Communications fosters knowledge. Knowledge creates power. In the context of national, state or local public affairs, power can affect change, alter perceptions, advance an initiative or stop it in its tracks.

Widmeyer, ranked #6 among O’Dwyer’s Public Relations’ top 44 environmental and public affairs firms, understands how to create powerful communications programs and leverage them for our clients’ benefit.  We help clients engage clearly and effectively when public opinion, law or regulation is at stake.

We call what we do Power Public Affairs, a focused, effective practice group built on three “engines” that drive the U.S. on a daily basis: Energy, Environment and the Economy.  We define these core issues broadly, in much the same way they impact the country:

• Energy: including work with utilities, transportation providers and other major consumers of energy – our experience includes American Energy Innovation Council, Consumers United for Rail Equity, PPL Electric Utilities, UPS and others.
• Environment: including work on climate change, sustainability, water and resource use, and other complex issues related to the natural world – our experience includes the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a major beverage company, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others.
• Economy: including work for corporations, unions, manufacturers, associations, non-governmental organizations and other advocates engaged in economic development, finance, trade, economic policy and related issues – our experience includes Association of American Publishers, National Association for the Self-Employed, the National Center on Education and the Economy, the Middle East Investment Initiative and others.

We help companies, associations, coalitions and organizations communicate about these core issues in a 21^st century context that includes a solid grounding in research, use of the latest digital communication tools and a fundamental understanding of the ways in which these core issues impact – and are impacted by – the world around us.

We provide efficient, effective communications advice and counsel that delivers results. We’re ready to help you harness the power of these engines for your organization.

Client Portfolio

Association of American Publishers
Widmeyer is helping the Higher Education division of the Association of American Publishers reshape the conversation on the cost of course materials.  This public information campaign is aimed at educating elected officials and policy makers, as well as college and university administrators and faculty about what publishers are doing to improve student retention and pass rates, lower the cost per pupil for instruction and reduce student costs for course materials.  In addition, we’re promoting the publishers’ efforts to provide specialized textbooks to help disabled students succeed in college.

American Energy Innovation Council (AEIC)
For the American Energy Innovation Council (AEIC) – a group of Fortune 50 CEOs seeking a renewed national focus on energy R&D investment – Widmeyer developed an organizational identity and brand presence, and managed the media relations and report development for the group’s launch event in Washington, D.C.  Widmeyer created a logo and website for AEIC, built a Twitter following and Flickr presence, and designed the organization’s print and online report in preparation for the organization’s announcement event in Washington, D.C.  Our team also created an iconic video introducing the organization and a set of CEO videos featuring all seven members (including Bill Gates, Ursula Burns and Jeff Immelt) highlighting each individual’s leadership on the issue.  We developed eye-catching full-page advertisements for the Washington Post and Capitol Hill publications coinciding with the announcement. Widmeyer planned and coordinated the Washington, D.C. launch event at the Newseum highlighting the principal members, as well as the launch of the website, videos and business plan.  The campaign generated extensive national TV, print, radio and online media coverage, and the effort helped secure a White House meeting with President Obama on the issue, as well as meetings with senior Members of the House and Senate.

PPL Electric Utilities
Widmeyer is a Conservation Service Provider for PPL Electric Utilities (PPL EU), helping the JD Power top-ranked public utility meet its state-mandated energy efficiency and conservation goals through a strategic outreach campaign designed to reach residential, business and institutional customers. Elements of the campaign include earned media outreach, social media engagement and robust partnerships with a wide range of groups, including museums, chambers of commerce, universities and other high-profile institutions within PPL EU’s service territory. The public relations effort is being conducted under the umbrella of the E-power brand, which is the utility’s suite of programs that help customers reduce energy use through energy efficient lighting and appliance rebates, CFL discount programs, energy assessments, weatherization and other efforts that have a demonstrable impact on energy use.

National Association for the Self-Employed
Widmeyer is helping give the nation’s self-employed and micro-businesses a voice in the national conversation about jobs and the economic recovery. This public affairs campaign is focused on targeted geographies and national and local broadcast news outlets. In the summer of 2010, Widmeyer created a creative online campaign to challenge misperceptions about this segment of the economy and its contribution to the overall economic health of the nation. The “Not So Bunny” campaign generated more than 22 million impressions and a higher-than-average click-through rate. The campaign and related earned media coverage is helping to move the policy goals of the nation’s smallest businesses up the priority list of Congressional leaders.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely Campaign
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was mandated by the U.S. Congress to implement a national public education campaign to fulfill the requirements of section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The agency was tasked with developing a first-ever campaign to reduce drownings and entrapments in and around pools and spas by raising public awareness and industry compliance of the law. Widmeyer Communications built a focused public education campaign and message to be amplified through five distribution channels: partners, consumers, industry, media and government.  Widmeyer created a new brand, Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives, new materials and resources to promote that brand including print and broadcast PSAs, an educational video, an aggressive social media strategy via Twitter, Flicker, YouTube, a new Widmeyer-developed profile for CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum on HuffingtonPost and a forthcoming Communications Toolkit for use by partners in engaging with the campaign now and in the future.

By partnering with leading national public and water safety organizations, such as the American Red Cross, The Y, Safe Kids USA, National Drowning Prevention Alliance, Home Safety Council, Abbey’s Hope, World Waterpark Association and Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, the campaign and its message is reaching target audiences and being reinforced over time. To date, the campaign has been featured on NBC’s TODAY SHOW,  in national and local print publications including USA Today, Associated Press, Boston Globe, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Tulsa World, San Diego Union Tribune, and on over 500 local radio and television programs.

Additional Representative Clients
American Federation of Teachers
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Coalition for Student Loan Reform
Center for Civic Education
Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning
College Board
Committee for Economic Development
Consumers United for Rail Equity
Corporation for Enterprise Development
Education Finance Council
Fannie Mae
Inova Health System
JPMorgan Chase, Chase Card Services
Kids in the Know Coalition
MedStar Health/Washington Hospital Center
Middle East Investment Initiative
National Center on Education and the Economy
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
National Immigration Forum
Nurse Alliance of SEIU
The Pew Charitable Trust
Shell Chemicals
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
U.S. Climate Action Partnership
U.S. Department of Agriculture
UPS