DALLAS – May 11, 2012 – Carroll Shelby International, Inc., (OTC: CSBI.PK) announced today that Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89.   Mr. Shelby passed away yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born on Jan. 11, 1923, Carroll Shelby was one of America’s greatest success stories.  Championship-winning racecar driver, “flying sergeant” wartime pilot, philanthropist, entrepreneur, car manufacturer and racing team owner, he embodied the ingenuity, tenacity and grit to overcome any obstacle.  He is perhaps the only person to have worked at a visible level with all three major American automobile manufacturers.

Carroll Shelby founded Carroll Shelby International, a publicly held corporation involved in many industries.  His licensing arm has agreements with industry giants, such as Mattel, Sony, Ford Motor Company and Electronic Arts.  His car company, Shelby American, has a thriving parts business as well as a line of muscle cars including the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GTS.  The Las Vegas-based company also manufactures a limited number of the 1960s Shelby 289 “street,” 289 FIA, 427 S/C and Daytona Coupe Cobras.

Shelby considered his greatest achievement to be the establishment of the Carroll Shelby Foundation™.  Created in 1992 while Shelby was waiting for a heart transplant, the charity is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in need, including children, educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefitting the Carroll Shelby Automotive Foundation.

Shelby remained active in the management of each of his companies and the Foundation until his death, even though he endured both heart and kidney transplants in the last two decades of his life.

“We are all deeply saddened, and feel a tremendous sense of loss for Carroll’s family, ourselves and the entire automotive industry,” said Joe Conway, president of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. and board member.  “There has been no one like Carroll Shelby and never will be.  However, we promised Carroll we would carry on, and he put the team, the products and the vision in place to do just that.”

Shelby is survived by his three children Patrick, Michael and Sharon, his sister Anne Shelby Ellison of Fort Worth and his wife Cleo.  Funeral plans are not currently available.  Donations to the Carroll Shelby Foundation are encouraged in lieu of flowers.  Information about the Carroll Shelby Foundation is available at www.carrollshelbyfoundation.org.

About Shelby American, Inc.

Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products.  Now a subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International, Inc., the company manufactures authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289 street car component vehicles.  The company offers the GT350, GT500 Super Snake and GTS post-title packages for the current generation Ford Mustang.  For more information, visit www.shelbyamerican.com.

About Carroll Shelby Licensing

Automotive manufacturer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby is one of the most famous and successful high performance visionaries in the world, and he has spent the last 50 years establishing and protecting his name, trademarks and car design rights.  He founded Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., which has the exclusive right to license the Shelby trademarks and vehicle design rights for some of the most famous muscle cars and high-performance vehicles.  CSL also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. For more information about the company or licensing opportunities, call (310) 914-1843, or fax (310) 538-8189 or write to Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., 19021 S Figueroa St., Gardena, CA, 90248, or visit www.carrollshelby.com, www.shelbylicensing.com or www.carrollshelbyinternational.com.

About The Carroll Shelby Foundation

The Carroll Shelby Foundation was created by legendary racer and automotive manufacturer Carroll Shelby.  Headquartered in Gardena, Calif., the Foundation is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in need, including children, educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefitting the Shelby Automotive Foundation.  For more information visit CarrollShelbyFoundation.org.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release may contain forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future events or results to differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements. CSI disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward- looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on its behalf.

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Mother Nature couldn’t make up its mind once again in Texas. Two days ago, more than a dozen twisters hit, causing severe damage throughout North Texas and leaving ZERO casualties. Fortunately, many affected cities, businesses and families had a crisis plan intact.

It shouldn’t be any different for companies, big or small. When crisis hits, it’s crucial that a communications plan has been developed to provide some sort of stability. Here are a few pointers to avoid casualties:

• When developing a crisis plan, make sure your communications and legal teams are involved. Each group has something important to bring to the table
• Play offense, not defense. Do not wait for the media to come to you. Have a statement quickly ready to distribute to the public
• Notify all the key players immediately. Investors do not want to get wind of it from the Wall Street Journal
• Continually update everyone with the status of the situation, including your employees
• Survey the damages. Have empathy for those who are affected and determine next steps to rectify the situation. Think: what can be repaired and what does the company need to rebuild completely
• Revisit your plan periodically. Once a plan is drafted doesn’t mean it is set in stone. See how new technology can help support your plan

No company wants to go down like the Titanic… and it doesn’t have to, if it has a crisis communications plan in place.

