Company: Sunwest Communications Dallas, TX
Company Description: Sunwest Communications is a global strategic communications, marketing and public relations firm. We help our clients tell their stories, increase visibility and build trust to meet their goals. Sunwest develops tailored, strategic solutions that drive audience behavior for clients spanning industries and geography.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Public Relations Agency of the Year
 Nomination Title: Sunwest Communications
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated agency since January 1 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated agency: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Since opening in 1982, Sunwest Communications has provided impactful public relations services to clients in Dallas-Fort Worth, the state of Texas, across the U.S. and internationally. What sets us apart from others is how we approach the client-agency relationship. We work as extensions of our clients’ teams, closely helping them craft and hone their business reputation. Sunwest has cultivated media relations and provided counsel to elected officials, Fortune 500 companies and leaders across a spectrum of industries. Sunwest was purchased in 2017 by Crayton Webb, who started his tenure with a goal of being one of the five largest public relations firms in North Texas by achieving $5M in revenue in five years. The agency achieved that benchmark in 2021. That same year, Sunwest acquired Shiroma Communications, a strategic and beneficial move for both parties that married two of Dallas’ longest-standing PR firms. Throughout the pandemic, Sunwest seamlessly continued to deliver for our clients, guiding them through both crisis situations and the “new normal.” We’ve lasted 40 years in this business because we’ve been willing to adapt, listen and grow. Sunwest has evolved with the times to continually attract top talent and set the highest standard of service.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the agency's achievements since the beginning of 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 247 words used.
For the last three years in a row, Sunwest has been voted one of Dallas’ Best Places to Work by the Dallas Business Journal. This award is especially meaningful to us, as it is based solely on employee surveys & feedback. We also continue to rank at the very top of Dallas Business Journal’s Top PR Firms - this year earning the #2 spot for the highest local net revenue. We have also received recognition based on our creative work for clients and individual team members. In 2021 our agency’s revenue had nearly tripled over five years and we have added dozens of new clients to our roster. To meet this growing demand, we increased our office space in Dallas and added a new office in Fort Worth. We’ve also added 19 new employees to our team since January 2021. While we revel in the new successes and forward motion of our agency, we know it is entirely based on the foundation we’ve built. We operate from a Leader-Led Model, wherein senior team members drive every aspect of client work and are not just brought in to win pitches. Our senior leadership team has an average tenure of 12 years, and some of our clients have been with us for decades! In 2022 Sunwest launched LuncefordWEBB, a dedicated government relations practice. We are often considered the home-grown agency with national and global reach, with the right experience and team to serve businesses of all sizes and industries.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the agency's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 234 words used.
Despite the struggles of the pandemic, Sunwest has continued to push forward to success. According to a Gartner CMO Spend Survey, marketing budgets fell to their record lowest level in 2021. In the Dallas area specifically, two major firms have either shut their doors or split apart in the last few years. Client budgets have been slow to bounce back, and newsrooms continue to shrink. While we certainly do not revel in this news, it gives us perspective on how far we’ve come as a company and what we’ve been able to achieve on behalf of our clients. Not only does Sunwest serve a variety of industry verticals, but we also have a very diverse set of service offerings. This provides our clients with a thorough and holistic approach to their business needs while ensuring that our revenue stream remains diverse. Under our Leader-Led Model, clients benefit from the expertise of our senior team members day in and day out, particularly in our key verticals of Real Estate, Consumer Products & Direct Selling, Energy, and Nonprofit & Education. Our clients trust us to function as an extension of their team and know that another agency simply can’t bring the level of media relations or corporate communications strategies to the table that Sunwest can. We are unique in our culture, our level and breadth of expertise and our ability to adapt to this ever-changing industry.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Galleria Dallas – National media coverage at MarthaStewart.com, providing our client incredible visibility.
The Catholic Foundation Award Dinner – The Foundation has been a Sunwest client for 24 years. We facilitate nearly every aspect of their yearly Award Dinner – from programs, graphics and décor to the logistics of the event and run of show.
Snider Plaza Brand Development – Commercial Real Estate is one of our key agency verticals and we produced this brand identity from top to bottom, including logo design, website development, collateral materials and media relations.
Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages – We created and implemented a region-wide internal communications plan that recognized & celebrated the hard work of CCSWB’s team. Regional PRSA Pegasus Award Finalist.
Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages – Regional media coverage and high-yield visibility for in-market product updates.
Agency Recognitions – We recently celebrated our 40th Year in business, were proud to be ranked #2 in the region by the Dallas Business Journal for the highest local net revenue and be recognized as one of Dallas’ Best Places to Work for the third year in a row.
Employee Awards and Milestones – General Manager Maggie Holley was recognized as one of the Dallas PRSA 40 Under 40 in 2021. CEO and Owner, Crayton Webb, received the Dallas YMCA Theodore P. Beasley Distinguished Leadership Award. Crayton Webb and Michael Lunceford opened LuncefordWEBB in 2022 to serve as Sunwest’s dedicated Government Relations & Government Affairs practice.
Southwest Transplant Alliance – Regional Media Coverage and Executive Reputation Management.
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