Avōq

“If you have a process established and some consistency, then you are better positioned to make those informed, educated decisions to avoid that knee-jerk reaction to something that flies out of the political tornado.” Whitaker Askew, Partner on our Government Relations team shares his advice on how the C-suite can be better positioned when making decisions about high-stake issues.

“If you have a process established and some consistency, then you are better positioned to make those informed, educated decisions to avoid that knee-jerk reaction to something that flies out of the political tornado.” Whitaker Askew, Partner on our Government Relations team shares his advice on how the C-suite can be better positioned when making decisions about high-stake issues.

Next week, I’ll be leading a workshop at Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center’s Game Changer Week 2024. We’ll dive into the challenges and solutions to how startups need to embrace an identity that investors and potential customers can embrace using the "Time, Money, Lives" formula. You can register for “Branding and Marketing Your Tech Startup”?on Friday, September 13 at 11 AM – 12 PM EST here:?https://lnkd.in/eUQYfXtw Hope to see you there! #GameChangerWeek

“To have a well-considered POV on a policy is by definition meant to be non-partisan.” Stacey Alexander, Partner on our Government Relations team advises on messaging to both sides of the aisle.

We’re pleased to welcome Joe Orlando and Kelly Montgomery to Avoq, bolstering our growing government relations and communications practices. ? Joe brings significant expertise working with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is joining as Vice President and lobbyist on our government relations team. ? Kelly, a communications specialist who previously worked for Avoq before serving as a Congressional Press Secretary and Communications Manager at the National Restaurant Association, returns to the firm’s communications team as Director, Account Leadership.? ? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g5Nx_6R7

In order to make an impact, you must have a deep understanding of what motivates your target audience to take action. We created a report that provides tangible insights on why and what gained the most traction in the media, helping us know what’s top of mind for our clients’ most important stakeholders. Our DNC 2024 Impact Report also compares trends and sentiment with last month’s RNC. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e_iNT_Nq

Last week’s Democratic National Convention had a lot of defining moments. We looked at social media, readership and news impact, helping organizations understand what resonated with the American people. Here’s what we learned:

Our Government Relations team was back on the ground, this time at the DNC in Chicago. Check out how they participated at the convention last week and helped advocate on behalf of our clients and their goals. Megan Cryan Bell?was an appointed member of the platform committee and traveled to the convention as part of the New Jersey delegation. The official role of the platform committee was to draft, amend and ultimately vote on the party’s policy priorities, and was represented by a diverse group of members from delegations across the country. Barry LaSala?played the role of a multi-client advocate, helping to promote and attend important policy panels and substantive engagements, engage lawmakers, staff and key party officials in a social setting and ensure our firm’s clients enjoy a meaningful and impactful experience.

It is with heavy hearts we share the sad news that our friend and colleague Virginia Gamboa passed last week after a long struggle with illness.? ? Virginia leaves a lasting legacy with Avoq, joining our firm in 2014. Virginia helped establish and develop our Spanish language media service, built a team and advocated for the importance of reaching this audience with colleagues and clients. As all who worked with her know, she was a special person who excelled at her job and made our small community stronger by sharing her warm laugh and positive energy. ? Virginia was all that you could ask for in a colleague, always flashing her broad smile, offering a friendly greeting and sharing her love of baseball. She was always ready to pitch in and had a knack for turning colleagues and clients into friends.? ?? We will miss her friendship. As a firm, we extend our deepest sympathies to Virginia’s family, friends and loved ones. ? If you are interested in attending her service, please see the information below and RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eHSwe_GU

Since 2020, companies and brands have been drawn into a near constant frenzy around societal and political issues. This requires CCOs, CMOs and all C-suite leaders to gather and assess if and how to respond. Andrea Hagelgans, SVP on our Strategic Communications team, shares what she hopes to see companies think about when preparing for external and internal communications about issues that arise. See how you can prepare your issues management plan in her recent article for PRWeek: https://lnkd.in/dC6Jducp