Blog2021-07-23T18:00:04+00:00

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The digital mindset: How to reach your target audience

Whether you’re a Fortune 500 company or a nonprofit community organization, success in the digital space starts with being able to reach your target audience. But with new digital platforms emerging almost daily, which channels should you be using to effectively communicate to your intended audience? To put it simply (and unhelpfully), it depends. Are

February 15, 2022|

Pulled forward: The evolution of the business of government

As we enter another year of the COVID-era, we reflect on all the habits, routines and practices that have been permanently impacted. One transformational change is the actual business of government. Just like executives had to find a way to keep their businesses moving, so did our officials and administrators in the typically stodgy business

February 1, 2022|

Meet the Crisis Expert: Courtney Avery

Get to know the individuals who make up Culloton + Bauer Luce’s team of expert counselors in our “Meet the Crisis Expert” blog series. Next up, Senior Consultant Courtney Avery. Courtney joined the firm in November and brings nearly two decades of leadership experience with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB) to

December 21, 2021|

Courtney Avery joins Culloton + Bauer Luce

Former Administrator, Chair of Health Facilities and Services Review Board to advise CBL’s growing ranks of health care clients Chicago (Dec. 14, 2021) — Culloton + Bauer Luce today announced Courtney Avery has joined the public affairs and crisis management firm as a Senior Consultant after nearly two decades of leadership with the Illinois Health

December 13, 2021|

Who would you invite to Thanksgiving dinner: Dennis Culloton

Several years ago, our team posted a blog answering the question, "Who would you invite to Thanksgiving dinner, dead or alive?" It turned out to be one of our most popular posts ever, continuing to resonate today. I was struck by how serious everyone took it and the interesting tables of guests they created. Without consulting

November 24, 2021|

Humor in marketing: To do it or not to do it?

In a world filled with automation, elements of humanity are becoming harder to find. With the increasing use of chatbots and automated emails, it’s become more difficult to separate interpersonal communication from robotic messaging scripts. Occasionally, brands, companies and even politicians have the opportunity to present themselves as human through the use of humor in

November 5, 2021|

Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman featuring Patrick Skarr

Get to know Vice President Patrick Skarr in the final installment of our “Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman” series!  Watch the video above or keep reading to find out why he got into this line of work, what he would be doing if he weren’t working at Culloton + Bauer Luce and more.  -- Maggie

September 29, 2021|

Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman featuring Dennis Culloton

What were some of CEO & President Dennis Culloton's work experiences prior to starting Culloton + Bauer Luce? What would he be doing if he didn't start his own firm? And why is he talking about apple sticks, after shave and jet fuel? Keep reading this installment of our "Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman" series

August 30, 2021|

Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman featuring Courtney Clemmons

Get to know Culloton + Bauer Luce's digital consultant Courtney Clemmons in this installment of our "Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman" series!  Where did Courtney go to college? What can she be found doing in her free time? Is she a White Sox or Cubs fan? Keep reading or watch the video above to find

August 19, 2021|

A crisis is sometimes one word away

Finished, completed, ran. Any of these words could have filled in the blank in, “Congratulations you ____ the Boston Marathon!” without any incident. Unfortunately, Adidas chose ‘survived’ in an email blast sent to those who ran in the marathon. While this crisis occurred a few years ago now, there are two main lessons that arose

August 17, 2021|

Intern Interviews with Maggie Gorman featuring Natalie Bauer Luce

This summer, the Culloton + Bauer Luce team was lucky enough to have Maggie Gorman as an intern. In addition to helping with our client campaigns, she interviewed our team of expert advisors over Zoom as a way to get to know them. Where did they go to college? Do they root for the Cubs

July 28, 2021|

Meet the Crisis Expert: Patrick Skarr

At Culloton + Bauer Luce, our team of advisors represent some of the country’s most prominent business, political and civic leaders who seek us out to defend their credibility, solve problems and create new opportunities in tough times. In our “Meet the Crisis Expert” blog series, we’ll meet the individuals who make up CBL’s team of

