NOTABLE PAST &
PRESENT CLIENTS
Projects get ahead of the story
Construction starts. Residents find out from a neighbor. Trust erodes before the first lane closes.
Departments speak in silos
Public works says one thing. The mayor says another. Council hears a third version.
Crisis response is improvised
When something goes wrong, the scramble is visible. That visibility becomes the story.
THE ALTERNATIVE
A full-time PIO costs $85K–$120K/yr.
They're a generalist. One hire means one perspective, fixed capacity, and limited experience under pressure.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Senior-level embedded capacity. Fractional.
Strategic counsel when you need it. Surge support when it spikes. Crisis readiness built in. No onboarding lag, no benefits overhead, no knowledge gap when engagement ends.
Fractional communications work in practice
We've worked inside the complexity, not around it.
Real projects. Real pressure. Real communities.
FAIRBORN
Challenge: Fairborn was seen as dated, fragmented, and behind the pace of the region. Perception limited momentum more than reality.
What changed: Strategic communications repositioned how Fairborn was understood, aligning visible revitalization efforts with a clear outward narrative that made the city legible as progressive, creative, and in motion.
HARRISON
Challenge: Complex, multi-agency projects creating confusion, misalignment, and risk to public trust.
What changed: The City implemented a disciplined communication framework that aligned internal messaging, controlled timing, and established a single source of truth, turning communication into operational infrastructure.
MIDDLETOWN
Challenge: A gap between reality and perception driven by turnover, inconsistent messaging, and lack of community connection.
What changed: The City rebuilt its narrative through a unified identity, human-centered storytelling, and structured communication systems that made leadership visible and the community feel included.
When I decided to start my own business I had a lot of questions and nervous feelings about going out on my own. In just a couple of conversations and one whiteboard session, Mary Beth helped me understand what I needed to do to get started and eased the fear I had about the unknowns of starting a business. Mary Beth has a great way of explaining the information that makes it easy to follow and understand. Without her encouragement and assistance, I can't imagine how difficult the process would have been to get started.
—Rob Anderson, Former City Manager, Fairborn Ohio
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
What we’re paying attention to.
Not thought leadership. Working observations from cities we know.
Whitepapers:
THE CHALLENGE