By Julia Schatz, Senior Account Executive The NBA recently faced a highly-controversial, racially-driven crisis when L.A. Clippers team owner Donald Sterling was caught on tape late last week making racist comments. Players demanded Sterling’s exit from the league, fans expressed outrage, and sponsors canceled their contracts with the Clippers. The reaction by the NBA, specifically
Ashleigh Johnston, Account Executive Baseball is life in my house. My dad is the biggest fan I know and is a veritable walking baseball encyclopedia. Even though I don’t quite share his level of passion, baseball is omnipresent. That being said, some of my first memories of baseball are at Wrigley Field. I spent the
Dave Bayless, consultant to Culloton Strategies, was recently asked by Crain's Chicago Business to write an op-ed that analyzed BP's crisis communications performance in the immediate aftermath of last month's oil spill at the company's Whiting, IN refinery. Here is the full article that appeared April 9: When it was learned that crude oil was leaking from its
Tracey Mendrek, Executive Vice President Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Womenetics POW! Awards honoring purposeful women in Chicagoland. Womenetics introduces career women to issues that impact, ideas that inspire, individuals that lead and institutions that matter. It was truly an inspiring group of women and men coming together in support of
Julia Schatz, Senior Account Executive A few weeks ago, Michael Sam, Mizzou’s defensive end and the 2013 SEC co-defensive Player of the Year, came out, positioning him to potentially become the first openly gay player in the NFL. Although this is no longer breaking news, the story will continue to make headlines as Sam represents
There may be long hours, difficult standoffs with the media and tight deadlines, but we wouldn't have it any other way! Here's a short list of reasons why our team loves PR: Tracey Mendrek, Executive Vice President -Adrenaline Rush: We all ended up in this business because we love the challenge of strategizing, communicating and
Ashleigh Johnston, Account Executive Strategy. It’s all that really matters when it comes down to it. Whether you have compelling news you need to get out, or a crisis you are trying to bury, if the plan isn’t in place you’ll either get none of the coverage you wanted, or all of the attention you
Tracey Mendrek, Executive Vice President Even though the GRAMMYs were a few weeks ago, I can’t get the funny Arby’s tweet out of my head. In the space of an hour, Arby’s -- which isn’t exactly a name you expect to hear at the GRAMMYs -- became forever linked to music artist and producer Pharrell
Dennis Culloton, President & CEO It’s no secret I spent almost four years defending a governor under fire as George Ryan’s press secretary. In some ways I feel like I am watching a re-run as Gov. Chris Christie tries to endure and prevail over a widening political scandal in New Jersey. As you’ve read, key
Ashleigh Johnston, Account Executive As the days continue to drag on through an exhausting bitter cold winter, it seems like we are all stuck in an endless loop. Wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed, do it all over again tomorrow. The energy is waning, patience in thinning and fuses are shortening.