announcements Archives

Cooksey Recognized by PRSA Dallas as 2024 Small Agency of the Year

DALLAS – Nov. 22, 2024 –

North Texas-based strategic communications firm Cooksey Communications has been recognized as the 2024 Small Agency of the Year in the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Dallas chapter’s prestigious, annual Pegasus Awards competition. This honor from the local chapter of the PR industry’s leading professional organization recognizes Cooksey for a variety of major achievements and milestones over the past year, coinciding with the agency’s 30^th anniversary.

“We’re deeply honored to be named the Small Agency of the Year, as PRSA’s Pegasus Awards program has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the regional PR profession for decades,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey. “This award is a testament to our leadership team’s investment in the success of staff and clients, our agency-wide commitment to the highest standards of integrity and quality, and our collaborative, supportive work environment. I can’t think of a better way to cap off our year-long celebration of Cooksey’s 30^th anniversary.”

“We’re so proud of our team and the hard work they’ve put in to earn this highly esteemed recognition from our professional peers,” said Jason Meyer, president of Cooksey. “Looking forward to 2025, we’re excited to keep building on the strong foundation that has been laid through these recent efforts, on top of the reputation for excellence that our agency has established over the past three decades.”

Cooksey’s significant accomplishments in 2023-24 that led to this recognition included:

The 2024 launch of a new website, visual brand identity and social media campaign as part of the agency’s year-long 30th anniversary celebration.
Agencywide adoption of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework, aligning the entire staff around a shared vision and business plan, including newly defined Core Values; Core Focus; 10-, 3- and 1-Year Targets; a Marketing Strategy; and Quarterly Tactics. Agency owners present quarterly, in-person reports to all staff on progress towards the annual goals.
Achievement of record revenues in 2023 – $2.5 million, up nearly 9% year over year – facilitated through prominent, new client engagements in each of Cooksey’s core practice groups: Professional Services; Public Sector; Real Estate & Development; and Sustainability.
Headcount growth in key areas, including new hires for the agency’s Creative Department, Finance & Administration Department and Public Sector Practice Group in 2024, plus the planned addition of a new Professional Services Practice Group Leader by year’s end.
Development of enhanced internal training programs for all staff, including a series of engaging “Lunch & Learn” workshops featuring internal speakers and guest presenters.
Workplace and employee experience enhancements, including 100% staff participation in the Dallas Business Journal’s 2024 Best Places to Work survey, in which the agency scored highly, including perfect scores for “Team Dynamic” and “Trust in Leadership.” The agency also engaged its first-ever PEO this year to unify payroll, PTO, benefits, insurance, HR consulting and 401(k) administration in one sophisticated, easier-to-use platform.
Achievement of countless, prominent client successes as evidenced not only by strong client retention, growth and satisfaction metrics in 2023-24, but also by high-profile media placements, powerful strategic communications plans, impactful market entry programs, resonant community engagement initiatives, award-winning creative design projects and more.

In addition to being named 2024 Small Agency of the Year, Cooksey was also honored by PRSA Dallas as a 2024 Pegasus Awards finalist in the Projects category for its media relations work on behalf of client HistoryMaker Homes – including placement of nearly 2,500 stories across the U.S. featuring HistoryMaker’s successful efforts to build a new home for Fort Worth’s Dr. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”

About Cooksey Communications

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2024, Cooksey Communications is a Texas-based strategic communications firm with essential expertise in four core practice areas: (1) Professional Services clients such as legal and financial services firms, the A/E/C sector, and other B2B and B2G service providers; (2) Public Sector clients such as governmental entities, educational institutions and infrastructure-related groups; (3) Real Estate & Development clients such as real estate firms and economic development agencies; and (4) Sustainability initiatives for any company or entity interested in enhancing competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing world. Cooksey was recognized by the PRSA Dallas Pegasus Awards as 2024 Small Agency of the Year. For more information, visit www.CookseyPR.com.