June 15, 2021|

Culture and branding: The keys to successful reputation management

In the past, organizational culture and branding were oftentimes viewed as separate initiatives. One deals with internal relations within an organization and the other focuses on a company’s external relationship with its customers. But in today’s digital climate where consumers have more power than ever and are increasingly using that power to support companies with

June 9, 2021|

Managing the human factor during a crisis

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”  —Maya Angelou Maybe. Maybe not. While there are still several potential bumps in the road, the global pandemic seems to be moving in the right direction. If there is a gift to be gained from the crisis, it

April 22, 2021|

Why public relations needs a seat at the table early

A longtime colleague of mine who has advised CEOs, Congressional leaders and Cabinet members recently complained to me that “Public relations always gets left holding the bag.”  Coming from someone so experienced and versed at the highest levels of government and business, I was a bit surprised at the source of the complaint but, sadly,

April 2, 2021|

Why corporate reputation management is all about the long game

As we approach Easter, I am remembering the one-year anniversary of one of the strangest Easters I’ve experienced. While everyone’s holiday last year was odd, mine was especially peculiar. It was the morning of April 12 at a construction site in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood where an explosion the day before rocked the community. I

March 18, 2021|

Why you should NOT write an op-ed

“We should write an op-ed.” Those five words are a favorite phrase of elected officials, candidates and business leaders. While op-eds can be useful as a tactic in a larger strategy, too many leaders have made it the strategy. In the process, time and resources are spent drafting, editing and shopping the piece whose chances

March 10, 2021|

What the cannabis industry can teach us about crisis communications

More than a year ago, businesses across Illinois began providing safe, legal access to adult-use cannabis, and the cannabis industry continues to experience tremendous growth. On a year-over-year basis, in January statewide sales grew by more than 125% as the legal market continues to mature.   Culloton + Bauer Luce has had the pleasure to work

February 24, 2021|

Meet the Crisis Expert: Natalie Bauer Luce

At Culloton + Bauer Luce, our team of advisors represent some of the country’s most prominent business, political and civic leaders who seek us out to defend their credibility, solve problems and create new opportunities in tough times. In our new “Meet the Crisis Expert” blog series, we’ll meet the individuals who make up CBL’s

February 16, 2021|

The five crisis communication mistakes you don’t want to make

There are endless ways a company or organization can screw up when responding to a crisis. And while every crisis has its own set of issues, here are five common crisis communication mistakes you don't want to make:  NONCREDIBLE DENIAL My seven-year-old daughter once etched her name into the dresser of my new Ethan Allen

February 9, 2021|

Calling in the experts: When to hire a crisis communications firm

The universal truth in my business is that it’s not a matter of if but when a crisis will strike. Simply refer to all of 2020 as exhibit A. But unless you’re a lawyer or a crisis manager yourself, many leaders don’t necessarily know when is the right time to make that call to

February 3, 2021|

Part two: Straight talk with crisis manager Dennis Culloton

By Lynn Holley In part one of this two-part Q&A with Dennis Culloton, we talked about what it takes to be a successful crisis manager and how to navigate working with clients. In part two, we discuss one of the more difficult aspects of managing a public crisis ... interacting with the media. Lynn Holley:

February 3, 2021|

Part one: Straight talk with crisis manager Dennis Culloton

By Lynn Holley  Dennis Culloton and I have been colleagues for a long time, longer than we care to admit. From all news radio in Chicago to helping professional clients with media messaging and reputation maintenance, we have partnered up most recently to train future crisis managers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In

January 19, 2021|

Strategy, strength and resilience: The PR crisis management lessons from 2020

By Dennis Culloton History books are filled with pivotal moments where powerful leaders are overcome by events. 2020 was one of those pivotal years. It humbled everyone. We won’t attempt to add to the first draft of history here other than to repeat that it was a dumpster fire sitting on top of a burning

January 6, 2021|

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