Services

Reputation is everything, whether you are an individual preparing to run for office, a startup seeking funding or an established business facing a new competitor. AJW Consulting  builds, sustains and protects public images, both online and offline.

I work with clients to fine-tune their “Google-ability,” incorporating social media and content tools to shape their search results. On the more traditional side, I create awareness through earned media, compelling video productions and targeted outreach events.

I believe success hinges on recon and readiness. I prepare clients for interviews, press conferences and debates, empowering them to advance their best selves.

Among my recent projects:

• Helping an individual prepare for a series of interviews for a C-level position, including a town hall meeting with public stakeholders.
• Assisted a high-profile athlete’s legal team with a public media statement after he was accused of a minor non-violent crime.

AJW Consulting is best known for shaping and conveying messages on behalf of government officials and agencies. Working with my network in Kansas, Missouri and Washington DC, I also help businesses and not-for-profit organizations connect with policymakers.

Recent public affairs projects have included:

• An engagement program on behalf of a national trade organization, which connected its local members with elected officials.
• Representation of city and county governments, transportation agencies and police departments, advising on ballot issues, leadership transitions and more.

I typically do not run campaigns or engage in direct lobbying, but as a former press secretary, I am an asset to candidate teams, crafting straight-talk messaging that the public can understand – and that inspires action.

When something has gone wrong, clients rely on AJW Consulting and my years of experience to bring calm, clear direction. In the high-stress environment of crisis, I help clients communicate effectively, restore trust and minimize the damage. For clients with in-house communication teams, I take out the emotion of fast-moving, high-stakes situations and help prioritize action.

I have specialized in crisis communications for two decades. Clients of AJW Consulting do not get interns or marketing generalists; they receive counsel from a seasoned veteran. While confidentiality is paramount, rest assured I have seen it all – internal and external; regulatory, civil or criminal. I am on-call for my clients, 24/7.

I help in all stages of a crisis:

• Pre-crisis: Readiness exercises, mock crisis scenarios and media training.
• In crisis: Internal response, media messaging and spokesperson duty, social media response.
• Post-crisis: Bridging tactics, reputation management and lessons learned.

I believe the public relations strategy must follow the legal strategy. In all stages, I work with clients’ attorneys to ensure we can win in the court of law and the court of public opinion.