As the Coronavirus continues to be a hot topic of conversation around the globe, we sat down with Hawthorne president and CEO, Cynthia McCafferty, to discuss the nuances that companies must consider when communicating during an emerging health crisis. 1.Read More
This month, our very own Maddie Petschow was elected to the PRSA Chicago 2020 board as the communications committee co-chair. We are thrilled that Maddie will represent Hawthorne as co-chair for the communications committee. Throughout 2019, Maddie volunteered for theRead More
Hawthorne Strategy Group closed out 2019 with an event at the University Club of Chicago to celebrate the launch of Talk is Chief: Leadership, Communication, and Credibility in a High-Stakes World by Jack Modzelewski, a public relations veteran and HawthorneRead More
In the over three years Hawthorne has supported the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC), we've been blessed to form great relationships with journalists that truly understand the organization's impact. One of those individuals is Francine Knowles, a columnist for theRead More
How a Detailed Analysis of a Company’s Environmental, Social, And Governance Efforts Established a Benchmark and Identified Opportunities Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is no longer just the idea that a company is obligated to give back to the community andRead More
The talk of the business world last week focused on a big announcement from Business Roundtable: shareholder value is no longer the sole business objective of the nation’s top CEOs and the companies they lead. This shouldn’t come as aRead More
Hawthorne Strategy Group Announces Women Business Enterprise Certification The certification will open up an array of opportunities to the agency Hawthorne Strategy Group is pleased to announce it is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women's BusinessRead More
We had the chance to sit down with Hawthorne Advisory Board Member, Tom Hoog, who was in town recently to give the team some insider tips and advice for sustaining a fulfilling public relations career. Hoog has decades of experienceRead More
Gene Reineke named PR Professional of the Year, Britt Logan named 30 Under 30 Hawthorne is honored to be recognized by The Holmes Report, Bulldog Reporter, Publicity Club of Chicago and PRSA Chicago for outstanding client work and contribution toRead More
Thoughts from our President and CEO, Cynthia McCafferty A recent New York Times article, “How Companies Learned to Stop Fearing Trump’s Twitter Wrath,” caught my attention. When President Trump first took office, his tweets were heard around the world andRead More
Thoughts from our Chairman and Founder, Gene Reineke, and our Executive Vice President and Partner, Wendi Taylor Nations Congratulations, I am pleased to inform you… With this week’s announcement of federal charges against almost fifty wealthy and prominent people whoRead More
The Women's Business Development Center's (WBDC) outstanding group of experts in business development can offer insight into a wide range of topics that help entrepreneurs establish businesses or business leaders grow their companies. Through a long-standing relationship with Diversity Professional magazine, theRead More
Almost nine months after the mass-shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack sent shock waves through the media and corporate America when he announced that his company would no longer sell theRead More
In January, the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) hosted its inaugural State of the Economy event. With nearly 300 attendees, the event provided local residents with an update on Amarillo's economy and economic insight from national experts. Scott Nations,Read More
Gene Reineke moves to Chairman and Founder As Hawthorne enters its seventh year, there is a lot to be proud of. We’ve grown from a kitchen table and team of one to an office in the Chicago Board of Trade and a team ofRead More
Industry experts to support agency’s growth and commitment to best-in-class client service CHICAGO - Hawthorne Strategy Group is pleased to announce it has formed a Board of Advisors to help execute the company’s current objectives and implementation of new strategiesRead More
Crain's Chicago Business recently published a letter to the editor from John A. Canning Jr., co-chairman of Big Shoulders Fund, about the importance of supporting a strong and diverse educational system for kids in Chicago. Read the full letter toRead More
Nearly half of all small and midsize businesses in the U.S. fail by their fifth year of operation. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about 30 percent survive ten years or more. Shocking? Not really. JustRead More
Women's Business Development Center Founder and President Emerita Hedy Ratner and President Emilia DiMenco penned an op-ed for Crain's Chicago Business urging Illinois' Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker and the state legislature to promote economic empowerment for women and minority business ownersRead More
Evinrude has named two University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee graduate students as the company's 2018-19 Water Research Excellence Fellows. Emily "Lou" LaMartina and Erik Carlson are conducting research vital to understanding and protecting our Great Lakes and fresh waterways. LearnRead More
Want to know more about our work at Hawthorne? As Hawthorne continues to evolve and grow, we are grateful that so many of our valued clients and partners have taken this journey with us. With new hires, new clients, andRead More
Evinrude has partnered with Gateway to build the BRP Evinrude Technology Institute Lab. Gateway Technical College gives students the chance to be part of the first class of motorcycle, marine and power products students. Because of this partnership, students willRead More
Recently, I had the opportunity to lead a discussion on controversial campaigns and corporate reputation, focusing specifically on Nike’s new Just Do it ad “Dream Crazy” and the ad’s spokesperson, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. News of Kaepernick’s involvement inRead More
World famous "Ready to Rumble" announcer, Michael Buffer was the exclusive ring announcer at Wintrust Arena on October 6th for the venue's first ever boxing match "Worlds Collide". In order to help get the word out, Hawthorne helped place MichaelRead More
Earlier this summer some PR swag went horribly wrong. Intended to help get the attention of reporters, a press kit unintentionally caused the evacuation of Quartz. But it was not that long ago, at least for those of us who qualify asRead More
