Client Testimonials

“Paul was able to step in on short notice to help with a major contract bid worth several hundred million dollars. We had the data and the solution, but the proposal lacked structure and a message. Within four days, Paul was able to develop a strong theme for the bid and organize a wealth of information in a way that made a much stronger statement about our capabilities and value proposition, and served as a framework for the entire proposal. It was impressive work and I would use him again.”
Lou Addeo
Chief Operating Officer   Serco North America

   "Paul's value to Churchill Downs has been enormous. He has proven himself quietly, artfully and consistently without fanfare. He has taught us how to integrate communications into our culture and our rapidly changing business environment — and done so with integrity, intelligence and deep appreciation for the needs of our business."

Karl Schmitt

Vice President - Corporate Communications    Churchill Downs Incorporated

"Paul has been a trusted colleague and advisor for more than a decade. Based upon his blend of communications savvy and business experience, I view him as a business partner as much as a communications consultant. Whether the situation is strategic positioning or crisis management, Paul always has an exceptional sense for the moment — understanding the climate, the tone and the timing that are such key factors in whether communication is influential, clear and credible. In particular, he is invaluable in weaving messages that reflect my thinking, my style and my values, so my communication is a natural extension of who I am and what I am seeking to accomplish."

Edward J. Casey, Jr.

CEO    Serco North America

"What I like about working with Paul is that he does not impose his thinking so much as helps you sharpen your own and organize it in a way that really makes a point. He is a good communicator himself, but more importantly he is an effective catalyst in helping others communicate with their own style."

Peter Olmsted

Senior Vice President - Human Resources    General Cable

"When you work with Paul you discover he is really as much a modern-day alchemist as he is a great consultant. He has an uncanny way of picking out the really important, basic ingredients in our business and communications and turning them into some really golden ideas, insights and themes that we never really imagined. He also has just the right mix of personal manner and skills to know when we needed to be stimulated in our thinking and when to help us focus on what needs to get done. His own brew of intelligence, humor, integrity and dedication is refreshing."

Gina Goldberg

Vice President - Marketing    MX Energy

"Paul came into a very difficult and critical situation we were facing as a company and quickly got us focused on the key communications issues we needed to address. He offered solid and practical advice on the messages and actions that would help bolster investor confidence and reassure employees."

Brian Strom

CEO    Surewest Communications

"Verizon asked Paul's help to give us a fresh perspective on a complex issue, and he showed a real understanding for how to communicate that issue in a way that engaged our employees, our customers and other important stakeholders."

Mary Beth Bardin

Executive Vice President - Public Affairs & Communications    Verizon

"Paul clearly helped us move up several levels in our understanding and use of our brand on a global level. He developed a stronger market message that has helped us expand more effectively around the world and capture the commitment of our associates to our brand promise. Beyond his value as a consultant, he also was extremely effective in coordinating a range of other communications — web-sites, marketing collaterals, employee communications, even a crisis communications plan — to ensure we support our brand in everything we do."

Ted Nixon

President & CEO    D.D. Williamson

"Paul has a good ear for what matters. He sifts through technical information and identifies the things that make a difference. He can come into a difficult or controversial situation and quickly grasp the key issues. He has a talent for helping people to communicate consistently and clearly and to speak convincingly from their own experience. People he trains become genuine communicators, not just a 'company mouthpiece.'"

Jim Ludwig

VP - Corporate Communications    Westar Energy

"Paul has an extraordinary ability to sort through complex situations or problems and help everyone get focused on what really matters in the area of communications. He can take information and put it in the form of themes and messages that really influence audiences. When he works with you, you really feel like he understands your business and you understand communications."

Jeanine Hull

General Partner Conjunction Inc.

"Paul is an invaluable strategic resource to us because of his ability to see the communications needs and opportunities in business issues. He is the rare breed of communications expert who understands and can operate at all levels and areas of business and yet also has a keen insight into how to connect with consumers investors, policy-makers and the community."

Steve Smith

President    Axxis Inc.

"Paul has a unique ability to come into complex and sometimes tense situations and clarify issues to get everyone speaking from the same page. He does so quickly, respectfully and in a logical way that helps everyone communicate more effectively with each other and their outside audiences. He has a gift of putting things into words that appeal to common sense whether the audience be experts, policy-makers or the public. I have never found anyone so good at communications who also understands business."

Mark Ruelle

Chief Financial Officer    Westar Energy

"Paul has done a great job of taking complex rate and cost of service issues that we deal with and making them understandable to customers. He is the guy that we go to whenever we want to make sure that customers understand what we are saying."

Martin Blake

President    The Prime Group

"Paul is a clear thinker who is also a great catalyst for other people's thinking. He is an effective observer, analyst and mentor, and is quick to sense the most important business and leadership issues. It is always stimulating to be working with him and I found that I could count on him for trusted advice and ideas on a wide range of business and communication issues."

Stewart Saunders

General Manager - Chine Light & Power    Manweb (Scottish Power)

"Paul was a great resource for us in managing the sale of our company. His experience is broad so he was able to advise us across all of our audiences. His business knowledge helped ensure our communications were aligned with the the needs of our company and the requirements of the transaction. We felt very confident working with him."

Jeffrey Lazarow

President & CEO    Rogers Jewelers