Krantz Strategies

Illinois-based Veteran Business Project recently launched a groundbreaking partnership with Canary Speech to help veteran entrepreneurs manage mental health with AI-powered voice analysis. This partnership is giving veterans real-time insights into their stress, mood, and energy levels, which translates to better well-being and business success. The potential goes beyond veterans, too. Imagine if detecting depression, anxiety or cognitive decline could be as simple as speaking into your phone. With this technology, that’s becoming a reality. Krantz Strategies is thrilled to partner with teams that are redefining mental health care, particularly for veterans who encounter unique challenges. Looking for more insight on how this technology works? Check out Audacy, Inc. Connecting Vets for a recent feature on our virtual media roundtable.

Krantz Strategies is proud to support CMAP’s Safe Travel for All as the public engagement consultant for Will County’s Safety Action Plan. When we started working on this plan, we had one goal in mind: making sure that every person feels safer on the roads. That’s why we’re energized about our efforts to connect with many voices in the community, helping to make a real difference for safe travel.

In the past five years, women-owned small businesses have surged, encouraging more underrepresented groups to pursue their entrepreneurial dream. In 2019, women made up 28% of new business owners, and by 2021, that number nearly doubled to 49%. Today, more than 14 million women are building their dreams—and the momentum continues! Here are some of our favorite ways we can all support women in business and champion their success: 1. Broadcast Your Wins – Be proud of your achievements and share them openly. When women tell their stories, they inspire the next generation of leaders. 2. Mentor or Volunteer – Be a role model! By being more visible, whether through mentoring or volunteering, you can encourage young women to pursue their own business dreams. 3. Network with Women Entrepreneurs – Building connections with other women in business is one of the best ways to create support systems and grow together. 4. Support Women-Owned Businesses on Social Media – Even if you don’t own a business, you can still help by promoting female entrepreneurs on social media. Share their stories, products, and services to help spread the word and show your support! Cheers to all these amazing women building their dreams, one business at a time!

Key trends shaping nonprofit marketing in 2024 include influencer and peer-to-peer marketing, the growing demand for measurable impact supported by stories that stick, and the concept of generous listening to create more inclusive communications.    Thank you to Marquette Hamlin Group for engaging with Krantz Strategies to dive deep into these trends. We also discussed how veteran nonprofits can look beyond the nonprofit sector, drawing inspiration from for-profit strategies to stay ahead of the curve and stand out. Together, we led veteran nonprofits through a collaborative conversation on integrated marking and communications to help them make an impact in 2024 and beyond.    The key takeaways from the training? Good marketing takes more time than money. You need to conquer the basics before expanding into everything and anything. Most importantly, fear can undermine your communications strategy and message – be bold to truly make an impact.

It’s been amazing to support the Will County Safety Action Plan public engagement efforts, which are now officially underway across the community. The Krantz Strategies team was on-site at the Will County Fair to launch our interactive activities, including the Safety Hotspots Map and a community survey to identify safety improvement opportunities throughout the county. In just one afternoon, we connected and collected insights from over 100 Will County travelers. These efforts are directly contributing to making Will County roads safer for everyone. Do you travel in Will County? Is there a street where you don’t feel safe crossing or an intersection with dangerous conditions? You can help improve traffic safety by contributing to the Will County Safety Action Plan! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gV2hJKVa

We are thrilled to share the incredible success of the Illinois State Dental Society's Mission of Mercy event. At Krantz Strategies, we implemented effective communication techniques to support this life-changing initiative. The event, powered by the dedication of over 1,000 volunteer dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, dental students, and others, provided $1.6 million in free dental care to over 1,300 patients from 55 counties in Illinois and three states. Over 80 veterans received priority care through the Veterans First initiative. Our strategic media outreach secured extensive coverage from Peoria TV, radio, and print media, spreading awareness and highlighting the event's importance. We also launched a volunteer ambassador program, encouraging volunteers to share their experiences and the event’s impact on social media. Additionally, we set up a thank-you card station for patients to express their gratitude, enhancing our community engagement and showcasing the positive outcomes of the event. Krantz Strategies is committed to leveraging strategic communication outreach to support and promote impactful programs such as Mission of Mercy. #ISDSMOM #CommunityOutreach #KrantzStrategies #PublicRelations

Kudos to the Illinois State Dental Society for their successful legislative advocacy on behalf of patients! It's great to see members in the news talking about their positive impact.

We're excited to officially welcome Gabriella Spizzirri as the newest member of our team at Krantz Strategies! Gabby joins us with a robust background in digital savvy and public relations after graduating with high honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, completing a degree in Advertising and a minor in Public Relations in an accelerated three-year track. Over the past year, Gabby has already been a vital part of our team, supporting our clients during advocacy days in Springfield and boosting our public engagement efforts. Her contributions make it clear that she is an invaluable asset to our team with a bright future. A heartfelt thank you to our partners across the policy advocacy, transportation, nonprofit, and government sectors. Your continued support and collaboration have been instrumental in our growth and success.

With so much potential and opportunity on the horizon, I love calling Sugar Grove home. Honored to partner with our village leaders to share our community’s story during the 2024 State of the Village event. 

A Year of Experiences & Growth As we kick off 2024, we love reflecting on 2023 and our first year in business. It has been a year of building trust, inspiring action, and igniting big ideas for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. We supported our clients’ vital missions close to home and across the globe – from Springfield to Chicago, Austin, and even across the Atlantic to the UK. In 2023, we achieved some remarkable milestones we’re proud to highlight: 👥 Executed a strategic communications campaign in support of the Illinois Joining Forces Veterans' Day initiative, "Operation Connect-A-Vet." This campaign not only garnered substantial media coverage but also underscored our expertise in advocacy, reaching a wide audience with valuable information on how to support military service members and veterans. ⛳  Successfully managed the marketing efforts for the return of LIV Golf to Chicago, solidifying our firm as a key strategic partner for launching major initiatives and enhancing Chicagoland’s reputation as a premier sports destination. 🏛️ Played a pivotal role in advancing the legislative agenda of the Illinois State Dental Society in Springfield, securing the passage of two essential insurance reform bills. This achievement showcased our firm's expertise in driving policy change through strategic communication. 💡 Demonstrated our capacity to help clients break through the noise and earn positive recognition by providing thought leadership support in Austin, resulting in a client securing a valuable 1:1 meeting with the US Secretary of Energy. This accomplishment further solidified our reputation as trusted advisors to influential leaders across various sectors, including energy and engineering. Throughout this journey, we've had our fair share of fun behind the scenes (just check out the pictures for a peek at the adventures). As we look ahead, we are thrilled to continue raising the bar for your strategic communications campaigns, leveraging the latest innovations and trends in public relations, digital marketing, strategic partnerships, thought leadership and more. The new year holds exciting possibilities, and we can't wait to see what it has in store. And, of course, don’t forget about next year’s communications and marketing plan, we’d love to help!