Practice Area: sustainability

 

Federal Home Loan Bank | professional services

Reporting ESG Performance and Promoting Financial Inclusion in Multiple Markets

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Dallas, one of 11 banks within the Federal Home Loan Bank System, serves approximately 800 members and associated institutions across a five-state district. FHLB of Dallas first came to Cooksey in 2017 for media relations to support its financial products and services, including loans to members and grant programs for affordable housing and economic development. In 2023, the relationship grew when FHLB of Dallas hired Cooksey to design and develop its first annual ESG report, which Cooksey supported again in 2024.

industry

  • professional services

services

  • creative services – branding and collateral
  • media relations
  • sustainability / ESG assessment, planning & reporting

the challenge

Raising Awareness for Affordable Housing Finance in Five States

Throughout its five-state district, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas, FHLB offers four types of Community Investments programs to help members and communities thrive. These programs are broken up into four categories, including grants and subsidies for homeowners, organization and veterans, disaster relief, advance programs and small business. Over the last six years, Cooksey has been tasked with increasing awareness about these programs and FHLB’s investment in countless communities across each of its five states.

the strategy

Conducting Media Relations Alongside ESG Reporting

Cooksey curated media lists specific to each press release’s subject matter and location. Each media list included hyperlocal, regional, national and appropriate trade contacts, as well as local and state officials and community organizations, like chambers of commerce. Cooksey also followed a consistent outreach regimen, which included same-day email distribution, one to two rounds of email follow-up and a final round of phone calls. In 2023, FHLB of Dallas engaged Cooksey in an additional workstream: design and development of its first ESG report. FHLB rehired Cooksey again in 2024 to produce its second ESG Report, “Investing in What Matters.”  

the solution

Implementing a Two-Pronged Approach for Maximum Impact

Cooksey has worked diligently to develop strong relationships with key local media contacts in each of the five states’ major media markets over the last six years. As a result, Cooksey has secured nearly 100 unique media clips each year to raise awareness about FHLB’s community investment efforts. Most notably, through Cooksey’s efforts, FHLB of Dallas has been prominently featured in Albuquerque Journal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Biz New Orleans, Bossier Press-Tribune, D Magazine, Dallas Business Journal, Dallas Innovates, Dallas Morning News, Community Impact, Mississippi Free Press and the Santa Fe New Mexican. The partnership continues to yield consistent coverage in diverse markets throughout the region.

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ELM-Companies-hero-image

 

ELM Companies | sustainability

Launching a Microgrid and Solar Manufacturer in the North Texas Market

When ELM Companies, an Illinois-based microgrid and solar technology manufacturer, sought to expand its footprint in North Texas, brand recognition was relatively low. The company, launched in 1998, had customers in more than 100 countries and employees in 22 U.S. states, yet public relations had not been a priority. Anticipating the opening of its new 125,000-square-foot facility in The Colony, ELM engaged Cooksey to ensure the right people were in the room—and Cooksey delivered, with city leaders as speakers and top-tier media coverage.

industry

  • energy & power

services

  • corporate social responsibility
  • market entries
  • media relations
  • special events
  • thought leadership positioning

the challenge

Building Brand Awareness for a Cleantech Newcomer

With its business-friendly economy and abundant sun, Texas leads the nation in solar generation. Competition among solar energy and clean technology players can be fierce, so capturing market share requires brands to stand out from the pack. Securing media coverage and creating relationships with relevant audiences and opinion leaders across sectors called for an agency partner with impactful connections.

the strategy

Positioning an Innovative Manufacturer for Market Entry

Cooksey prepared and distributed press releases and pitches on ELM’s advancements and installations to local, national and industry media while simultaneously building stakeholder lists and conducting community outreach to announce milestones over a period of nine months leading up to the grand opening. Additionally, Cooksey developed key messages and web copy to position ELM’s energy storage solutions for the growing electric vehicle market.

the solution

Convening Stakeholders and Garnering Media Coverage for Reputational Benefit

Cooksey assisted ELM in crafting press releases, remarks and other collateral for key milestones in its North Texas expansion, leading to 89 articles over an eight-month period. Cooksey also secured prime placements in The Dallas Morning News for the announcement and opening of ELM’s new manufacturing and distribution center, attended by more than 100 guests, staff and their families, in April 2024. Cooksey also provided strategic connections to the local business community and workforce training providers at Tarrant County College and North Central Texas College, laying the groundwork for ELM’s continued North Texas expansion.

