New at Duffey Communications: Some hiring, some police-related puns, and some other post-thaw happenings.

Nichole Taylor has been promoted to director, account services, for Duffey CommunicationsÕ national proximity marketing practice. The ten-year consumer public relations veteran has been honored for her marketing expertise with two Silver Anvil awards from the Public Relations Society of America. Also, Paul Fulton, a member of DuffeyÕs consumer practice team, has been promoted to account manager and will continue to provide marketing counsel to key clients Kroger, University of Phoenix, American Electronics Association, and Easter Seals.

InComm, one of the nation's largest prepaid phone services companies Ñ providing wireless and long distance products to top retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, and Kroger Ñ is working with Duffey to launch a number of innovative products. Among them is a partnership with Napster to develop the worldÕs first prepaid card for the downloading of recorded entertainment from the Web.