Summer Newsletter: Updates from Ball Consulting Group
June 14, 2024 – What’s the latest news from Ball Consulting Group? Check out our summer newsletter by clicking here.
Ball Consulting Group Launches PR Practice Focused on Housing
May 28, 2024 – Ball Consulting Group, LLC, a strategic communications firm focused on health care, nonprofits, and education, as well as crisis planning, communications and management, is launching HousingLab, a new “hyperspecialization” dedicated to the creation of new housing and playing a part in overcoming the nationwide housing crisis.
In its 20 years, Ball Consulting Group has represented housing clients and worked on housing policy issues. The firm now seeks to increase its focus in this key area and to galvanize the efforts of disparate but allied organizations into a singular voice that can enable the development of new housing, defeat the paralysis of NIMBYism, and fight disinformation campaigns that kill too many worthy projects.
Through its HousingLab, the firm seeks to create and implement winning strategies and campaigns to overcome self-interested opposition to well-designed and appropriately scaled housing developments. It will provide a forum for the sharing of new innovations and ideas; create opportunities for collaboration; and deliver technical assistance on all facets of marketing communications to housing organizations.
“Ball Consulting Group has been an ally in the effort to get more housing built in our gateway cities and we look forward to seeing the ideas that emerge from HousingLab,” said Geoffrey Anatole, president of South Shore Property Management.
“As we cross the two-decade milestone, we want to take bold action to help solve a societal problem: We see far too many communities that have sought to inhibit the development of housing in the name of ‘preserving the fabric’ and other marginalizing explanations,” said David A. Ball, president and founder of Ball Consulting Group. “We have witnessed the pain of many working people and young people who can’t afford to rent a home, let alone own one. We strive to make a difference and help solve a problem while advancing the very aligned interests of our housing clients.”
The Ball Consulting Group team has strong subject matter expertise, having represented housing advocacy organizations, developers, architects, a home builder association and a leading graduate real estate development program. The firm will work to share best practices, cross-pollinate ideas among a diverse client set, and become a one-stop resource to the media and public on the topic of housing.
“As a nation, we have been under-building for decades and the effects have reached a profound point, one that is harming communities and inhibiting the American dream of homeownership,” Ball said. “Swift action is needed to meet the moment and we want to bring our communications resources to bear so that solutions can be developed and obstacles overcome.”
For more information about HousingLab, visit www.ballcg.com/housinglab.
Fall Newsletter: Updates from Ball Consulting Group
Nov. 20, 2023 – What’s happening at Ball Consulting Group? Check out our fall newsletter by clicking here.
Summer Newsletter: Updates from Ball Consulting Group
July 20, 2023 – What’s happening at Ball Consulting Group? Check out our summer newsletter by clicking here.
PR Account Executive – Come Grow With Us!
Ball Consulting Group, LLC is an award-winning strategic communications firm that was founded in 2004 and has built a national reputation in health care, nonprofits, education and crisis communications. We are seeking a Public Relations Account Executive with approximately three to five years of experience working in a PR or communications department setting or a PR agency.
The skills we are seeking include:
Exceedingly strong written and oral communications skills
Ability to develop media tools including news releases, op-eds, media advisories, and pitch letters
Ability to manage account details and to manage multiple accounts under tight, shifting deadlines
Record of accomplishment pitching story ideas to members of the media
Experience with social media strategy and implementation
Experience working with clients
Media relations
Responsibilities will include:
Managing account implementation according to the account plan
Research and list development
Development of comprehensive media relations tools referenced above
Assisting in the development of communications plans
Assisting in the preparation of client meetings, briefings and presentations
Draft, design and execute social media posts
Conducting phone and e-mail media pitching
Attend virtual and in-person client meetings
Key requirements and details:
Candidates must possess a B.A. or B.S. in communications, public relations, journalism, political science or public policy, or related field
Three to five years’ experience in a PR setting
PR agency experience (for some portion of the three to five years) will best position a candidate to be selected.
