In conjunction with Prudential Financial, Success Communications Group provides all public relations, staff, and logistical services for New Jersey United for Higher School Standards. This grassroots organization of 125 education stakeholder groups represents a wide variety of interests and opinions about public education and conducts open meetings throughout New Jersey with the Department of Education, School Boards Association, PTA, NJEA, and other community groups. The organization is co-chaired by Arthur Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential. Our ongoing efforts were able to win Mr. Ryan the 2001 Public Service Award from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association and the 2001 Business Advocate Award from the NJ State Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the Public Relations Society of America recognized our efforts with a 2001 Honorable Mention in Public/Governmental Affairs and a 2002 Honorable Mention for web site design. Most recently, the Success Communications Group created a new web site and press kit for the organization and has hosted more than 21 community meetings to date. Success Communications Group coordinates all public relations activity for the Business Coalition for Educational Excellence (BCEE) at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. The BCEE is an association of businesspeople, educators, and policy makers who are deeply committed to ensuring that all children achieve at high levels, become productive citizens, and are well prepared to function successfully in the workforce. The BCEE primarily represents business involvement in education and has funding support from Merck, NUI Elizabethtown Gas, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Washington Mutual, Prudential Financial, Infineum, and Fleet. Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Joint Committee on Public Schools, and the Principals and Supervisors Association are also engaged in BCEE programs. Success Communications Group has been able to generate national and local media coverage for the BCEE and most recently produced a television PSA in conjunction with NJN Public Television. In addition, the BCEE has conducted several successful education press events announcing joint ventures with the Governor of New Jersey and State Commissioner of Education.   In conjunction with Prudential Financial, Success Communications Group provides all publicIn July of 2005 a recommendation by the Task Force on Undergraduate Education at Rutgers University called for Douglass College to be eliminated and replaced with a campus. The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) quickly contacted Success Communications Group to help design and implement a multifaceted communication campaign to save Douglass College, the nation's largest women's college that is part of a major public research university. In partnership with the AADC, Success Communications Group launched an aggressive campaign that first mobilized the base of more than 34,000 Douglass College alumnae and approximately 3,000 students. Today, Rutgers University has established a centralized college of arts and sciences and has done away with Rutgers College, Livingston College, and University College. Through the impassioned efforts of Success Communications Group, AADC, state and national leaders, and others, Douglass College is the only "college" that survived the sweeping reforms set forth in the University's recommendation. In short, the campaign to Save Douglass College - Save "D" Douglass College! A problem presented itself when the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce encountered data citing that New Jersey ranks poorly in many areas when compared to the rest of the nation. The Chamber enlisted Success Communications Group to design and implement a communication campaign to address this concern. A number of tactics were employed, including grassroots meetings, an employer-to-employee communication campaign, web site development, press events, media outreach, and advertising. The campaign helped drive close to 20,000 visitors to the program Web site, positioned the program's six areas of focus as gubernatorial and assembly campaign issues, and generated a wealth of statewide and national media coverage.   For four years running, Success Communications Group has worked with The Branch Brook Park Alliance, The City of Newark, the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and several other community-based organizations to coordinate the public relations for the Annual Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Festival. The goal of this week long event is to raise public awareness and support Branch Brook Park's collection of more than 2,700 cherry trees, and ensure its historic Olmsted landscape design endures well into the new millennium. Last year, Success Communications Group was able to secure media coverage from more than 250 media outlets and had it proclaimed 26th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Week by both the Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of Newark. This campaign was recognized by the The Public Relations Society of America as an outstanding special event.