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Schoolcraft, MI
Portage, MI
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Prima Newsroom

Prima Communications, Inc. Provides Communications Support to Early-Stage and Small Businesses

Prima Nominated One of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies Six Years Running

Prima Partners with CoSozo to Provide Comprehensive Health Information

Prima Sponsors Prize at Kettering University for Best Research Paper in Leadership and Ethics

Prima’s Virtual Triathlon Has a Third Successful Year

Prima Nominated for Innovation Award

Prima Named One of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies Five Years Running

Prima Communications, Inc. Employee Named a Top Business Leader

Prima Communications, Inc. Makes Another Two Promotions

Two More Promotions Following Prima’s Recent Restructuring

Prima Aligns with State’s Economic Plan for Attracting Entrepreneurs

Virtual Triathlon Promotes Employee Health, Camaraderie—and Fun

Prima Foresees Growth Following Promotions, Retirement

Prima Named Best and Brightest Fourth Year in a Row

Prima Motivates Employees to Get Moving

Prima Named a “Best and Brightest” Company for Third Straight Year

February 18, 2008

Prima Communications, Inc. Provides Communications Support to Early-Stage and Small Businesses

Kalamazoo, MI—As a technical communications company, Prima Communications, Inc. is uniquely positioned to assist early-stage companies with a variety of communications tasks. From SOPs to marketing to training, Prima has the experience and expertise to help new businesses develop, organize, and maintain their communications.

“Oftentimes early-stage companies are in a good position in terms of research and production, but then they hit a bottleneck with their documentation, which can really throw them a curveball,” said Lisa Thorne, Prima’s Director of Marketing. “In this competitive economy, sound, documented processes and core business and sales documents go a long way toward providing stability for a new venture.”

Prima recognizes the need to support Michigan companies to create long-lasting business relationships, which are vital to the success of the state’s economy. “One of our goals is providing high-quality technical communications and market recognition to early-stage companies in Michigan,” said Prima’s CEO and owner, Charlotte Hubbard. “We believe this is an all-around winning opportunity—for Prima, for new companies, for the economy, and certainly for the people of Michigan.”

Prima, in business since 1991, and with offices in Portage, Schoolcraft, and Indianapolis, serves life sciences, manufacturing, and related industries, providing a range of services by defining and improving processes critical to the success of new companies. Prima does this through analysis and control, with end results such as graphic standard operating procedures, validation, or a complete assessment of and recommendations for process improvement.

Other offerings include engineering documentation support (operating manuals, validation services, technical specifications), procedures (in support of ISO and other quality certifications), training materials (traditional and computer-based), process mapping, website development and maintenance, sales materials, and other communications-related tools. For more information, please visit the website, http://www.primacommunications.com.

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February 14, 2008

Prima Nominated One of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies Six Years Running

Kalamazoo, MI—For the sixth year in a row, Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company based in Schoolcraft, was nominated as one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) sponsors the competition, which acknowledges West Michigan companies that recognize employees as their greatest asset. Prima has won this honor from 2003 to 2007 and will learn the results of the 2008 competition early this spring. This year’s winners will share their programs and success stories at an educational symposium and awards luncheon to be held May 1st.

Nominated companies are evaluated on nine criteria related to employee support and development: communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multi-culturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, recruitment and selection, and work-life balance.

“Our continuing commitment to our employees’ whole lives, not just their work lives, demonstrates why we were nominated for this honor for a sixth consecutive year,” said Charlotte Hubbard, owner and CEO of Prima.

Prima, in business since 1991 and with offices in Schoolcraft, Portage, and Indianapolis, serves life science, manufacturing, and related industries. The company provides a range of services by defining and improving processes, with end results such as graphic standard operating procedures, validation, or a complete assessment of and recommendations for process improvement.

Other offerings include engineering documentation support (operating manuals, validation services, technical specifications), procedures (in support of ISO and other quality certifications), training materials (traditional and computer-based), process mapping, website development and maintenance, sales materials and other communications-related tools, and project management and support. For more information, please visit http://www.primacommunications.com.

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December 13, 2007

Prima Partners with CoSozo to Provide Comprehensive Health Information

Kalamazoo, MI—The writers at Prima Communications, Inc. spend much of their day working on highly technical projects for clients in such industries as pharmaceuticals, medical-equipment manufacturing, and packaging—but they also find time to write about wellness, spirituality, and balance for CoSozo Health Alliance, LLC. CoSozo, located in DeWitt, Michigan, provides a full spectrum of web-based information on traditional and alternative medical treatments, as well as products such as casual clothing and personal-care items made with all-natural ingredients.

