Makovsky + Company

Company: Makovsky + Company, New York, NY
Company Description: Makovsky + Company is one of the nation’s leading independent global public relations, investor relations and branding consultancies, specializing in integrated communications programs for the financial, professional services, health, technology and business services sectors.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Communications, Investor Relations, or PR Executive of the Year

Nomination Title: Kenneth D. Makovsky, President and CEO

1. Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2009 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Entrepreneur, iconoclast and visionary, Ken Makovsky celebrated the 30th
anniversary of the founding of his firm by creating new opportunities for the
agency and finding new ways to serve his industry and community:

• In 1979, when generalists ruled the roost, Ken pioneered the concept of
specialization — “The Power of Specialized Thinking” — which has become the
firm’s driver of growth and reputation for over three decades.

In 2009, he guided to fruition the firm’s branding + interactive services
practice. (It now bills a million dollars annually.) Ken also launched a
research and measurement division to complement the existing practices and
further add to the firm’s bench strength. A research luminary, Frank Ovaitt,
professor of applied research at The George Washington University Graduate
School of Political Management and CEO Emeritus of Institute for Public
Relations, has joined the firm.

• Recognizing the tremendous market potential of India (one of the fast-
growing BRIC economies, which also include Brazil, Russia and China), Ken
formed a strategic alliance with Concept Communication Ltd — India’s leading
independent communications agency — to help Indian multinational companies and
US-based companies entering India to develop cohesive communications programs
in both countries. As part of the alliance, Concept will be establishing a
dedicated “India Desk” in Makovsky’s New York office.

• Co-founded by Ken in 1983, IPREX is the second-largest global
corporation of independent public relations agencies. To mark its 25th year,
Ken planned and hosted its annual meeting in New York: “Multinational Issues in
a Multimedia World.” It included a seminar ( “The Great Reputation Crisis –
and How to Respond”) moderated by John Byrne, Executive Editor of
BusinessWeek , featuring a panel of top corporate communications professionals
from Swiss Re, Viacom, MasterCard, Pfizer, Bausch & Lomb, Kodak and General
Electric. The meeting also included a Q&A session on the changing landscape of
news coverage with four Bloomberg editors and a seminar by Ellen West, Google’s
Director of Global Communications, on “Trends from the Digital Edge.”

• In 2009, Ken produced more than 100 twice weekly updates to his “My
Three Cents” blog showcasing his unique, thoughtful, sometimes provocative,
always interesting POV on a wide range of topics in five key categories:
breaking news, leadership issues, sector-specific trends and issues, tools and
techniques of marketing and PR advice to professionals. The best-read of
Bulldog Reporter’s Daily ‘Dog Blogs, “My Three Cents” led to winning the Gold
Bulldog Award as “PR Blogger of the Year,” along with a host of invitations to
share intellectual capital in other important venues, and encouraged several
Makovsky executives to join the blogosphere.

• Ken also found time to serve as founder, sponsor and/or member of a
number of other important organizations, including:

? Washington University Arts & Sciences National Council and founder of
the “Minnie Makovsky Scholarship in Music”
? Columbia Journalism School’s First Amendment Breakfast Series
? Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communications - Advisory
Committee for Independent Study Degree
? Arthur W. Page Society - Advisory Panel
? Institute for Public Relations - Trustee and Treasurer
? Council of Public Relations Firms - Board of Directors
? Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce - Board Member
? The American Jewish Committee - Chapter Association Task Force and
National Board of Governors

In an extraordinarily challenging economy — in which nearly two-thirds of PR
firms reported lower revenues and almost half were down 20% or more, according
to StevensGouldPincus — Ken’s steady hand at the till piloted his firm to its
new position as one of the top ten independent PR agencies in the U.S., with a
blue chip client roster and a precedent-shattering 10 prestigious awards,
including, for Ken himself, Bulldog Reporter’s “Blogger of the Year” award,
and for his agency, a Stevie as “PR Agency of the Year,” “Multispecialist
Agency of the Year” from The Holmes Report , the Silver Bulldog Award
for “Midsize PR Agency of the Year,” one of “America’s Fastest Growing
Companies” by Inc. Magazine and recognition by The Holmes Report as a “Best
Place to Work” agency…again, for the sixth year running.

2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:

Ken Makovsky founded Makovsky + Company in 1979. Today, it is one of the
nation’s top ten independent PR firms, honored as “PR Agency of the
Year,” “Multispecialist Agency of the Year,” “Midsize PR Agency of the Year”
and “Best Place to Work.” A “PR All-Star” and the John W. Hill Award winner,
Ken was named “PR Blogger of the Year” in 2009.

Ken contributes intellectual capital to the industry in his blog and in
speeches, seminars and interviews and donates time and talent to a variety of
human rights, higher education and economic development causes. In addition to
pioneering the concept of specialization, Ken created the industry’s first
quality program and cofounded IPREX, the Council of Public Relations Firms and
the Institute for Public Relations.

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