Company: Makovsky + Company, New York, NY
Company Description: Founded in 1979, Makovsky + Company is one of the leading independent global public relations, investor relations and branding consultancies, specializing in the financial, professional services, health, technology and business services sectors. Our tagline, the Power of Specialized Thinking underscores the deep knowledge and relevant relationships we bring to client engagements.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Public Relations Agency of the Year

Nomination Title: Makovsky + Company

Tell the story about what this nominated agency achieved since January 1 2011 (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:

By the end of 2011, Makovsky + Company notched two striking accomplishments. Dow Jones & Co. identified it as the third most in-the-news PR agency in the world. And the firm had been recognized three times, by three different organizations, as public relations agency of the year.

How does a $12 million public relations consultancy – against steep odds, competing in a marketplace of $100-million revenue, mega-media conglomerates – find itself in 2011 confirmed in this way as one of the most visible and respected public relations agencies in America?

•Focus: A commitment to the “power of specialized thinking” – the idea that excellence lies in concentrating on a few things and doing them well.
•Practice what you preach: No agency in America has walked the talk like Makovsky in proving that public relations can decisively drive growth.
•Strength at the core: The conviction that an organization is only as strong as its employees; one noted industry observer says ““decency and integrity have been the hallmarks of the agency’s management style since the early days of his firm.”

Here are the details.

Focus:

Makovsky continues to reinvent its specialization strategy and make it profitable. In 2011, the new branding + interactive practice surpassed the $1 million milestone in 2011. And each of its vertical specialties grew significantly.

Reputation and Visibility:

In an industry where the shoemaker’s children often go barefoot, Makovsky + Company has been committed to public relations in good times and bad. Ken Makovsky’s blog “My Three Cents” is now featured in Forbes.com, Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s Business Exchange and Bulldog Reporter. In 2011, Chief Executive Magazine named it one of the “Top 10 CEOs Blogs.” This year, the firm’s survey of Wall Street communications leaders was published in The Wall Street Journal and Time.

Employee Culture:

Once again, for the sixth year running, Makovsky was recognized as a “Best Place to Work” agency. Here’s why.

Transparency:

Makovsky provides unmatched financial disclosure to the entire agency each year.

Education:

Mak University offers industry-leading CE programs, featuring guest lecturers.

Recognition:

The MAK Awards and Young Leadership Award recognize the best campaigns of the year.

Community Service:

The Lifestyle Committee supported a wide range of causes in 2011, such as National Wear Red Day, Skip Lunch Fight Hunger, and MillionTreesNYC.

What did the agency produce in 2011?

•Makovsky closed nearly one out of every three sales leads. In other words, every time a prospect made contact with the agency, there was a greater than 30% chance they would ultimately become a client. This extraordinary success ratio may be unsurpassed in the industry.

•It notched several high-prestige wins in 2011, including major programs for two of the world’s five largest pharmaceutical companies, along with clients like Itron, Guardian Life, Credit Suisse, Cracker Barrel and Franklin Institute, among others.

•Client retention was 80%, striking in a turbulent economy.

•Staff retention was 95%, well above industry averages.

•Ninety percent of our clients rated us “good” to “exceptional” in six metrics that define success, including overall performance, value for budget and creativity.

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Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this agency:

Ken Makovsky founded Makovsky + Company in 1979. It's been named “PR Agency of the Year,” “Multispecialist Agency of the Year,” “Midsize PR Agency of the Year” and “Best Place to Work.” Winner of the prestigious John Hill Award, Ken won “Communications Professional of the Year” and “Public Relations Agency Professional of the Year” last year, and has won “PR Blogger of the Year” the past two years.

Ken contributes intellectual capital to the industry in his blog and in speeches, seminars and interviews and donates to human rights, higher education and development causes. In addition to pioneering the concept of specialization, Ken introduced the industry’s first quality program, cofounded the Council of PR Firms and is Trustee and Treasurer of the Institute for PR.