LevLane’s PR and Marketing teams played a vital role creating and promoting Rydal Park’s Lively Fall Speaker Series, taking place this month in its second year. The series presents well-known local media figures from radio, television and newspapers sharing highlights from their careers, “the stories behind the story.”

Jerry Blavat, Oldies music DJ and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, charmed the audience at Rydal Park. He’s pictured here with Rydal’s Sarah Jolles.

The events have packed Rydal’s auditorium with prospective residents and resident ambassadors. The program was launched as an effort to draw local residents who could be strong candidates for joining Rydal’s community. The five-part series provides casual opportunities for attendees to experience some of Rydal Park’s enlightening events and desirable amenities, while meeting engaging speakers and taking in a tour.

Harry Gross, longtime Philadelphia Daily News columnist and Rydal Park resident, hosts the series, charming the visitors and encouraging them not to wait to make the decision to move in. Gross and his wife, both still active, have lived at Rydal for three years. Oftentimes, seniors express their interest but suggest they’re “not ready yet.”

In creating the Speaker Series in June 2013, LevLane integrated marketing and PR tactics to attract qualified sales leads for the senior community and to effectively communicate the community’s unique sense of “spirited living”. Rydal’s target demographic remains loyal to traditional media, and the featured speakers have been prominent with local media outlets for many years.

Oldies DJ Jerry Blavat spoke to the crowd about growing up in Philadelphia and the music scene, sharing stories about big name entertainers, local radio and nightclubs. At 74, he told the seniors he stays young with regular exercise and keeping a positive outlook on life.

The speaker series was promoted with a direct-mail piece targeted towards local prospects, in addition to media outreach and postings on RydalPark.org and its Facebook page.

Sarah Jolles, executive director of Sales and Marketing for Rydal Park, called the inaugural series last year a huge success, the program is now referred to as a “signature event.”  The events last year trumped Rydal’s previous highest direct mail events by 40% and brought in the most repeat inquiries among all direct mail events last year. “I’ve been thrilled. This series has just gone so great,” she said.

With the concurrent celebration of its 40^th anniversary this fall, the 2nd Annual Rydal Park Lively Fall Speaker Series featured: Glen Macnow, longtime sports radio 94WIP radio host; Lu Ann Cahn, NBC10 reporter and eight-time Emmy Award winner; Jerry Blavat, oldies radio DJ and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee; Clark DeLeon, longtime Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and Philadelphia historian; and Dan Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer deputy metro editor/Enterprise.

By Gina Turdo, PR Intern