Government relations professionals refusing to acknowledge and leverage public relations as part of influencing public policy are falling behind the times. A new study by The Center of Public Integrity found that some of the nation's largest trade associations spent nearly twice as much on public relations than lobbying...
5 ENDURING PR LESSONS I LEARNED AS A MAYOR
learned public relations the hard way the day the city clerk informed me that I would become the youngest mayor in the history of Safety Harbor, Florida, at 27. Within a few hours of learning the news, I was mobbed by reporters from the St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune and television news crews from ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox...
SL7 INTERVIEW'S RICK WATSON, CHIEF LOBBYIST FOR ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS OF FLORIDA
Rick Watson is legislative counsel for ABC. ABC is the voice of commercial construction. It's a trade association of merit-shop, commercial and industrial contractors. ABC represents every aspect of commercial construction from general contractors to subcontractors and affiliated industries. It’s SL7 Communications’ pleasure to include Rick in our SL7 Interview series. Rick discusses ABC’s role in coalitions, how his members are faring in today’s economy and the key legislative issues heading into 2015...
SL7 INTERVIEW'S PETER SCHORSCH POLITICAL CONSULTANT & PUBLISHER OF SAINTPETERSBLOG
SaintPetersBlog is considered the most influential political blog in Florida. More than 25,000 views a day. Its publisher and chief author, Peter Schorsch, has made a significant impact on Florida’s political landscape. Peter has established himself as a political mover & shaker, as well as figure of periodic controversy. What will thought leaders learn from his SL7 Interview?...
SL7 INTERVIEW'S AARON DESLATTE: TALLAHASSEE BUREAU CHIEF FOR ORANDO & SUN SENTINEL NEWSPAPERS
SL7 INTERVIEW'S UCLA PROF. EDWARD T. WALKER, AUTHOR OF NEW BOOK: GRASSROOTS FOR HIRE
Grassroots Lobbying has become a billion dollar industry leaving its mark on our American Democracy. Surprisingly, there’s little-to-no authoritative research and writing on the consultants who specialize in this field. However, author and UCLA Professor Edward T. Walker pulls back the curtain of consultant driven grassroots initiatives in his new book, Grassroots for Hire: Public Affairs Consultants in American Democracy...
SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN CRISIS: HOW TO INTEGRATE CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
In today’s digital age, public policy and public perception have become intertwined creating an uncertain landscape for large corporations. Product recalls, citizen referendums, agency contracts and regulations, activist boycotts and proposed federal/state legislation can threaten a corporation’s reputation, credibility and license to operate...
SL7-INTERVIEW'S TALLAHASSEE POWER BROKER CHIP CASE
There are only a handful of influential lobbyists in Tallahassee who have unimpeded access to leadership in the Florida Legislature. SL7 Interviews Chip Case, political consultant, lobbyist and owner of Jefferson Monroe Consulting and Spartan Strategies. Chip is one of a handful of public affairs operatives who can leverage the power of politics with the power of legislation...
ENDURANCE SPORTS: AN EXTREME JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY & PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION
“Every man dies, but not every man lives” is the proclamation on the website of Peak Races’ Death Race (www.youmaydie.com), which is the same event that gave birth to the highly successful Spartan Races. This simple, yet profound sentiment captures and drives the extreme endurance and obstacle course racing craze throughout the Western Hemisphere...
SUMMER DEATH RACE 2014: THE SKULL BEHIND THE MASK (PART II OF III)
We are faced with many choices throughout our lives. No matter how big or small the fork in the road, there’s a consequence for making a choice. Every choice made forms and fashions the person we are now: The good, bad and ugly. In my Death Race journey, I would soon have a choice between riding a white charter bus with AC or a yellow school bus with no comforts whatsoever...
SUMMER DEATH RACE 2014: THE SKULL BEHIND THE MASK (PART I OF III)
Out of 300 Death Racers who started the race, 64 collected their skulls after 66+ hours of playing the game. I was literally death racer, 65 (55+ hours deep into the race), late Sunday afternoon. I missed the last time drop by just a few seconds, steps and yards in the sprint from Borden’s house to Riverside...
SL7 INTERVIEW'S CYNTHIA HENDERSON
an Jeb Bush win the Republican nomination for President? What kind of leadership can we expect from new Republican Party of Florida Chairwoman Leslie Dougher? Is Rick Scott the most likeable governor? Are women second class citizens in politics? Cynthia Henderson, president of the Florida Federation of Republican Woman answers the questions driving today's political landscape...
15 ENDURING KEYS FOR PR SUCCESS
Very informative blog by Michael Geczi. His 15 Enduring Keys for PR success is spot on. Keys 4 and 7 are particularly worth noting. Messages and audiences. It’s vital to know the demographic profile of your primary audience as well as coalition of stakeholders. Once you understand your audiences’ beliefs, opinions and prejudices, then you can craft core and sub messages that will cue the desired action...
THE RISE OF CORPORATE GRASSROOTS LOBBYING
Corporate grassroots lobbying has led to an estimated $1 billion-a-year industry and it’s growing. In today’s political and social environments, an increasing number of C-Suite executives have realized they need more than big PAC checks and high-powered lobbyists to achieve their public affairs strategies...
MISSING BRIGHTEST MIND IN FLORIDA POLITICS
In today's politics it's not who you know, but rather who knows you. Recently, SaintPetersBlog profiled the brightest and most influential politicos in Florida. Political operatives like Brett Doster, Steve Schale and Sarah Bascom are among the Brightest Minds in Florida Politics, who have earned the respect of their peers...
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY INTERVIEWS PATRICK SLEVIN ON NIMBYISM
In March 1996, at the age of 27, Patrick Slevin became one of the youngest mayors in the country. The New York native served for three years in Safety Harbor, a city of around 17,500 near Tampa Bay. As an elected official, Slevin became involved in land use issues, where he confronted the “not in my backyard” attitude toward new development, or NIMBYism...
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: THE SKY IS STILL UP THERE
The government shutdown is in full effect and the earth hasn't stood still. The sky isn't falling and Americans continue their daily lives with little to no interference from the shutdown. Could it be that the ineffectiveness and waste of most federal government programs, were never felt by most Americans to begin with?...