Press Room Item

Lambert, Edwards & Associates Celebrates 10 Years, Adds 30% More Space

09 September 08

Nine Straight Years of Growth, 18% Increase in 2008 Highlight Decade

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., September 9, 2008 – Sep. 1, 2008 marked the 10-year anniversary of Lambert, Edwards & Associates (LE&A), West Michigan’s top-ranked public relations agency, a top 100 PR firm nationally and one of the top 25 investor relations agencies in the U.S.

During the past decade, LE&A has posted nine consecutive years of growth, expanding from revenues of $70,000 in 1998 to more than $4 million in 2008. LE&A is up 18 percent year-to-date and just leased an additional 30 percent more square feet to accommodate its growth. LE&A is now located on two floors in the National City Building in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

LE&A was founded in 1998 with the aim of becoming a national communications firm with distinct, full-service capabilities in public relations and investor relations. This dual focus has created clear differentiation in the marketplace and subsequently led to the creation of three primary practice areas for the firm: Business & Financial Communications, Consumer and Health Care & Technology.

“While most firms specialize in either public relations or investor relations, few have true expertise in both,” said Jeff Lambert, co-founder, president and managing partner of LE&A. “This unique strength has been key to our growth and is best captured by our agency mantra: ‘We’re the PR firm that can read an income statement.’”

Today, LE&A has more than 90 clients in 19 states, including a “who’s who” of West Michigan-based companies such as Cascade Engineering, Old Orchard Brands, National Heritage Academies, Family Christian Stores, Iserv, Spectrum Health, Wolverine World Wide and Zondervan. LE&A has also built an impressive resume of national work over the years including work for Mattress Firm, the nation’s leading mattress retailer, Encompass Lighting Group, the national leader in high-end lighting, Biggby Coffee, Rubbermaid, Pier 1 Imports, Mervyn’s, Krispy Kreme and Bank of America.

“One of the most important measures of our success has been the consistent, tangible results we’ve achieved for our clients,” said Lambert. “During the last 10 years, LE&A has helped companies, institutions and non-profits secure coverage in a variety of national and regional media outlets, successfully launch new products, increase shareholder value and fluidly handle major crises or events.

“We’ve come a long way in 10 years from an upstart in my basement to the clear leader in the market. Being a true ‘firm of choice,’ for our staff, clients, business partners and the community has clearly paid off, and it’s humbling to reach this milestone.”

In addition to securing results for its clients, LE&A has also earned national recognition for its efforts, including;

LE&A has also bolstered its growth with two strategic acquisitions, beginning in 2005 with the acquisition of regional competitor Straightline Public Relations, and continuing in March 2007 with the acquisition of Roadcast™, an innovative investor relations technology platform. In addition, LE&A maintained a strong commitment to the West Michigan community during the past 10 years, providing more than $750,000 in pro-bono work since the firm’s inception for a number of organizations in the local and regional community, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Celebration on the Grand, Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Guiding Light Mission, International Aid, JDRF, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michigan State University, the MSU Club of West Michigan, Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan, United Way of West Michigan and the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.

About Lambert, Edwards & Associates
Lambert, Edwards & Associates (www.lambert-edwards.com) is one of the Midwest’s leading public relations and investor relations firms, serving more than 90 clients in 19 states. LE&A works extensively with middle-market companies and national brands in three primary practice areas: Consumer, Business & Financial Communications, and Health Care & Technology. LE&A has posted nine consecutive years of growth and earned national recognition from its peers, including three Silver Anvil awards – the profession’s highest honor – in the last two years.