Prima, a technical communications company with offices in Schoolcraft, Portage, and Indianapolis, first partnered with CoSozo when CoSozo’s CEO, Christine Andrew, took advantage of Prima’s offer of free and discounted services to early-stage companies. From there, the partnership grew, and now Prima is helping CoSozo with a newsletter, website, and other projects.

“Working with CoSozo really fits our corporate culture,” said Charlotte Hubbard, owner and CEO of Prima. “We strive to encourage wellness and balance among our employees, and it’s great to have a client who’s doing the same thing.”

Some of Prima’s efforts include sponsoring a yearly virtual triathlon to encourage employees to exercise, accommodating flexible schedules that help promote work/life balance, and offering free tuition for CPR certification.

Prima, in business since 1991, serves life science, manufacturing, and related industries. The company provides a range of services by defining and improving processes, with end results such as graphic standard operating procedures, validation, or a complete assessment of existing processes and recommendations for improvement.

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November 16, 2007

Prima Sponsors Prize at Kettering University for Best Research Paper in Leadership and Ethics

Kalamazoo, MI—Prima Communications, Inc. is proud to announce its sponsorship of Kettering University’s Prima Prize for Best Research Paper in Leadership and Ethics for the 2006-2007 academic year. The winners were selected from papers submitted to the Senior Seminar in Leadership, Ethics, and Contemporary Issues this past year, and were chosen by a panel of eight judges, including Senior Seminar instructors and Charlotte Hubbard, President and CEO of Prima and a Kettering University alumna. The award was developed to recognize excellence in leadership, communications, and ethics.

“I welcomed the opportunity to 'give back' to my alma mater, the former General Motors Institute,” noted Hubbard. “But more importantly, the ability to effectively communicate is key, no matter the industry or occupation. As a technical communications company, we were delighted to recognize this essential skill.”

The winners are First Place Brian Heath, “An Investigation into the Causes of Unethical Behavior in Consultants”; and two honorable mentions -- Sean Hirtle, “The FDA’s Decision to Deny Plan B Over-the-Counter Marketing Status” and Jeffrey Strong, “Complex Ethics: An Examination into the Ethics and Morality of the 1981 Air Traffic Controller Strike.”

An awards luncheon took place at Kettering University in Flint on November 15th, 2007. Hubbard spoke at the event, and awarded cash prizes.

Located in Flint, Michigan, Kettering University is one of the country’s premier co-op institutions and provides 2,200 students with career-based education in engineering, applied sciences, mathematics, and business management. Founded in 1919, the University also offers graduate programs in engineering and manufacturing management. Kettering University is ranked among the nation’s finest specialty schools by U.S. News and World Report. For further information, visit www.kettering.edu.

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October 11, 2007

Prima’s Virtual Triathlon Has a Third Successful Year

Kalamazoo, MI—For the third year in a row, employees of Prima Communications, Inc. have participated in a virtual triathlon. During August Prima encouraged employees to log their walking, running, biking, and swimming miles via the company website in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles and camaraderie among employees. The friendly competition kept everyone motivated to continue their exercise routines even on days when they might not have felt like it.

Employees followed a virtual path across the country and beyond. This year’s competition began at Prima’s Portage office and covered 3,207 miles before ending in Managua, Nicaragua. Along the way employees made virtual stops at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., and the Dr. Pepper museum in Waco, Texas. Participants also virtually crossed the border to sample authentic tacos in Mexico and visit Mayan ruins in Guatemala.

Top finishers in each category will be recognized at Prima’s annual meeting in December. “Every year we have conducted the triathlon we have covered more miles and inspired additional participants,” said Ken Mange, Prima’s virtual triathlon coordinator. This year participants were also encouraged to donate blood at the conclusion of the event.

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July 27, 2007

Prima Nominated for Innovation Award

Kalamazoo, MI—Prima Communications, Inc. was nominated for a 2007 Innovation Award by Business Review Western Michigan for its Business Development Team (BDT). Nominees were selected for being an innovative new company or providing an innovative product, line, or service; creating a variation of an existing company, product, line, or service; or developing an innovative change in how an existing company does business.

When a large client changed its contract-worker policy, Prima employees faced shorter on-site assignments with occasional downtime between projects. Prima responded by establishing the BDT to provide job security and offer opportunities to work on in-house training, short-term client projects, and pro bono grant-writing. In addition to supplementing employee skills, the BDT brings a diverse workforce with a wide array of talents to the client projects.