Cooksey Promotes Real Estate & Development Practice Leader Mary Kate Jeffries to Senior Vice President

DALLAS – Nov. 20, 2024 –

Cooksey Communications, a leading North-Texas based strategic communications firm, has promoted Mary Kate Jeffries to senior vice president. The promotion recognizes Jeffries’ more than two decades of public relations industry leadership, as well as her vital contributions to the agency, which was recently named PRSA Dallas’ Small Agency of the Year in the 2024 Pegasus Awards competition.

In this new capacity, Jeffries will continue to lead the agency’s outstanding Real Estate & Development Practice, which serves some of Texas’ most influential real estate companies and organizations, including Hillwood, The Real Estate Council (TREC) and VanTrust Real Estate. The group also works with leading economic development entities such as the Irving Economic Development Partnership and the Anna Community Development Corporation. Jeffries also manages Cooksey’s ongoing work with Credit Union of Texas and Grapevine-based nonprofit The Gatehouse.

As senior vice president, Jeffries will play a key role in Cooksey’s thought leadership and business development efforts, internal initiatives that reinforce client service standards and processes, and staff development programs that ensure mastery of vital strategic communications skills. Jeffries also leads Cooksey’s Culture Committee, which plays a critical part in making the agency a great place to work.

“Mary Kate’s ability to provide clients consistently exceptional service, expert counsel and impactful results has been instrumental in growing our Real Estate & Development Practice and modeling what great account management looks like,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey Communications. “This well-deserved promotion recognizes the pivotal role that she will continue to play in the success of our agency moving forward, which will be rooted in a sustained focus on our core strategic communications expertise and a purposefully positive, team-oriented culture.”

Jeffries joined Cooksey in December 2020 as an account manager and has been leading the agency’s Real Estate & Development Practice over the last two years. Outside of Cooksey, she is very involved in professional leadership and community involvement activities, including her current participation in the Leadership North Texas Class 16 and her recent service on the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Dallas chapter board of directors.

Jeffries also serves on the East Dallas Boys & Girls Club Advisory board of directors, as a volunteer with the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden PR & Advertising Committee and as a sustaining member of the Junior League of Dallas. She previously served as a board member for the Dallas Historical Society and graduated from the T. Boone Pickens Leadership Institute.

About Cooksey Communications

Cooksey Secures Three dotCOMM Awards Honoring Digital Advertising and Marketing Achievements

DALLAS – Aug. 26, 2024 –

North Texas-based strategic communications firm Cooksey Communications recently received three 2024 dotCOMM Awards, an international competition that honors the industry’s best web and digital work. This is the seventh straight year that Cooksey has earned recognition in the dotCOMM Awards program.

The three awards for 2024, including one Platinum, one Gold and one Honorable Mention, showcase Cooksey’s diverse and robust experience in digital public relations and content marketing. The award-winning entries were as follows:

PLATINUM

Article or News Placement (Earned Media) – HistoryMaker Homes: Cooksey secured Associated Press (AP) coverage of the wall-raising ceremony for national civil rights activist, Dr. Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” and her new Fort Worth home. The article and video feature Dr. Lee’s recollection of a racist mob forcing her and her family out of their home nearly 85 years ago when she was just 12 years old and highlight the partners involved in gifting Dr. Lee a new home on that same lot, including Cooksey client HistoryMaker Homes. The AP story alone resulted in nearly 200 pieces of print, digital and broadcast media coverage across the nation.

GOLD

Landing Page (Website Element) – The Gatehouse: Cooksey created a website landing page for The Gatehouse, a nonprofit dedicated to helping single women and mothers in the DFW area remove barriers and other hardships by providing them with resources for permanent, positive change. The

HONORABLE MENTION

Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy (CSR) & Content Development – American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX): Cooksey developed a CSR strategy and related content for ANBTX’s ambitious North Texas community impact efforts. The webpage, which features solutions addressing financial education, affordable housing and charitable giving, also includes recognition of the bank’s nonprofit partners in the community, as well as video and photos of bank employees taking action to support the community.

