Marc Barnes & Associates (MB&A) is a sole proprietorship that was established in Greensboro, NC in March 2004 by Marc Barnes. Between 1981 and 2004, Barnes worked as a reporter for North Carolina daily newspapers, in Tarboro, Burlington and Fayetteville; for the weekly Triad Business Journal; and as a corporate communications manager for Novant Health. MB&A combines media relations, public relations strategy and crisis communication planning and execution for its own clients or as a subcontractor for outside agencies. The tactics employed in carrying out media relations and story pitches use the knowledge gained through decades of journalistic experience on how editors and broadcast producers think. Additionally, a part of the MB&A business centers on freelance writing, which is usually in general business publications or in the home furnishings space. The advertising agencies with whom Marc Barnes & Associates has worked include The King’s English, OnPoint Communications, Westoakes Advertising, Bouvier-Kelly, The Rivers Agency and Pace Communications.Rather than specializing in one kind of business, MB&A uses the same approach that a general assignment reporter would use in a newsroom. Clients have included Wall Law Firm, Crowell Moring Law Firm, The Bedrin Organization, Salons by JC, Pine Hall Brick Company, Good Health Natural Foods and the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. Within healthcare, MB&A has represented all four hospital systems in the Piedmont Triad, along with Epilepsy Institute of North Carolina, Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, Altadontics, Greensboro Orthopaedics, Salemtown Retirement and Medical Justice Services. Within leadership development, MB&A has represented Farr Associates, the Leadership Development Institute, the Center for Creative Leadership and Executive Development Group.Significant national consumer placements have included Inc.com, Prevention magazine, the Today Show, This Old House in print and television, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, Woman’s Day, HGTV, National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation and On The Media, ABC’s World News Tonight, ABC’s Good Morning America and Fox News’ Fox and Friends. Skills: Public relations, media relations/strategy, crisis communications, marketing, writing, editing, event planning and execution, networking.