Cooksey Communications proudly ranked #11 on the Dallas Business Journal’s North Texas Public Relations Firms List. This year’s ranking also included this brief profile of Founder and CEO Gail Cooksey.
Ashley Sears has been promoted to senior account executive at Cooksey Communications, a North Texas based strategic communications firm. She joined the firm in January 2016 and serves clients such as the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, Perkins+Will, City of Richardson, Richardson Economic Development Partnership and multiple transportation entities.
Sears assists with developing client communication materials, day-to-day account team activities, building strategic plans, content development and overall client strategy.
“Ashley is a key player who has delivered great value to the company,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder of Cooksey Communications. “Over the last year, she has shown her true skill as a PR professional and this promotion recognizes her excellent work and commitment to both her team and her clients.”
Sears joined Cooksey as an account executive after serving as a communications specialist and spokesperson for Greyhound Lines, Inc. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a public relations concentration from the University of North Texas.
Cooksey Communications recently received three Platinum honors and two Gold honors in the 2016 MarCom Awards, an international creative competition.
The five awards highlight Cooksey’s diverse and successful experience in strategic communications, creative design, media relations, website development and more:
The MarCom Awards celebrate the outstanding work of individuals or companies involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. Platinum Awards are granted to those few entries exhibiting superior quality, creativity and resourcefulness. Gold awards are presented to those entries judged to exceed high standards of the industry norm.
MarCom is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious creative competitions in the world. MarCom is sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), a 22-year-old international organization consisting of several thousand creative professionals. As part of its mission, AMCP fosters and supports the efforts of creative professionals who contribute their unique talents to public service and community organizations. Over the past few years, AMCP has given over $200,000 in charitable contributions.
The Texas Education Agency designated Cooksey Communications a registered provider of continuing education for school board members Oct. 20. “Effective local leadership is essential if we are to achieve our goal of education excellence for all of our students,” says Ronald Rowell, Texas Education Agency senior director. “High quality training for school board members will help ensure that board members are well equipped to govern and oversee the management of local schools to achieve this goal. Thank you for your commitment to providing such training.”
Dallas/Fort Worth-based public relations firm Cooksey Communications has hired PR professional Randy E. Pruett as vice president and account manager. Pruett previously worked with Cooksey in 2002-2003 as a senior account manager. Prior to re-joining Cooksey Communications, Randy worked for Pierpont Communications for eight years, as well as various security software companies before Pierpont. Throughout his 30-year career, Pruett has established a reputation for generating creative communications strategies that produce solid results.
Pruett brings a deep level of expertise in marketing communications, public relations, project management, special events, crisis support, mergers/acquisitions, sales operations, brand management and writing. His keen understanding in applying each of his skills to successfully help business partners in the philanthropy, food and beverage, retail, technology, financial services and association management industries has resulted in national media placements that include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, The Guardian, CNN, PBS, NPR and MSNBC.
“Randy is a truly dynamic public relations professional who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enhance the Cooksey team,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder of Cooksey Communications. “He is such a pleasure to work with, and will play a key role in providing and implementing high quality strategic communication solutions for our clients.”
In addition to his public relations career, Pruett is a published author. His book, A Dream as Big as Texas, profiles the winners of the Miss Texas Pageant. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Miss Texas Scholarship Organization and the Public Relations Committee for the Dallas Arboretum.
A past president of the International Association of Business Communicators/Dallas, Pruett is a recipient of the organization’s “Dallas Communicator of the Year” award. He is also a four-time FEMA-certified crisis communications expert, and has earned the designations of Accredited Business Communicator and Certified Association Executive.
Pruett received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied journalism and political science.
Cooksey Communications once again has ranked in the Top 10 of the 2015 Top Public Relations Firms in North Texas as ranked by the Dallas Business Journal.
The ranking, which appeared in the August 5, 2016, issue of the Dallas Business Journal, ranks PR firms by total revenues for the year. With $2.2 million in revenues, Cooksey ranked 10th in the region.
Now in its 22nd year in business, Cooksey has become a fully integrated strategic communications firm, offering traditional PR services along with creative and digital services.
“We are very proud to continue to be ranked in the Top 10 of local PR firms,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder. “We have experienced consistent growth through the years, but have always stayed focused on servicing our loyal clients.”
Michelle Frith Hargis has been promoted to Vice President and Account Manager at Cooksey Communications, a North Texas based strategic communications firm. Michelle heads up Cooksey’s Austin area office in addition to working with clients in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Hargis originally joined Cooksey nine years ago, and rejoined the team last fall after working in Salt Lake City for several years.
“Michelle is well-deserving of this promotion as she expands our presence in the Austin area, while at the same time continuing to deliver superior results for our clients in the North Texas area,” said Gail Cooksey, president and founder of Cooksey Communications.
