VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM HIRES TAPIS ROUGE EVENTS & COMMUNICATIONS TO MANAGE EVENTS AND MARKETING EFFORTS

Pittsburgh, PA (February 22, 2008) - Tapis Rouge Events & Communications (TRE Communications), an event management and public relations firm based in Mount Washington, is pleased to announce their latest client.  The Veterans Leadership Program of Western PA, Inc. (VLP) has selected the firm to manage its events and help lead its marketing and media relations efforts.

VLP decided to extend its relationship with the firm following their successful management of the Annual Tribute to Veterans Award ceremony last November.  TRE Communications helped attract nearly 600 guests for the event and obtained front page coverage in Pittsburgh’s daily newspapers.

“The first time I met Erika and Casey from TRE I said ‘where have you been all my life,’” said Lynn Griffin, VLP board chair.  “Their knowledge of planning and public relations as well as their calm demeanor put me at ease and removed the stress and burden usually associated with this annual event.”

TRE Communications will oversee VLP’s Annual Scholarship Banquet in the spring and the Tribute to Veterans Award ceremony in the fall.  Other aspects the firm will manage include writing and designing all content for the organization’s quarterly newsletter and annual report.  In addition, they will also provide media relations counsel for VLP.

“I am thrilled to expand our partnership with VLP,” said Tapis Rouge Events & Communications founder Erika Wirkkala.  “The Veterans Leadership Program is a trusted, well-respected organization in Southwestern Pennsylvania and I welcome the opportunity to apply our expertise in helping them achieve their goals." 

About Tapis Rouge Events & Communications
Tapis Rouge Events & Communications is an event management and public relations firm based in Pittsburgh, PA.  The firm helps a wide variety of clients plan high profile events and fundraisers.  In addition to event management, TRE Communications provides public relations counsel to clients in various industries including non-profit organizations, foundations and privately-held companies. They can be found online at www.trecommunications.com.

About The Veteran’s Leadership Program
The Veterans Leadership Program (VLP) was founded in 1982 by Vietnam War veterans. VLP provides assistance to returning veterans, as well as unemployed, underemployed and homeless veterans and their immediate families throughout western Pennsylvania.   More information can be found online at www.vlpwpa.org.

r.