Is it possible to have an event that’s too successful?  Unfortunately, yes.  But with good planning, any growing pains associated with unexpected success can be minimized, or even avoided.

A good example is the popular “Cars & Coffee” franchise, which a Dallas area BMW dealer brought to North Texas to showcase his new facility.  It was a brilliant way to expose a new location and attract thousands of car enthusiasts , especially when you’re selling “The Ultimate Driving Machine”.

The intent of Cars & Coffee is to recreate the 1950s “cruise night” atmosphere with every type of vehicle.  People come to park, look at the cool cars and leave whenever they want, for free.  It’s a great idea.

And it has worked, but much better than anyone probably ever envisioned.  After a year, the event is crowded within a few minutes of opening.  Over 600 cars cram into the parking lot with more waiting in the street.  The event is so packed that many are beginning to simply stay away.

The negative fallout is reminiscent of Yogi Berra’s famous quote about Ruggeri’s restaurant in St. Louis, “Nobody goes there anymore.  It’s too crowded.”

What lessons can be learned from this situation?

1. Plan for exponential growth to minimize problems. Be ready if you go “big time”.
2. Have an exit strategy.  If the goal is to create exposure and goodwill, you need a milestone that triggers the decision to offload or cease when that objective is reached.
3. Include local authorities in planning from the outset.  Local and state police officers patrol streets adjacent to the Cars & Coffee event in North Dallas, but none work the event.  Police, fire and city officials need to be part of the solution.

Will Cars & Coffee survive in North Texas?  We certainly hope so.  Regardless, lessons learned from their growth can help others build more successful events in the future.

As we celebrated the ball dropping on December 31 – in what some believe is the “last year” of our existence (according to the Mayan calendar) – we can’t help but look forward.  It’s human nature to envision a fresh start, a new beginning and of course keeping (or trying too) our New Year’s resolutions.

One promise that companies should put at the top of their marketing resolution “to-do” list is to stay away from 2011’s top 23 most overused words.  These words seemed to crop up like weeds in marketing and PR materials throughout the country.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, be prepared to open your dictionaries and/or thesaurus’ because we are in desperate need of diversity.

According to PR Daily’s article, there are 23 “buzzwords” you should avoid, including number one on the list, which appeared an incredible 776 times in a 24 hour time period!

1. leading (776)
2. solution (622)
3. best (473)
4. innovate / innovative / innovator (452)
5. leader (410)
6. top (370)
7. unique (282)
8. great (245)
9. extensive (215)
10. leading provider (153)
11. exclusive (143)
12. premier (136)
13. flexible (119)
14. award winning / winner (106)
15. dynamic (95)
16. fastest (70)
17. smart (69)
18. state of the art (65)
19. cutting edge (54)
20. biggest (54)
21. easy to use (51)
22. largest (34)
23. real time (8)

So the next time you or a co-worker starts working on the next big press release, collateral material or on-line ad, think to yourself…do you want to be another statistic or an original?

Today, people are spreading their opinions about products and services more quickly than ever.  They’re using a larger variety of mediums, reaching a much larger audience and developing trust-filled relationships with other consumers. When making decisions, consumers are looking to others, like themselves, for experiences and opinions. With an increase of technology at our fingertips, word of mouth (WOM) has exploded across the virtual world, greatly extending the reach of consumers’ opinions.

Recognizing that WOM is an increasingly powerful tool, PR and marketing professionals have begun leveraging this natural habit the form: Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM).

WOMM takes place when a brand or company gives people something to talk about as well as a venue through which they can easily communicate. By introducing a new product or announcing a partnership between with a charity or celebrity, the organization is handing consumers something to buzz about. Some companies also create blogs or forums where people who are interested particularly in their brand can converse.

So how do consumers get wind of these buzz worthy bits? WOMM is often an extension of a PR or marketing effort, such as a news article, blog, commercial or magazine ad. The best WOMM efforts are usually fully-fledged campaigns.

For instance, when Burger King decided they were in need of some extra buzz, they launched the “Whopper freakout” campaign. During this campaign, Burger King discontinued the Whopper, crossing it off all menus, and installed hidden cameras to capture the responses of loyal customers when they came to realize that their beloved burger was no longer available.

