Type Of Business:
BasicLeigh Communications, LLC specializes in project management and providing strategic end-to-end integrated marketing solutions – PR counsel, promotions, advertising and writing services — for any size organization or company from concept to execution, specializing in nonprofit, small business and government.
Marketing Area:
Nationwide, but primarily state of Iowa
Expertise:
- Seventeen years of agency, consulting, government/public, and nonprofit integrated marketing communications experience, with an emphasis in grassroots constituency building and community relations; crisis communications; interview and platform training; media relations; collateral development (including copywriting for all mediums); special events; and trade shows.
Major Product/SVS:
- Extensive background in Iowa environmental and water quality issues, including work with the Des Moines Water Works and its more than 18 regional partners; the Raccoon River Watershed Project; the federal Environmental Protection Association (EPA); all Iowa agri-business associations; the Dairy Management Association; and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
- Well-versed in working with educational, government and public organizations’ legislative affairs, regulatory and governance issues. Experience includes communications resulting in successful passage of legislation to development and launch of e-commerce and other websites to strategic planning to crisis communications.
- Tier-one media relations and sponsorship experience with successful placement on such shows as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NBC’s Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and ABC’s Good Morning America, and placement in top-20 publications and columns such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Dear Abby and more.
- Extensive experience in special events, including new product launches, for Tone’s Spices 125th Anniversary (yearlong); Iowa EarthYear 2000 (yearlong); Des Moines’ Fire in the Sky; 2001 U.S. Senior Open recycling; grand openings for two water treatment facilities.
- Deep background in database-driven relationship direct marketing with Fortune 100 pharmaceutical and telecommunications companies.
Hobbies/Sports:
Working out; Riding bikes; Visiting her lake condominium
Education Degrees:
- M.A. degree in integrated corporate communications from Drake University.
- B.A. degree in communications studies with a management minor from Simpson College.
Affiliations Awards:
The Public Relations Society of America
Number Of Years In Profession:
17
Number Of Years In Current Position:
9
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to hard work.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because she started her career in journalism.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Act as a virtual agency for clients providing day-to-day services as described and contracting with other vendors for production, graphic design, web development, etc.
Education Certifications:
Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
Awards/Honors:
- Recipient of PRSA’s Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for Community Relations 2004.
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Ms. McGivern hopes for continued growth in the same field.