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email storyCATalyst Council Lands In KC Animal Health Corridor
-- Kansas City-based Germinder & Associates Named Agency of Record --
Kansas City, Mo., August 28, 2008 -- The CATalyst Council has formally announced its headquarters will be based in Kansas City and named Germinder & Associates agency of record. The CATalyst Council is a not-for-profit organization formed to address alarming statistics about feline health care and welfare in the United States.
"The CATalyst Council brings together all facets of animal health and welfare united with one voice to elevate the status and standard of care for cats," said Dan Kramer, CATalyst Council chair, senior marketing manager, Pfizer Animal Health.
This comes as good news for both the KC Corridor and CATalyst. It also comes at a perfect time during the Central Veterinary Conference, August 22 - 26 and the annual KC Animal Health Corridor Homecoming Event, August 25 in Kansas City. The first annual CATalyst Council strategic session will be held in Kansas City immediately following the Central Veterinary Conference.
"We selected Kansas City as our home base due to the number of animal health companies and organizations that are located in Kansas City. Many of these organizations have already joined in support of the Council and we hope to engage many more. We look forward to Germinder & Associates assisting us with our communications, administration and sponsor support to achieve those goals," said Dr. Jane Brunt, CATalyst Executive Director.
The current board of directors of the CATalyst Council includes: Dr. Brunt as Executive Director; Dan Kramer, senior marketing manager, Pfizer Animal Health as chair, Robert Rohde, president of Dumb Friends League as vice chair; and Cal Morgan, president, Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as treasurer. Other board members include: Dr. Valerie Creighton, American Association of Feline Practitioners; Dr. John Albers, American Animal Hospital Association; Dr. Christine Jenkins, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.; Dr. Jack Stephens, Pets Best Insurance; Dr. Alexis Nahama, VCA Animal Hospitals; Dr. Patricia N. Olson, Morris Animal Foundation; and Steve Dale, nationally syndicated pet columnist and radio show host. Because of the current crisis situation with feline health care, the AVMA Executive Board voted in June to participate on the CATalyst Council Board. The American Veterinary Medical Association is in the process of naming the AVMA representative to the CATalyst Council board.
"Bringing the CATalyst Council to the Animal Health Corridor demonstrates the power of the connections the Corridor has achieved in just a very short time. With so many companies and associations engaged in the initiative, Kansas City is a natural fit and we welcome them to the Corridor," said Lynn Parman, Vice President, Life Sciences & Technology Business Development for the Kansas City Area Development Council.
The CATalyst Council is the culmination of the achievements attained at the CATalyst Summit. At the CATalyst Summit in February 2008, held by the American Association of Feline Practitioners with underwriting from Pfizer Animal Health, attendees responded to the issues raised in feline health and well-being, and created an action plan to continue to collaborate across all channels, develop feline life-stage guidelines (for veterinarians and pet owners), create cat-friendly veterinary practices, brand the cat and produce a consumer awareness campaign.
"After being involved with the CATalyst Summit, we know that there are many facets to turning around the issues facing feline health care and welfare. We are excited both for our agency and the city that this relationship with the CATalyst Council brings," said Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, PRSA Fellow. "We're impressed with this organization both from what they are working to achieve and the members that are involved and look forward to helping them accomplish their goals."
About the CATalyst Council
CATalyst is a national initiative comprised of animal health and welfare organizations and corporations to champion the cat in light of troubling statistics released by the American Veterinary Medical Association that show an increase in the cat population coupled with a decline in veterinary visits for cats. The association address is P.O. Box 22773, Kansas City, Mo 64113. The association telephone number is 877-4CATalyst (877-422-8259). More information about the CATalyst Council is available at www.catalystcouncil.org.
About the KC Animal Health Corridor
Kansas City accounts for one-third of both the $16.8 billion global animal health industry and the $5 billion U.S. market. KC is home to more than 120 animal health companies, which represents the largest concentration in the world.
About Germinder & Associates
Germinder & Associates, Inc., founded in 1998, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The agency has created more than 100 programs in animal health and is publisher of www.goodnewsforpets.com and www.catwellness.org. Germinder & Associates is ranked among Kansas City's top 10 PR agencies by The Kansas City Business Journal. For more information, visit www.germinder.com.
Contact:
Germinder & Associates
816-822-0192
Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA
lgerminder@germinder.com
816-213-8238
Kansas City Area Development Council
Rene Ward
ward@thinkkc.com
816-374-5660
