Communication plans and vehicles for:

• Deploying business plans
• Integrating acquisitions
• Increasing employee engagement
• Improving employee opinion survey results

• To support a global restructuring affecting employees in 60+ countries, we developed an extensive communication strategy that culminated in simultaneous, well supported local meetings around much of the world to announce and explain the reorganization plan. In the aftermath, the CEO of this Fortune 500-level company wrote:

"Really appreciate your work in general and particularly on (the restructuring project). You are making a big difference around here."

The general manager of a distant subsidiary wrote:

"You helped us deliver a message that could have been perceived very negatively in a way that helped our employees grasp why these changes are necessary and quickly begin thinking about how we can use the new structure to become more effective."

• Working with a CEO and his HR Director on a plant shutdown, 
  we developed a communication strategy that minimized friction and frustration. After the shutdown was announced, the CEO wrote:

"Getting positive feedback from all locations, even (employees at the plant to be closed), who thought they were being dealt with honestly and fairly. This is key, as it could have sucked up a lot of time and resources if we had a disaster there. Good job by all…Anne Curley in particular was invaluable."

• To integrate two corporate cultures brought together through an acquisition, we developed a comprehensive integration plan. In the aftermath, the executive responsible for the integration wrote:

"Over the last few months you have established a best practice communication plan and have done so in a positive, team-building manner. The success of this acquisition and the integration so far is directly related to your efforts…Not only did I appreciate your efforts on the project as a whole, but so many times you’ve helped my communication and leadership on a personal basis."

• To support the installation of a massive, enterprise-wide I.S. system, we initiated an extensive communication strategy. The head of Information Systems wrote:

"I feel the entire organization could benefit from some of the thinking, techniques and tools that Anne and her team have pulled together to help us."

• To begin the integration of two sales forces following an acquisition, we played a key role in planning a national sales conference. Following the conference, the head of Sales wrote:

"Over the last two meetings we have continued to set new standards for what meetings should be. We know you are a driving force helping us do that… "

A participant wrote:

"I hope you have been able to step back and become aware how impactful that sales meeting was…The fact that I’m on e-mail writing this is that I can’t come down off the high of the whole experience, even though I closed the Hole-in-the-Wall bar the past two nights…The messages, their mode of delivery and impact were simply amazing…"

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• IR communication strategy
• Analyst presentations
•  Executive speeches
• Investor marketing materials

• To help a financial services company improve its p/e multiple, we developed and executed a communication strategy that helped management make a compelling case to investment analysts that a performance turnaround was in the works.  Following a key presentation to analysts, the head of a major regional brokerage firm said:

 “The turnaround story was well presented. I think you helped yourselves a lot today.”

• For the same company, we handled investor communication regarding more than 20 acquisitions, a huge corporate restructuring, a corporate name change and other major change initiatives. We produced 11 annual reports and an ongoing series of analyst presentations.

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• ‘First Hundred Days’ communication plans

• Executive speeches and other writing support

• Communication coaching

• To help a sales organization make the most of a national sales meeting, we worked with key presenters to establish communication objectives and roles, craft remarks and polish delivery. Following the meeting, the head of sales wrote:

“The quality of presenter communication at our recent sales meeting was the best ever! We want to thank you for the contribution you made in providing guidance, direction and coaching to help each presenter demonstrate the professionalism we strive for. Personally, I will be indebted to you for helping me deliver a more inspirational message than I ever thought possible.”

• To help the CEO of a global corporation stay in touch with employees worldwide, we worked with him to draft periodic letters highlighting key business issues in a personal, engaging style. At the end of this multi-year assignment, the CEO wrote of the final letter:  

"Great job on this...The content was spot on! What will I ever do without you?"

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• Crisis communication plans and vehicles

• ‘24/7’ communication support

• Media relations counsel

• To help an organization through a massive downsizing, we planned and implemented a 15-month program of intense internal communication to keep employees fully informed and help them accept the need for staff reductions. In August 2000, when Milwaukee Magazine established a "PR Hall of Fame," it cited the communication strategy as a "best example of PR mastery," noting:

"Layoffs almost invariably have an adverse effect on a company’s image, but the PR watchers we polled noted one stellar exception…[They said] Anne Curley did ‘a great job minimizing the negative repercussions from the loss of hundreds of local jobs.’…

• To help a religious order respond to allegations of clergy sexual abuse, we developed and executed a detailed, highly engaging communication strategy.

