--- title: One of Those Moments description: PR 20/20 founder, Paul Roetzer, reflects on the Innovation in Business Rising Star award, and the team effort it took to make it possible. image: https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/file-1745359275-jpg/Blog_Post_Images/Innovation-Conf500w.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.readynorth.com/blog/one-of-those-moments#main-content) Close - Industries - [Manufacturing](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/manufacturing) - [Professional Services](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/professional-services) - [Associations](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/associations) - [Other](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/other) - HubSpot - [Our Approach](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/our-hubspot-approach) - [Marketing Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/marketing-hub/) - [Sales Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/sales-hub) - [Service Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/service-hub) - [CMS Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/cms-hub) - [Integrations](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/integrations) - Digital Marketing - [Foundational Strategy](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/foundational-strategy/) - [Content Marketing](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/content-marketing) - [Lead Generation](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/lead-generation) - [Website Optimization](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/website-optimization) - [Reporting](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/reporting) - [Pricing](https://www.readynorth.com/point-pricing) - Resources - [Guides](https://www.readynorth.com/resources/guides) - [Blog](https://www.readynorth.com/blog) SEARCH CONTACT E-MAIL: [info@readynorth.com](mailto:info@readynorth.com) [GET STARTED](https://www.readynorth.com/contact-us) [![Ready North (RN) Logo_BlueOrange_Trademark](https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ready%20North%20(RN)%20Logo_BlueOrange_Trademark.png?width=800&height=269&name=Ready%20North%20(RN)%20Logo_BlueOrange_Trademark.png)![Ready North Logo_AllWhite-1](https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ready%20North%20Logo_AllWhite-1.png?width=1078&height=363&name=Ready%20North%20Logo_AllWhite-1.png)](https://www.readynorth.com/) - Industries - [Manufacturing](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/manufacturing) - [Professional Services](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/professional-services) - [Associations](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/associations) - [Other](https://www.readynorth.com/industries/other) - HubSpot - [Our Approach](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/our-hubspot-approach) - [Marketing Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/marketing-hub/) - [Sales Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/sales-hub) - [Service Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/service-hub) - [CMS Hub](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/cms-hub) - [Integrations](https://www.readynorth.com/hubspot/integrations) - Digital Marketing - [Foundational Strategy](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/foundational-strategy/) - [Content Marketing](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/content-marketing) - [Lead Generation](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/lead-generation) - [Website Optimization](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/website-optimization) - [Reporting](https://www.readynorth.com/digital-marketing/reporting) - [Pricing](https://www.readynorth.com/point-pricing) - Resources - [Guides](https://www.readynorth.com/resources/guides) - [Blog](https://www.readynorth.com/blog) E-MAIL: [info@readynorth.com](mailto:info@readynorth.com) [GET STARTED](https://www.readynorth.com/contact-us) Quick results for "{search\_term}" ![Ready North Who We Serve](https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2023%20Website%20Redesign/Ready%20North%20Who%20We%20Serve.png?width=300&name=Ready%20North%20Who%20We%20Serve.png) #### We Love Clients with High Growth Goals We primarily work with clients in the manufacturing / industrial, professional services, and association industries.  Don't fit in the industries listed above? 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[VIEW BLOG](https://www.readynorth.com/blog) #### [Digital Marketing Resources](https://www.readynorth.com/resources/guides) We are committed to advancing the industry through collaboration. Check out our resource center filled with templates, tools, ebooks, and more. [GET RESOURCES](https://www.readynorth.com/resources/guides) ![](https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/file-1745359275-jpg/Blog_Post_Images/Innovation-Conf500w.jpg?width=300&name=Innovation-Conf500w.jpg) [Paul Roetzer](https://www.readynorth.com/blog/author/paul-roetzer)September 17, 20102 min read # One of Those Moments [Previous](https://www.readynorth.com/blog/google-instant-impact-on-seo-and-marketing) [Next](https://www.readynorth.com/blog/hug-conference) In May 2009, I wrote a blog post entitled *[The People and The Moments](https://www.readynorth.com/page/the-people-and-the-moments)*: *“We all have them. Those moments when time slows just enough for us to recognize there is **something incredible and unique** about the experience. “It may be the place, the people, the circumstances or the significance, but there is something uncommon that **leaves an indelible mark on our memories**.”* Last night, the **Innovation in Business conference** was one of those moments for me. Joined by our [amazing team](https://www.readynorth.com/page/the-team) (pictured below), as well as Terri Grimm and Gary Christy of [Westfield Insurance](http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/) (two of our most loyal clients and friends), I was [honored with a Rising Star award](http://www.sbnonline.com/Local/Article/20448/82/0/Seizing_opportunities.aspx?Category=124) by *Smart Business*. ![PR 20/20 Team | 2010 Innovation in Business](https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/file-1745359275-jpg/Blog_Post_Images/Innovation-Conf500w.jpg?width=500&height=375&name=Innovation-Conf500w.jpg "PR 20/20 Team | 2010 Innovation in Business") *From Left to Right: Laurel Miltner, Keith Moehring, Tracy DiMarino, Paul Roetzer, Dia Dalsky, Christy Barksdale, Christina Capadona-Schmitz, Natalie Farinacci* ## **Capturing it in Words** When I sat down yesterday to compose a few thoughts for the acceptance speech, it was the first time I really started to **appreciate the significance of the moment**. Not so much for me, but for everyone involved with our agency. For nearly five