Richard Laermer is an expert in marketing and media, CEO of world-renown firm RLM Public Relations, a magazine and newspaper journalist, and a popular speaker who has appeared in 9 countries in the last two fast-paced years.
Laermer, who hosted the TV series Taking Care of Business on TLC, is the co-author, with Mark Simmons (see full bio), of Punk Marketing: Get Off Your Ass and Join the Revolution, which Publishers Weekly called “blunt, fair, fearless and outrageous.” Punk Marketing rejects the status quo and understands that the power now lies in the hands of consumers, not big corporations.
Laermer's latest bestseller, 2011: Trendspotting (Laermer.com) is the sequel to 2002's acclaimed trendSpotting, which remains a top e-book seller. He is also the author of the best-seller Full Frontal PR, a "perennial" (Entrepreneur magazine) and cult (not to mention university) favorite. His other books include Native's Guide to New York, and three other nonfiction collectibles.
Laermer offers many diverse, eye-opening lectures, seminars and workshops. He shows those who market how to change their ways with techniques that aren't tried or true...and are, ultimately, effective.
He is CEO of groundbreaking PR firm RLM (RLMpr.com), founded in 1991 when he recognized companies' increasing need for effective media representation. He saw clearly how PR folks were not grasping the intricacies of their clients' businesses. With many years' experience as a journalist, Laermer understood how to deliver results for his clients while respecting demands placed on the overburdened.
Laermer co-runs Bad Pitch Blog (badpitch.blogspot.com), the watchdog for the PR industry and winner of PRSA's Blog of the Year in 2007. He's well known for his commentary on, among others, Public Radio's Marketplace and his own Laermer.com blog -- and regular Huffington Post column ( huffingtonpost.com/richard-laermer.) He is also a frequent guest on CNN and on CBS Sunday Morning.
Laermer first worked as a reporter in 1979 and his columns, reporting and reviews have been appeared in New York Times, New York Daily News, Reuters, USA Today, People, Saturday Review, US Weekly, Interview, New York Post, NY Observer, Advertising Age, Crain's, New York Press, Chief Executive, and Editor & Publisher, among others.
Laermer has spoken at seminars and get-togethers at Fujifilm, Barnes & Noble., Consumer Reports, Time Inc., Discovery Health Channel, plus numerous major corporate summits, including those at Syngenta, Qdoba Mexican and Anheuser-Busch. He has keynoted for corporate and at management seminars for Virgin Airways, UPS, Ziff-Davis, Fast Company, Comcast, National Association of Realtors, Latin American Banking Authority, Automotive Communication Council, IAEM, International Council of Shopping Centers, Custom Publishing Council, PRSA, Photography Inst., American Marketing Association Leadership Forum, India Loyalty Forum (Mumbai), Meeting Planners International, Mediacat/Colors of Marketing (Istanbul), Promixo Conference (São Paolo), Government Communicators Institute, Maryland Tourism Council, Minnesota American Marketing Association, Kelley School of Management Alumni Association, College Campus Resellers Association, Chrysler Corporation, and the Canadian Marketing Association.
Laermer is also a sought-after media trainer and PR/public image consultant who has retooled individuals such as Peter Guber, founder of Mandalay Entertainment and ex-Sony CEO; Peter Bart, former editor of Variety; Fred Seibert of MTV; Stephen & Len Riggio at Barnes & Noble; the entire sales team at Comcast Spotlight; Christos Cotsakos, CEO of E*Trade; Jeff Bezos; Herb Allison, now CEO of Fannie Mae; Gene Rohrer, Macy's, Gerald Storch, Toys "R" Us; Jonathan Klein, now head of CNN; James E. Oesterreicher, chief at JC Penny; Dan Pelson of Bolt.com, Word.com; author James Patterson; and celebrities as diverse as Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), a star of Saved By The Bell (as an entrepreneur) and Buck Owens of Hee Ha.
Sponsor Endorsements for Richard Laermer
“Richard … proved to be an engaging and entertaining speaker for the International Association of Exhibitions and Events on the subject of public relations and marketing. The association rarely pays for speakers other than keynotes, but they were pleased to have invested in Richard’s breakout session, one of the highest-rated sessions at the conference.”
-Rich Westerfield, Organizer, International Association of Exhibitions & Events, annual convention
“Richard is a wonderful speaker and someone who excited our whole audience; I feel as though the best is yet to come for this powerhouse.”
-Doniece Welch, Organizer, Real Estate Marketing & Technology Expo, Denver, Oct ‘03
“As witnessed back in 2003, I invited Richard Laermer to open his treasure chest of tips and tricks to an efficient PR and marketing effort: He knows his classics and history of the field and serves his recipes for success in a clear, no nonsense manner, amplified by his unstoppablesense of humor.”
-Serge Lescouarnec, Fast Company
“Richard Laermer brought insights and a refreshing view of effective marketing strategy and practical and visionary examples of how our members can dramatically improve their outreach efforts. We’ll invite him back.”
-Tom Marx, President, Automotive Communications Council, Bethesda, MD
“Just wanted to thank you, Richard, for pleasantly surprising me at the National Association of Government Communicators conference last week. Most of the speakers were rather boring, so I wasn’t expecting much from the closing session, but your talk was awesome. I took from it this idea that we have to participate rather than facilitate. Great advice. Good luck with this!”
-Nicole Casal Moore, Public Affairs Manager, National Conference of State Legislatures
"I had the privilege of watching Richard in action as keynote speaker for our Governor's Tourism Industry Conference. Describing this presentation is like trying to explain what the wind looks like. Exciting. Outrageous. Innovative. Provocative. Cutting edge. A little raw and dangerous for the weak of heart - but well worth the risk.This guy means business and if necessary will drag us all kicking and screaming toward a much improved bottom line."
-Deb Carter, Chair, Maryland Tourism Council/Governor's Tourism Industry Conference