related case studies

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Reporting ESG Performance and Promoting Financial Inclusion in Multiple Markets
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Dallas Fort Worth International Airport | sustainability

Designing an Award-Winning ESG Report for a Global Hub

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) demonstrates its dedication to leadership and transparency in its annual report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and performance. Cooksey was honored to be selected as DFW’s partner in developing its 2021 ESG Report. The project had a very tight deadline, and Cooksey rose to the challenge with an award-winning report—delivered on time, within budget and with 100% client satisfaction.

industry

  • transportation & water

services

  • creative services – branding and collateral
  • sustainability / ESG assessment, planning & reporting

the challenge

Delivering Excellence on a Compressed Timeline

Building on a relationship that began with Cooksey successfully completing the DFW International Airport Strategic Plan 2016-2020, DFW later rehired Cooksey to complete its 2021-2024 Strategic Plan. In July 2022, the airport returned to Cooksey with another request: to complete its ESG report within a compressed timeline of eight weeks. Cooksey’s creative department mobilized to develop a custom template in collaboration with a GRI-certified consultant.

the strategy

Deploying Process-Driven Expertise for On-Time Delivery

Cooksey and the DFW Airport team scoped the project to include a kick-off meeting to determine roles; review of initial copy and storyline development by chapter/section; research into each completed section; scheduling and holding of interviews; content development by chapter/section; review of each chapter/section for complete coverage; initial and final GRI reviews; delivery of each chapter/section completed; creative and photo recommendations; creation of infographics; layouts coordinated between Cooksey/DFW Airport staff; proofreading and final edits/approval; delivery of final hi-res pdf version of the report to DFW Airport with edits incorporated; creation of two-pager including QR code for a link to the report; and delivery of board-ready materials.

the solution

Producing ‘Sustainability by Design’ with Award-Winning Creative

The deliverables from this work included “Sustainability by Design,” a custom-designed, expertly written ESG report aligned to GRI Standards, covering DFW Airport’s fiscal year 2021 (October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021), and associated board materials. The report earned recognition from the 2023 MarCom Awards in the ‘Annual Report – Corporate Social Responsibility’ category and was a finalist in the 2022 Dallas PRSA Pegasus Awards.

DFW-Airport-ESG-report-1

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American National Bank of Texas | professional services

Positioning a Brand with Rural Heritage for New Opportunities in the Urban Center

American National Bank of Texas, founded in 1875 in Terrell, Texas, first contacted Cooksey in March 2023 for advisory services and PR support. Cooksey’s scope of work has grown to cover more strategic communications services, including an integrated marketing and communications plan, messaging, media relations, community relations and philanthropic engagement. ANBTX has leveraged Cooksey’s wins, including top-tier media coverage, to grow its reputation throughout North Texas. Cooksey has also helped ANBTX make strategic relationships to expand into emerging markets, including Southern Dallas County. 

industry

  • professional services

services

  • corporate social responsibility
  • market entries
  • media relations
  • thought leadership positioning

the challenge

Transforming a Traditional Brand into an Impactful Innovator

Positioning a traditional company for emerging opportunities calls for cultural change and organizational readiness. The bank’s leadership has made strides in its internal and external communication practices. Cooksey is focused on making the bank’s marketing and communications efforts more cohesive. Cooksey works alongside Imaginuity, ANBTX’s advertising agency, to better align messaging.

the strategy

Leveraging Media Coverage and CSR Strategy for Community Impact

Cooksey has supported ANBTX on several initiatives. This includes PR strategy, executive positioning, media training, developing a framework for corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and drafting press releases about ANBTX’s Ignite Home Loan Program and its ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in South Dallas.

the solution

Elevating Brand Awareness to Further Financial Inclusion and Change Lives

ANBTX is committed to serving and strengthening their communities, not only through providing best-in-class financial services from local North Texas bankers, but also through volunteerism, affordable homeownership, financial education and economic support. Cooksey will continue to highlight the bank’s community partners, charitable organizations and civic organizations, so ANBTX can grow relationships with local communities, customers and those in need of financial services, guidance and education.

related case studies

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Reporting ESG Performance and Promoting Financial Inclusion in Multiple Markets
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