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May 14, 2007

Prima Named One of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies Five Years Running

Kalamazoo, MI—For the fifth year in a row, Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company based in Schoolcraft, was honored as one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) sponsors the competition, which acknowledges West Michigan companies that recognize employees as their greatest asset. This year’s winners shared their programs and success stories at an educational symposium and awards luncheon held on May 3rd at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.

Nominated companies were evaluated on nine criteria related to employee support and development: communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multi-culturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, recruitment and selection, and work-life balance.

“Our continuing commitment to our employees’ whole lives, not just their work lives, demonstrates why we were able to receive this honor for a fifth consecutive year,” said Charlotte Hubbard, owner and CEO of Prima.

Other offerings include engineering documentation support (operating manuals, validation services, technical specifications), procedures (in support of ISO and other quality certifications), training materials (traditional and computer-based), process mapping, website development and maintenance, sales materials and other communications-related tools, and project management and support.

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April 17, 2007

Prima Communications, Inc. Employee Named a Top Business Leader

Kalamazoo, MI—Chad Perry, a director at Prima Communications, Inc., has been named one of the top business leaders under 40 by Business Review Western Michigan. Perry was chosen from a large group of business achievers in western Michigan and was honored at a March 21st awards ceremony at St. Cecilia Music Society in Grand Rapids.

“I have spent a large chunk of my professional life at Prima, and I am dedicated to the company and its innovative business strategies,” said Perry. “It’s very gratifying to have that dedication recognized.”

Perry has been with Prima since 1998, and his specialties include validation, process mapping, SOPs, and business analysis.

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March 1, 2007

Prima Communications, Inc. Makes Another Two Promotions

Kalamazoo, MI — Rachel Roth and Cara LaLumia-Barnes have been promoted to lead positions with Prima Communications, Inc. Rachel has been with Prima since 2002 and Cara since 2001, both serving in a variety of roles. These new positions will allow Rachel and Cara to apply their experience to managing their teams and providing increased support to senior management.

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August 9, 2006

Two More Promotions Following Prima’s Recent Restructuring

After making seven promotions in May, Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company with offices in Schoolcraft, Portage, and Indianapolis, has promoted two more employees.

Amanda Ferraro and Nancy Hall James have been promoted to lead positions, taking on managerial responsibilities and providing increased support to their team and director.

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October 1, 2006

Innovative Technical Communications Company Aligns with State’s Economic Plan for Attracting Entrepreneurs

Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company with offices in Portage, Schoolcraft, and Indianapolis, has announced a campaign to provide generous communications support to start-ups and companies relocating to Michigan.

Prima intends to expand its pilot program of providing a range of free and discounted services to companies either relocating to the area or just getting off the ground. After working with start-ups over the past two years, Prima has enhanced the pilot program to better address the needs of new and relocating companies.

Prima has experienced firsthand the impact of companies leaving the area, and recognizes the need to support companies in Michigan to create long-lasting business relationships that are so vital to the success of the Michigan economy. “Our goal is to provide high quality technical communications and market recognition to start-up companies in Michigan,” said CEO and owner, Charlotte Hubbard. “We believe this is an all-around winning opportunity–for Prima, for new companies, for the economy, and certainly for the people of Michigan.”

The company, in business since 1991, serves life science, manufacturing, and related industries, providing a range of services by defining and improving processes critical to the success of new companies. With a strong background in life sciences, Prima improves processes through analysis and control, with end results such as a graphic standard operating procedures, validation, or a complete assessment of and recommendations for process improvement.

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September 21, 2006

Virtual Triathlon Promotes Employee Health, Camaraderie—and Fun

More than seventy percent of employees took part in the second annual Virtual Triathlon sponsored by Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company based in Schoolcraft. While the number of participants was similar to last year’s, this year’s 3,059 miles exceeded last year’s by more than one thousand.

The August event took 57 participants along a virtual route from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge back home to the company’s 8585 Portage Road location in Portage, Michigan. Employees exercised and tracked miles independently, then submitted individual mileage weekly.

Collective progress, participant observations, and fun facts about sites along the route were posted to Prima’s website. Thus employees exercised their imaginations and enjoyed camaraderie as they built muscle and endurance. Among the virtual stops were well-known places like Yosemite National Park, Salt Lake City, and the Continental Divide. Less well known, but just as intriguing, were places like Carhenge, a faithful replica of Stonehenge constructed entirely of old cars, located in Alliance, Nebraska.

Charlotte Hubbard, company CEO, said, “We try to support our employees’ whole lives, not just their work lives, and this triathlon illustrates that.”

