PR Pros Know These Four Things to Stay Agile

This piece was originally published on CommsPro.Biz.

Agility has become a buzzword du jour. We’ve seen more courses in agile development, agile leadership and agile marketing pop up. When applied to PR, agility is more frequently used to describe a mindset as opposed to process. Given today’s ever-changing media environment, PR professionals can create more efficiencies and pivot PR programs quickly by adopting an agile PR process for campaign execution and management. 

Applying the principles of agile development to PR can be more easily facilitated by the use of project management solutions, which help you plan, organize and manage programs. A recent report found that the online project management market was expected to grow to $5.4 billion by the end of 2022 and increase at a healthy 13.1% from 2022 to 2032 and, interestingly, adoption of these platforms by PR professionals is on the rise as many agencies and in-house communications teams look to improve their commstech stacks. remote work and project management tools like Monday.com have become commonplace. These tools enable teams to break down large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks and track progress, resources and deadlines. 

Here are some ways that you can leverage project management tools to transform your existing approach to PR planning into an agile process. 

Focus on Near Term Planning

The problem with traditional PR planning is just that: it’s traditional. The industry has changed dramatically in just the last five to 10 years and yet, PR planning methods haven’t caught up. One of the most popular, traditional models of PR planning is the waterfall plan, which is often reflected in a Gantt Chart. While this method is clear, concise and orderly it also requires the team to map out every single step of their entire plan. Each step is dependent on the previous one and therefore, progress is stagnant unless every step is effectively completed in sequential order. 

This type of planning has further drawbacks. Firstly, it minimizes the importance of measurement. If a team has to plan each step 90 days in advance, and doesn’t have much flexibility when it comes to changing those steps, measurement becomes obsolete. Collecting data in real time on campaign performance is meaningless when PR strategies can’t be adapted to feedback. And we’ve learned that measurement is anything but meaningless – it is the way the PR industry can show its value. 

The inability to react to data coming through measurement is directly related to the fact that traditional planning does not leave room for a necessity in the PR industry: agility and the ability to pivot quickly.  The news cycle is changing every single day, sometimes multiple times a day. Clients are constantly changing priorities. All account activity is fluid and PR professionals need to be nimble. 

Break Overarching Program Objectives into Manageable, Movable Tasks 

When we think of agility, we typically think of the ability to move quickly and easily. But there is another definition – one that is centered around a method of project management that breaks tasks down into short phases of work. That is the type of agility that needs to be implemented across the PR industry.

An agile workflow embraces individuals and interactions rather than tools and processes. Teams must prioritize collaboration and the ability to respond to change in a way that is productive – not chaotic or rash. The key point of agile development is a focus on iterative development and incremental delivery, rather than a linear workflow where only finished products are publicized. Don’t work in isolated bits towards far out delivery dates but rather, work together and deliver small pieces frequently. This allows teams to bring finished products to market and gather feedback to improve the next iteration. Then, the cycle repeats. 

How can teams implement agile development into their strategies? Through developing a workflow that puts agility at the center of focus.

Create Focused “Sprints” of Activity 

PR pros have to move away from traditional thinking and encourage clients to do the same. Sit down and have an open conversation with both your clients and your full team. Convey the need for agility and explain that PR programs cannot be linear. They need room to grow and evolve as the news cycle and priorities shift. Education is a key part in embracing an agile model. 

The next step is to work with your teams to develop a model that puts agility and performance at the center of all activity. Our team has embraced an agile workflow that entails two-week periods of time, called “sprints”, that are broken into even smaller, repeatable steps which enable us to act faster, identify roadblocks quicker and make our PR programs stronger. Develop a plan that caters best for your team and the work they are doing for their clients. 

Evaluate and Iterate to Achieve Program Goals 

Finally, a critical part of agility is evaluation. When embracing a new planning method, take the time to evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Allow yourself and your team to identify areas of improvement and discuss how these can be adjusted moving forward to create a more efficient and effective system. 

For how quickly the PR industry moves on a daily basis, it’s surprising that our planning methods are still stuck in the past. As the industry moves into a new era of media, PR pros need to embrace agility and agile planning in order to keep up with the changing world around them. Agility will ultimately enable PR programs to adapt quickly and implement feedback in real time, leading to better results and increased performance. 

- Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and Founder

#EmbraceEquity: Empowerment is Kite Hill PR’s Bedrock

The theme of International Women's Day 2023 is "Embracing Equity.” At Kite Hill PR, diversity and equity are essential to our ability to function as a team and serve our clients effectively. Diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes. Our team's different experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more capable of meeting the challenges faced by our clients.

Celebrating Our All-Female Leadership Team 

 We are proud to be a female-founded company with an all-women senior leadership team that embodies the principles of embracing equity. Our senior leadership team members represent the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, working mothers/working single mothers, and different generations in the workforce. Each of these women brings a unique perspective and set of experiences to our agency, which helps us better understand and address the needs of our team members, clients, and the broader community.

As members of these unique communities, our senior leadership is apt to recognize and address our team's challenges and changing needs. Together, they all advocate for equity and inclusion, ensuring our agency is safe, welcoming and supportive. 

Female Leadership is Good for Business 

Key leadership traits among women are widely known to include: humility, self-awareness, self-control, and emotional intelligence. At Kite Hill, we are lucky to celebrate and uplift the niche skills of female leaders that have historically been overlooked. We see people for their whole selves and understand this is a critical part of fostering a company culture that is creative and collaborative. How our team members show up daily through their work depends entirely on the sum of their life experiences before joining our organization. 

The truth is inaction comes with a real ROI cost. Businesses that put off addressing inequities must improve the potential of their female employees and their companies.

The BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and working mother identities within our leadership team not only create major advantages to celebrate and uplift the niche skills of female leaders that have historically been overlooked but allow our agency to understand unique challenges from the perspectives they hold. 

Kite Hill PR supports professionals through an equitable lens and continues to grow the agency by creating opportunities at every level. Each member of our team from the past, current and future have different needs to flourish in their careers.  The company also invests in mentorship and coaching for all employees, ensuring senior leaders send the elevator back down to lift rising talent and are excited for the road ahead. 

While we are celebrating progress on this International Women’s Day, we acknowledge that there is more work to do. The climb is steep, but the view from the top will be worth it.

- Veronica Ruth, Account Associate

Black History: Honoring the Past and Making Commitments for a Strong Future

A Note From Kite Hill PR on Elevating Black Voices 

At Kite Hill PR, we believe the celebration and recognition of Black Excellence should not be confined to a month but should be a conscious practice year-round. While the honorary month prompts conversation, much more can be done to ensure that there is space given to Black professionals across the communications industry. We have made it a priority to elevate Black voices within our agency. We are infinitely privileged to have Charlyne McWilliams on our senior leadership team, and for the value she brings to our agency. Read below, where she shares her story as a Black professional woman and gives her insight into what all business leaders can do to cultivate and retain Black talent.  

Black History: Honoring the Past and Making Commitments for a Strong Future

Being Black has changed during my 53 years of existence. When I was a child growing up in a rural, predominantly white area, I was one of a few in the gifted and talented AP English classes. I was also elected student Government Association president my senior year at Bluestone Senior High. In college, I was a part of the 10% Black student body at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I developed a strong voice in the communications department. This proved beneficial as I went on to build my career in journalism. There were many times when I was the first African American. Despite being alone as a Black professional in many of these environments, I relied on something my parents drilled into me: I had a right to be in any place I chose to walk into. With that right came the equal responsibility to represent well.

Since the establishment of Black History Month, I have seen it go from an obligatory acknowledgment to exactly what President Gerald Ford wanted it to be. In 1976, he challenged the country to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often-neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” I honestly do not believe we started to truly acknowledge these accomplishments until the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. The country saw the harsh reality and fear that many Black people lived with every day. Then finally, real change started. 

