Godwin Group (PR firm)

Fire Shelby · Status: Offline

Godwin Group (PR firm)

Fire Shelby · Status: Offline

Wow! I just looked at the Godwin Group website. The GG does major marketing for the Mississippi Development Authority, Angie's business before she came to USM.

http://www.godwin.com/portfolio.htm

If anyone can direct me to proof USM hired the Godwin Group without utilizing the competetive bid process, I think I will draft something up on this.

Thanks,

FS

Date: Apr 8, 2004

Man, a hot one here. There are many people who know the score but who cannot talk for fear of swift and sure reprisal.

Maybe I need to email FS. Not sure how safe that is.

Date: Apr 8, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by:
"Wow! I just looked at the Godwin Group website. The GG does major marketing for the Mississippi Development Authority, Angie's business before she came to USM. http://www.godwin.com/portfolio.htm If anyone can direct me to proof USM hired the Godwin Group without utilizing the competetive bid process, I think I will draft something up on this. Thanks, FS"

Hey FS: don't forget the consulting company named Pileum that was hired without any competitive bids or other consultation to run OTR. They are still running OTR (now I-Tech) for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pileum's head and on-campus representative is Jill Beneke. Word is she makes hiring/firing decisions which is illegal according to Mississippi law as she is not a state employee, but she gets my name sake Ms. Dvorak to rubber stamp everything. Pileum on the web is here: http://www.pileum.com/

Fire Shelby · Status: Offline

quote:
Originally posted by: Angeline
" Hey FS: don't forget the consulting company named Pileum that was hired without any competitive bids or other consultation to run OTR. They are still running OTR (now I-Tech) for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pileum's head and on-campus representative is Jill Beneke. Word is she makes hiring/firing decisions which is illegal according to Mississippi law as she is not a state employee, but she gets my name sake Ms. Dvorak to rubber stamp everything. Pileum on the web is here: http://www.pileum.com/"

Let me see if I have this right: Shelby contracted with a private firm to handle the job that OTR used to handle. And a private employee of a private firm is firing STATE EMPLOYEES who work for USM?

Is it even Dvorak's responsibility to hire and fire tech people? Why has no one appealed to the state employee board? Better yet, why has no one found a really good lawyer who specializes in this type case?

The more I learn about this university....

Date: Apr 8, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by:
" Let me see if I have this right: Shelby contracted with a private firm to handle the job that OTR used to handle. And a private employee of a private firm is firing STATE EMPLOYEES who work for USM? Is it even Dvorak's responsibility to hire and fire tech people? Why has no one appealed to the state employee board? Better yet, why has no one found a really good lawyer who specializes in this type case? The more I learn about this university...."

If anyone can find Candy Santell, the former head of OTR, who was fired in a manner similar to Glamser/Stringer soon after Pileum arrived: no warning, locked out of her office with the campus police involved, told to leave campus immediately, then you might hear some stories. Staff employees have been experiencing the Glamser/Stringer treatment far longer then professors. I do not know why they don't sue - maybe they will, especially if Glamser/Stringer win their case.

BTW: OTR/I-Tech is under Ms. Dvorak's jurisdiction. Her expertise in that area? - little to none, that's why they hired a consulting company rather than trust the faithful employees already there - most of whom continue to work with the indignity of wearing bright yellow I-Tech golf shirts as their new required uniform.

Fire Shelby · Status: Offline

quote:
Originally posted by: Angeline
" If anyone can find Candy Santell, the former head of OTR, who was fired in a manner similar to Glamser/Stringer soon after Pileum arrived: no warning, locked out of her office with the campus police involved, told to leave campus immediately, then you might hear some stories. Staff employees have been experiencing the Glamser/Stringer treatment far longer then professors. I do not know why they don't sue - maybe they will, especially if Glamser/Stringer win their case. BTW: OTR/I-Tech is under Ms. Dvorak's jurisdiction. Her expertise in that area? - little to none, that's why they hired a consulting company rather than trust the faithful employees already there - most of whom continue to work with the indignity of wearing bright yellow I-Tech golf shirts as their new required uniform. "

Jeez everytime I leave this message board I feel slimey. And stories about the adminstration's antics that come through my email are ten times worse than what I read here.

I did not know that OTR people had to wear uniforms now. Those predictions about micromanagement were right. I don't think I could take the golf shirts. (Besides, I don't look good in yellow.)

Really, though, your predictions that people are waiting to see the results of the Glamser-Stringer case may be right. Still--I thought all state employees were aware of the termination process and their rights in it. Ten years ago, it was almost impossible to fire a state employee.

Why do people continue to take such horrific treatment?

Date: Apr 8, 2004

ITech people and the physical plant employees have new shirts. Great use of our tax dollars during a budget crunch, huh? At least when the yellow-shirts come to lock you out of your office and confiscate your computer, you'll be able to see them coming from a distance!

Date: Apr 8, 2004

FS wrote:

Why do people continue to take such horrific treatment?

You answered this yourself, as did Present Professor, when I made a prediction about what was going to happen and you both took offense to my use of the term "mediocrity will reign". People love this community and love this university. They believe in the potential, respect the history, and admire the fighters. People hold onto the hope that quality and integrity will eventually win over the corruption that pervades from the top.

Date: Apr 8, 2004

Candy Santell is in Natchez Mississippi.

Boy does she have a story.

Date: Apr 8, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Angeline
"

Hey FS: don't forget the consulting company named Pileum that was hired without any competitive bids or other consultation to run OTR. They are still running OTR (now I-Tech) for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pileum's head and on-campus representative is Jill Beneke. Word is she makes hiring/firing decisions which is illegal according to Mississippi law as she is not a state employee, but she gets my name sake Ms. Dvorak to rubber stamp everything. Pileum on the web is here: http://www.pileum.com/"

In addition to their work with iTech, it is my understanding that Pileum has been examining the financial innerworkings of the University. Their examination has resulted in administrative personnel shifts in financial affairs, the budget office, and physical plant accounting.

Date: Apr 9, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Googler
" In addition to their work with iTech, it is my understanding that Pileum has been examining the financial innerworkings of the University. Their examination has resulted in administrative personnel shifts in financial affairs, the budget office, and physical plant accounting."

Yes, that is true. A hired gun has to do something to show they are earning their money, even it is only shuffling employees around.

Date: Apr 28, 2004

Pilieum stuff below.

Date: Apr 29, 2004

Does anyone know how much the University is paying the Godwin Group to do a less than mediocre job? What do they do exactly? Why are they needed? Isn't the Unversity paying an entire "PR" department? And the athletic department has PR people, too.

I'm not sure but I think Giannani may have had big influence in hiring the Godwin Group.

Date: Apr 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: glumalum
"Does anyone know how much the University is paying the Godwin Group to do a less than mediocre job? What do they do exactly? Why are they needed? Isn't the Unversity paying an entire "PR" department? And the athletic department has PR people, too. I'm not sure but I think Giannani may have had big influence in hiring the Godwin Group. "

Danny Mitchell, USM cheerleader from the late 60's, is the president of Godwin. He has been involved both businesswise and personally with USM for many years. There have been ties with Mitchell/Godwin and USM for years

Date: Apr 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: glumalum
"Does anyone know how much the University is paying the Godwin Group to do a less than mediocre job? What do they do exactly? Why are they needed? Isn't the Unversity paying an entire "PR" department? And the athletic department has PR people, too. I'm not sure but I think Giannani may have had big influence in hiring the Godwin Group. "

Danny Mitchell, USM cheerleader from the late 60's, is the president of Godwin. He has been involved both businesswise and personally with USM for many years. There have been ties with Mitchell/Godwin and USM for years