FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wanda Blair
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Padilla Speer Beardsley Senior Leader Recognized by Prestigious Institute for Public Relations
David Kistle exemplifies superior research in communications programs

MINNEAPOLIS—(Nov. 08, 2007)—David Kistle, senior vice president at Padilla Speer Beardsley and leader of the firm's research practice, was recently awarded the Jack Felton Golden Ruler Award by the Institute for Public Relations (IPR), an independent non-profit organization that expands and documents the intellectual foundations of the practice of public relations.

The award is given to one professional each year to acknowledge a superb example of research and measurement in public relations programs. Padilla, in partnership with the research firm GfK, earned the distinction for its tracking study on customer satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy on behalf of Rockwell Automation, a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions. The study was deemed superior for its research methods, contributions to the practice of public relations, and quality and substance of findings.

"This recognition is one example of what we offer our clients at Padilla Speer Beardsley in terms of research and measurement," said Lynn Casey, Padilla Speer Beardsley chair and chief executive officer. "We are pleased with this nod to David's expertise and are grateful for clients who give us the opportunity to do award-winning work."

Kistle holds more than 35 years of public relations experience. He was the 2004-2005 chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the 2001-2002 chairman of the IABC Research Foundation.

The award was created by IPR's Commission on Public Relations Measurement and Evaluation. Jack Felton, for whom the award is named, served as president and CEO of IPR and was instrumental in founding the Commission.

About the Institute for Public Relations
The Institute for Public Relations is an independent foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations. It exists to build and document research-based knowledge in the field of public relations, and to mainstream this knowledge into practice.

About Padilla Speer Beardsley
Padilla Speer Beardsley is an employee-owned, multi-specialty communications firm with headquarters in Minneapolis and an office in New York. It is a founding partner of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, a consortium of 100 independently owned partner offices in nearly 100 cities in more than 30 countries on six continents. The firm also is a founder of Lumin Collaborative LLC, an intellectual collaborative dedicated to developing next-generation communications solutions. Clients include BASF, Ernst & Young, ev3, General Mills, MetLife, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell Automation, Scholarship America, Transamerica, United Healthcare and Vital Images. The firm's Web site is www.psbpr.com.