More companies have made sincere efforts to diversify their staff, giving qualified Black people a seat at the table. More Black people were featured in commercials, too, as advertisers realized the power of reflecting the communities they served – and not solely in February. There has been an explosion of diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, programs and countless positions at companies that sincerely make an effort to make positive and lasting changes.

The truth is the shininess of DE&I will wear off. And when it does, companies need to ask themselves this important question: What are we doing to create a sense of belonging for the diverse staff we hired? No, I am not a DE&I expert, but I am a successful, senior-level Black woman at an award-winning public relations firm. So, here is what I think companies should prioritize to keep their Black talent:  

Be sincere and authentic. Show employees that diversity is an ongoing goal and that the company might make some mistakes along the way but the goal is to learn and create an environment where everyone feels appreciated and welcomed, not tolerated and ignored. 

Communicate. Find out what people need to feel truly a part of the team and excel in their jobs. Show that you are willing to listen to feedback and then make changes in response to those issues. 

Invest in employees. Invest in company-wide training, seminars, speakers or personal development budgets that will enlighten and inspire employees to be their best selves. 

I celebrate Black history/heritage every day. I teach my daughter to be proud of everything her blackness encompasses; her rich chocolate skin, strong beautiful hair and her lineage. The way she celebrates Black History/Heritage Month will evolve as more of us embrace our culture, heritage and contribution to building this country. I want her to understand there is no shame in being proud to be Black nor does it invalidate the importance of other cultures. EVERYONE can celebrate culture and the people who helped build this country. Celebrate, because for so long, the only acknowledgment of our existence was rooted in the shame white people felt from the horrors of slavery and the violence during the Civil Rights Movement. 

Companies can stay true to their business goals while creating an environment that reflects the beauty of this diverse and dynamic world we live in today. However, they must remember consistency is key and following through is as important as showing up. 

- Charlyne H. McWilliams, SVP, Kite Hill PR

Super Bowl LVII: Which Moments Earned “Extra” Chatter During Football’s Big Game Broadcast?

Norm-bending Rihanna, dogs, EVs, nostalgia, humor, odd pairings (and some football in there) scored the extra PR points, according to the Kite Hill PR team.

The 113 million viewers who tuned into Super Bowl LVII this year got more than a thrilling Chiefs vs. Eagles match-up. This annual sports-and-pop culture event is also the apex of the TV advertising world, and this year, it was an increasingly rare display of pure brand storytelling. While not all the spots hit the mark, many ads airing during the Big Game extracted every bit of value from each spot’s reported $7 million media price tag. The real winners in our book made the most of their investment with campaigns that built news value to keep brand awareness high and consumers chattering for weeks and months to come.

So which Super Bowl moments scored extra points by displaying the most news or social media value?

Rihanna Rocked

Not an ad, but our team agreed that the fearless (and, it turns out, pregnant with her second child) Rihanna was right up there with Chief’s winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes when it came to impact.  In fact, her stunning performance at the halftime show reportedly drew a bigger audience – 118 million – than the game itself. Her adgile nose-powdering moment was a boss organic/earned media move from the Fenty founder, too. “Rihanna made a powerful statement that pregnancy doesn’t have to mean fragility, it can mean strength and power,” said Kite Hill PR founder and CEO Tiffany Guarnaccia. “As a woman founder and mother, I appreciate and welcome the message and the dramatic and positive change in attitudes around pregnancy.”  

CelebBowl?

Brands that sought to stand out by stuffing multiple celebrities into their spots was a definite trend. Famous faces – appearing as themselves or resurrecting a fictional character – was a SBLVII trope likely intended to get added audience from earned media buzz. From the Bennifer/Dunkin spot (we expect #getmeaglazed to trend, stat) to John Travolta reviving a number from “Grease” (this time, the target of his affection was T-Mobile’s 5G and not Sandy) and Maya Rudolph putting her own questionable, quirky (and clammy) mark on M&Ms. Not to mention A-Listers like Paul Rudd for Heineken, Diddy for Uber One, Will Ferrell fronting GM’s Electric Vehicles, Serena Williams and Brian Cox in a Michelob Ultra homage to “Caddyshack,” Steve Martin and Ben Stiller for Pepsi Zero Sugar and more. 

Free to Be, B2B

In addition to deep-pocketed consumer brands, this year’s crop of advertisers included a few B2B brands. A fave of one Kite Hill PR team member was Workday’s “Rockstar,” featuring real rockers like Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Kiss’s Paul Stanley and Gary Clark, Jr., gently reminding corporate execs who the real rockstars are. Another dark horse that caught our attention was from the B2B tech brand Crowdstrike, whose clever retelling of the Trojan Horse tale explained how their cybersecurity solutions ward off threats. We’ll be watching the post-game impact on this brand and hope Crowdstrike has earned media and thought leadership plans to keep the buzz and top-of-funnel attention going long after this week.

#MadeUsLook

As for the Kite Hill team, ads that featured pets, resurrected TV and film stars and a stunt that #madeuslook tickled our funny bones, tugged our heartstrings, and may actually drive us to spend on those brands. One runaway fave was The Farmer’s Dog ad, which packed several life-stage moments into 30 seconds. One Kite Hill team member said, “No celebrities or a lot of dialogue required for this sentimental ad that pulled on the heartstrings. I don't even have a dog, but I would 100% use this product!”

Tubi Takeover

Given our expertise in adtech and CTV, it’s not surprising that Tubi’s trifecta of spots, including a stunt-y program “takeover” rated highly.  “The Tubi prank was effective! Their ad took enough of my attention that I physically looked up from my phone and asked my fiance why he was changing the channel!”, said one of our team members. “It totally re-centered me and brought my attention back to the big screen. And we talked about Tubi for a few seconds after the ad ran, and even considered if we should add it to our streaming roster.” 

It’s All About EVs

And finally, our growing green tech and cleantech practice group favored three spots highlighting electric vehicles (EV), including GM’s partnership with Netflix, in which the streamer is pledging to insert EVs into its programming, Jeep’s “Electric Boogie,” and Ram’s pharma ad send-up “Premature Electrification.” Great to see major automakers and media companies putting resources behind climate-forward initiatives that deserve earned media attention. 

Our team didn’t completely track on AdAge’s top 5, but we did appreciate the publication putting energy into scoring spots for DE&I considerations and salute them for prioritizing how brands are incorporating diversity, equity and inclusive talent and concepts into spots.  

So along with Rihanna and The Chiefs, the brands that really made a mark as advertisers in one of the biggest media stages in the land were those that not only packed in production value and bold-faced names but took the long view and incorporated themes and creative that struck a nerve. These are the ads that will keep the media noticing and audiences engaged and chattering in the months ahead.

- Jeanne Meyer, Chief Client Officer

Looking Beyond the Data: The Museum of PR’s Celebration of Black PR History 2023

We look forward to The Museum of Public Relations’ celebration of Black PR History each February. This year’s event was hosted by Deborah Hyman, SVP, Head of Employee Communications & Employer Brand at Wells Fargo, and featured influential Black voices from organizations like the CDC, Humana, Omnicom, and Amazon, among others. Focusing on the theme, “Looking Beyond the Data,” each participant thoughtfully examined recent data and ongoing studies regarding race and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the communications field and discussed actions the industry must take to support advancing Black professionals in PR. It was an evening packed with thoughtful insights and actionable strategies. Here are a couple of our key takeaways.

Communicators are catalysts for a robust and healthy DEI strategy.

​​Carmella Glover, President at Diversity Action Alliance, and Emily K. Graham, Chief Equity & Impact Officer at Omnicom Group, spoke candidly about the work and changes still needed in communications. Though the industry has improved, there remains a disconnect between DEI and communications strategies. For example, according to research conducted by the Diversity Action Alliance, there has only been a 1% increase in Black representation among PR professionals since 2020. 