On October 6th "worlds collided" at Wintrust Arena as they hosted their first-ever boxing event. Working with Wintrust, boxing promoters, and individual fighters, Hawthorne leveraged a local connection — Chicago-native and eventual WBC junior welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill — whoRead More
Worlds Collide as Jessie Vargas takes on Thomas Dulorme at Wintrust Arena on October 6th. La Raza featured the headline fighters in a story about the ongoing rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers. La Raza is a cornerstone ofRead More
Chicago-based Urban Partnership Bank was recently acquired by South Holland-based Providence Bank and Trust. Urban Partnership Bank, founded in 2010, prides itself on their commitment to the community and economic development in underserved areas, offering products and services typically availableRead More
Evinrude kicked off its summer "Evinrude Edge" Demo Tour in Minneapolis on July 28th. The public was invited to test drive Evinrude engines and compare them to competitors' engines. The event also featured Evinrude's new partner, Alumacraft, which was recentlyRead More
CEO Ricki Granetz Lowitz and President Amanda Carney were recently featured in Michelle Weldon’s story about Working Credit NFP on the "Take the Lead blog", recently awarded as one of the Top 75 Women in Business Blogs. Michelle is an award-winning journalist and championRead More
Evinrude kicked off its summer "Evinrude Edge" Demo Tour in Minneapolis on July 28th. The public was invited to test drive Evinrude engines and compare them to competitors' engines. The event also featured Evinrude's new partner, Alumacraft, which was recentlyRead More
After two years and $15 million in privately raised funds, the renovation of the Illinois Governor's Mansion is finally complete - but there are a few things you won't learn on the public tour. The grand re-opening of the Governor'sRead More
In June, Evinrude announced that their senior vice president and general manager, Tracy Crocker, will now also serve as the president of BRP Marine Group. The story, along with the announcement that BRP had acquired Alumacraft, a Minnesota-based boat manufacturer,Read More
McCormick Square is home to hundreds of pieces of public art, including a piece by renowned Chicago based artist, Kerry James Marshall. His piece, Past Times, that previously hung in the halls of McCormick Place was auctioned by Sotheby's inRead More
In today's competitive landscape, it's not surprising that for many professionals, having a healthy and productive work-life balance is often viewed as nearly impossible. In fact, a recent survey from Harvard Business School found that 94% of professionals reported working moreRead More
It was a great awards season and an exciting year for Hawthorne Strategy Group and our clients. This Spring, we took home a Silver Trumpet from the Publicity Club of Chicago for work with Chicago Children's Choir, two PRSA Skyline awards for work with MetropolitanRead More
Following a 2-year, $15 million renovation project, the Illinois Governor's Mansion is set to reopen to the public on July 14th. Blair Kamin, architecture columnist for the Chicago Tribune made the trip down to Springfield, IL to see how constructionRead More
Evinrude, an industry leader in outboard marine engines, is delivering some of the most fuel-efficient, low emission engines on the market with its E-TEC technology, which consumes up to 20% less fuel while producing up to 30% more torque thanRead More
Each year, Mondelēz International, maker of chocolate brands like Milka and Toblerone, sends around a dozen employees to Ghana, dubbed “Joy Ambassadors”, to participate in a skills-exchange program with cocoa farmers. Now in its fourth year, the Joy Ambassador program gives Ghanan cocoa farming communities a boost by tapping theRead More
A physical representation of Chicago Children's Choir's mission to unite youth from diverse backgrounds, the annual Paint the Town Red concert brings together singers from across the organization's programs to perform in one of Chicago's most iconic venues, Jay PritzkerRead More
Evinrude, a leader in outboard engines, has donated $5,000 to support the Racine Art Museums' SPARK! program. Launched in 2010, SPARK! offers memory impaired adults a free, immersive, stimulating, yet, non-threatening experiences. The donation will be used at the RacineRead More
Evinrude employees volunteered their time to give back to their local community as part of the 23rd Annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup, an event that draws over 4,000 volunteers. Evinrude's efforts attracted local and trade media coverage, including two live interviews andRead More
Emilia DiMenco, Women's Business Development Center's president and CEO, penned an op ed for Crain's Chicago Business on the impact women have on local economies when they enter the workforce. The editorial discusses research that found female workforce participation increasesRead More
WGN TV's Micah Materre covers Chicago Children's Choir's Dimension Ensemble. The group for young men gives singers a place to find their voices and confidence with other young men across from across the city. Read the full story here. [videoRead More
With Q1 coming to a close, 2018 is already shaping up to be bigger and better than ever before. Our team continues to hustle and work hard to achieve big results for our clients, and we're thrilled to reward theirRead More
Chicago Dental Society members volunteered at Lincoln Park Zoo's annual "Spooky Zoo" to hand out toothbrushes, toothpaste and tips on oral hygiene to trick-or-treaters. CDS member, Dr. Douglas Chang, and the tent were featured prominently on WGN's evening newscast. [videoRead More
Local brewery owner, Raiye Rosado, hosted the Women's Adventure Club from Chicago's South Suburbs at Rabid Brewing in Homewood to teach the group how to brew beer. The team of women spent approximately 10 hours at Rosado's brewery in HomewoodRead More
Chicago's push for Amazon's HQ2 gets help from Bears coach Matt Nagy, Kuma's Corner and more As part of People’s Pitch, the pro-bono team of Chicago public affairs and communications firms leading Chicago’s bid to secure Amazon’s second headquarters, theRead More
Evinrude was featured on the front page of their local newspaper, The Journal Times after they were inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame for the company's role in commercializing high-strength, wear-resistant aluminum alloy originally developed by NASA scientists. ReadRead More
Inspired by longtime McCormick Place greeter, app aims to give visitors memorable experience As we worked with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority to develop an app for McCormick Square visitors, we kept the launch of the app the front of mind.Read More
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