The dotCOMM Awards program is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. This international organization oversees awards and recognition programs and honors outstanding achievement and service to the profession.

Typically, about 13% of dotCOMM entries submitted from throughout the United States, Canada and many other countries win Platinum, the top award and around 18% win the Gold Award. Approximately 9% are Honorable Mention winners.

About Cooksey Communications

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, Cooksey Communications is a Texas-based strategic communications firm with essential expertise in four core practice areas: (1) Professional Services clients such as legal and financial services firms, the A/E/C sector, and other B2B and B2G service providers; (2) Public Sector clients such as governmental entities, educational institutions and infrastructure-related groups; (3) Real Estate & Development clients such as real estate firms and economic development agencies; and (4) Sustainability initiatives for any company or entity interested in enhancing competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing world. For more information, visit www.CookseyPR.com.

Cooksey Promotes Collin Yoxall to Account Supervisor in Public Sector Practice

DALLAS – Aug. 21, 2024 –

Collin Yoxall has been promoted to account supervisor in the Public Sector Practice Group at Cooksey Communications, a leading, North-Texas based strategic communications firm. Since joining the firm in September 2022 as a senior account executive, Yoxall has worked to evaluate communication structures and practices, develop and execute media relations strategies, provide vital crisis communications counsel, and facilitate stakeholder engagement on behalf of agency clients such as the City of Richardson, Irving Economic Development Partnership, Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and the UNT System.

“Collin’s outstanding organizational habits and extensive knowledge of public sector communications and engagement best practices are invaluable to our clients,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey. “He’s demonstrated significant growth over the last two years at Cooksey, while also drawing on his previous public education communications and public affairs experience, and I’m excited to see his development continue in this new, expanded role..”

Yoxall’s professional career started in politics, where his campaign research and communications work spanned local, state and federal campaigns. He has also worked in the communications and marketing departments of two public, higher education institutions: The University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University (TCU).

Yoxall earned a master’s degree in strategic communications from TCU while working as a part-time employee for Cooksey in 2019-20. Yoxall previously completed his bachelor’s degree at TCU, where he majored in political science with an international relations emphasis.

About Cooksey Communications

Cooksey Promotes Regan Welch to Account Executive

DALLAS – July 25, 2024 –

Cooksey Communications, a leading, North-Texas based strategic communications firm, recently promoted Regan Welch to account executive. She has worked with key clients in Cooksey’s distinguished Professional Services, Real Estate & Development and Public Sector practice groups including Weil, Hillwood, VanTrust and the Irving Economic Development Partnership, among others.

“Regan’s exceptional media relations and strategic communications skills combined with her deep understanding of our clients’ needs is a prime example of our team’s commitment to excellence,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey. “Over the past two years, Regan’s contributions and positive spirit have significantly enhanced our agency’s success. I’m confident she will excel in this new, advanced role and help us continue delivering stellar client service along with expertise-informed counsel for the region’s leading businesses and organizations.”

Welch joined Cooksey in June 2022 as an assistant account executive. She graduated from Texas Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and a minor in business.

About Cooksey Communications

Outstanding Writing and Design Earns Cooksey Seven Awards in the Annual Hermes International Creative Competition

DALLAS – June 3, 2024 –

In recognition of its outstanding work in the industry, Cooksey recently received two Platinum honors, and two Golds and three Honorable Mentions in the 2024 Hermes Creative Awards, one of the oldest and largest creative competitions in the world. These awards highlight Cooksey’s expertise in advertising, writing, media relations and video production.

PLATINUM

Newspaper Placement (Strategic Campaigns/Media Relations) – The Gatehouse: Cooksey placed an article in The Dallas Morning News for The Gatehouse, a nonprofit that helps North Texas single moms with education, housing and employment opportunities. The article highlights the organization’s recently launched Education Track, which focuses on empowering goal-oriented single moms to overcome temporary hardships and complete college-level schooling in high-demand career fields.
Video (Electronic Media/Social Media/Interactive Media) – Town of Sunnyvale: Cooksey was engaged by the Town of Sunnyvale to produce the “Sunnyvale State of Town 2023” video, showcasing the Town’s 2023 accomplishments and 2024 priority projects. The video features Sunnyvale Mayor Saji George discussing Sunnyvale’s strong economic growth, street improvements, traffic safety upgrades and residents’ heightened sense of community.