While there may be multiple factors contributing to the low increase, it is evident that efforts in this realm have been deprioritized over the past couple of years. Glover and Graham agree that to evolve as an industry there must be fundamental purposes, principles, and values around diversity and inclusion within our organizations and strategies. 

To identify potential roadblocks, the Diversity Action Alliance is conducting research evaluating chief communications and chief diversity officers' functions and roles and where they intersect in helping advance a company’s DEI efforts throughout the communications field. One solution Glover and Graham discussed is educating communications professionals on what inclusive communications looks like and how it impacts a company’s reputation and audience engagement. Graham believes that “communicators are catalysts for a robust, healthy, and important diversity and inclusion strategy… you can't do it without them.”

Fatigue isn’t an option.

Several speakers addressed the new business buzzword “DEI fatigue,” and its associated risks. As put by Graham, “Fatigue is not an option,” especially for organizations. Marvin Hill, Director of Corporate Communications at The Humana Foundation, addressed why fatigue is settling in surrounding the DEI conversation, mainly because, in many organizations, that’s all it is — a conversation. But a conversation isn’t enough anymore. Kinetra Joseph, Campaign Director at the CDC Foundation, added, “because of all the conversation about DEI, surely that is translating into tangible, actionable programs and initiatives that are going to drive results,” but goes on to describe experiences within the last year that prove this is not always the case. 

“In many ways, DEI in the communications world is still the new bright shiny object,” Joseph added. “You can use it for brand purpose, cause-related marketing, and so many other areas, but not necessarily always authentically.” Joseph explained that in the last couple of years, while DEI has supposedly been at the forefront on paper, she’s seen a “bait and switch” of Black talent on a new business pitch, but not on the work itself. Or, in other instances, she’s seen a “hemorrhaging of Black talent with dizzying rates of turnover” within workplaces that don’t have a nurturing culture. Lastly, she mentioned that at a recent awards ceremony, she attended, 75% of the campaigns were centered around some sort of Diversity & Inclusion initiative, yet she counted only one Black professional on stage accepting the award! 

The takeaway? It’s imperative for the PR and communications industry to do better — not just talk the talk, but actively practice what we preach. 

Making an Impact on the Next Generation of PR Professionals

The panel collectively agreed that it’s up to us as professionals to provide increased mentorship, engage the diverse voices of Gen Z, and make a more vigorous effort to ensure the industry is accessible and inclusive, starting at the college level. 

Raoul Davis, Partner at Ascendant Group, began this topic by suggesting that the university pipeline was flawed, while Deborah Hyman (Wells Fargo) admitted there was a lack of accountability at colleges and schools need to do better when it comes to providing career opportunities for minority students before they graduate.  

“Many of the young professionals I mentor come to me after they’ve graduated, and yet they haven’t done any internships,” she reflects. She noted that while some students are goal oriented and innately know the value of internships, others need further direction; it’s up to universities to offer better guidance that will give Black and Brown graduates the tools they need to compete and excel when entering the workforce. 

“We have to change the way that we’re doing things to accommodate the next generation,” added Nikki Forman, Senior Public Relations Manager at Amazon. “There is a shift that we have to make as professionals in this field to make it more appetizing, to showcase the ways students can be a part of this professional group of people while also maintaining the culture of their generation.”

Put your boots on; we’re climbing!

While we celebrate the success of how far we have come as an industry in DEI, we must never rest on our laurels, always be honest with ourselves about the long road ahead, and remember that this work is still very much in its infancy. Creating diverse and inclusive spaces in PR will undoubtedly result in increased client selection, retention, and satisfaction, in addition to higher quality work being done by employees with different backgrounds, mindsets, and cultural experiences. From setting constant KPIs surrounding internal and external DEI practices to ensuring equitable hiring processes and facilitating candid discussions at our agencies, the key here is AUTHENTICITY. As we work to maintain resilience in the face of fatigue and champion the next generation, we will see long-awaited changes unfold. We can all answer Emily Graham’s (Omnicom) call to “Put your boots on; we're climbing. Let's go!”

- Antonia Donato, Senior Account Executive; Holly Rust, Account Executive

Kite Hill PR CEO and Founder, Tiffany Guarnaccia, Joins PR Council’s Board Of Directors

New York, NY — January 13, 2022 — Kite Hill PR, the award-winning agile tech PR and B2B communications agency, announced Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and founder, has joined the PR Council’s Board of Directors. Guarnaccia was appointed alongside Valarie De La Garza, CEO, Fenton (New York), Brooke Hovey, Global President, BCW (New York), and Bob Osmond, President, Racepoint Global (Boston) for three-year terms.

The PR Council, which is celebrating its 25th year this year, is dedicated to strengthening the recognition and role of public relations firms in corporate strategy, business performance and social education; to serve as an authoritative source of information and expert comment and to help set standards for the industry. As a member of the Boards of Directors, Guarnaccia will work alongside other PR pros to continue moving the industry forward, driven by innovation. 

 “I am passionate about the growth and advancement of the PR industry and helping communications professionals and agencies stay ahead of the curve,” said Guarnaccia. “It is truly an honor to join such a wonderful group of individuals to continue building upon the success and evolution that has already occurred in our industry for years to come.”

 Guarnaccia joins directors continuing their terms: Rebecca Honeyman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, SourceCode Communications (New York); Andy Pray, Founder, Praytell (New York); Josh Rosenberg, Co-founder and CEO, Day One Agency (New York); Maryellen Royle, Group COO, Communications, Evoke (Philadelphia); Kass Sells, Global COO and President of International, WE Communications (Seattle); Trisch Smith, Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Edelman (Washington, D.C.) and James Wright, Global CEO, Red Havas and Global Chairman, Havas PR Global Collective (New York). Joining to complete 2023 agency terms are Neera Chaudhary, CEO, imre (Baltimore), who replaces imre Founder and Executive Chairman Dave Imre; and Jasmine Flowers Mazyck, Managing Director, Flowers Communications Group (Chicago), who replaces FCG Founder and CEO Michelle Flowers Welch.

 In addition to her new role as board member of the PR Council, Guarnaccia currently holds the position of advisory board co-chair for Communications Week, which she founded and was later acquired by Ragan Communications, and continues to focus on advancing the PR industry through this cross-industry platform. Tiffany has been recognized as one of PR News' Women to Watch, a DMN Hall of Femme and a PRWeek 40 Under 40 award winner.

 To learn more about Kite Hill PR, please visit kitehillpr.com. 

About Kite Hill PR

Based in New York City with team members in the UK and across North America, Kite Hill PR is a leading B2B communications and tech PR agency specializing in connecting enterprise technology, media and advertising businesses with key stakeholders. The company's winning approach combines thought leadership, strategy and media relations to drive clients' businesses forward. Kite Hill PR has been recognized as one of the "Top Tech Specialist PR Agencies in NYC,” “Most Powerful PR Firms,” and a “Top 50 PR Firm in America” by the Observer, a “Best Place to Work” by PR News and one of "America's Best PR Agencies" by Forbes.

 About PR Council

The PR Council is the only association dedicated to supporting agencies with a core competency in earned media. Through a combination of convening and advising, the PR Council aims to help Members -- the leaders of 140 of the country’s premier global, mid-size, regional and specialty firms -- work smarter. To mark its 25th Anniversary in 2023, the organization is future-focused on the most critical issues affecting PR agency leaders’ ability to attract and retain talent and grow client relationships and their firms.