The communication strategy attracted national attention as a result of its highly unusual results: standing ovations from parishioners and a front-page newspaper story headlined, “Church praised for openness on abuse.”  A leader of the order wrote:

“I am so pleased with the way everything seems to have turned out for us so far.  With the tremendous support of you and the others on our "team", a very sad day became somewhat easier to bear.”

• To help a professional services firm manage a major change, we assessed risks, prepared statements for the firm's many audiences and coached key communicators. Afterward, the firm’s head of marketing said: 

"Anne's immediate grasp of the challenges we were facing meant no time was wasted in staying one step ahead of the situation. Her insights and direction were thorough, intuitive and on-the-mark in helping us through a difficult period."

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• Branding strategy

• Marketing/PR plans and collateral material

• Key presentations

• Media relations

• To help a mid-size insurance agency take advantage of its good reputation, we developed a branding strategy after conducting targeted customer research.  To establish the brand identity, we developed a new logo, tagline, advertising campaign, direct marketing program and kickoff event. At the end of the assignment, the CEO wrote:  

“When we hired you, I had no idea we would be able to accomplish so much in such a short time. We now have a clearer understanding of what our customers value in us, as well as the key messages we need to stay focused on communicating and delivering on. We’ve got a new look and a renewed sense of energy.”

• To help a start-up business attract clients and investment capital, we helped management to refine the company’s positioning, developed a sales presentation, crafted direct mail pieces, and handled media relations surrounding the company’s launch. Following the launch, the CEO wrote:

“You really helped us clarify and focus our marketing message. We’ve already received a number of compliments on the quality of our presentation and collateral material.”

• To help a national membership-based organization improve recruitment and retention, we conducted market research, clarified the organization's value proposition and developed a marketing strategy. Several months later, the chief operating officer wrote:

"Heard a great quote today from an agency in Illinois calling to say they are joining: "We know there will be real benefit to us in becoming a member." Our goal (which everyone thought I was nuts in setting) was to add 20 new members in '03. We have now surpassed that number...You have helped me so much.”

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• Facilitating ‘strategy mapping’ for executive teams
• Conducting planning retreats
• Helping companies use the planning process to engage and energize their people

• To help a management team articulate its business model, we facilitated a strategy mapping process. The result: greater clarity and alignment within the leadership team and more coherent, consistent communication to employees. Two years later, the CEO said:

"The model that we mapped out together continues to be a focal point for both planning and communication."

• To help a major chamber of commerce develop a strategic plan, we oversaw extensive market research, conducted a two-day planning retreat, facilitated the development of a new business model, and helped formulate a more focused political agenda. On the day the agenda was unveiled before an audience of 1,400, the executive responsible for the planning process wrote:  

“Thanks for all you did to make today successful.  Your work touched everything with a punch and a polish that took it from OK to WOW.  Hope you got as much satisfaction from the event as we did, since it was yours as much as ours. You've been a great addition (to the chamber).”

• To support the deployment of a strategic plan that was nearing completion, we were asked to develop a communication plan. Before the strategy was a fait accompli, we helped the CEO and his team design a process that gave a broader group of managers a chance to get involved. The result: a better plan and a widespread sense of ownership that accelerated implementation. A mid-level manager wrote:

"In all my years at (the company), I have never had an experience like this. The opportunity to have my voice heard at a point where it might actually influence the company's direction is incredibly motivating."

• To help a national non-profit organization chart a course for the future, we facilitated a strategic planning retreat for board members. The chief operating officer later wrote: 

"You have the confidence of both the staff and the board. It allows you to push back a little and ask us, 'Are you thinking deep enough, broad enough...'?"

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• To help managers improve their day-to-day effectiveness as communicators, we developed a proprietary training program for SC Johnson that is now used around the world. Hundreds of managers have now graduated from the program. Following a "train the trainers" workshop for the company’s HR managers in Europe, participants rated this training the most valuable take-away from their regional conference. Feedback included:

"Very valuable and would strongly recommend to everybody in the Company."

"After feeling very tired at the beginning and unable to fully concentrate, I was very quickly stimulated and found the interaction extremely helpful."

"A good reminder/structure for communication/change management."

"This knowledge is urgently needed."

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© 2001 Curley Communication
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