Nyhus Communications
Company: Nyhus Communications
Company Description: Headquartered in Seattle, Nyhus Communications is a smart, creative and connected strategic communications firm. Nyhus provides global clients with strategic communications advice, candid counsel and deep business acumen. Led by world class communications professionals, the Nyhus team prides themselves on passion, integrity and a result-oriented approach.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive – Service Businesses – up to 100 Employees
Nomination Title: Sally Poliak, Chief Operating Officer
Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated executive during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):
As COO, Sally has led Nyhus to its third year of double-digit growth and client
diversification. While other firms have shrunk in the recession, Poliak’s
innovative approach to business development, product definition and
client-focused service resulted in a combined revenue increase of 22 percent and
Nyhus being named one of the top 100 fastest growing private companies in
Washington state. Most recently, Poliak championed the opening of the second
Nyhus office in Washington, D.C. This expansion gives Nyhus an East Coast
presence and supports a growing number of clients.
Adversity has been her inspiration. At age 41, Sally underwent a routine medical
test with life-changing implications. Her heart stopped. After many attempts to
revive her, doctors installed a pacemaker. Armed with a new outlook on life,
Sally has actively worked to improve the lives of others over the past nine
years. She spearheads Nyhus’ community contributions and invests her personal
time in charitable causes and mentoring.
Facing her mortality has changed the way Sally drives business strategy and
growth not just for Nyhus, but the Seattle economy. She is leading the formation
of a new regional initiative – Global Health Nexus. Its mission is building the
global health sector to create jobs locally and health solutions globally. She
has dedicated hundreds of hours and led recruitment of more than 100 partners in
global health, life sciences and business. Additionally, as Vice Chair of the
Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, Sally is redeveloping its
strategic plan to enhance the region's focus on trade and exports.
In 2010, Sally’s team beat out larger firms to win a number of campaigns for
leading international brands including American Express, NTT America and Wine
Australia. She successfully positioned Nyhus as the official West Coast
communications partner of the world-renowned Global Business Coalition and lead
GBC’s West Coast growth.
Recent awards include:
• PR News Nonprofit Award – Finalist, Corporate/Nonprofit Partnership with
American Express
• Stevie Awards - Sally Poliak, Finalist, Best Woman Executive: 2009
• 2009 Mayor’s Small Business Award
• Inc. Magazine - 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies: 2009 and 2010
• Seattle Business Magazine - 100 Best Small Companies: 2009 and 2010
• Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) - Top Corporate Philanthropist: 2010
• PSBJ - 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies: 2010
• O’Dwyer’s Directory of PR Firms - No. 40 Healthcare and Medical agency, No. 53
Technology agency and No. 71 top independent PR firm nationwide: 2010
Before Nyhus, Sally managed international marketing and public affairs teams at
Microsoft for 10 years and led the company’s Global Leaders’ Forum, a series of
international policy events for ministers and heads of state. She also operated
her own consulting business, and worked her way through college at a fish
cannery in a remote corner of Alaska.
Sally serves on the board of Trade Development Alliance, the British American
Business Council, the Women’s Bioethics Project and the Photographic Center
Northwest. She has also served as political analyst for NPR’s Seattle affiliate
KUOW.
List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:
• Nyhus Communications web site: http://www.nyhus.com
• Bellevue Business Journal: Nyhus Communications Named One of Washington
State’s 100 Best Small Companies to Work For; One of Inc. Magazine’s
Fastest-Growing Private Companies
• Photo Center NW Board of Trustees - http://pcnw.org/pcnw/staff-board/
• http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/02/02/smallb1.html
• 2009 Finalist for Best Executive – Service Businesses - Up to 100 Employees -
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
/women/2009-honorees
Provide a brief biography of the nominated executive (up to 100 words):
Sally is chief operating officer at Nyhus, leading day-to-day operations of the
business and providing high-level strategic counsel to clients. A seasoned
professional, Sally has more than 20 years of experience building and managing
teams and developing strategic, results-driven marketing and public affairs
programs. Prior to Nyhus, Sally owned a consulting business advising clients
including the Women’s Bioethics Project and newly elected Port Commissioner Bill
Bryant. Before Nyhus, Sally spent 10 years at Microsoft providing public affairs
and marketing leadership. She ran the Government Leaders Forum program, a series
of policy events for heads of state and ministers from around the world.