After an intensive application and review process, we were certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through WBENC, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. WBENC is the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the US and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs. We are proud to be part of a world-class network of more than 13,000 certified Women’s Business Enterprises.

Media Minefield is born.

After being laid off, Kristi took a class at her church to help figure out her next career move. With the goal of using news to help people, Media Minefield was born.

Our founder, Kristi Piehl, began her career in news. As a reporter and anchor, she worked at five different television stations and had the privilege of telling people’s stories. Her award-winning career also exposed her to the power of news and the frustrations of working with traditional public relations agencies who didn’t “get it”. The seed of Media Minefield was planted….

It began in news.

From basement to coffee shop to office.

From the basement of Kristi’s house to a coffee shop, Media Minefield needed a real home, and we moved into an office. We soon needed to move again into a bigger space as we continued gaining clients across the country.

Keeping a focus on culture.

Company culture takes shape and regular dress-up days become a tradition.

New digs.

It was time to design and move into our own long-term space complete with many newsie features, plenty of room to grow (or so we thought) and our own spin wheel (see careers page to watch it in action).

Ring that bell.

Each time a client interview was scheduled, a Miner would ring the blue bell. Everyone would come out of their office and cheer. That is, until there were complaints of too many ringing bells!

The first Miner.

The first year, Kristi developed the approach by discounting and donating services. Quickly, word of the results spread and employee #1 was hired. (Spoiler alert: it’s Andrea McMaster and she’s still with the company).

Newsability®, the innovative service created in 2010 and critical to our success, is officially named and protected!

Core Values Award

2017 was also the year we unveiled the first annual Core Values Award. This prize is an all-expense paid trip for two to a sunny destination! Miners at Media Minefield are nominated by a fellow Miner for an act exemplifying the Core Values we hold dear. The winner is chosen and awarded at the annual Miner Merriment party.

Inc. 5000

We're honored to debut on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America.

You want to be well known and respected. In order to do that, you need a positive and relevant reputation. The problem is you see your competitors getting attention and you feel overwhelmed with where to begin.

At Media Minefield, we believe you deserve a PR company that gets results and can be trusted with your brand and reputation.

We understand it’s a noisy world, making it hard to secure positive “real news.” It’s also challenging for executives to make time for their personal social media presence. Navigating the digital marketing landscape can be complex and overwhelming. We’re here to help!

Media Minefield is a team of trained journalists, storytellers, social, creative and paid experts who come alongside you to unlock the power and profit of your story.

Our Storycentric Marketing℠ approach includes:

1 / earned media driven by our Newsability® process

2 / Positive Online Presence (POP®) on social media

3 / digital advertising on search engines and social media

4 / crisis media mitigation

About

We believe you deserve a PR company that gets results and can be trusted with your brand and reputation.

Get caped.

For our five year celebration, we unveiled a brand new logo and all Miners received capes. Now, Miners get “caped” on their first anniversary when they share a favorite memory. 2015 was also the first year we were recognized as one of Minnesota’s Best Places To Work.

Our 100% placement rate combined with our Newsability® process, means more companies, from startups to billion dollar brands, are turning to Media Minefield for earned media. We expanded our office space by 30%.

Expanding.

Inc. 5000, again.

We accomplished a rare feat landing on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for the second year in a row. Our growth was fueled by new clients, our team and a new service line, Positive Online Presence (POP®).

Our newest service line, Positive Online Presence, affectionately known as POP® officially received a registered trademark. Our unique POP® process delivers thoughtful social media strategy and customized messaging to own your story and increase your company’s bottom line.

Adapting & thriving.

COVID-19 flipped all of our worlds upside down. We quickly transitioned to 100% remote work while remaining committed to our Core Values. Our strong company culture allowed us to not only survive, but thrive. We increased revenue, and our staff grew by more than 20%.

We had no idea when we began working on a podcast in 2019 how badly the world would need inspiring stories. “Flip Your Script” is a podcast, hosted by our CEO Kristi Piehl, that looks at life’s critical turning points. Each episode features a conversation with a special guest about how they found inspiration and motivation to turn the page and rewrite their unique stories - because sharing stories is powerful.

We were incredibly honored to be on the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal’s Best Places to Work list for the third time, but when the rankings were announced, we were blown away to find ourselves #1 in the Small Business Category. It is the perfect culmination of the most important lesson of 2020; it is not about a place at all, it is all about the people. Despite the fact that we were all working remotely, we were still connected and committed to one another - and that is what makes work great. At least, in our humble opinion.

#1 Best place to work.

Certified Women's Business Enterprise.

Implemented EOS and defined our Core Values.

We implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) and defined our company’s core values, integrating them into everything we do.

Core Values

Miners at Heart: All-in on the success of our clients and each other. We encourage big dreams, personal growth and aren’t afraid to wear capes.

Innovative Creators: Fearlessly evolving, we try, learn, grow and try again.

Nimble: Flexible with the experience and ability to respond at the speed of news.

Extra-Ordinary: Delivering results with a little magic.

Respectable: With positivity and accountability, we do what we say.

Media Minefield landed on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for the third time in four years!

Inc 5000

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal named Media Minefield one of the 50 fastest growing private companies in the Twin Cities.

Fast 50

Media Minefield became Great Place to Work Certified™ in 2021. Based on responses from our team of Miners, our culture is now certified among the best workplaces in the country.

Great Place to Work

Stop allowing others to control your message and compromise your reputation and instead be viewed as a thought leader, reach your desired audiences and boost your business — essentially you'll be famous...in a good way®!

4M

As we continue to innovate how, when and where people work, Media Minefield launched a new employee initiative called 4M. This four-day mindset allows Miners the flexibility to fit their work into the equivalent of four days each week.

Storycentric Marketing Trademark

Media Minefield’s innovative Storycentric Marketing^SM approach is now protected with a trademark. Our unique approach utilizes proactive media coverage, strategic social media, thought leadership and digital advertising to grow your business and build your brand.

#FreeTheGrowler

Media Minefield was proud to partner with the Alliance of Minnesota Craft Breweries to create a PR campaign to change an archaic state law prohibiting certain breweries from selling growlers. Our campaign led to Gov. Walz signing the “Free The Growler” bill into law in May 2022.

Awards for Workplace Culture

Miners once again gave Media Minefield’s culture high praise, earning our second Great Place to Work certification and our fourth Best Places to Work award. Media Minefield was also named one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Best Workplaces in Advertising and Marketing.

Fast 50

For the second year in a row, Media Minefield was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Twin Cities by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.