Peppercom co-founder Steve Cody is busy raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and trying to earn the title of 2012 Man of the Year in the process.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds research into blood cancer drugs, advocates for public policy to advance the treatment and eradication of blood cancers, and helps with patient services. The Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a 10-week competition between a group of candidates, each vying to raise the most money (minimum, $20,000). Participants craft a campaign with the nonprofit’s staff and attend various events throughout the course of the competition.

Cody most recently hosted a stand-up comedy show in New York, has hosted a wine tasting event, and continues to collect donations at this URL. The competition runs through May 17. You can check out a complete list of competitors here.

Lithium Technologies has chosen Bite Communications as its AOR focused on the U.S. and Europe. The firm was selected after a competitive pitch. Work will raise awareness of the company and the value of social customer service software. Work will be lead by Bill Danon in San Francisco and Sophie Brown in London.

Arik Air, the large West African airline, has chosen C. Moore Media International Public Relations (CMM) as its AOR. CMM was founded by former Hill + Knowlton Strategies exec Claudine Moore (when it was Hill & Knowlton). For Arik Air, the firm will focus on traditional and digital outreach with a special focus on U.S. businesses. Arik Air offers the only nonstop flight between New York and Lagos, Nigeria and provides a gateway to other African cities. The firm has previously worked with Arik Air.

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Former Senator and U.S. ambassador Carol Moseley Braun

Former TVNewser editor Steve Krakauer has been promoted to CNN‘s senior digital producer in the U.S., a new position. He was previously digital producer for Piers Morgan Tonight. In this new role, he’ll lead social media activity across the network in an effort to attract and engage audiences. [via TVNewser]

Mirian Arias has been named VP of daytime communications at Disney/ABC Television Group, responsible for outreach on behalf of ABC Daytime, SOAPnet, and ABC Media Productions. She’ll handle the corporate and consumer PR matters, marketing, affiliate, and talent publicity.

Michael Goldberg has joined Porter Novelli as CMO and senior partner. Goldberg was most recently EVP and CMO of Zimmerman Advertising, another Omnicom firm, in Florida. He’ll be making the move to New York and start his new job in the beginning of 2012. PN has lost some business (including Gillette) and high-level staff of late, but says it has made gains in healthcare and food and beverage. [via Ad Age]

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W Los Angeles-Westwood

Datapipe has selected Peppercom as its AOR. The tech management and service provider previously worked with Peppercom in 2002. Now, the Peppercom program will include media relations, social media initiatives, digital marketing, services in the U.K., and a new website via H2O Associates, a Peppercom division.

The Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld has chosen Kreps DeMaria Public Relations and Marketing for PR services. The firm works with a number of hospitality clients including the JW Marriott Hotel Miami and the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa.

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Maggie O’Neill, partner and senior director of Peppercommotions, Peppercom‘s events division, spoke with us today to offer tips for hosting a successful event.

Among her pieces of advice, making events accessible and unique.”There are probably 800 Mad Men-themed parties,” she cautions.

Also crucial is staying organized. “A grid has to be your best friend,” she says. And when things go wrong “keep your poker face.”

Other tips: do your research, make sure your theme isn’t “over-the-top,” generate excitement with teasers and other items, and “engage all of the sense – enable attendees to hear, touch, feel, taste, [and] smell.”

Events are a key part of many PR campaigns. Hosting a successful event – one that makes guests happy and still pleases the client – is critical.

Join us on Tuesday, December 14 for the latest Webcast in the Mediabistro “20 Tips in 20 Minutes” series: “How to Plan and Execute Successful Events.” Our guest, Maggie O’Neill, partner and senior director of Peppercommotions, the experiential events division of Peppercom, will discuss how to integrate digital technology and social media into your plans, how to drive attendance and media coverage, and overall, how to make your event a hit.

Click here to reserve your space.

T.G.I.Friday‘s has chosen Peppercom as its AOR, handling ongoing PR, digital and social media, marketing activities, partnerships and special programs, and the company’s World Bartender Championship (WBC), now in its 20th year.

The WBC is a competition among the restaurant’s 7,000 bartenders worldwide ending with one global champion.

Work on the account began on October 1.

Update: Ed Moed, managing partner and co-founder of Peppercom, tells PRNewser that the relationship between the firm and T.G.I.Friday’s began months ago with talks about how the WBC can help build the Friday’s brand further.

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Peppercom has launched a mobile agency, PepperMobi, that will provide services to the mobile industry as well as companies looking for mobile comms services.

PepperMobi is based in San Francisco and London, led overseas by Jacki Vause, MD of the mobile agency and Peppercom Europe.

While mobile is still a burgeoning area for the PR industry, it’s one that Steve Cody, managing partner and co-founder of Peppercom, believes is bound to grow quickly.

“It’s the tip of the iceberg right now,” Cody said, referring to what we’re seeing in mobile at the moment. “It’s almost intuitive in terms of the trends and what we’re seeing people doing.”

He predicted that mobile will grow to be a significant part of the firm’s business.

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