Kite Hill PR Names Sustainability Data Platform, Arbor, Winner of Agency’s “Tech for Good” Program

NEW YORK — January 11, 2023 – Kite Hill PR, an award-winning, agile tech PR agency, has selected sustainability data platform, Arbor, as the winner of the second iteration of the agency’s "Tech For Good” program. The initiative offers purpose-driven, pro-social technology companies a custom, four-month PR program at no cost. Arbor, an automated sustainability data platform that delivers assessments to businesses that outline the impact of their supply chains and assess the environmental footprint of their products, was selected from a field of impressive fast-growth climate-forward companies.

“After the success of our inaugural Tech For Good campaign with Included.ai, we were eager to continue the program. We are thrilled to support our next winner, Arbor, a company whose mission is to make sustainability simple and accessible across every industry,”  said Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and founder of Kite Hill PR.

“Today, companies are trying to answer the call from society to practice sustainability and transparency, but are finding that the process is more complex than anticipated,” said Alex Todorovic, Founder and CEO at Arbor. “Brands need smarter data and simplified platforms that allow for change to happen, which has been Arbor’s goal from the start. We are thrilled to get the chance to work with Kite Hill PR and bring meaningful awareness to the need for sustainable business practices.” 

Kite Hill PR accepted applications from startups featuring  BIPOC/woman/LGTBQIA+ leaders that have closed a Seed or Series A fundraising round, and fall within the ESG, Green Tech, Clean Tech categories. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges – including Tech for Good’s inaugural winner, Raghu Gollamudi, co-founder at Included, Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and Founder and Jeanne Meyer, CCO at Kite Hill PR. The submissions were judged against three key pillars: impact, innovation and scalability. 

Finalists for the second iteration of Tech for Good included WattBuy, a climate-first, personalized power company working to deliver clean electricity to every home on the planet; and TurtleTree, a biotech company dedicated to producing a new generation of nutrition.

Tech for Good builds upon Kite Hill PR’s commitment to provide purpose-driven PR counsel and mentorship to tech and B2B companies, including clients in adtech, clean tech, cybersecurity, enterprise tech, media & entertainment sectors. Kite Hill PR’s inaugural Tech For Good partnership with Included garnered a total of 90.5M impressions and resulted in overall increased visibility for the brand. 

About Kite Hill PR

Based in New York City with team members in the UK and across North America, Kite Hill PR is a leading B2B communications and tech PR agency. The company's winning approach combines thought leadership, strategy and media relations to drive clients' businesses forward. Kite Hill PR has been recognized as one of the "Top Tech Specialist PR Agencies in NYC,” “Most Powerful PR Firms,” and a “Top 50 PR Firm in America” by the Observer, a “Best Place to Work” by PR News and one of "America's Best PR Agencies" by Forbes.

Media Inquiries:

Maggie Stasko

TechForGood@KiteHillPR.com 

CES 2023 Recap: Emerging Trends Across B2B Tech Industries

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has evolved from its origins as the quintessential hardware and consumer technology forum to a global gathering of all things tech related – content, ads, data, privacy, energy, and more. If your business lies within adtech, enterprise tech, fintech, healthtech, media & entertainment, and cleantech/greentech, CES is a huge opportunity to insert your presence – physically or via thought leadership. 

This year’s trends can help frame companies in developing innovative, smart and timely external communication strategies. Interested in learning more? Here are highlights our agency practice group leaders saw bubbling up this year: 

Sustainability was perhaps the biggest overarching CES theme in 2023. As the world continues to focus on cleantech and green tech innovation it’s no surprise that conversations at CES have followed suit. This year we saw major auto companies unveil their latest EVs, the U.S. Postal Service announce the rollout of its new electric mail trucks, and John Deere debuted its ExactShot, which is designed to reduce fertilizer by up to 60%. Apart from the auto side of the show, Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, took the stage to discuss how the government and tech industry can work together to build a sustainable future by expanding the use of and access to clean energy. As the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act begins, we’ll start to see exactly how cleantech companies, and the U.S. in general, will benefit. 

Streaming TV, identity, and the evolving nature of platforms are big trends to watch this year in the world of advertising, and CES is a great example of how these trends are taking shape. Roku launched its own line of branded smart TVs, which will help it to gather more information about streaming TV viewing to bolster its advertising business. TikTok is making the jump from mobile to big screen by partnering with Vevo and IMDb. Meanwhile, on the identity trend, The Trade Desk introduced its Galileo offering, which complements its Unified ID initiative with the goal of helping brands chart the internet without traditional targeting tools such as third-party cookies via its platform. And on the heels of news that the duopoly has fallen below 50% of ad spend, Twitter was at CES courting advertisers and trying to win back trust, confidence and ad dollars to its platform.  

Enterprise applications for the metaverse are heating up. While the metaverse may still be seen as a “far off” concept to many, it’s gaining ground across big tech enterprises. Companies like Microsoft and Nvidia are leveraging technology to promote collaboration within enterprises, to, for instance, better enable cross-company meetings at a time when so many enterprises have switched to either a hybrid or remote-first working model.

CES underscored that the metaverse is both a media and a tech trend. Hollywood and the entertainment companies that surround it are embracing the digital frontier in addition to emerging technologies like AI. While the developments are nascent, the possibilities are endless – from changing the way we experience entertainment, to connecting with audiences on a deeper level and using artificial intelligence to develop content. Note to media and entertainment companies: Ignore these developments at your peril! Paying attention to the appetite for emerging technologies and taking action to experiment are now absolute table stakes.

With economic uncertainty and rumors of increased interest rates in the near future, fintech is addressing many related consumer concerns. From providing much-needed services to the unbanked or underbanked to offering new ways of managing money altogether, fintech is at the foundation of fresh ways for people to be more financially aware. At the end of the day, fintech will need to help companies, large and small, ride the coming economic roller coaster. 

What CES 2023 tells us is that sustainability, investment in innovation, and building social good are all more critical business imperatives than ever before. Look for these themes to dominate business news and thought leadership in the months and years ahead.  

– Gina Preoteasa, SVP, Emma Wolfe, VP, Charlyne McWilliams, SVP, Mackenzie Gavel, Account Director, and Sammy Jordan, Account Director

Kicking off the New Year: Kite Hill's Goals for 2023

Happy 2023! This week marks a new year, and you know what that means — resolution and goal-setting season. 

There is something inspiring and rejuvenating about a new start, a clean slate that breeds opportunity for change and improvement. Kite Hill PR is in the goal-setting spirit this January – an exercise we constantly do with our clients – as we strive to learn, improve and grow individually and as a team. Check out some of our team member’s resolutions for the new year; maybe it will inspire something for your own list!  

I will experience some big life events in 2023, including getting married! With that in mind, a key resolution of mine for 2023 is to take time to enjoy the moment while being present in the moment.  

- Mackenzie Gavel, Account Director

I plan to be very intentional in feeling more settled in my home, so a big personal goal is to find a new place I can fully personalize. Professionally, I want to get as much brand exposure as possible, so I want to prioritize attending high-value events where I can network.

- Khala Simmons, Senior Account Executive

One of my goals for the year ahead is to prioritize quality time with friends and family. I’m also looking forward to trying some new things! 

- Maggie Stasko, Account Manager

I have moved away from resolutions. Instead, I tend to focus on one word throughout the year to keep me focused in every area of my life and this year my word will be determined.

- Charlyne H. McWilliams, SVP

In 2023, some of my New Year’s Resolutions are to practice self-care and live a healthier lifestyle. Since we began working from home in 2020, I haven’t been as active as I’d like to be. I want to make exercise a part of my daily routine, even if it’s just a walk around the block! 

- Brielyn Stoll, Account Executive

One of my 2023 New Year’s Resolutions is to continue to learn and educate myself. Whether through reading, traveling, or meeting new people, I hope to be more well-informed about the world, cultures, history, and the arts.

- Ilana Hill, Account Associate

My biggest goals this year are to practice gratitude and get back into my hobbies like reading, art, and exercise. A lot has happened in the past few years, and I want to focus on the passions and people that make me happy. 

