Public Relations

More often than not, good business boils down to good communication. Every company, public and private alike, has many “audiences” with whom they communicate—ranging from current and potential customers to media, employees, vendors and even competitors. Each key audience segment can impact your organization—and that impact can be positive or negative, based on how you are perceived at any given time.

Lambert, Edwards & Associates believes public relations is about doing all you can to keep those perceptions based on facts versus rumors. Good public relations should effectively bridge the gap between what people think they know about you, and what they should know about you.

• It isn’t “spin”
• It’s telling your story
• It isn’t fluff
• It’s being open, validating trust

At LE&A, we believe the key to successful public relations is focusing on quantifiable business objectives. We can help you communicate your company’s story in order to sell products and services, raise capital, recruit personnel and attract strategic partners and unlike firms that use senior people at new business pitches—and then turn the work over to young associates—LE&A offers experienced, senior-level practitioners who develop the strategy…and do the work.

We offer clients access to other “of counsel” professionals in the public relations business, and work with specialists in graphic design, branding and other business areas—including finance, human resources and information systems—to meet our client’s needs.

Investor Relations

As one of the leading financial communications firms in the Midwest—and the largest IR firm in Michigan—LE&A provides strategic counsel and tailored resources to help businesses communicate clearly, consistently and effectively with their investors. Unlike firms that offer only off-the-rack plans and arms-and-legs support, we become fluent in the languages our clients speak—their balance sheets, business models, and unique sector challenges. That knowledge makes for smarter strategies, better presentations at home and on the road, improved relationships within the investment community and financial media, and ultimately, enhanced shareholder value. It also ensures measurable ROI for the CEOs, CFOs and corporate IR professionals we serve.

In addition to our work with small and mid-cap public companies nationwide, LE&A has proven expertise helping private clients communicate with their key stakeholders. In sum, we work with companies in all stages of development, across multiple industries, and we’re experts in todays increasingly complex, global, and regulated financial arena.

Crisis Communication

In any situation that threatens the integrity or reputation of your company, we can deliver focused, pragmatic leadership. When it comes to communicating with the public during times of crisis, LE&A believes that it is imperative to be at your most open and honest. Depending on your unique situation, we have the ability to manage difficult situations strategically and immediately, while limiting any additional damage. We work closely with your staff, legal counsel, and other audiences to ensure crisis management is handled properly and your public’s trust is validated.

Public Policy & Issues Management

LE&A has worked with a wide array of organizations to educate and inform constituents related to key public policy issues. This experience includes outreach and consensus building at both the local and state levels, as well as work with lobbyists, governmental departments and agencies. Our depth of experience ranges from an understanding of issues facing local zoning boards to messaging necessary to build legislative support at the state and federal levels.

The principals and associates of LE&A have worked with lobbying firms on a number of initiatives, consulted with developers on zoning/planning issues and helped build grassroots support at the door-to-door level. Our team includes former staffers from the Michigan House and Senate as well as seasoned public policy consultants

What sets us apart is not our knowledge of state and local governments, but our depth of experience in all facets of public affairs, public relations and investor relations. This means we can take government issues and make them relevant to all constituents. We can take that message to the media in terms they understand, and then to the business community. All of these strengths give LE&A and our clients a unique advantage – as evidenced by our past successes.

Media Training

LE&A has an extensive, multi-tiered media training curriculum, from 24/7 crisis-specific work to basic, intermediate, and advanced media interaction. Media training sessions are highly customized to each client’s goals, past experience and timeframe. Additionally, all LE&A training sessions include a “real world” interview in a simulated broadcast environment, offering participants the opportunity to test the skills they’ve learned and receive an instructive critique.

While sessions are customized based on each client’s needs, a “typical” course is approximately three hours, broken into a 90-minute teaching/learning session and followed by 90 minutes of simulated “hands-on” media work. LE&A recommends small, organizational peer-group formats (1-3 participants in each group), with CEO-level training one-on-one whenever possible. During each session, participants receive multiple camera sessions and critiques and will take away a “media basics primer” for reference.

While educational and informative, each LE&A media training session is also engaging and entertaining. Using clips of real world interviews interspersed between lecture and interactive Q&A, LE&A provides attendees with examples (good and bad) of the very techniques and fundamentals they will be expected to apply or guard against.

The principals and senior staff of LE&A have been doing media trainings for more than a decade, and are abreast of all the latest trends in today’s media landscape. Our sessions are conducted by former media professionals who possess the experience and insight necessary for effective training.

Our media training curriculum is broken into four distinct and progressive courses:

• » MEDIA 101: THE BASIC DO’S AND DON’TS

In LE&A’s baseline sessions, time is spent developing an understanding of the media and basic interviewing fundamentals. The primer course of the four, the focus is primarily on learning and practicing the basic “do’s and don’ts” – such as technique, posture, tone, attire and introductory messaging. Participants have the opportunity to practice the new skills they’ve learned in a simulated media environment.

• » MEDIA 201: TAKING CONTROL

Building on the basics of Media 101, the 201 course explores the nature of different perspectives in news and the impact media consolidation has on reporting. Participants learn and practice more advanced media techniques such as bridging and blocking and how to handle “attack” or “ambush” journalism. These sessions also include more extensive on-camera work and critique. LE&A recommends all 201 participants have a base of media knowledge and experience in advance of this session.

• » MEDIA 401: INTERVIEWING—ADVANCED TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES

Recognizing the need for a more advanced course, LE&A’s Media 401 course is specifically targeted to individuals needing a broader experience in dealing with national and international media, safety and disclosure concerns, legal considerations, and related crisis interviews. LE&A’s 401 sessions are highly intense, focusing much of the participants’ time on practicing and critiquing for various or client-specific scenarios. LE&A recommends 401 sessions for individuals who will be dealing with the media on a regular and on-going basis or c-level executives who should be prepared as a course of business and the nature of their positions.

• » MEDIA 911: CUSTOMIZED SESSION

LE&A understands that sometimes there is a need for customized, highly specific media training 24/7—whether due to a crisis or a chance, high-profile media opportunity. Typically, this type of session is tailored to a specific issue and/or media outlet. LE&A has trained individuals for specific high-risk/high-visibility circumstances involving a wide range of media outlets (FOX News, Wall Street Journal, The Montel Williams Show, Today Show, NBC Nightly News, USA Today and countless others). Participants will walk away with the preparation, messaging and confidence needed to handle any situation.

Creative Services

While LE&A does not have an in-house design firm, we marry our consulting expertise with some of the region’s leading branding and creative services firms to provide excellent service for our client’s specific and customized design needs. Whether redesigning an ad or a complete corporate re-branding, we have the resources necessary to get it done.

Ghostwriting/Business Plan Writing

Ghostwriting is often employed by LE&A to write various business documents when the client requires assistance communicating a specific message to their internal publics. We also have the ability and extensive experience in writing the know-how to write successful, tailored business plans for your company, whether at the formative stages or in anticipation of follow-on rounds of funding.

Research

Our Analytical Services group specializes in providing capital markets intelligence on a variety of niche and emerging growth industries. Our clients include institutional investors, private equity firms/funds, venture capital firms and senior management teams, all of whom turn to our research as the basis upon which to make informed business decisions.

Event Planning

Events, when done well, can be an important element in any communications campaign. Events are best utilized to help communicate to your key constituencies, as well as to make “announcements” about key progress points and milestones. We have experience in creating events from the intimate to the elaborate in a way that best serves your specific need.