About the project
Objective:
As an economic development organization, The Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) had a track record of helping manufacturing companies increase profitability. However, job losses in the Great Recession and the perception that manufacturing wasn’t an attractive career path had tarnished the industry’s image. We were determined to highlight how the DVIRC was making manufacturing sexy.
Solution:
Created and implemented a media relations campaign for DVIRC to raise the awareness of the benefits of “advanced manufacturing” in the Philadelphia region. Faced with headlines of rising job losses in the manufacturing sector, we targeted manufacturing and economic development reporters to introduce stories about innovation among small-to-medium sized manufacturers. This exposure showcased DVIRC’s consulting services in Lean, STEM education and other resources to enhance profitability.
Results:
Successfully generated feature stories about DVIRC’s manufacturing innovation in Philadelphia Business Journal, Norristown Times Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY-Radio as well as statewide economic development trades such as Keystone Edge and other websites. DVIRC received instant positive feedback from Board of Directors, state agencies and clients who are key constituencies for the group.
Tony DeFazio is an accomplished public relations professional and entrepreneur who has led three agencies. He bootstrapped his first business, growing it through the Great Recession to achieve an exit. He excels at developing narratives and delivering them with resonance and impact to influencers and media around the world. DeFazio is a respected thought leader who has served in leadership positions of industry associations, and was elected President of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Philadelphia Chapter and Heritage Region Board of Directors, representing 17 states in the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West.
Details
- Client: Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center