This campaign generated discussions, fired up emotions and demonstrated the value that Burger King brings. At first, customers were disappointed and frustrated when their favorite meal was missing, creating a huge amount of buzz. Then, after the hoax was revealed and customers were relieved, even more buzz spread exposing the campaign and welcoming back the beloved Whopper. Quarterly sales saw a huge increase as well (once the Whopper was reintroduced).

WOMM campaigns are usually bold and seemingly outrageous, creating a large amount of Facebook statuses, tweets and hashtags, and face-to-face conversations that include the brand.

So why spend should organizations spend time and money on WOMM? More than 50 percent of purchasing decisions are made based on WOM, making it the strongest influence on a consumer’s decisions. Launching a WOMM campaign is an offbeat way to generate publicity about a brand and shape shoppers’ choices.

Times are tough. Companies aren’t hiring. New graduates are trying to land that “dream” job or at this point, any job at all. Here are a few resume tips for those “newbies” trying to break into the PR world.

1. Address the name of the person in the cover letter
Hiring managers do not necessarily want to be known as “sir” or “madam,” and even worse “to whom it may concern.” Do your research. Pick up the phone and find out who is doing the hiring. Yes, there are some recruiters that make it their mission to stay unknown, but make sure YOU try.

2. Be Consistent
Everyone has a certain style or specific format that they’d rather use on their resume, which is fine. The bottom line is that the same format needs to be used throughout the entire resume. If you’d rather abbreviate the months, then do it consistently. If you like circle bullet points better than diamond bullet points, then pick one and stick with it.

3. Not a time to be Pinocchio
You are trying to break into the PR business, but there’s a difference between enhancing your resume and flat out lying. One thing to remember is that the PR world is really (REALLY) small. With social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, it’s even smaller. Don’t lie because you will eventually get caught.

4. PROOF PROOF PROOF
Make sure your mother’s brother’s wife’s niece reads it. You don’t want to have an unnecessary comma or period hanging around.

5. Don’t tell me you’re an effective communicator. Show me.
The cover letter and resume are your chances to show the employer that you know how to communicate. Yes, even the resume can tell the recruiter that you know how to communicate by your word choice and action verbs.

6. Follow directions
Be thorough when applying for a job. Some companies just want a resume while others require 3 writing samples, a resume in a PDF format and a cover letter in the body of the email. Give them what they want. If you can’t follow this simple task, it’s apparent that you won’t be able to follow directions in the workplace.

7. Keep it short
Time is of the essence. Recruiters really don’t have the time or desire to sift through a four-page resume. Unless you’ve worked with Prince William and Kate and it somehow relates to the job position, don’t bother sharing. Employers don’t need your life story; so, don’t say what you accomplished in high school.

8. Formatting
It’s best to save your resume in a PDF to retain formatting and prevent editing, unless the employer requests something else. Make sure the file name includes your first and last name. Companies receive hundreds of resumes and need to be able to quickly identify yours. Also, it should not read “Juliet Swanson vs.1.” It should read something like “Juliet Swanson_Resume.”

9. Learn how you’re “linked” in the PR world
It’s much easier to get your resume seen if you know someone on the inside. Research your LinkedIn account and see if there’s someone who is connected to the company you’re interested in. A personal recommendation gets your resume moved to the top of the stack.

10. Get your resume “tailored”
Not every single PR/marketing/advertising job is the same and neither should the resume you send out to each job. Different job positions require different skills and responsibilities. Make sure you highlight the right ones according to each job description. It shows recruiters you understand what they are looking for in an employee.

The rapid growth of social media communication has some people excited and others nervous. Many professionals are hesitant to stick their toes in the shallow end while others dive in head first. Regardless of your perception of social media, it is becoming increasingly vital to an organization’s success.

So, where does the fear to participate come from? Some business executives find social media too risky and are scared of losing control of the conversation. They’re reluctant to expose their brand to the “critical” masses and afraid that if they put their brand out there for all to give their two cents, then ‘Negative Nancy’ will take over and they’ll never be able to rope the conversation back in.

However, opening up conversation about your brand to include social media users can foster positive feedback and use a web of connections to get your name out there. The perceived risk that accompanies engaging in the world of social media can be worth taking if you participate in the right ways.

