When Warner Bros. pushed back the date of its Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie to July 17, 2009, it posed a problem for Entertainment Weekly, as well as Nancy Valentino, VP of the entertainment communications group for Time Inc. EW had already gone to press with a fall movie preview issue that included Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe on the cover.

As the son of two high school teachers - his mom taught English, his dad history - and, as of June 2008, the director of George Washington University's masters program in strategic PR, Larry Parnell likes to say, "Those who can, do; those who care, teach."

Noah Brier, a 26-year-old Web entrepreneur and marketer, launched a side project called Brand Tags on Friday, May 9, 2008. The site displays a logo - like Quaker or Pabst - and visitors use one word to describe the brand. For example, the Levi's brand is deemed "classic," "cool," or "American."

Christopher Zunner came to the Big Apple in 1983 from up-state New York for a two-month temp job helping Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) celebrate its 25th anniversary. He ended up staying for 25 years and counting, holding a variety of posts, including administrative assistant to Alvin Ailey. A quarter-century later, as AAADT celebrates its 50th birthday, Zunner serves as PR director.

Bill McIntyre, former National Rifle Association (NRA) chief spokesperson and now EVP at DC-based Grassroots Enterprise, has plenty of experience making partisan arguments. Yet, while recently counseling a client, he argued to colleagues the benefits of reaching out to both sides of the political aisle in a public affairs campaign.

West Hollywood has long been a leader in LGBT rights. Amy Anderson, communications director at the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau (WHMVB), says the LGBT community was instrumental in founding the city in 1984. And when the California Supreme Court lifted the ban on same-sex marriage on May 15 of this year, Anderson helped to harness and shape publicity for the 1.9-square-mile city.

The July 2 merger of WPP siblings Cohn & Wolfe (C&W) and GCI Group was what CEO Donna Imperato calls a "natural evolution" for both firms. It also marks a career evolution for Imperato, as she leads development of a new company that will integrate the strengths and cultures of both entities.

Lisa Lange's career in animal rights activism has come full circle.

Albert Lopez was so busy upon his arrival at Ticketmaster in April, he didn't have time to announce his appointment as VP of strategic communications until more than a month later. His hire, along with that of Wendy Webb as SVP of strategic and financial communications, was part of the company's concerted plan to adopt a more strategic outreach approach.

As British ambassador to the US during the run-up to the Iraq war, Sir Christopher Meyer led an embassy staff of more than 400 that interacted with US lawmakers, the media, and the business community in every imaginable sector.