- Julia Worthington, Account Associate 

I set intentions – which involve a more long-term, evolved approach – and not resolutions, which I find to be a more rigid and often unrealistic approach (we can’t always make big changes like flipping a light switch). I intend to continue and deepen my regular meditation practice. And fitness and well-being are always a top focus. If my mind and body are ready to roll, that will always set me up to be my best for my family, co-workers, clients, and the community around me. Oh, and I intend to nail Wordle every day.

- Jeanne Meyer, CCO

My goal for the new year is to pick one area I want to focus on each month. For example, in January, I’ll prioritize health i.e., gym time and diet. February will be focused on creating my ideal home space — decluttering, organizing, etc.  

- Kyle Murray, Account Supervisor 

The theme of my 2023 is going to be Hygge. The word in Danish and Norwegian describes a mood of coziness and "comfortable conviviality" with feelings of wellness and contentment. Even if in small increments (I have 2 small children), I'm hoping to carve out time to sit and be still in my space.

- Phyllis Beck, Culture & Workplace Experience Manager

In 2023, I want to travel, go places I’ve never been, eat foods I’d never imagined trying, and emphasize experiencing life. I want to get outside my comfort zone a bit.

- Kerriann Becker, Senior Account Executive

Happy Holidays from Kite Hill PR!

Reflecting on a year of growth

 A note from our Founder and CEO, Tiffany Guarnaccia

Before we head into the new year, it’s important to take a pause and reflect on what we’ve accomplished. And wow, do we have a lot to celebrate! 2022 began with a mission to cement our stance on virtual work. We established and rolled out guideposts to strengthen our agency’s approach to collaborating and agile thinking in a digital environment – this is of utmost importance as we continued to grow our team across the country. We supported many clients across industries stay ahead of the curve (and won a few awards along the way).

Here are just a few of the highlights from this year:

• After two years of virtual and hybrid meetings, we hosted a fully-in person summer retreat where we focused on our core value of passion.

• Our team grew with new hires from Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Florida, and the UK.

• Launched our first-ever “Tech for Good” program, and provided a three-month PR program for the inaugural winner, Included. Our second program is now underway and a winner will be selected by year’s end.

• Recognized for a fourth time by the Observer in its annual Power PR list, celebrating Senior Account Executive Kerriann Becker as one of the industry’s Rising Stars, and received an honorable mention for our campaign with Dropp at Ragan Communications Media Relations Awards.

• Humbly, I was the recipient of the She Runs It Working Mother of the Year award and Ragan’s Top Women in Communications Award. 

By the Numbers:

• 22 new clients spanning media, advertising, green tech, ESG, enterprise, mobility, FinTech and HealthTech arenas.

• Increased our work with major clients in the CTV and retail media spaces; the advertising industry’s 2 biggest growth areas.

• Ideated, wrote and placed 46 bylines in outlets ranging from Fast Company and Newsweek to Adweek and Business Insider.

• Developed and executed strategies around 10+ transactions with total valuations exceeding $1.5B in valuation.

• Supported 10+ in-person events, including CES, SXSW, Cannes, Programmatic I/O, RE+, NewFronts/Upfronts, Advertising Week, Communications Week and the Clean Data Roadshow.

• 8 New team members in 5 States and 2 Countries.

• 4 Industry awards (Observer, Observer Rising Star, Ragan, and She Runs It).

• 1 Kite Hill PR team ready to support you in the New Year! 

2023 is a big year for Kite Hill PR and we’re looking forward to sustaining momentum for our team, our clients, and their industries.

Kite Hill PR's Kerriann Becker is Recognized as a 2023 PR Power Rising Star by the Observer

Our agency is thrilled to congratulate Senior Account Executive, Kerriann Becker, for being recognized by the Observer as a 2023 PR Power Rising Star.

Below is an excerpt from the publication’s annual PR Power Rising Stars List.

The PR business is constantly recruiting new talent, and the nature of media is that the best of the younger staff end up informing and reforming their firms. Here are this year’s rising stars.

“Kerriann Becker, 25, Kite Hill PR. Becker has worked her way up from intern to senior account executive at the tech-focused Kite Hill. “Kerriann is adept at helping technically complex clients develop data-driven earned media programs, and in developing and landing thought leadership content for our B2B C-Suite clients,” said Jeanne Meyer, Kite Hill’s chief client officer. “

Kite Hill PR's Honorable Mention at 2022 Ragan's Media Relations Awards

Kite Hill PR CEO Tiffany Guarnaccia is pictured here with the other “Traditional and New Media Integration” category finalists from UPS and 5WPR.

Earlier this week, Kite Hill PR had the privilege of attending Ragan's Media Relations Awards Luncheon where we received an honorable mention in the Traditional and New Media Integration category for the PR campaigns launched on behalf of Dropp, a micropayment solution for small value transactions. A few of the campaigns launched included a secured speaking opportunity at CES, the most influential tech event of the year as well as media pickups with top-tier press like Forbes and award recognitions for excellence in innovation. 

We were honored to be standing alongside 5WPR and UPS in this category. The campaigns that were submitted and discussed highlight the importance and impact of a thoughtful and strategic PR campaign. It doesn’t matter if a company is in the early startup stages or an established brand recognized globally — PR is critical to telling a brand's story. 

A couple of key trends continued to take center stage throughout the event. First, the media world is following data and thoughtful PR campaigns should do the same. The second trend touched on the idea of “unretirement.” As keynote speaker Michael Clinton, Former President/Publishing Director at Hearst Magazine put it “if you are 40 years old and in good health, there is no reason you won’t live to be 100.” Essentially, with people living longer, they are finding new passions later in life and having second careers. Michael shares his thought on this concept in his recently released book, Roar: into the second half of your life (before it's too late).

Attendees left the event feeling accomplished, inspired and ready to tackle 2023. It is an honor to end the year on a high note and continue to solidify our place in the market as a forward-thinking communications agency for tech-enabled companies.

– Kyle Murray, Account Supervisor

Notes from a Small Island: How to Communicate Effectively in Smaller Markets

We live in an increasingly digital and ‘always on’ world where we are constantly bombarded with content from around the globe. Global brands have long been aware of the nuances of global communication. From differences in time zones and languages, to diversity of culture and traditions — it must all be taken into account for a successful communication strategy.

But if you are a small business with a small budget in a small market with a big message …how can you compete?

Know Your Audience

Marketing and communication strategies are constantly evolving, but regardless of the new and innovative ways available to reach your customer, any marketer is only as good as the data they have.

In the distant past this may have meant a spreadsheet of names and addresses, but fast-forward to the present day and the digital revolution — things are a bit more complicated, but the premise is the same. The first step is understanding your business unique selling propositions (USPs) and your social and ethical values, then aligning your communications to consumers who want those things.

Secondly, the way in which customers want to be communicated to has also changed. The events of the last few years coupled with changes in user behavior and advances in technology have led to a seismic shift in the way brands need to operate to keep competitive. The onset of the digital revolution, the pandemic and worldwide lockdowns have fueled an explosion in digital communication. This, alongside an increase in the digital platforms and channels available to users has led to a huge demand — or even expectation — for a customer-first approach. 

Consumers today don’t just want a seamless, ‘always on’ communications experience with their brands of choice. They also want that engagement to be on the channels they prefer and at the time most convenient to them.

For small businesses, it may not be possible to compete in paid for promotional activity such as advertising or paid social, but there are other ways to get your message across.

The DIY Approach

Nobody knows the benefits of your business like you do. By producing your own content, from blogs to white papers or proprietary research, you will have a wealth of useful information to share with potential customers.

And whilst reaching those customers might be harder on a shoestring, utilizing cheaper options coupled with a more targeted data-led approach will allow you to reach the intended audience.