Office is in Newton, Mass., on several express and local bus routes and free garage parking is included if driving
Hybrid schedule is an option
Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and performance-based bonuses
Health insurance, dental insurance, 401(k) plan and competitive PTO
We are a boutique firm with extensive reach. We are proud of the leadership track that we have created to support team members as they grow into communications leaders. Diversity of viewpoint and lived experience makes us a better organization, one that prides itself on inclusivity. We recognize and value that employees have a life outside of work and strive to create balance for our team members.
For more information, send a letter of interest and a resume to David Ball, President, at david@ballcg.com.
Ball Featured in O’Dwyer’s 2023 Crisis Communications Issue
Jan. 20, 2023 – Ball Consulting Group is featured in the annual crisis communications issue of O’Dwyer’s, the top publication for public relations and marketing communications professionals.
The magazine published an opinion piece by President & Founder David Ball about how to handle a crisis situation when an employee’s action threatens the company’s reputation.
“We live in an age where information travels at the speed of light. In a single post, social media can make or break a person,” Ball writes. “It’s okay to lament this situation, but communicators must absolutely own it.”
Click here to read the article on O’Dwyer’s website. The full crisis communications issue can be found here.
N.Y. Times Quotes Ball on Southwest Airlines Crisis
Jan. 6, 2023 – Ball Consulting Group, LLC President David Ball was quoted in a recent New York Times story about Southwest Airlines’ operational nightmare that stranded travelers over the holidays.
“When you have the secretary of transportation going on network television and saying that your company is in a meltdown, that’s pretty much the definition of a crisis,” Ball told the Times, adding that the airline will need to rebuild their brand reputation over many years.
Please click here to read the full article.
Fall/Winter Newsletter: Updates from Ball Consulting Group
Dec. 15, 2022 – What’s happening at Ball Consulting Group? Check out our new hire, Michelle McKenzie, and the media coverage we’ve secured recently for our clients in our fall/winter newsletter by clicking here.
Michelle McKenzie Appointed Account Manager
Oct. 13, 2022 – Ball Consulting Group, LLC, a full-service, award-winning strategic communications firm, has announced the appointment of Michelle McKenzie as Account Manager. She will help lead the firm’s growing nonprofits and human services practice.
McKenzie is an experienced communications professional who has worked as a journalist and editor as well as in the fields of marketing and public relations. Prior to joining Ball Consulting Group, she served as the Communications and Business Development Specialist for the behavioral health nonprofit North Suffolk Mental Health Association, leading internal and external communications efforts.
As Communications and Public Policy Manager for the Providers’ Council, the largest human services trade association in New England, McKenzie was responsible for external communications including weekly newsletters, website content, a monthly newspaper, press releases and social media.
“Michelle brings a strong and varied public relations background to our firm, and her deep experience in the human services sector positions her perfectly to help lead and grow what is a rapidly expanding practice area for our firm,” said David A. Ball, president and founder of Ball Consulting Group. “Human services providers are facing immense workforce and reimbursement challenges and Michelle’s subject matter expertise allows her to get right to work telling that story.”
McKenzie began her career as a sports reporter for The Enterprise newspaper of Brockton, eventually becoming the Suburban Editor and directing coverage of 31 cities and towns south of Boston. She left in 2009 to pursue opportunities in public relations and marketing, specializing in the nonprofit sector.
McKenzie holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. She loves sports, rescue animals, books and craft beer.
Ball Consulting Group, located in Newton, on Boston’s western border, provides a broad array of communications services including public and media relations, marketing communications, and crisis planning and management and specializes in the health care, nonprofit and education sectors. For more information, visit www.ballcg.com.
Summer Newsletter: Updates from Ball Consulting Group
June 30, 2022 – What’s happening at Ball Consulting Group? Check out recent results for clients, our PR industry awards, and more in our summer newsletter by clicking here.