years we have worked tirelessly to build an agency with an **uncompromising vision for change**, and a commitment to [disruptive innovation](https://www.readynorth.com/page/disrupt-or-die-6-tips-on-disruptive-innovation). Since our model is so different from traditional PR agencies, **there was no blueprint** from which to work. We constructed a business plan, created a scalable infrastructure, built partnerships with like-minded organizations such as [HubSpot](https://www.hubspot.com/) and [New Media Campaigns](http://www.newmediacampaigns.com/), surrounded ourselves with clients who value us and our services, and constantly challenged the accepted norms within our industry. But more than anything, we **assembled a remarkable group of talented and amazingly driven professionals**. There is so much more we plan to achieve, individually and as an agency, but for one moment, last night, we stopped to recognize how far we’ve come, and look beyond to an incredibly bright future ahead. ***“They believed in me, and we believed in each other****. We have a culture that refuses to accept traditional wisdom and conventional solutions. We challenge each other every day to improve. It's not easy, but things worth achieving never are.* *“So this award is a testament to them, and to **what a great team can accomplish together**.” — Paul Roetzer, Innovation in Business acceptance speech, Sept. 16, 2010* *Paul Roetzer is founder and president of PR 20/20, a Cleveland-based inbound marketing agency and PR firm. He can be found on Twitter @[PaulRoetzer](https://twitter.com/paulroetzer).* *Stay updated: [Subscribe to the PR 20/20 blog](http://feeds.feedburner.com/Pr2020_blog), [check us out on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pr2020) or [follow the team on Twitter](http://twitter.com/pr2020/team).* ![avatar](https://www.readynorth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Paul%20Roetzer%20MAII%20Author.jpg?width=290&name=Paul%20Roetzer%20MAII%20Author.jpg) [Paul Roetzer](https://www.readynorth.com/blog/author/paul-roetzer)Paul Roetzer is Ready North's (formerly PR 20/20) founder and senior advisor, as well as the founder and CEO of Marketing AI Institute. He is the author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence (Matt Holt Books, 2022) The Marketing Performance Blueprint (Wiley, 2014), and The Marketing Agency Blueprint (Wiley, 2012); and the creator of the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). [Full bio.](https://www.marketingaiinstitute.com/marketing-ai-book) [mailto:paul@readynorth.com](mailto:paul@readynorth.com) COMMENTS ## RELATED ARTICLES [![power theme logo](//883.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/883/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/maka_Agency/POWER%20THEME/images/logos/power/pwr-img_logo_power-white.svg)](https://www.readynorth.com/) An inexpensive, quick and easy way to build beautiful responsive website pages without coding knowledge All rights reserved ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United States", "addressLocality" : "Cleveland", "addressRegion" : "Ohio", "postalCode" : "44115", "streetAddress" : "812 Huron Road" }, "email" : "info@readynorth.com", "knowsLanguage" : "en-us", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.readynorth.com/hubfs/BF.com/Brightfind_Primary_Logo.png" }, "name" : "Ready North", "url" : "https://www.readynorth.com/blog/one-of-those-moments" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "PR 20/20 founder, Paul Roetzer, reflects on the Innovation in Business Rising Star award, and the team effort it took to make it possible.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Paul Roetzer" }, "dateModified" : "November 1, 2014 8 PM", "datePublished" : "September 17, 2010 8 PM", "headline" : "One of Those Moments", "image" : "http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/883/file-1745359275-jpg/Blog_Post_Images/Innovation-Conf500w.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en-us", "keywords" : "[Talent, Business]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "One of Those Moments", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.readynorth.com/hubfs/Ready%20North%20(RN)%20Logo_BlueOrange_Trademark.png" }, "name" : "Ready North" }, "text" : "In May 2009, I wrote a blog post entitled The People and The Moments: “We all have them. Those moments when time slows just enough for us to recognize there is something incredible and unique about the experience. “It may be the place, the people, the circumstances or the significance, but there is something uncommon that leaves an indelible mark on our memories.” Last night, the Innovation in Business conference was one of those moments for me. Joined by our amazing team (pictured below), as well as Terri Grimm and Gary Christy of Westfield Insurance (two of our most loyal clients and friends), I was honored with a Rising Star award by Smart Business. From Left to Right: Laurel Miltner, Keith Moehring, Tracy DiMarino, Paul Roetzer, Dia Dalsky, Christy Barksdale, Christina Capadona-Schmitz, Natalie Farinacci Capturing it in Words When I sat down yesterday to compose a few thoughts for the acceptance speech, it was the first time I really started to appreciate the significance of the moment. Not so much for me, but for everyone involved with our agency. For nearly five years we have worked tirelessly to build an agency with an uncompromising vision for change, and a commitment to disruptive innovation. Since our model is so different from traditional PR agencies, there was no blueprint from which to work. We constructed a business plan, created a scalable infrastructure, built partnerships with like-minded organizations such as HubSpot and New Media Campaigns, surrounded ourselves with clients who value us and our services, and constantly challenged the accepted norms within our industry. But more than anything, we assembled a remarkable group of talented and amazingly driven professionals. There is so much more we plan to achieve, individually and as an agency, but for one moment, last night, we stopped to recognize how far we’ve come, and look beyond to an incredibly bright future ahead. “They believed in me, and we believed in each other. We have a culture that refuses to accept traditional wisdom and conventional solutions. We challenge each other every day to improve. It's not easy, but things worth achieving never are. “So this award is a testament to them, and to what a great team can accomplish together.” — Paul Roetzer, Innovation in Business acceptance speech, Sept. 16, 2010 Paul Roetzer is founder and president of PR 20/20, a Cleveland-based inbound marketing agency and PR firm. He can be found on Twitter @PaulRoetzer. Stay updated: Subscribe to the PR 20/20 blog, check us out on Facebook or follow the team on Twitter.", "url" : "https://www.readynorth.com/blog/one-of-those-moments", "wordCount" : "692" } ```