For example, email marketing, far from being a second-rate activity in the age of social commerce, is actually pivotal for brand recognition, customer engagement and loyalty. Not only that, it is highly personalizable and pretty much free.

Similarly, a rise in omnichannel rather than multi-channel digital strategies recently have stemmed from the knowledge that your brand doesn’t need to be everywhere, only in the places where your customers are. This is a good lesson for all communications activity and making intelligent choices on where to spend a limited budget can make all the difference.

Start-ups and small businesses have a tough time making their voices heard in an ever-crowded world but by doing the groundwork to understand where their offering fits with their consumer. By creating useful content that is shared in a logical and perceptive way, they will be rewarded significantly with the growth and progression of their business.

-Caroline Brunton, Senior Account Manager

How commstech can help agencies stay agile in 2023

This article was originally published on PRDaily.com.

The communications industry has adopted various technologies over the years to help increase and measure performance. However, the idea of a dedicated comms and PR tech stack is still relatively new. But with more funding going into development of the space, the conversation has exploded.

Tools such as Slack and monday.com, to name a few, have become more and more commonplace in PR agencies. A typical PR agency commstech stack has at least five layers of tech: media databases, content management solutions, media monitoring/reporting solutions, communications platforms (i.e. Zoom, Slack) and project management software.

These tools have lent themselves to a new trend: the need for agility in internal and external communications. Successful PR and communications programs –- especially in this economic environment –- require a high degree of agility and the ability to pivot quickly based on news cycles or in response to a crisis. And your commstech should support that. In order to do so, here are some considerations that comms pros should embrace moving into 2023.

Determine commstech needs

The workplace is changing rapidly as more Gen Z enter the workforce. Demographics are shifting -– the workforce is significantly more sophisticated when it comes to technology. Translation: the demand for technology to enhance job performance is coming from within.

To ensure your commstech stack is meeting the needs of everyone on your team, listen to your employees first. Conduct surveys with your internal team to determine where they feel the gaps lie internally and externally. What can the organization do better to help them drive performance for clients? Where can the commstech stack be enhanced to increase efficiencies and allow members of the team to optimize productivity?

Another key area to focus on is measurement. Is commstech helping you accurately measure a campaign’s performance? As we navigate economic uncertainty, it is critical that agencies are able to prove their worth through hard data and our commstech should aid in our ability to do that.

The benefits of an updated commstech stack

Once you’ve determined your needs and potential gaps in commstech, it’s important to look at the benefits an updated commstech stack offers an agency.

The PR agencies that embrace updated commstech and are able to pull recent media placements to gain a  better understanding of what’s being said about the client at any given moment. In addition, having quick access to real-time sentiments can help comms pros be proactive and manage a potential crisis.

Commstech will also help with PR campaign measurement. Using technology can allow agencies to gather insights on the traction of a campaign. This gives agencies an opportunity to conduct analysis of their campaign process and determine where they can improve for next time in order to drive greater results.

Not only does commstech help improve internal processes and communication with our clients, it also helps agencies analyze the market and grow from year to year. With commstech, PR agencies can stay ahead of the curve. You can spot industry trends quicker and make sure you and your clients are pivoting accordingly.

There is a common theme that has emerged in the communications industry as commstech has continued to evolve: the need for agility. Updated commstech can help agencies embrace agility in 2023. The communications industry moves fast and communications professionals need to keep up. Technology allows them to not only monitor the pulse on the industry but pivot, and pivot quickly, when necessary. Technology allows for better measurement -– which enables agencies to pivot campaigns that aren’t driving the expected results. Agencies can use technology to gain a better understanding of the traction of a campaign – which can be adjusted as needed in real-time.

Agility is a mindset that agencies need to embrace in 2023 in order to experience growth and navigate the uncertainty ahead. The proper use of a strong commstech stack is invaluable to reach that goal. Agencies that do not use technology to become more agile will be left behind.

Tiffany Guarnaccia is CEO and founder of  Kite Hill PR. 

Kite Hill PR Named 2022 Ragan Media Relations Award Finalist

The recognition spotlights the agency’s agile, results-oriented public relations program with Fintech client, Dropp

New York, NY — December 5, 2022 — Kite Hill PR, award-winning agile tech PR agency, has been named a finalist in the 2022 Ragan Media Relations Awards in the Traditional and New Media Integration category. The agency’s public relations campaign for Dropp, a company enabling a pay-per-use digital economy free of paywalls and subscriptions, stood out amidst a list of prominent, larger companies. Other finalists in the category include 5WPR for Samsung SmartThings, HUNTER for Honey Bunches of Oats, and UPS for UPS Vaccine Communications Planning. Winners will be announced live at its ceremony hosted on December 12th at the Yale Club in New York City.

Ragan’s Media Relations Awards showcases companies that executed innovative strategies to secure media coverage, possessed the ability to remain calm during a crisis, and demonstrated a knack for crafting engaging stories and more. This is a premiere program for recognizing the best media relations campaigns, events and initiatives from the past year.

“Kite Hill PR prioritizes providing best-in-class service to our clients to drive them towards their goals through our tailored PR programs,” said Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO of Kite Hill PR. “We are thrilled that our work with Dropp is being recognized for effectively leveraging strategic media relations to drive tangible business results. Our proactive approach enables new-to-market technology companies to grab mindshare and market share from larger competitors. 

Kite Hill PR’s program with Dropp aimed to position the company as an inclusive and innovative micropayment platform for consumers across all industries. The program worked to identify and maximize news-generating moments, as well as media opportunities to establish Dropp as the premium blockchain technology platform across a number of key market verticals, including tech, finance, fintech, retail, B2B, B2C, DTC, media and entertainment. 

To learn more about Kite Hill PR, please visit kitehillpr.com. 

About Kite Hill PR

Based in New York City with team members in the UK and across North America, Kite Hill PR is a leading B2B communications and tech PR agency specializing in connecting enterprise technology, media and advertising businesses with key stakeholders. The company's winning approach combines thought leadership, strategy and media relations to drive clients' businesses forward. Kite Hill PR has been recognized as one of the "Top Tech Specialist PR Agencies in NYC,” “Most Powerful PR Firms,” and a “Top 50 PR Firm in America” by the Observer, a “Best Place to Work” by PR News and one of "America's Best PR Agencies" by Forbes.

About Dropp 

Dropp is a micropayment service for small transactions helping consumers to purchase small-value goods and services instantly without sharing personal details. Dropp maintains the privacy of purchases to the user, placing the consumer in complete control of their data. Dropp offers merchants a cost-effective platform to offer a pay-per-use option to their customers. Consumers can download Dropp on Google Play and the Apple Store; it is also available on Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. To learn more about Dropp and its offerings, visit here.

About Ragan Communications

Ragan Communications has been delivering trusted news, training and intelligence for more than 50 years to internal and external communicators, HR professionals and business executives via its conferences, webinars, training, awards, subscriptions and membership divisions. Its daily news sites—PRDaily.com and Ragan.com—are read by more than 600,000 internal and external communicators monthly.

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Kite Hill’s 2022 Gratitude-Filled Reflections

In today’s ultra-connected world, we are often swept up by our daily to-dos, current events, and incessant planning for the future. As an agile B2B technology communications agency, the Kite Hill PR team is no stranger to constantly thinking about what comes next. While strategic planning is an important part of what makes us effective communications professionals, Kite Hill recognizes the importance of periodically taking time to ground yourself in the current moment to practice gratitude. This is why focus on gratitude has been embedded into our culture — at Kite Hill PR, we recognize the importance of living in the present moment, taking a step back, and reflecting on the things we have to be grateful for. This allows us to remain a united, motivated, and passionate team able to effectively support one another to generate results.

