Florida Marketing Firm Makes Groundhog Day History

Tampa, FL – (Wednesday, January 28, 2009) – HCP & Associates, a Tampa-based International Marketing Consulting firm, will be traveling to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania this Super Bowl weekend for a very special dedication. HCP commissioned world-renowned wildlife sculptor, Geoffrey Smith (www.geoffreysmith.com) to create a life-size bronze sculpture of Punxsutawney Phil.

HCP Managing Partner, Eric Polins, remarked, “DENTCO, a long-time client in Michigan, manages national snow removal services for thousands of commercial business facilities across the country. Each year customers await his prediction for six more weeks of winter and the arrival of the spring season. After all of the years Phil has produced top-notch forecasts, we decided we all owe him a nice dedication.”

This effort has been embraced by the official Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle, a group of local dignitaries who are responsible for preserving the tradition of Groundhog Day each year and surrounding Phil during his prediction at Gobbler’s Knob. Inner Circle member, Mike Johnston, noted, “Each year we get dozens of requests for participation to support Phil, but nothing we’ve ever done has the permanence we’ll enjoy with this life-size sculpture. We’ve made the bronze part of this year’s celebration, and feel the sculpture will be a wonderful dedication to Groundhog Day 2009.”

The dedication ceremony is slated to take place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Monday, February 2, 2009 at 10:00 am in Barclay Square following Phil’s sunrise weather prediction. The life-size sculpture will then be on permanent display at the Weather Discovery Center, an interactive science center in the heart of Punxsutawney.

Immediately following the dedication ceremony, Stephanie Abrams, co-host of The Weather Channel’s program “Abrams &Bettes” Beyond the Forecast, and Rich Kane, Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) for the NOAA’s National Weather Service, will be honored as the 2009 inductee for the Weather Discovery Center’s National Meteorologist Hall of Fame.

In addition to the life-size sculpture, limited edition, signed and numbered miniature bronze sculptures are available for purchase. If you would like to order one or more of this one-of-a-kind Punxsutawney Phil collectible, please visit www.VotePhil.com. Plus, cast your vote on whether or not Phil will predict six more weeks of winter.

To learn more about HCP & Associates, visit www.hcpassociates.com or call 813-318-0565.

Share your thoughts