Marketink

San Diego-based public relations firm Cook & Schmid has hired award-winning journalist David Kodama as an account manager.

Kodama will oversee a number of accounts, including the San Bernardino County Office of Adminstration, Santa Fe Irrigation District and the city of San Diego Redevelopment Agency. He also participates in research and the creation and development of both print and online materials for Cook & Schmid clients.

Prior to joining the agency, Kodama served as the editor of BWB magazine, Pacific Coast Sportfishing magazine and content for the Service Support Professionals Association including the organization's newsletter, white papers, best practices committees, case studies, conference sessions and live webcasts. In his first year with BWB, the publication received a WPA Maggie Award for Most Improved Magazine based on its content and graphic design improvements.

San Diego-based Access IR/PR, an investor and PR firm, and The Communications Strategy Group Inc., a corporate/financial communications consultation in Boston, has formed an alliance. The alliance expands the senior-level talent and services reportedly available to both firms' clients and provides extended access to financial, investor and media communities in the United States and abroad.

The San Diego Press Club will host a workshop on how to be "hands-on" with Twitter and "tweet your way to better business" from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Seasoned social media strategists will discuss the art of using Twitter to your professional advantage. The hands-on training will cover Twitter fundamentals, the language of Twitter, special tools for reporters and instruction on how to build your public identity among readers and marketability to editors.

The session will be led by Tim Wheatcroft, general manager of Allison & Partners' San Diego office, who drives social media campaigns for the agency's West Coast-based projects; and Christine Benton, San Diego-based director at Burson-Marsteller, who leads social media campaigns for Fortune 500 software company SAP.

Attendance will be limited to allow for individual instruction; attendees should bring a laptop for hands-on training.

The San Diego chapter of PRSA celebrates 50 years at its annual holiday party from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Paradise Grille in Del Mar.

Founded on Dec. 11, 1959, PRSA San Diego has grown into a vibrant organization of more than 250 PR professionals and offers a diverse range of networking and professional development opportunities. At the December gathering, former chapter presidents will be honored, volunteers recognized and the past revisited. The annual Glenn Broom scholarship will be announced as well.

To register visit prsasandiego.org