Hargis’ years of PR experience include a strong background in digital as well as traditional media relations. Her savvy skills include planning and implementing media relations strategies, establishing community partnerships and providing crisis communications consultation for a wide variety of clients. She has deep experience in the real estate and economic development sectors.
She earned her degree in public relations from Southern Methodist University. Hargis is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Austin Chapter and is involved with the Greater San Marcos Partnership. She also serves as a volunteer with the Waterleaf Falls Home Owners Association and the PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.
Dallas/Fort Worth-based public relations firm Cooksey Communications recently added Ashley Sears to its team as an account executive. Sears brings public relations experience with a strong background in traditional media relations.
“Ashley’s skills in media relations and social media nicely complement our integrated marketing solutions,” said Gail Cooksey, founder and president of Cooksey Communications. “We believe she will be a true asset to our team and to our clients.”
Prior to joining Cooksey, Sears served as a communications specialist and spokesperson for Greyhound Lines, Inc. In this role, she managed media relations, crisis communications and special events for the company, which serves more than 2,700 destinations across America. Her background also includes agency work with TruePoint Communications (formerly Nunez PR Group), HCK2 Partners and MM2 Public Relations. Sears has also worked with clients in the hospitality, restaurant, transportation, real estate, consumer, business-to-business and nonprofit sectors.
Sears earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a public relations concentration from the University of North Texas.
Cooksey Communications has been engaged by The Real Estate Council (TREC) to serve as its public relations partner. The Cooksey team will work with TREC to develop and execute communications strategies designed to initiate discussions about the real estate issues and projects impacting the North Texas area, as well as drive membership and elevate awareness of the organization’s staff, members and programs.
As the largest and most influential organization of its kind in Texas, TREC represents more than 1,700 individual members and 500 companies, which make up 95 percent of the commercial real estate businesses in North Texas. Because commercial real estate is a vital driver of the Dallas-Fort Worth economy, producing approximately 1/6 of the area’s economic output, TREC wields strong influence in the region.
Cooksey Communications recently received three Platinum honors and three Gold honors in the 2015 MarCom Awards, recognizing the firm’s extraordinary accomplishments in the categories of strategic planning, marketing materials, feature and press release writing and website development.
The six awards listed below highlight Cooksey’s diverse, successful experience in going beyond traditional public relations, and excelling in the strategic communications and proactive marketing of its clients:
City of Lewisville, Platinum Award, Communications Plan
The City of Lewisville engaged Cooksey to assess its existing communications materials and processes, and then develop key objectives and recommendations based on the audit. The final plan included internal and external communications strategies to effectively engage residents, businesses, employees and visitors.
Bell Helicopter Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, Platinum Award, Promotion/Marketing Materials, Air Show 25th Anniversary Branding
In celebration of the Bell Helicopter Fort Worth Alliance Air Show’s 25th anniversary, Cooksey Communications worked with event organizers to refresh the brand image. Marketing pieces invoked a vintage feel by featuring classic planes on an illustrated sky, previous event posters and a special patch-like logo to represent the 2015 show.
Vogel Alcove, Platinum Award, Event, Day 1 Dallas Website
Cooksey partnered with Vogel Alcove, a local nonprofit daycare center and pre-school for homeless children, to create a website for Day 1 Dallas, the first New Year’s Day family fair in North Texas. The mobile responsive site enables users to find information about the event and its sponsors, as well as to purchase tickets for the fair and related concerts. The website also serves as a volunteer recruitment tool.
Freese and Nichols, Gold Award, Feature Article, American Public Works Association (APWA) Reporter
On behalf of Freese and Nichols, a leading engineering and architecture firm, Cooksey developed a feature guest article for the American Public Works Association Reporter magazine. The article spotlighted the firm’s $14.5 million redesign and improvement of Merritt Road in Rowlett, Texas.
Hillwood Properties, Gold Award, News Release, Facebook Data Processing Center Groundbreaking
In partnership with Hillwood Properties, Cooksey developed and distributed a press release announcing the groundbreaking of a new Facebook data processing center located at the 18,000-acre AllianceTexas development in north Fort Worth. The release provided details about Facebook’s plans to construct three of the world’s most environmentally friendly buildings, totaling 250,000 square feet apiece, that will enable the company to handle its increasing web traffic.
Perot Development Company, Gold Award, Business to Business, Perot Development Website
Cooksey worked with Perot Development Company, an industrial developer located in Dallas, Texas, to create a completely new look for its company website. In addition to being functional on all platforms, the website showcases the Perot Development Company’s real estate projects, abilities and services.
The MarCom Awards is an international creative competition celebrating the outstanding work of any individual or company involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. Platinum Awards are granted to those few entries exhibiting superior quality, creativity and resourcefulness. Gold awards are presented to those entries judged to exceed high standards of the industry norm.