ROI-NJ: 6 PR firms from NJ named to PRNews’ Agency Elite Top 100 List

Six companies based in or that have a major presence in New Jersey have been recognized as a top public relations firm by to PRNEWS‘ 2020 Agency Elite Top 100 List.

The inaugural list recognized the nation’s most innovative communications, marketing and digital agencies of the past year. The roster was determined based on ranking criteria including results, creativity, reputation and thought leadership.

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How COVID-19 Has Experts Planning for Smarter Burbs, Burghs and Boroughs

It’s been over five months since COVID-19 kicked the work from home (WFH) trend into warp speed. That’s long enough to learn the pros (Zoom meetings in shorts!) and cons (too many Zoom meetings in general) of the WFH lifestyle.

It also got us thinking what living and working will be like in the post-COVID world. What long-term changes will be seen in our nation’s towns and cities and how will urban planners and local governments prep for them?

In Part One of our two-part dive into how urban planners and local governments are planning ahead for a post-COVID-19 world, we spoke with our client, Bob Bennett, principal and founder of B2 Civic Solutions, an international smart cities consultancy firm.

Bennett is the former chief innovation officer (CIO) of Kansas City, Mo., where he helped introduce key new technology – including devices to monitor and analyze transportation, traffic, weather and more. Bennett is also the chair of the Cities Today Institute, an organization dedicated to sustainable urban development.

Welcome to the Evolution

Raise your hand if you’re itching to get the kids out of the house and back to school.

Yeah, us too.

However, unless a vaccine is developed in the next 30 days, we may all be teaching the kiddos through 2021.

If that’s the case, a lot more broadband will be needed, so kids in lower-income neighborhoods can keep up with their peers. But we must move beyond the smart city approach to do it.

“Cities have been smart since the Romans built the aqueducts. This is more about city evolution,” said Bennett.

Bennett thinks municipalities may begin tying digital connectivity to transit routes with bus and/or train shelters wired for broadband.

He went on to say: “This can help achieve a social good because public transportation goes through all neighborhoods – not just wealthy ones.”

In fact, he foresees a day when broadband is treated as a utility.

“In the next two years, I think we are going to hear a lot of discussions regarding connectivity as a basic right,” he said.

Of course, that means a lot more infrastructure will be needed. Bennett says it’s possible utility companies may begin providing towns and cities with incentives for laying down the necessary infrastructure.

“When faced with the Great Depression, America responded with programs that built the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the first elements of the Interstate Highway System and other infrastructure that created a foundation for future growth,” said Bennett. “If we respond correctly to this crisis with the development of effective digital infrastructure, we may create the foundation for a strong future.”

A Glimpse Into the Future of the Heartland

Quick, what’s the first region you think of when you think of autonomous vehicles?

If you said North Central Texas, you deserve a Texas-sized prize!

With all the scuttlebutt regarding urbanites leaving the city behind because of viruses like COVID-19, smaller communities have to start planning ahead. This month, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) sent out an RFP for the roadside units and digital lines necessary for driverless automobiles. It’s part of a $118.9 billion effort to expand the region’s roadways. Passenger rail and bicycle-pedestrian facilities are also part of the region’s long-range transportation plan.

That is a region that is being very proactive,” Bennett said.

Another metro leading the charge is Pittsburgh, Pa., now an R&D testbed for driverless vehicles. Local institutions Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh recently received related grants for advanced research projects, and five tech and ride-sharing organizations, including Uber, are testing self-driving cars across Pittsburgh.

Backed by new research and modifications, autonomous vehicles can open up a whole new world of possibilities and change the way towns and cities are designed.

‘A Massive Shift’

While we still don’t know how long COVID-19 will have us cooped up, one thing is for sure: There is going to be a massive shift in the way urban planners, local governments and everyday folks live and work.

Check in next week for Part Two of our two-part series on how urban planners and local governments are planning for post-COVID America.

Did we miss anything? Have any insights you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Do’s and don’ts of DEI hiring: ‘Looking at how you’re restricting your candidate pool is a really important step’

How can company leaders authentically incorporate diversity and inclusion into their culture, mission and brand? Violet PR, a boutique, New Jersey-based public relations firm, will be exploring this topic as it conducts the webinar, “PR in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and Trump,” on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, from 4-5 p.m. EDT. The virtual session will be a Q&A format moderated by Violet PR President, April Mason, featuring creative director and diversity expert, Shena Patel.

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How to Authentically Communicate in the Age of Black Lives Matter

Violet PR explored the topic of diversity and inclusion in the workplace – with an added focus on predominantly white male-led industries during a recent webinar featuring creative director and diversity expert, Shena Patel.

The program also highlighted recent workplace challenges faced by the black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community and identified best organizational practices for achieving an authentically diverse and inclusive culture.

‘Environments Where Equality Thrives’

“It is my belief that diversity and inclusion must authentically exist at the core of an organization’s value system in order for true change to happen,” said Patel, who has built diverse creative teams for agencies as well as brands such as Chico’s and Bed Bath & Beyond. “We must make it a priority to have honest conversations about racial unrest and our own inherent biases, create environments in which equality thrives, and make heightened efforts to understand and shift the nuanced cultural and political climate we currently live in.”

Violet PR President and webinar co-host, April Mason, noted: “During these rapidly changing times, it’s critical that organizations recognize appropriate ways to communicate about diversity and inclusion, while seeking to become more diverse themselves. I was thrilled that Shena was able to talk openly with business leaders and communications experts.”

Defining Privilege, Unconscious Bias & More

Throughout the session, Patel explored recent data on the productivity of diverse corporate teams, defined “white privilege” and unconscious bias, and ran through workable “Do’s and Don’ts” for today’s companies. Patel and Mason also discussed recent measures taken by Fortune 500 companies and prominent organizations to address #BlackLivesMatter and ways to remain proactive – versus simply adjusting corporate rhetoric.

An example of a strong corporate approach to social justice, the hosts explained, was Target’s activities following the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020. The organization decided to commit $10 million to “ongoing resources for rebuilding efforts and advancing social justice.”

In the session, Patel also noted that – according to recent data – inclusive teams make better business decisions 87% of the time. Further, in defining unconscious bias, the creative director asked the audience to consider the following survey results: Job seekers with “white-sounding” names received an employer callback one out of 10 times. Applicants with names frequently associated with the African American community received a callback just one out of 15 times.

The disparity extends beyond employment to housing, personal finance and many other areas, Patel said.

Hiring Practices

One business area capable of reflecting organizational change rather quickly, the co-hosts noted, is in hiring practices. Patel suggested that 89% of today’s CEOs remain white. That said, diversity consultants can help build diverse, authentic teams for today’s companies. These professionals work closely with corporate/hiring teams to develop an unbiased point of view.

This will often involve branching out and searching beyond usual “networks” for qualified candidates, she said, while also noting that both applicants and hiring boards/advisory panels should be diverse.

Lastly, the webinar also discussed ways that business leaders can avoid sounding “tone deaf” when talking publicly about race, gender and privilege – citing recent interviews, media stories and social media examples. Takeaways include developing a strong, active and flexible stance on social justice and ways to effect change.

About the Panelists

Born in London to parents from India, Patel moved to New York City as a child. With a bachelor’s degree from McGill University in Montreal and a master’s degree from Goldsmiths, University of London, she has studied, traveled and lived around the world.

Violet PR’s Mason boasts over two decades of experience developing public relations campaigns for clients large and small. An expert in economic and real estate development, Mason seeks to represent underserved destinations and demographic sectors and actively partners with women- and minority-owned businesses. She was named one of New Jersey’s Top 50 Women in Business in 2020 by NJBIZ.