Planning 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 outstanding communications campaigns in the Midwest with...
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 into our formal year-long relationship that the...
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 it is so important. In the beginning of 2017,...
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 junior year at DePaul University, I had the chance...
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 Ballast Group team in 2005 and continue today. To help...
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 and several medical technology start-up companies....
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