We asked the Kite Hill PR team to take time and reflect on 2022 and share what they are most grateful for, an important exercise for both our professional and personal lives. Here is what they had to say:

“I have long believed in the power of positive thinking and that gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. That's why we have always worked hard as a team to maintain a positive and supportive work culture here at Kite Hill PR. I am grateful for this team!” - Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and Founder

“I am thankful for our multi-talented and high-performance team and for a workplace culture that fully considers the whole person, inside and outside of work.  As a parent, I appreciate being able to tag in a team member if needed.  I appreciate the grace we extend to one another as we collectively work to deliver excellent results for clients as a unified organization.” - Jeanne Meyer, Chief Client Officer

“I'm thankful for my health, my amazing support system and good books!” - Rachel Hadley, Chief Operations Officer

“I am most grateful for my daughter and her health (as well as my own), family and friends. I am also grateful for the opportunity and the space to grow. I left an established career as a mortgage industry PR expert to dive into a different area of PR — adtech and martech. I am grateful for the vision and support of everyone at Kite Hill PR in this process. Another thing I am grateful for is the ability to look around, not at the negative noise and blaring demands of everyday, and see the beauty in life.” - Charlyne McWilliams, Senior Vice President

“I'm very grateful for all the wonderful and supportive people in my life, including my family, friends, and coworkers. I'm also incredibly thankful for my not-so-little hound dog, Cooper! Cooper has brought so much joy, happiness, and light into my and my fiance’s life, and we couldn't be more grateful for our rambunctious, smart, sweet, loving little pup.” - Mackenzie Gavel, Account Director

"This year and always, I'm grateful for the quality time I get to spend with my family and friends – especially around the holiday season. I'm equally grateful for my Kite Hill team and that our collective values focus on collaboration and balance." - Maggie Stasko, Account Manager 

“The thing I'm most thankful for this year is to be spending quality time with my family and friends in South Carolina. I haven't seen them in the 7 months since I moved to NYC, so I'm looking forward to all the good southern comfort food and being spoiled!” - Khala Simmons, Senior Account Executive

“I am very lucky in the sense that I have so much to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for my family and my friends and the time I get to spend with them. I am so thankful for this incredible team that I work with and everything they have taught me over the last year. And I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had over the last year to experience new things that have enabled me to grow as a person.” - Kerriann Becker, Senior Account Executive

"I'm extremely grateful for all of my family, friends, and coworkers this Thanksgiving. I've learned so much in the past year alone, and am thankful to be surrounded by so many wonderful and talented people. It's so important to surround yourself with people who uplift and support you, and equally as important to do the same for others!" - Julia Worthington, Account Associate

"I'm thankful for my family and friends, who have been the greatest support team, and for my new Kite Hill PR family. This year has taught me so much, both personally and professionally, and I'm so glad that I have had the chance to kickstart my career and learn alongside such a supportive and collaborative team!" - Illana Hill, Assistant Account Associate

Practicing gratitude empowers our team to remain motivated and ready to deliver the kind of results that make real impacts. This time of year is an excellent reminder to stay grounded and consciously take note of the things that make positive impacts on our lives, professionally and personally, so that we can be the best versions of ourselves. 

So, the next time you feel bogged down, try asking yourself, “What are you most thankful for?”

-Kylee Kinnaird, Account Associate

Storytelling, business fluency, employee comms among top takeaways of CommsWeek 2022

This piece was originally published on Ragan.com.

Ragan’s Communications Week 2022, held Nov. 1-7, was overflowing with takeaways to inform the communicator’s 2023 playbook. Peer-to-peer conversations were abundant during this important industry week, which included the Future of Communications Conference in NYC.

CommsWeek Co-Chairs Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan, and Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO of Kite Hill PR and founder of CommsWeek, share their top gleanings from the week:

Guarnaccia: Congratulations to Ragan on a fantastic Communications Week. One of the big takeaways from me was the power of storytelling. Now more than ever, the best communicators are storytellers. Some of the sessions touched on how to make sure your story is worth telling internally and externally. The world’s best communicators know that employees are our number-one brand advocates. We need to engage them.

Schwartz: So true. And it should go without saying, but I’m saying it: transparency with employees is critical. We heard from so many speakers that employees can handle bad news better than uncertainty. Communicate early and often, and when it comes to storytelling – don’t be boring!  A popular tweet during Communications Week was that storytelling is data with a soul. I love that. Tiffany, what else struck you during the Future of Comms Conference?

Guarnaccia: Measurement is an evergreen topic that emerged again at Communications Week 2022. We are constantly evaluating new strategies and emerging communications channels and the new measurement techniques. When thinking about the value of PR, many communicators are rethinking what that means. Some agency leaders, like the president of MikeWorldWide, Bret Werner, pointed out that we need to rethink top tier. Traditionally, when you think of top tier, you think of outlets like the WSJ, CNN or NY Times. Today, a placement on a key blog or a mention on TikTok could attract the right audiences and drive results, especially for consumer brands.

Schwartz: Back to internal communications for a second, I find this stat from one of our sponsors Staffbase rather illuminating: 75% of internal communicators spend the majority of their time “getting stuff out” – this underscores how communicators must move from order taker to strategist. They need to Meet the Moment – the theme of this year’s CommsWeek – and make sure they’re spending more time on strategy beyond their own department.

Guarnaccia: So true, Diane. They need to be more fluent in the business. This is an area Ragan promotes heavily to its audience.

Schwartz: Yes, business fluency is one of the most important competencies of comms leaders – understanding how your company operates, what drives the top and bottom lines. You can take small steps like spending time with your CFO and asking questions that might take you out of your comfort zone but will put you on the right footing as a business partner.

Guarnaccia: CommsTech was another hot topic and it will grow in importance. I touched on this in my session. We addressed the new comms tech stack and the importance of embracing agility. We need to be agile in theory and in practice. Successful comms programs require a high degree of agility and ability to pivot quickly based on the news cycle or in response to a crisis. At Kite Hill PR we leverage a workflow that models agile development. It was interesting to see that some attendees are taking a similar approach and adding project management software platforms to their own comms tech stack.

Schwartz: I enjoyed moderating a session with Chief Communications Officers from Dow Jones (Jennifer Thurman), US Chamber of Commerce (Michelle Russo) and Columbia Business School (Amy Jaick). Amy pointed out something I think all communicators should keep in mind, which is that some of the best comms strategies are invisible. The absence of crisis and chaos, the story that didn’t run, the CEO that didn’t have to take the hot seat — these are to the credit of savvy communicators.

Guarnaccia: I completely agree with that statement. Investing in a continual human-powered effort to build trust and maintain and enhance a corporate reputation is critical to a business’s long-term success.

Schwartz: During Communications Week, there were a lot of ideas shared and curiosity around the role of Comms in ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) efforts. I thought Catherine Blades Hernandez of SAIC said it best during the fireside chat when she said ‘ESG is a way to show your trust is earned.’”

Guarnaccia: No better role in an organization than Communications to lead the way.

Schwartz: That’s a great way to cap off this conversation, Tiffany!

Mark your calendars for Communications Week 2023 the week of Nov. 6-10. Go to www.commsweek.com for early updates.

Kite Hill PR Appoints Communications Veteran Charlyne McWilliams as SVP

Former journalist and award-winning communicator brings financial communications and editorial prowess to Kite Hill Public Relations as it continues to expand its B2B Tech practice areas 

New York, NY — November 15, 2022 — Kite Hill PR, the award-winning agile tech PR and B2B communications agency, has appointed financial communications pro and former journalist Charlyne McWilliams as Senior Vice President. McWilliams reports directly to Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and founder, and is based in Maryland. 