Participants were encouraged to donate blood at the conclusion of the event.

For more fun facts, click here. Prima is willing to share ideas and rules for staging your own virtual triathlon. For information, contact lthorne@primacommunications.com.

Prima has been serving its employees and clients since 1991. Offerings include engineering support documentation (operating manuals, validation services, technical specifications), procedures (in support of ISO and other quality certifications), training materials (traditional and computer-based), process mapping, website development and maintenance, sales materials, editing and ghostwriting, and other communications-related tools.

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May 24, 2006

Prima Foresees Growth Following Promotions, Retirement

In anticipation of the retirement of its Director of Communications, Prima Communications, Inc. has restructured its internal organization, resulting in seven promotions. Kay Perry will retire in August from Prima, a technical communications company with offices in Schoolcraft, Portage, and Indianapolis. To smooth the transition of Kay’s departure, promotions were made the third week of May.

John Kroggel was promoted from Director of Operations to Vice President, and Larry Elwell, Gail Koporetz, Chad Perry, Lisa Tymkew, Jason Young, and Lisa Thorne were promoted to Director positions. The six Directors will take on increased marketing and management responsibilities, and all but Chad Perry will also keep their existing management roles. The structural changes will allow Prima to expand its services to a broader client base.

“I am confident in the abilities and dedication of our new Directors and Vice President,” said Charlotte Hubbard, Prima’s owner and CEO. “Though we will miss Kay, who has been a tremendous asset to the company for more than 10 years, I know that Prima will continue to thrive and grow.”

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May 10, 2006

Prima Named One of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies for Fourth Year Straight

For the fourth year in a row, Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company based in Schoolcraft, was honored as one of “West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.” The Michigan Business and Professional Association sponsors the competition, which acknowledges West Michigan companies that recognize employees as their greatest asset. An awards luncheon and educational symposium to honor the winners was held May 3 at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.

“Receiving this award for the fourth time shows that putting employees first makes good business sense,” said Charlotte Hubbard, owner and CEO of Prima. “It’s gratifying to be recognized for our commitment to our workers.”

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September 12, 2005

Small Company Gets Employees Moving

Prima Communications, Inc. employees sit behind computers for much of their time, but during August they were also swimming, biking, running, and walking. Prima, a technical communications company based in Schoolcraft, sponsored a virtual triathlon for its employees last month to encourage them to exercise. Employees exercised and tracked their miles independently, and the total was collected to track the company’s “virtual” progress across the Midwest. Individual and collective progress was posted at Prima’s website, http://www.primacommunications.com, along with fun facts and information along the route.

“Company wellness programs are not nearly as common as they should be, even among large companies,” said Paul Marsh, a Ph.D. candidate in Leisure Behavior at Indiana University. “It is very unusual for a smaller company like Prima, which has about 70 employees, to have such a program.“ Marsh studies such activities, and was intrigued by Prima’s light-hearted integration of health and wellness into the workplace, he said.

The first triathlon stop was Prima’s Indianapolis office to (virtually) visit colleagues there. Other destinations included Alton, Illinois, home of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man; Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Star Trek’s Captain Kirk; and Dyersville, Iowa, where the 1989 movie Field of Dreams was filmed.

Prizes were awarded to employees with the highest mileage, but the biggest incentives were the health benefits. Approximately two-thirds of all Prima employees participated, resulting in 1,914 miles traveled and 163,035 calories burned. “Many employees told me this was just the push they needed to start an exercise program,” said Charlotte Hubbard, owner and CEO of Prima. “We try to support our employees’ whole lives, not just their work lives, and this triathlon illustrates that.”

“Any organization that makes the well-being of its employees such a priority is demonstrating its leadership," said March, "not only as a business but, as a community citizen.”

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May 10, 2005

Prima Named a “Best and Brightest” Company for Third Straight Year

For the third year in a row, Prima Communications, Inc., a technical communications company based in Schoolcraft, was honored as one of “West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.” The Michigan Business and Professional Association sponsors the competition, which acknowledges West Michigan companies that recognize employees as their greatest asset. An awards luncheon and educational symposium to honor the winners was held May 4.

“It is to the great credit of today’s honorees that you succeed in providing motivation and a superior work environment to each and every employee,” wrote Michigan senator Carl Levin in a letter to the award winners.

“To be recognized a third time demonstrates our consistent commitment to our employees and shows that treating people well is good for the company as a whole,” said Charlotte Hubbard, Owner and CEO of Prima.

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