Curious Plot is marketing, communications and consulting agency – formerly known as FLM Harvest – that’s driven to find what’s next for food and agriculture.At Curious Plot, Eric has led creative strategy, media relations, social media, digital strategy and CSR campaigns for food and lifestyle brands, associations and retailers. Results include:- Staging award-winning integrated PR, social and digital initiatives for the U.S. Apple Association, including driving consumers to upload tens of thousands of their apple-eating Instagram pics over six weeks to raise funds for needy school causes nationwide.- Managing media relations outreach for the Mushroom Council’s “Blended Burger Project” initiative encouraging restaurants and consumers to blend mushrooms with meat for healthier burgers. Earned millions of impressions that helped significantly increase foodservice and retail sales over 52 weeks.- Developing community and media relations campaigns that helped strategically lower Minneapolis-based Asian grocer United Noodles’ average customer age by 20+ years in less than 24 months.- Leading media relations for the PetChatz pet communications system, driving sales through coverage in hundreds of blogs as well as top-tier outlets such as the New York Times, BuzzFeed, C|Net, the Today Show and the Wall Street Journal’s coveted “Best of CES” edition.- Providing creative development and execution of the organic food industry’s national social media festival, featuring 100 brands unifying for 30 days to share consistent messages on social channels, reaching 15 million consumers.- Developing and managing integrated media and social campaigns for Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association – engaging with millions and promoting year-round grilling and new cooking techniques.

Integrated brand communications strategy and execution, including:- Verizon Wireless’ Great Plains media relations- Red Wing Shoes’ new product line for younger skilled tradespeople- Ergodyne work gear’s social/digital and PR strategic planning- PetChatz two-way pet communications device’s launch marketing

Award-winning creative and strategic planning, media relations, PR and social media integration, writing and account management. Highlights:Strategic national brand media relations for Volvo Cars of North America:- Volvo for Life Awards, annual CSR campaign (2 billion media impressions)- Volvo Drive for Life Days, retail fundraiser for pediatric cancer research (winner, PRWeek Awards Community Relations Campaign)- Launch campaign for first car designed by women-only (“PR Coup of the New York Auto Show,” NY Daily News)- Times Square event for first person driving 2 million miles in one car, a 1966 Volvo (winner, PRWeek Awards Brand Communications Campaign)Product launch, education, media relations, social/digital, policy and advocacy campaigns for leading food and farm brands/organizations:- National Cooperative Grocer Association’s “Eat Local, America!” challenge- The Wedge Co-op, largest single-store natural food grocer- Organic Valley Family of Farms, cooperative of 1,500+ organic dairy farmers- Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Food and Society Fellows- Organic Trade Association’s “Organic. It’s Worth It”- Truck Farm, first mobile urban farm- Crown Maple syrup, Frontier spices and Country Choice oatmealSocial/digital initiatives for open source software developer CodeWeavers:- Tech industry’s largest one-day software giveaway, increasing customer base 400 percent in 24 hours- Flagship product rebrand and launch, increasing sales 20 percent in one month (“Perfect PR Pitch of the Year,” David Pogue, New York Times)