McWilliams brings more than 20 years of experience to Kite Hill PR, having previously worked for two decades at William Mills Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm. Prior to that, she held several roles as a business journalist, including working as editor for the Inside Mortgage Finance Publications and as a business reporter at The Roanoke Times. Throughout her career, McWilliams has been recognized for her excellence in public relations and communications through various awards including being recognized three times as a Sales Marketing and PR Trailblazer and also in 2022 as a Most Powerful Women in FinTech from Progress in Lending.

“Charlyne’s sharp eye, passion and creative nature, paired with the 20-plus years of experience in communications and public relations she brings to our agency makes her a true asset to our team,” said Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and founder at Kite Hill PR. “As Kite Hill PR expands our areas of expertise, Charlyne is playing a critical role in developing and mentoring our team and offering strategic communications acumen that is benefitting our entire client base. We are thrilled to have her on our team.”

At Kite Hill PR, McWilliams is playing an active account management role, spearheading professional development for Kite Hill PR employees and leveraging her vast network in the firm’s business development efforts. 

Kite Hill PR specializes in connecting enterprise technology, media and advertising businesses with key stakeholders while continuing to expand its client base across B2B tech and enterprise categories including cybersecurity, cleantech/greentech as well as players in FinTech. The agency continues to helm award-winning, integrated communications programs for movers and shakers in the entertainment, media and ad tech industry with a winning approach that combines thought leadership, strategy and media relations to drive clients' businesses forward. With the core value of agility, Kite Hill PR focuses on adapting and changing with the ever-evolving industry to continue to produce world-class results. 

“I am thrilled to join an agency that is woman-founded and led, and whose values reflect my own,” said McWilliams. “The culture at Kite Hill PR is one that nurtures positivity, agility, collaboration and balance, and is one that encourages growth. It’s obvious that Kite Hill PR’s investment in its team pays off with the delivery of stellar results to clients. I’m excited to share my experience as a PR professional and a former journalist to the agency and contribute how I can to overall business success.”

To learn more about Kite Hill PR visit kitehillpr.com. 

About Kite Hill PR

Based in New York City with team members in the UK and across North America, Kite Hill PR is a leading B2B communications and tech PR agency specializing in connecting enterprise technology, media and advertising businesses with key stakeholders. The company's winning approach combines thought leadership, strategy and media relations to drive clients' businesses forward. Kite Hill PR has been recognized as one of the "Top Tech Specialist PR Agencies in NYC,” “Most Powerful PR Firms,” and a “Top 50 PR Firm in America” by the Observer, a “Best Place to Work” by PR News and one of "America's Best PR Agencies" by Forbes.

Clean / Greentech Trends You Should Be Paying Attention To

Greentech, also known as environmental technology, green technology, cleantech or climate tech, is a hot industry. But what exactly is this growing sector, and why does it matter? Greentech utilizes a combination of environmental science, environmental monitoring, and electronic devices to produce new technology and methods for conserving the natural environment. 

Driven by heightened climate concerns, the pursuit of more efficient business practices, and spurred by a regulatory and legislative landscape, there’s no denying that climate-forward businesses are ones to watch. Below are three main greentech trends our PR agency recommends examining: energy consumption, the rise of clean mobility and the growth of climate tech as a hot investment. 

Energy Consumption 

As part of sustainability initiatives, and to add efficiencies and cost savings, organizations have started to develop strategies that embrace clean/greentech innovations for a better future. Take, for instance, companies like Digi that are creating solutions that gather data on their energy usage and find ways to minimize their environmental impact and ultimately cut costs. Or Dandelion Energy, an environmental tech company dedicated to providing homes with clean energy by replacing fossil-fuel-reliant heating and cooling systems with geothermal heat pumps to provide homeowners with a reliable source of renewable heating and cooling year-round.

The Rise of Clean Mobility

Clean mobility is already evident through tech innovations we encounter every day, like electric vehicles and e-bikes. Global electric car sales more than doubled over the past twelve months, reaching 6.6 million, compared to just 3 million in 2020. Clean mobility has moved from niche to mass market recently, and that’s not surprising considering their potential to reduce the heavy burden of fossil fuel pollution produced by gas-powered vehicles every day. The Inflation Reduction Act is also prompting those in the auto industry to invest even more in clean options and build them in the United States in order to sway away from fossil fuels and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. 

In 2021, General Motors announced that it would cease production of combustion engine vehicles by 2035. This decision can ultimately push other automakers and leaders around the road to follow suit. For example, recently, California implemented the “Advanced Clean Cars II” rule that establishes a year by year roadmap to achieve 100% zero emission vehicle sales by 2035. 

Climate Tech as a Hot Investment

The marketplace demand, coupled with government mandates and the industry’s own objectives to reduce their carbon footprints add up to this sector being a popular investment category. In fact, a recent report has revealed that CleanTech startups have raised a record-breaking $32billion globally in 2021, more than quadrupling global CleanTech investment in 2016. More recently, climate provisions in President Biden’s The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, include a commitment to invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030 and make significant down payments on energy security and climate progress.

The uptick in green technology adoption will likely spur other businesses to follow suit. Green/clean tech trends, especially sustainability, have been influencing consumer preferences and swaying market demands for responsible ecological practices in both B2C and B2B industries. As these topics garner more attention from consumers and the media, there is a great opportunity for businesses to join the conversation and create a more sustainable future.

Learn more here about how Kite Hill PR is joining the green/clean tech trends through our Tech for Good initiative.

- Liana Zamora, Account Associate

Kite Hill PR Announces Tech for Good Applications Open for January 2023 Program

The award-winning agency’s second iteration of the initiative aims to amplify purpose-driven, ESG, greentech and clean tech companies

New York, NY – November 7, 2022 – Kite Hill PR, a woman-owned, award-winning, agile tech PR and B2B communications agency, today announced it is opening applications for its January-April 2023 Tech For Good program for purpose-driven, pro-social technology companies.

Launched in March 2022, the Tech for Good program focuses on PR-mentorship and providing the fundamental building blocks for effective media relations. The company is accepting applications from U.S. or UK-based startups that are BIPOC/woman/LGBTQIA+-led, have closed a Seed or Series A fundraising round, and fall within the ESG, Clean Tech or Greentech categories. Qualifying companies can apply for the program through the submission form on Kite Hill PR’s website until November 30, 2022. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges against three key pillars: Impact, Innovation and Scalability. 

“Over the last nine years, we’ve created award-winning work for our clients, and the continuation of Tech for Good ensures we’re able to amplify the voices of diverse founders and leaders across the tech industry,” said Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO and founder, Kite Hill PR. “Not only is this program imperative to driving more diversity and inclusivity in the tech space, but also addresses our team’s passion for supporting mission-driven companies.” 

Designed to support the winning startup’s business growth, while simultaneously amplifying mission-driven stories, Kite Hill PR will provide a comprehensive four-month PR program encompassing the development of earned media and thought leadership strategies. 

The company’s clients across its adtech, enterprise tech, media and entertainment, cybersecurity, and Clean Tech, Greentech and ESG practice areas continue to prioritize purpose-driven strategies. Kite Hill PR is dedicated to providing current and future tech and B2B clients with counsel and strategic guidance to ensure business growth and awareness. 

For more information and to apply please visit kitehillpr.com/tech-for-good. For questions or comments, please contact TechForGood@KiteHillPR.com. 

About Kite Hill PR

Based in New York City with team members in the UK and across North America, Kite Hill PR is a leading B2B communications and tech PR agency specializing in connecting enterprise technology, media and advertising businesses with key stakeholders. The company's winning approach combines thought leadership, strategy and media relations to drive clients' businesses forward. Kite Hill PR has been recognized as one of the "Top Tech Specialist PR Agencies in NYC,” “Most Powerful PR Firms,” and a “Top 50 PR Firm in America” by the Observer, a “Best Place to Work” by PR News and one of "America's Best PR Agencies" by Forbes.

PR Contact:

Maggie Stasko

TechForGood@kitehillpr.com