The Importance of Joining a Board
Many young professionals who launch a career consider three things before starting: Can I support myself financially doing this work? Will I like doing this work? Am I offering the world some type of benefit by doing this work? Often for motivated career professionals, these questions never stop. In fact, Presidents and CEOs of major companies ask themselves these types of questions annually. The search to find that perfect balance between happy and doing good becomes a lifelong quest. The Ballast Group’s founder, Kellee Johnson, offers...
read moreIn honor of the 110th Race to Mackinac, see how the Ballast Group connects many similarities between PR & sailing
As an integrated communications firm founded by an avid sailor, the Ballast Group team often finds inspiration in the strategy and tactics of planning, executing and measuring initiatives that have unpredictable forces like Mother Nature does. Like sailing, public relations requires the skilled management of many variables at once to take ideas to the next level. Using a balanced approach, we act as a boat’s ballast for clients, keeping their goals and objectives moving in the right direction. On July 20-21 sailors from across the...
read morePlanning for the fourth quarter of life
One in five Americans aged 70 and older say they can’t live independently or accomplish daily tasks without assistance. To accommodate this ballooning U.S. population, more than 1.3 million new paid caregivers are needed to meet demand by 2027. With more than 765 home services agencies in Illinois (500 non-medical) how does one company distinguish itself? Open Arms Solutions (OAS), a home care agency based in Chicagoland, turned to Ballast Group to help build its brand. Since 1959, the Publicity Club of Chicago has been recognizing...
read moreDo valedictorians need a mentor?
Growing up in a single-parent household in the 70s, my twin and I had many mentors whether we called them that or not – teachers, coaches, pastors, mom’s boss, her friends and neighbors. Reaching my early 30s, I finally thought I’d learned a bit about life. It was time to join a board and give back. A nonprofit in Denver focused on higher education for inner city youth approached me about a role. I requested first getting to know one of the students it served. It took awhile to pair me which was confusing. It wasn’t until three months...
read moreHealthcare reputation management in 2017
In 2017, we saw numerous large companies fall prey to poor reputation management and crisis communication preparation. The airline industry snagged a front seat for most damaging headlines. In an era dependent on transparency and trust, it is more important than ever to have the right systems and communication channels in place to maintain a company’s reputation with all stakeholders. As a company that works with many healthcare organizations, Ballast Group decided to take a closer look at reputation management in the healthcare space and why...
read moreIs your team moving in the right direction? Understanding the similarities between sailing and PR & the meaning behind “ballast”
As another Chicago summer sets the tone for humid heat and warm winds, public relations firms and sailing teams prepare for a busy season. America’s Cup fanatics are watching the 35th Cup this week from Bermuda as Lake Michigan sailors get ready for Chicago Yacht Club’s 109th Race to Mackinac, taking off July 15 east of Navy Pier. Similarly, PR professionals are gearing up for a season of outdoor events, new seasonal products and holidays that celebrate the excitement of summer fun. Though it may seem strange to liken business to sailing,...
read moreThe Importance of Internships: How to Get a Jump-Start on Your Confidence and Your Career
At the start of senior year, most college students begin contemplating what the ‘real world’ will look like. They prepare for that ever-so daunting job search and stress over securing their first post-graduation position. As college seniors everywhere are graduating, there are a few helpful tips for freshmen, sophomores and juniors on how to get a jump start on your career and bypass most of the senior stress. The first, and arguably most important tip, is securing not only one but two or three internships during college. When I was in my...
read moreFind Your Inspiration: Best 2017 Commencement Speeches
It’s that time of year again when the weather warms and the tassels are turned to the left side. As college seniors graduate from private and public institutions across the country, news organizations flood us with headlines of commencement speeches with the “best advice” or “words of wisdom.” Twelve years ago, as Kellee Johnson started The Ballast Group, one commencement speaker’s words stood out. Delivered by Steve Jobs at Stanford University’s 2005 commencement address they were: “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.” Those words inspired The...
read moreHow Entrepreneurship Fuels Job Growth
“Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.” For those of you who know The Ballast Group or our founder, Kellee Johnson, it is likely that you have seen or heard these words — especially around college graduation time. This quote, from Steve Jobs’s 2005 Stanford University commencement address, is the inspiration behind Kellee Johnson’s entrepreneurial spirit and the force behind her drive to continue finding best storytelling practices for The Ballast Group everyday. In 2005, Kellee founded The Ballast Group after working for Tropicana, Abbott Labs...
read more12 Leads in 12 Minutes: Now What? Never Assume Your Client Defines PR the Same Way You Do
Every public relations professional and many CEOs know the power of earned media. A lead in a major metropolitan newspaper or an interview on a network station that gets syndicated — this type of exposure can lead to millions of impressions that increase a business’s revenue and reputation. While PR contributes to sales goals, sometimes different levels of leaders can misinterpret the role and responsibility of the PR function. Typically business leaders dictate the strategy for building the internal structure necessary for managing an...
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