GOLD

Online Placement (Strategic Campaigns/Media Relations) – The Real Estate Council (TREC): Cooksey secured a Dallas Morning News article announcing East Dallas’ Mill City community winning a $1 million grant to revitalize one of the city’s underserved neighborhoods. The grant was awarded by TREC’s philanthropic arm, TREC Community Investors, as part of its second Dallas Catalyst Project.
Social Media (Electronic Media/Social Media/Interactive Media) – Irving Economic Development Partnership (EDP): The award recognized Cooksey’s development of content for Beth Bowman, president and CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and Irving Economic Development Partnership, as part of an ongoing social media marketing strategy for Bowman’s LinkedIn

HONORABLE MENTION

Print Media (Marketing Collateral/Branding) – City of Richardson: Cooksey designed sleek, updated code violation mailer inserts for the City of Richardson as a way to ensure continued maintenance of residential and commercial properties. The new inserts feature a collection of infographics that give an easy-to-understand overview of the City’s residential code enforcement standards and guidelines.
Digital Advertising (Electronic Media/Social Media/Interactive Media) – Anna Economic Development Corporation (EDC): Cooksey created a digital advertisement that targets healthcare professionals, emphasizing the community’s prime location between the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the rising tech hub of Sherman.
Strategic Campaigns (Public Relations/Communications) – Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition: Cooksey helped plan and run the 14^th annual Tarrant Transportation Summit, providing services that included media relations and audience engagement, event logistics coordination, event timeline management, and script, program and messaging development.

Of the more than 6,500 nomination entries submitted for this year’s Hermes Awards competition, only about 17% won Platinum, the top award, and only around 22% won the Gold Award. Approximately 11% earned Honorable Mention status.

The Hermes Creative Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, honor creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence.

About Cooksey Communications

Cooksey Adds Haaris Ahmed as Assistant Account Executive to Strengthen Agency’s Fast-Growing Public Sector Practice

DALLAS – April 26, 2024 –

North Texas-based strategic communications firm Cooksey Communications recently added Haaris Ahmed to its team as an assistant account executive in the agency’s distinguished Public Sector Practice. In his role, Ahmed will support Cooksey’s municipal and government clients with brand development, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement and efforts.

“Haaris’ deep understanding of municipal government in our region, combined with his multimedia communications background, augments and further strengthens our team’s capabilities, especially as it relates to our work in the public sector,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey Communications. “Our Public Sector Practice has experienced a lot of growth the past few years, adding key team members and expanding its service offerings for clients across Texas and nationwide. I’m confident Haaris will play a pivotal role in our continued success.”

Before Cooksey, Ahmed gained experience in the public sector as an intern for Congressman Colin Allred and in the City of Arlington, Texas’ Office of Communications. In these roles, he assisted with constituent or resident services and content generation for their respective newsletters and social media platforms.

Ahmed graduated with a bachelor’s degree in media arts as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Texas. Additionally, he obtained his master’s degree in strategic communication from Texas Christian University.

About Cooksey Communications

Cooksey Promotes Tenika Luke to Vice President, Finance and Administration

DALLAS – April 8, 2024 –

Cooksey Communications, a leading North-Texas based strategic communications firm, has promoted Tenika Luke to vice president, finance and administration.

In this capacity, she will continue to oversee the growing agency’s Finance & Administration Department, including having primary responsibility for all accounting and financial duties, human resources functions and administrative matters.

