Areas of Specialization

Strategic Communications
Planning. . .

Study after study has shown that chief executives want their communications people to be more strategic in their approach to both problem solving and affecting the bottom line.

HT&A co-founder Peter Hollister first developed a strategic communications planning process in 1975. As the communications environment has changed, he and the members of the firm have revised and updated that process.

Today, HT&A provides clients with a participative and dynamic strategic planning process that is audience-driven, measurable, contains a balance of strategy and tactics, and most importantly, is do-able. A measure of our success is that when other communications firms want to learn more about strategic planning, they call on HT&A to teach them. Members of the firm have made more than 175 presentations about strategic communications planning to professional groups, corporate staffs and other counseling firms across the nation.

Communication Effectiveness Studies. . .

As each month passes, there are more messages going to more audiences via more media than ever before. It seems fair to ask, “Is anybody out there getting it?”

The communication effectiveness study (sometimes referred to as a communication audit or CES) is a carefully designed, research-based set of activities that help an organization understand the quality of the outcomes or products of its communication efforts along with the effectiveness of the communications process.

In a CES, clients learn whether there is synchronicity and connectivity between message shapers (management), message senders (communicators) and message receivers (target audiences). The study design developed by HT&A is currently the communications industry standard for this activity.

Communication Research . . .

The purpose of research is to add precision
to decision.

Research is the foundation for communication effectiveness studies using a combination of focus groups, qualitative and quantitative studies, content analysis and other methodologies. The simple step of doing a needs assessment to determine the potential viability of a proposed activity requires research.

And, in the spirit of impacting the bottom line, research is the foundation for determining whether or not a particular project reached its audience and met its objectives. Useful communication research is done by experts who have the training, skills and experience to design and implement appropriate studies. HT&A has particular strengths in this area.

Fund Raising and Fund Development . . .

Of all of the challenges facing the CEO of a not-for-profit, one of the most daunting can be fund raising and fund development. Few CEO’s have served as professional development officers, so this challenge is beyond their experience.

At HT&A, senior counsel have served as chief development officers, and with good success. From the design and implementation of annual gift campaigns, through major gift campaigns and on to deferred giving programs, we have done it all. We have helped design and conduct successful capital gifts campaigns and have conducted the feasibility study research. Fund raising and fund development do not need to be daunting experiences. They simply require good and experienced counsel. HT&A will make that happen.

Workshops and Seminars . . .

Professional growth and advancement are often sparked by knowledge gained at a well-presented and substantial seminar or workshop.

Whether for a post-luncheon presentation or a half-day, full-day or multiple-day seminar or workshop, members of the HT&A team are active speakers who have been called upon by hundreds of groups to enhance professional development initiatives. Presentation clients include professional groups, in-house staffs and other communication firms across the nation.