Beware of sharks

Consistently reinforcing your message and purpose with Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other social media venues lowers the risk of losing control and increases your brand awareness. Will someone, somewhere eventually say something negative about your brand? Yes. But the upside to having these negative comments said in the social media conversation is that there are people out there who can and will defend your brand as well.

Picking up speed

Getting comfortable with putting your brand out there is just the beginning. Engaging your fans, followers and bloggers is the next step and perhaps the biggest reward when entering the social media pool. Instead of just tacking social media on to your list of things to do, leverage your followers and bloggers to do some serious footwork for you.  For example, companies can implement Facebook contests and invite their fans to get involved for the chance to win a prize. Another option is to tweet questions and links for your fans to weigh in on. These strategies get your fans actively participating with your brand.

Headed for open waters

When growing your online presence, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not usually about selling. The most influential and successful social media efforts are focused on the bigger conversation.  For instance, Pampers created an online community called Pampers Village where current mothers or mothers-to-be can access educational resources regarding situations encountered from birth through childhood.  There’s no shopping cart for diaper purchases. Focusing their online presence on being a resource for mothers has instilled trust in consumers while still promoting the Pampers name.

On your mark, get set, swim.

Participating in the social media world doesn’t mean you have to be glued to your smart phone but spending time effectively and accurately representing your brand will help you define your organization.  Social media communication is quickly evolving from an extension of technology to the center of business relationships. Don’t get left sitting on the side of the pool.

Every industry has their “experts.”  None are more dominant than in the PR world, however.  There are branding experts, social media experts, publicity experts, etc.  The list goes on and on.  They seem to be springing up at conventions, seminars and PRSA meetings across the country.  As people continue looking for the “next big thing” in their industry, companies are noticing who’s stealing the spotlight and who’s shaping opinions.

Now, the big question is, can one or even a few of these “influencers” help a company connect with the correct target audience?  Companies who hire PR firms want one thing: to tell their story, in a way that resonates, whether it’s to a niche community or global business leaders.

Traditional brand building creates attention through ads, publicity, appearances and articles.  Working with key influencers can create buzz about your client in specific circles of interest.

Which method is worth the time and money?   The best answer is a combination of both.

Traditional brand building is good for reaching the masses.  This means that you spend your money sprinkling your message over a massive group of citizens.  The good news is that this method can make a huge impact quickly.  What is the downside?  You must hope that the message gets to the one or two consumers who will buy or use your product/service, and then hopefully, they will spread the word further to their friends.

Today, it’s critical to take the next step.  An influencer could be the new game changer your organization needs.  The influencer, whether it is a small group of people or just one expert can hit your immediate target audience to penetrate any confusion created in a mass audience.  This targeted approach can get the job done that traditional brand building can’t do alone.

A good influencer not only has credibility, but has a creative spark.  They look for trends and spread the news to their wide bandwidth of followers.  People rely on these influencers for things that will be hot the next couple of years.  They are experts in building a brand and creating interest in a particular product or service.

For example, a popular social media influencer is Peter Shankman.  He is the founder of HARO (Help a Reporter Out).  His expertise is prominent through media interviews, as well as seminars across the country.  And the tech world wouldn’t have made such fantastic strides over the past decade without Apple’s Steve Jobs or Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.  These people see the next big thing and go after it.  This in turn builds brand identity for their company, stimulates innovation and creates real value.

No matter how a company chooses its course of action, one thing is certain; influencers should be embraced along with traditional PR tactics.  They could be the ultimate weapon in building and selling a concept, idea or even a brand.

• Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.

• Never tell a lie.

• Play nice with others.

• Respect your elders.

• Work hard.

And most importantly, always keep your promises.

These were the values instilled into us – “the golden rules” of life by parents, friends, church and even relatives.   These are the glue that hold together society.

In this day and age, the golden rules of life become blurry in the business world.  The Better Business Bureau (BBB) was set up in 1912 to combat fraud and dishonesty, but sometimes morals and values slip through the cracks when dollar signs are waived in front of executives.  The BBB even offers a list, called the “Standards of Trust,” which includes one very important rule: “Honor Promises – abide by all written agreements and verbal representations.”

Nothing is more perturbing to a customer than to have a written or verbal agreement with a company for a particular service (or product), and then when the bill shows up, you paid it, but they were not rendered.  Starting to sound familiar?

