Strategic Communications

Whether you are communicating the success of a product, a plan that will require public and political buy-in, or managing a crisis that could negatively affect your established brand, MLPA will help you speak with one voice, with clarity and with focus.

We understand the stakes are high and that is why we work with all members of your team, from the CEO and government affairs professionals to project managers and administrative staff to ensure that the message you are sharing to the public is on target and consistent with your core principles.

We know that strategic communications requires a clear understanding of the playing field. Our years of experience provide MLPA clients the confidence in knowing that we have relationships with all the players on the field: from political and opinion leaders and top staff at the local, state and federal levels to corporate and non-profit executives to leading policy experts and members of the traditional and new media.

Grassroots/Grasstops Organizing

In today’s climate no issue, legislation or development project will be successful if elected officials and decisions makers don’t hear loudly and clearly from their constituents.

MLPA works to ensure that elected officials at all levels of government understand the depth of support or opposition the public has to an issue.

We assist in informing and organizing grasstop leaders about an issue and bring grassroots support to the project.

In organizing public support for or against specific proposals we use all the resources at our disposal from letter writing, rallies, op-ed pieces, office visits, to paid and earned media and online communication.

We believe the most successful grassroots campaigns are just that – based in the constituency most affected and willing to engage – MLPA simply helps organize and focus that energy.

Lobbying and Advocacy

Lobbying has become such a unpopular word. MLPA doesn’t run away from the belief that a person or organizations ability to lobby, to inform, their elected leadership about an issue is not only honorable but that it is required in a democratic society.

Whether it is a corporation, nonprofit or community group MLPA makes sure elected officials hear your concerns.

We believe the most successful lobbying and advocacy campaigns demonstrate to elected officials the depth of support or opposition there is to the issue. MLPA ensures that business, individuals and communities work together in their common interest to educate, and, yes, to lobby elected officials on the issue at hand.

Political Management

Whether it is a campaign for elected office, ballot initiative, development project or public affairs campaign MPLA brings a depth of experience in working on and managing local, state and national campaigns. We understand the importance of establishing a detailed campaign plan and executing it effectively and within budget. We also recognize that with all campaigns the unexpected will occur and that the ability to adapt quickly and decisively to changing circumstances is what sets winning campaigns apart from the rest.

MLPA can work to help campaigns hire key staff, set up finance, political, field and communication shops within the campaign. We help identify media and mail consultants, pollsters and online communication firms with whom we have work with and against. We work with candidates and their “kitchen cabinets” to most effectively position a candidate or issue and we pride ourselves in providing a steady and calming political advice and strategy in the volatile stress filled world of political campaigns.

Crisis Management

Sometimes things go wrong.  Real wrong.  To survive you need to be agile, decisive and have a team in place to ensure you act in the interest of your employees and shareholders.  We all know things can go wrong that is why each of us pays for all types of insurance.  Think of MLPA as your “crisis management insurance” available to be the problem solver in a tough situation. We are focused on ensuring your brand not only survives when the unexpected occurs, but that you learn from the challenge.

Media Training

We have all seen it, may even have the first hand experience, talking to a reporter, giving an interview on camera, over the phone, in a studio or giving a speech – and it is just a disaster.  The questions were tougher, the interviewer your best friend in the green room but a pit bull on camera – and the deer in the headlights moment happens and what was a great opportunity to tell your story goes south.

Stuff happens and the stress and the challenge of talking to the media can stun and confound even the most polished of presenters.  We all prep for the “pitch” and we try to anticipate the tough questions in advance but sometimes you need that outside counsel.  We approach media training as if it is batting practice - the preparation for the time you need the hit to make contact with your audience and share your story.

And in this age of You Tube and Google Search you must be well prepared.  You cannot afford to have a media appearance today damage you five years from now!

We work with you well ahead of the interview – we provide extensive media coaching and offer important techniques that keep you relaxed and most important, focused on getting your message to your audience.

Media Management

Sometimes the best way to handle a reporter or media inquiry – whether proactively or reactively is to have MPLA do it for you.  We can be your spokesperson.  We have the experience of walking reporters through the facts or a time line, we understand when to go on the record and when to go off the record and we have the experience of being under the gun and remaining calm and focused on the facts.

Public Relations

If you don’t share your success stories NO ONE ELSE WILL!  In fact your competitors are hoping you don’t share your successes.  MLPA helps you get the Earned Media ( read “FREE” ) that your successes deserve.  We work with you to determine the format, the messaging, the time and the scope of sharing your story – it isn’t easy but sure is effective and you and your team worked hard for the recognition.

Speech, Editorial, Presentation Writing

You have something to say?  MLPA can help you say it and do it with clarity and focus – and it doesn’t hurt to sometimes be entertaining in doing it.  However, the time and the effort that goes into persuasive speeches, opinion pieces or presentations can be significant.  MLPA works with individuals and organizations to tease out and articulate your words and put them on paper – we are firm believers that the best speech writers spend time with whom they are assisting, understand the issue at hand and provide the person who owns the words with a comfort in delivering them.