marketing division. She has owned a horse farm which bred, raised, sold and raced Thoroughbreds.

Robert Samuelson’s recent Newsweek column highlights two “third-rail” political issues policymakers must soon address with more than band aid fixes. In less than a decade Medicare and Social Security will represent 40 percent of all Federal spending. Almost everyone agrees this is a fiscally untenable situation but unfortunately those in power prefer rhetoric over action. As a young professional it pains me to watch so much of my paycheck go to these dying programs which, unless completely overhauled, will be long gone before I ever realize any benefit. The necessary changes may be difficult to implement, potentially harmful to segments of our population, and politically devastating to those who make them. One thing is certain though…we have to do something soon or the current economic downturn will pale in comparison to what awaits.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/199167

-Steve Bryant

It is time to get serious about ending colon cancer in Kentucky.

http://tinyurl.com/catchakiller

The Commonwealth currently leads the nation in colon cancer deaths, and thousands of Kentuckians are diagnosed with the disease each year. Fortunately, colon cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. A panel of experts answers questions about the disease on Catching a Killer: Preventing Colon Cancer in Kentucky, a live call-in program presented by KET and the Colon Cancer Prevention Project (CCPP). The program, hosted by Renee Shaw, airs Tuesday, June 16 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1.

The panel includes Dr. Whitney Jones, founder of the CCPP; Torrie Harris, DrPH, director of the Kentucky Office of Health Equity; Dr. Jon Hourigan, a colon and rectal surgeon and professor at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine; and Ted McCoy, a colon cancer survivor.

The guests address the importance of prevention and early detection through proper screening, the impact of colon cancer in different populations, access to proper health care and more.

The CCPP’s mission is to eliminate colon cancer death and suffering by increasing screening rates through education, advocacy and health systems improvement in Kentucky and surrounding communities. More information about the organization is available at www.coloncancerpreventionproject.org or by calling (502) 290-0288.
Catching a Killer: Preventing Colon Cancer in Kentucky is produced by KET in collaboration with the Colon Cancer Prevention Project. Laura Crawford is producer.

Archie Borders is segment producer. This program is funded in part by Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Norton Healthcare. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.

- Scott Jennings

From Gary to Bedford, Peritus staff coordinated the “Help is Here Express” bus tour as it crisscrossed the state of Indiana to help uninsured and financially-struggling Hoosiers access information on programs that provide prescriptions medicines for little or no cost.

The “Help is Here Express” is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies.

To date, May marks the fifteenth straight month that Indiana’s unemployment rate has risen. The bus campaign helped state residents who face layoffs and loss of health care benefits find the best prescription assistance plan to fit their needs.

In addition to helping those who are both uninsured and struggling financially, public officials, business leaders, and health care professionals joined the bus campaign to try and reach out to the more than 303,328 people now out of work in Indiana.

In all, the bus campaign received tremendous support from the public and also received print and media coverage from over eighteen various outlets who spread the word- help is here!

-Matthew Henderson

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels seen above celebrating the 4th anniversary of the RX for Indiana prescription drug program. Peritus arranged the news conference at Conseco Fieldhouse (home of the Indiana Pacers) to commemorate the program that has benefitted more than 270,000 Hoosiers.

Twitter – the latest phenomenon to grace the social media scene – is proving to be a handy tool for journalists and public relations professionals like myself. More often than not, I find myself referencing the site to see “what’s up”. Skeptics say what you will, but Twitter has changed my way of thinking for a number of reasons … ten to be exact:

1. I find myself branching out and “following” people and publications I am not familiar with which is great when it comes time to reach out to reporters – I know who favors a certain topic and who will most likely cover my story.

2. It is a fantastic supplement to a strong advisory or release. I am able to follow-up with Indy’s heavy-hitters all at once without the risk of being generic.

3. Likewise, Twitter has helped me to change how I pitch. I am allotted 140 characters to tell my story – so I have to be choosey. I now only use important words.

4. I get my news fast. After one brief Twitter session, I can sum up every major breaking news headline from coast to coast.

5. Twitter also gives me my guilty pleasure: tabloid headlines. Without spending a dime or visiting a trashy site, I get all my juicy celebrity gossip simply by “following” whoever peaks my interest.

6. I love writing. I am even working on my first book. Oddly enough, I am too intimidated to blog. Twitter is my perfect solution. Baby steps.

7. I find myself steering away from my instant messenger and personal e-mail. Rather than trying to get a hold of my friends during the work day, I can simply visit their Twitter profile and see exactly what they’re up to.

8. Twitter provides me with a constant flow of questions and answers. Reporters are always twittering about stories they are working on – asking for advice, input and ideas. There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone out.

9. It’s easy. You log in, your cursor is already blinking in your “post” field, you write what you’re thinking, you click post and boom! You’re done.

10. My favorite reason of all: there are plenty of “Tweets” to make you smile. Twitter has an abundance of material posted by users for no other reason than to make you laugh. Who doesn’t like to laugh?

-Taylor Turkot
Twitter name: @TKT1023

Our colleague Mark Board had the opportunity to meet Brooke Shields at Derby this year.

This weekend, our colleague Taylor Turkot ran the Geist Half Marathon to help inspire health and wellness among the children who live near the Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis. Working closely with the greater Geist community, the marathon raises funds to benefit physical fitness programs being implemented in the schools. Taylor joins a number of other Peritusians who are avid runners and marathoners.

Way to go, Taylor!

-Teresa Buckley

Nothing says public affairs, public relations, and advertising like…art? Say what you will, at Peritus we all—even the toughest lobbyist—have an appreciation for that which is aesthetically pleasing. (This is probably why our design team is the best around.)

Peritus’ Louisville office is filled with a plethora of fine art from the very talented artists featured at the B. Deemer Gallery on Frankfort Avenue.

Whether you are wandering the halls of the 5th floor, or visiting the 4th—to which we have expanded over the years—this art is sure to greet you. I doubt you can pass by without stopping to take a look. If you are very observant, you’ll see we have a theme: landscapes.

Pam Folsom’s work, which is featured throughout the 5th floor, is an array of colorful images the artist herself describes at “contemporary landscapes” that are “easy to relate to and positive in mood.”

Betsy Anderson’s abstract images lining the halls of the 4th floor “invoke images of landscapes from the viewer’s experience.”

And sprinkled out over the offices are the unique works of Peter Gooch, whose abstract images are inspired by landscape elements.

Peritus President and CEO, Tim Mulloy, hand selected these works to adorn the walls.

“I spend a great deal of my life at work and it makes me feel like I am at home,” Mulloy said. “The pieces bring a calming effect to what is often quite a hectic place. I see something new every time I look at one of our pieces.”

This is true of everyone who works here. We each have decorated our offices according to our own tastes and based on what inspires us. Whether it’s a colloquial painting picked up at a historic site in New England, a framed award or foam finger sticking out of a lamp, our own pieces of art are what make us feel at home and bring an element of cheer on the craziest of days.

-Charissa Acree

Art by Pam Folson

Art by Betsy Anderson

Art by Peter Gooch

Peritus kicked off our work for the Tennessee Propane Gas Association (TNPGA) by garnering media coverage at their annual bobtail rodeo and breast cancer awareness event. The TNPGA is raising awareness and funds for breast cancer by showcasing their pink bobtails and making a donation to breast cancer foundations in the state. Bobtail drivers throughout the state participated in a safety and driver appreciation course at the rodeo and one of our own even tested out the bobtail.

-Lauren Reed

Pictured above: Katie Adkisson