This is similar to relationships between companies and their clients.  No matter the service or product offered, it is crucial to follow through.  Nothing spreads faster than negative reviews, especially with the ability to connect through social media, blogs and email. It has been said that for every one great compliment, there are about 10 negative reviews.

Interestingly, telecommunications companies are among the worst offenders.  With increasing competition you would think they would wise up before the end up out of business.

Yes, word of mouth can be your worst enemy…or your best friend.  Have you ever gone shopping, received phenomenal service and got a great bargain?  You wanted to shout it to the world.  You were more likely to share the secret with a friend and they would share it with their friends.  And those contacts were more likely to use your reference because they trust and appreciate your advice.

Same goes for bad products and services.  Even failing to offer great service just once can lead to a string of individuals who will never use that company ever again.  That wronged person might even tweet or Facebook about it…yes, we’ve all been guilty of this as well.

PR professionals can help their clients from becoming a recurring item on customer’s “never again” list.  By advising them to keep their promises holds them accountable.  They can either be rewarded with more business or harmed by awful reviews.  In this economy, no one can afford a bad review.

The most prestigious award of the day, Best of Show, was bestowed on a 1931 Bugatti Type 51 from the acclaimed Nethercutt Collection, located in Southern California.

The key to a great event isn’t just timing and location; it’s a mix of exciting activities, unique experiences and creativity.  During the 29^th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance, the staff was faced with the task of not only introducing a major component, the inaugural Dana Point Vintage Automobile Auction to the Concours, but also promoting multiple activities over a three-day weekend in the epicenter of the collector car world: Orange County.

The 2011 Dana Point Concours d’Elegance successfully accomplished its goals by offering a one-of-a-kind event with a blend of distinct vehicles, including a 1931 Bugatti type 51 coupe, 1927 Bentley 6.5 Litre BX 2416 and a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K special roadster.  Besides the exclusive Private Collection Tour, there was also an elegant selection of renowned automotive fine art by notable artists from around the world, including many members of the distinguished Automotive Fine Arts Society.

With more than 8,000 attendees flocking to the breathtaking golf links of the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort, many automotive events can take cues from this occasion, including the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 17, to Sunday, Aug. 20.

To offer a few insightful do’s and don’ts learned during the Dana Point Concours, the following tips can help anyone create a successful event.

For starters, establish what you want out of a location, such as scenery, exclusivity, size and atmosphere.  Highly-populated settings, unique areas, well-known stores or high-volume traffic locations should all be considered when picking a venue.

Sometimes out of the way locals get snubbed by tourists who don’t want to waste the travel time.  The Dana Point Concours was located at the world-renowned, exclusive Monarch Beach Resort.  If tourists weren’t swayed by the shiny metal, the hotel’s European atmosphere and glamour definitely helped.

Promoting the strongest areas of your event to specific, target audiences is also a must.  You wouldn’t promote an invitation-only event through the media, or not announce an activity that’s free to the public via a news release.

During the Dana Point Concours, many people were unaware of the Private Collection Tour because of the limited number of spots available.  When offering tickets to anything, the more people that know about it, the more likely the show will be sold out sooner.

Speaking of your target audience, they will remember effortlessly the best and worst part of your event.  No matter how big or small the activity, there are bound to be a few hiccups.  By offering an event that is different than the normal gala or dinner will spark some positive notes among visitors, especially if it was an original AND fun event.

For example, the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance was masterful in laying out the vehicles on the golf links.  You didn’t see the same car or motorcycle twice and the vast greenery definitely set the tone.

Come up with something unique that most other companies similar to yours wouldn’t think about offering.  For example, the Dana Point Concours introduced their event in Southern California where a Concours doesn’t exist.  They also presented smaller activities, such as the Private Collection Tour, surrounding the Concours that gave enthusiasts a chance to see some of the best collections in Southern California.  During any other normal automotive event, they wouldn’t have had the chance.

And last, but not least, don’t forget the bathrooms and food stations!  An event can make for some grumpy guests if you don’t organize the bathroom locations and food areas.  If it takes 15 minutes to walk to the first port-a-potty or buy a burger, chances are people will not take that lightly.  Spread it out and offer a variety of food too.  You never know who’s a vegetarian, meat-lover, vegan, or just plain picky.

No matter the style, size or list of activities, any event will be successful as long as planning and preparation are introduced at the beginning stages.  After all, you want your guests to experience the delicious food, not the line to the one bathroom.