Company: Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group (CG), Charlotte, NC
Entry Submitted By: Kido Communications, LLC
Company Description: Founded in 2002, Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group is a management and technology consulting firm that delivers large-scale, complex technology solutions for the biggest names in the financial services industry. A privately held firm with a strong entrepreneurial spirit that drives its rapid growth. Charlotte Business Journal honors CG as one of the 50 fastest-growing private compan
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Communications Department of the Year

Nomination Title: Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group (CG) Communications Department

Tell the story about what this nominated department 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:

Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group’s communications team racked up some impressive achievements in 2011 — creating, from scratch, a strategic marketing communications program that supports and drives the company’s rapid growth. The team’s efforts aided in demand generation, helping to increase CG’s revenue 43% to $95 million. Additionally, they helped attract new talent, growing the employee base 78% from 450 to 800. Not bad, considering CG had never executed a formal marketing program before and the team comprises just two-and-a-half people. Here’s how they did it:

To support the company’s business strategy and rapid growth, the CG communications team invested in and evolved its brand image to spur new business and attract new employees. The team also knew that it had to evolve CG from old school email and print-centric communication vehicles to modern multi-media, social media, and web-based channels. With these goals in mind, the team launched a comprehensive marketing program with the following elements:

• Brand development and training

o Developed a new brand positioning and messaging platform, and attributes for communicating a distinctive CG brand voice
o Created and conducted brand training for new hires so employees can explain and embody CG’s unique attributes

• Recruiting: 

o Collaborated with the HR department to train them on CG’s new brand, and developed web and electronic recruiting materials that has helped increase employee headcount by 78%.

• Internal Communications

o Redesigned Inside CG, a high-touch, web-based internal communications channel that has become the go-to place for employee communications. Inside CG, which is accessible to CG’s 800 employees, has had approximately 27,300 page views and an average time on the site of nearly 6 minutes per visit in just 7 months (May through November).
o Produced a series of web-based videos with members of CG’s leadership team, which have been critical to keeping a dispersed workforce in-the-know.
o Earning high internal communications satisfaction ratings.

• Marketing materials

o Created foundational materials and stationery showcasing the new brand
o Revitalized the CG logo mark and brand identity to create a clean, crisp and modern type face and accurately portray the firm’s brand attributes and personality

• Public relations

o Launched a “Shock and Awe” Brand campaign that attracted 10 meetings with top press and analysts
o Won the firm’s 1st award: Charlotte Business Journal “Fast 50” Ranking

• Web marketing

o Relaunched the company’s external Web site, adding deep content on services, careers, community outreach, and clients; interactive employee profiles and case studies; and improved graphics and navigation
o Joined the social media conversation via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter

As 2011 comes to a close, the communications team is running a strategic marketing communications program that spans brand management; internal communications; media relations; analyst relations; awards; multimedia and social media; carlisleandgallagher.com; recruitment marketing; content development; and community outreach.

The team continues to grow with a new PR manager starting in January 2012 -- and exciting plans to enhance its marketing program via thought leadership, sponsorships, and events.

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Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of the nominated organization/department:

Shelley Callis is the Director of Marketing for Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group, a management and technology consulting firm that is one of the Top 15 fastest-growing private companies in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this capacity, Shelley leads CG’s strategic marketing communications program which spans brand management; internal communications; media relations; analyst relations; awards; multimedia and social media functions; Web marketing; recruitment marketing; content development; creative services; and community outreach. Shelley joined CG as Director of Operations and has served as a Regional Administrative Manager for Compuware Corporation. She holds a BA in Communications from James Madison University.