National recognition for a local leader

Developing a local reputation takes hard work, community involvement, and focus on quality and results. For 21 years, DAVIES has worked to develop a reputation as the local agency of choice for public relations, public affairs and marketing.

This year, DAVIES was selected by a national industry trade publication, The Holmes Report, as the "2003 Boutique PR Agency of the Year." How did a Santa Barbara-based firm win this national recognition? How did DAVIES become the 49th largest PR agency in the nation?

One simple phrase: focusing on the client.

"We're just focused on doing good work and helping our clients achieve their goals," said John Davies, founder and chief executive officer. "The only way we can be successful is if our clients are successful — and I guess that's the reason we've been recognized with this national honor."

Delivering Quality and Results: Every Day for Every Client

According to DAVIES employees, a constant, fanatical focus on quality and results is at the root of every DAVIES success. DAVIES has built practice groups in four industries — Real Estate, Healthcare, Nonprofit Organizations, and Energy & Natural Resources — in addition to maintaining the firm's long-standing expertise in marketing for organizations in Santa Barbara County.

"Over the past couple of years, DAVIES has expanded considerably — most notably into healthcare — and now boasts a balanced portfolio of business," said The Holmes Report in announcing the selection of the agency as 2003 Boutique PR Agency of the Year. "The firm has been taking on more national assignments as its reputation grows outside Southern California."

Those in the PR industry recognize that when most firms reach the size of DAVIES, principals are no longer working directly with clients and practicing their craft. They are focused on business development or operations (or their golf game). At DAVIES, principals have opted to spend all of their time focused on clients. According to industry watchers, this is a refreshing difference from other agencies.

"When you have 10 or 20 years of experience in an industry, it seems a real waste for you to go upstairs and become a financial or operations person," said Davies. "My passion is changing perception and getting things done for clients. That's all I do, every day."

Brandon Edwards, principal and chief operating officer at DAVIES, agrees with PR industry watchers. "One of the reasons I joined DAVIES was the firm's commitment to senior-level involvement in every account. The time spent in honing a process — creating messages, tailored strategies and focusing on each client's unique business or organizational challenges — ensures that the investment each client makes can be maximized."

According to industry experts, Davies and Edwards have proven themselves as national industry leaders in PR and marketing. John Davies is one of the top-rated speakers at the yearly national Congressional Quarterly/C&E seminars and the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. Edwards recently judged the SABRE Awards, a national awards program for the PR industry. He also led a national PRSA seminar on crisis communication, where he was joined by the global director of issue management for Nike.

From the New York Times to the Santa Barbara News-Press

National assignments have helped build the DAVIES brand outside Santa Barbara County, but the agency keeps a balance by spending considerable time working with local clients — businesses, schools, hospitals and nonprofit organizations.

Early this year, DAVIES placed more than 300 stories on an international copyright infringement lawsuit, including stories in the New York Times and on Good Morning America. At the same time, DAVIES worked with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and helped generate publicity for the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf to raise the final $2 million needed to finish the project.

DAVIES recently strengthened its national reputation in the healthcare industry after winning two major battles with insurance companies for St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. Yet, the agency's work for the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation's capital campaign creates even more pleasure because they're the agency's neighbor to the north.

Although DAVIES secured public support for the entitlement of the 1,050 home Marina Heights project in Monterey County, the agency gets as much satisfaction from helping the Mental Health Association develop messages and create materials to raise the necessary funds for its "Building Hope" capital campaign.

Retiring from the Life of Political Campaigns

Throughout the past year, DAVIES landed a number of new clients, including: Home Depot; Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System; Isolite Systems; Maravilla; Dunmore Homes; and dozens of others. But nothing generated more headlines for the agency than Brooks Firestone's campaign for Third District Supervisor.

Even though most local political insiders were convinced that Davies and Edwards had given up campaigns six years ago to focus on corporate and nonprofit business — the two decided to "come out of retirement" to help good friend Brooks Firestone. Davies and Edwards describe Brooks as "someone we love and one of the best quality people we've ever met." After guiding Firestone to a March victory with 54 percent of the vote in a four-way race, DAVIES is back to retirement and out of the campaign game.

You Can't Grow 30% Every Year — Or Can You?

DAVIES celebrated its 21st birthday in 2004 with a major announcement. After months of discussion and planning, DAVIES announced the strategic acquisition of a nationally respected creative public relations firm, The Blaze Company. With 11 employees in Los Angeles, The Blaze Company has developed a hard-earned reputation for creativity, quality and results. This move instantly places DAVIES number three on the list of Southern California PR firms, and in the top 30 nationally.

Call it fanaticism, dedication or focus, DAVIES will no doubt continue to focus solely on their clients needs — whether their clients are on the Central Coast or the East Coast — for another 21 years.