Company: Makovsky + Company, New York, NY
Company Description: Founded in 1979, Makovsky + Company is one of the leading independent global public relations, investor relations and branding consultancies, specializing in the financial, professional services, health, technology and business services sectors. Our tagline, the Power of Specialized Thinking underscores the deep knowledge and relevant relationships we bring to client engagements.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Public Relations Agency of the Year

Nomination Title: MAKOVSKY + COMPANY

Tell the story about what this nominated agency achieved since January 1 2008 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

By financial performance alone, 2008 was a record-breaking year for Makovsky +
Company.  In 2008, we booked revenues totaling $11,100,000, an increase of 25%
over the same period a year earlier, capping off six straight years of double-
digit growth.  The firm is now ranked by O’Dwyer’s Public Relations News as the
9th largest agency in all of New York — our first leap into the top 10. We
believe that both our growth and our superb client retention rate — 80% in
2008 — are a function of delighted clients … and staff.  

Our pioneering Quality Commitment Program heads off potential problems before
they start by examining several clients in depth every month, culminating in a
monthly strategy meeting.   An independent auditor checks on client
satisfaction twice a year.  In 2008, 90% of our clients rated us “good”
to “exceptional” in six important metrics:  overall performance, value for
money, responsiveness, rapport, creativity, follow-through and strategic
thinking.  

Our 2008 employee survey found that morale is high, accounting for our industry-
leading staff retention of 83%.  One hundred percent of employees said they
would recommend Makovsky to potential employees.  Ninety-four percent rated our
2008 office move “very successful” and 100% reported that it has fostered
a “more open and collaborative” working environment — our primary goal.  Ninety-
eight percent of employees rated the quality of staff as “good”
to “outstanding.” 

•             Winning the Industry’s Respect.  In 2008, we were honored by our peers
with several prestigious awards, including the PR People Awards for Team Leader
and Account Executive of the Year, PRWeek’s prestigious “Financial
Communications Campaign of the Year,” and PR News’s “Small Agency of the
Year.”  Makovsky was again recognized as a “Best Place to Work” agency in 2008
(Holmes Report). 

•             Deeper Shade of Green.  Because we recognize the importance of
sustainability to our clients and our future, Makovsky underwrote two important
green initiatives last year.  The Makovsky Green Gap Survey uncovered the
disjunction between what Fortune 1000 executives believe they should be doing
in response to climate change and the steps their companies are actually
taking.  Committed to doing our part to close that “green gap,” we created the
Interraction Consortium, a multi-disciplinary client resource with leading
experts in environmental law, engineering, architecture, science and management
consulting, designed to assess corporations’ global climate risks and
opportunities. 

•             Creating Intellectual Capital.  We produced 10 issues of Strategies,
our thought leadership newsletter, contributed more than 100 updates to our
three blog sites and were featured in more than 160 articles in the media. 
Among our contributions to the industry:  two roundtables, two seminars on
crisis management and the social media and a webinar on guiding pharmaceutical
companies through legal crises. 

•             International Network Celebrates 25th Anniversary.  Founded by Makovsky
in 1983, IPREX encompasses more than 25 countries and 35 U.S. cities, serving
over 800 international clients in the Americas, Europe, South Africa and Asia.
In honor of its 25th anniversary, IPREX selected Makovsky + Company to host its
international conference, entitled “Multinational Issues in a Multimedia
World.”

List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

About Makovsky + Company:  http://www.makovsky.com/why_makovsky   

The Power of Specialized Thinking™: http://www.makovsky.com/PDFs/Advertorial-Web.pdf   

2008 Annual Report: http://www.makovsky.com/PDFs/2008-Annual-Report-4-30-09.pdf  

The Move: http://blog.makovsky.com/2008/08/moving-experience.html  

Makovsky Green Gap Survey:  http://www.makovsky.com/2008_climate_change_survey

Interraction Consortium:   http://interraction.com/

Thought Leadership Blogs:
•             Ken Makovsky’s “My Three Cents”:  http://blog.makovsky.com/  
•             Robbin Goodman’s “Online Fluency”: http://onlinefluency.makovsky.com    
•             Makovsky Staff’s “Specialized Thinking”
http://specializedthinking.makovsky.com/
•             David Rosen’s “Selling Tomorrows”:  http://sellingtomorrows.com/   
Specialized Thinking: http://www.makovsky.com/industry_issues     
Speeches: 
•             What Price  Credibility – Fall 2003:
http://www.makovsky.com/what-price-credibility
•             Branding In Tough Times
http://www.makovsky.com/branding-in-tough-times
•             Securing Corporate Credibility
http://www.makovsky.com/securing-corporate-credibility
•             American Heart Association Gala Raises Unprecedented $3.3 Million
http://www.makovsky.com/american-heart-association-raises-millions
•             MARKETING IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM: A PUBLIC RELATIONS PERSPECTIVE
http://www.makovsky.com/marketing-in-the-next-millennium
•             11 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE LEADERS
http://www.makovsky.com/habits-of-highly-effective-leaders
•             Washington University National Arts & Sciences – Keynote Address
http://www.makovsky.com/washington-university-keynote-address
•             The Crisis Factor
http://www.makovsky.com/the-crisis-factor
•             Repucratic Revolution: What it means for your company
http://www.makovsky.com/repucratic-revolution
•             Strategies for staying on top
http://www.makovsky.com/strategies-for-staying-on-top

Guiding Pharmaceutical Companies Through Legal Crises:
http://www.makovsky.com/PDFs/Gil-PRNews.pdf   

Makovsky in the News:  http://www.makovsky.com/news    

Quality Commitment Program:  http://www.makovsky.com/quality-commitment  

Working at Makovsky:  http://www.makovsky.com/careers   

Industry Recognition:  http://www.makovsky.com/awards-accolades  

Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this agency:

Ken Makovsky pioneered the concept of selling specialization instead of the
generalist philosophy.  Makovsky’s practice areas — health, technology,
financial & professional services, investor relations, branding + interactive —
reflect our deep knowledge of our clients’ industries, businesses, challenges,
constituencies and markets.

A “PR All-Star,” recipient of the prestigious John W. Hill Award and 2008
inductee into the PR News Hall of Fame, Ken adds intellectual capital to the
industry through his blog and in speeches, seminars and interviews, and donates
his time and talent to a variety of important human rights, higher education
and economic development causes.