CBR Public Relations

CBR Public Relations (or Carlman Booker Reis Public Relations) "was founded in 1984 by Lori C. Booker," the firm's website states. "For 20 years, CBR PR has represented a blue-chip client roster that includes many Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 corporations." 

CBR's offices include an "onsite media training studio, a Today Show-like set where former professional broadcasters and print journalists provide executive media training to clients" (Florida Orlando Sentinel, January 6, 2002).

Agencies
The firm has nine agency divisions:
 * Technology
 * Education
 * Infrastructure
 * Real Estate
 * Life Sciences and Health Care Division
 * Business to Business
 * Aerospace/Transportation
 * Hispanic Outreach

Helping Make McDonald's SAFE
After its protests "forced Taco Bell to pay tomato pickers a penny more per pound," the Florida-based labor rights group Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) started "pressuring McDonald's for a similar agreement." Instead, the fast food giant joined the "Socially Accountable Farm Employer (SAFE) voluntary certification program." 

Launched in November 2005, SAFE is run by board members of the industry group Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and an association grantee, the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (a childcare provider with no experience in labor issues). SAFE is represented by CBR Public Relations, one of McDonald's PR firms, which specializes in "activist response management." Intertek, a firm that "already performs safety audits for McDonald's," will evaluate SAFE members' compliance. SAFE "does not include any input from workers," "does little to address low wages," and "does not guarantee workers overtime pay or the right to organize." A CIW organizer said McDonald's joined SAFE "to protect their public image in place of making a change in our lives." 

Clients
From various media accounts and press releases:
 * Administaff
 * Americas' Water Services
 * BellSouth
 * Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
 * Florida Water Services
 * KeyCorp
 * McDonald's
 * Orange County School Board (Florida)
 * Pepsi Bottling Group
 * Progress Energy
 * UnitedHealth Group
 * Vanguard Medical Concepts
 * Waste Management
 * Winn-Dixie

Contact Information
CBR Public Relations 1495 N. Maitland Ave. Maitland, Florida 32751 Phone: 407-834-7777 Website: http://www.cbrpr.com/web/home.shtml

SourceWatch Resources

 * McDonald's
 * Public relations firms