“Over the past year, Tenika’s financial skills and operational expertise have been instrumental in supporting our team and optimizing our core processes, making us better able to serve our clients,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey Communications. “This well-deserved promotion reflects the fact that, as our agency continues to grow and evolve, her leadership will be pivotal to our overall success and the realization of our clients’ critical strategic communications objectives.”

Luke joined Cooksey in February 2023 as the agency’s finance and administration manager.

About Cooksey Communications

Cooksey Adds Chrysti Wisdom as Office Administrator

DALLAS – March 25, 2024 –

North Texas-based strategic communications firm Cooksey Communications recently added Chrysti Wisdom as its office administrator. Wisdom supports Cooksey and its team members with all vital aspects of the firm’s day-to-day operations.

“Chrysti’s extensive background in office administration along with her track record of successful organizational management make her an ideal fit for this position,” said Colby Walton, chairman and CEO of Cooksey Communications. “Her skills and passion for supporting team members will be invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our clients at the highest level.”

Before joining Cooksey, Wisdom gained human resources and administrative expertise at various DFW organizations spanning numerous industries, including financial services, healthcare and real estate.

Wisdom graduated from The University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

About Cooksey Communications

Founded in 1994, Cooksey Communications is a Texas-based, strategic communications firm specializing in four core focus areas: (1) Professional Services clients such as law firms, financial services firms, A/E/C (architecture/engineering/construction) firms, and other B2B and B2G service providers; (2) Public Sector clients including governmental entities and educational institutions, as well as planning and advocacy groups dealing with critical infrastructure issues such as transportation, water supply, flooding and energy; (3) Real Estate & Development clients such as commercial and residential real estate firms and economic development agencies; and (4) Sustainability initiatives for any company or entity interested in enhancing competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing world. Cooksey has repeatedly has been named one of the top North Texas PR firms by the Dallas Business Journal, and its team members are trusted counselors to senior executives in the sectors and areas listed above. For more information, visit www.CookseyPR.com.

Cooksey Secures Two AVA Digital Awards for Exceptional Digital and Content Marketing Efforts

DALLAS – Feb. 13, 2024 –

Cooksey Communications recently received one Platinum Award and one Gold Award in the 2024 AVA Digital Awards, an international marketing communications competition. These prestigious awards highlight Cooksey’s continued success in providing clients with top-level digital marketing and creative services.

Out of the thousands of entries submitted, only 18% earned the top Platinum honors, while only about 22% received the Gold recognition.

Cooksey’s award-winning client projects were:

PLATINUM

Digital Marketing/Content Marketing (Blog) – The Real Estate Council (TREC): Cooksey helped craft a blog post, “Why Public Advocacy is Key to Commercial Real Estate Success,” that details why commercial real estate leaders should stay active in city and state legislative and policy efforts. The blog appeared in D CEO’s prominent Commercial Real Estate section last fall.

GOLD

Digital Marketing/Content Marketing (E-Annual Report) – Anna Economic Development Corporation (EDC): Cooksey designed and developed content for the city’s Economic and Community Development Corporations’ annual report, “Building Momentum.” The report outlines the city’s strategic plan goals, events attended and hosted, media coverage, awards and honors, major milestones and new business openings in 2023.

The AVA Digital Awards, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, honor outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media that are part of the evolution of digital communication. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

About Cooksey Communications

Founded in 1994, Cooksey Communications is a Texas-based, strategic communications firm specializing in four core focus areas: (1) Professional Services clients such as law firms, financial services firms, A/E/C (architecture/engineering/construction) firms, and other B2B and B2G service providers; (2) Public Sector clients including governmental entities and educational institutions, as well as planning and advocacy groups dealing with critical infrastructure issues such as transportation, water supply, flooding and energy; (3) Real Estate & Development clients such as commercial and residential real estate firms and economic development agencies; and (4) Sustainability initiatives for any company or entity interested in enhancing competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing world. Cooksey has repeatedly been named one of the top North Texas PR firms by the Dallas Business Journal, and its team members are trusted counselors to senior executives in the sectors and areas listed above. For more information, visit www.CookseyPR.com.