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Tag: #publicrelations

What Does a PR Agency Do? One Ingersoll Rand: Uniting 16,000 Global Employees Behind One Purpose

What Does a PR Agency Do? One Ingersoll Rand: Uniting 16,000 Global Employees Behind One Purpose

August 23, 2021January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, Case Studies, Internal Communications#casestudy, #Crisiscommunication, #mediarelations, #PR, #PRagency, #publicrelations, #PublicRelationsagency, #RaleighPRAgency

Spearheading communications for a merger and uniting two global company cultures with 16,000 employees can be difficult, but doing so in March 2020, the same month the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, presents an almost insurmountable challenge. This is what faced Ingersoll Rand during the merger of Gardner Denver, Inc. with the Ingersoll Rand Industrials segment to form the new Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and industrial solutions. As an essential business, Ingersoll Rand manufactures vital products to COVID-19 frontline workers – such as pumps for hospital ventilators – and there could be no production delay. The five-person global Ingersoll Rand communications team and Clairemont designed a successful internal communications program to unite 16,000 employees across 70 countries for a seamless Day 1 integration.

Ingersoll Rand set the goal to launch the newly combined company based on a Day 1 readiness list of go/no-go criteria, and to create a celebratory transition that would inspire employees and equip them to live out the company’s purpose – Lean On Us To Help You Make Life Better.

Based on research, the core team planned a company-wide Day 1 global celebration. With the target audience of 16,000 company employees, Ingersoll Rand set the following objectives and timelines:

Company Launch: Go live on time with all identified communications channels of the company by March 1, 2020, including intranet, company website, social media channels, Code of Conduct, Ethics Hotline posters and Purpose and Values posters.

Develop and deploy a comprehensive training toolkit for 200 site champions and all business unit leaders prior to March 1.

Host a live global town hall and Day 1 celebration at locations globally on March 9, 2020 with approximately 100% employee attendance, ‘Team IR’ pennants for each employee for photo opportunities and large banners at each location for employee signatures.

Employee Engagement: Increase employee satisfaction categories of “employee connectedness to company” and “understanding of long-term strategy” each by 2 points and maintain or improve by 1 point the rating that “leaders communicate a motivating vision” (maintain because the pre-Day 1 survey had an 80% rating, and that was already above manufacturing industry benchmark).

Financial Growth: Create a positive new company culture that would equip employees to meet quarterly financial goals in 2020, including strong margins, liquidity and cost savings of >$25 million.

EXECUTION

Championing Success: Success sprang from preparation and disciplined use of Ingersoll Rand Execution Excellence, the engine to how the company is managed. Beginning in November 2019, Ingersoll Rand and Clairemont formed a site champion team of liaisons to brainstorm concepts, convey corporate messages to all 300 sites, share employee feedback, develop materials, assist with translations 2 and plan a site-appropriate Day 1 experience. All site champions participated in a virtual training, idea exchange and ongoing support network to ensure two-way communication with all employees.

Purpose and Values: To unite employees behind a common vision, IR launched a research-based employee task force that created the company’s new Purpose and Values. The comms team then designed a simple, compelling graphic and poster around the Purpose and Values, which were translated and distributed to every site. Employees engaged in Purpose and Values training sessions, personally connecting their own values to those of the company and preparing them to “think and act like owners.”

Corporate Narrative: The team leveraged the Purpose and Values to create the corporate story, merging two companies’ rich histories and highlighting its unifying vision across 40+ brands. IT and comms teams worked around the clock to build, test and prepare the new social channels and strategy, asset libraries, website (translated and tested for 70 countries) and intranet. To support employee engagement, Ingersoll Rand hosted an employee contest to name the new intranet, IR NOW.

Cadenced Communications: Clarity was key for unity. Employees received regular integration updates, personal leadership messages, the new Purpose and Values, and even a humorous Brady-Bunch-style video introducing the new leadership team to forge a personal connection. The intranet featured an evolving FAQ section and articles spotlighting business units so employees could get to know their new coworkers. The comms team crafted toolkits for leaders to deliver to suppliers, vendors and employees the week before company launch. Employees across the globe received a “what you need to know to function on Day 1” desk drop on March 1, followed by Week 2 desk drop with a company overview – translated into 15 core languages.

An Open Dialogue: IR leadership committed itself to live out one of the company’s core values to help employees “think and act like owners” by encouraging questions and two-way dialogue. IR hosted two live global town halls (complete with red-themed backdrops for a little “team spirit”) where 16,000 employees tuned in to a live Q&A section with CEO Vicente Reynal. The intranet housed a Q&A section and provided an email welcoming employee integration questions at any time.

Day 1 Celebration: Ingersoll Rand went “red” – the company brand color that conveyed excitement – for its Day 1 celebration. The integration team equipped each of the 300 sites around the world with a “party in a box” translated into the native language, featuring inaugural banners for employees to sign, posters touting IR’s new purpose, a pennant to wave, Purpose & Values activities and even catering ideas. (Red bon-bons, anyone?) Since many had to celebrate from home, site champions coordinated with regional HR personnel to provide localized support. All sites hosted their celebrations simultaneously while tuning into a live town hall with the CEO. With unity as the goal, the town hall featured live vignettes from Shanghai to Spain — real-time interactivity that bridged thousands of miles and enabled employees to virtually meet their new colleagues. Vicente answered Q&As and finished the town hall with an iconic selfie, capturing on-site employees in the background waving celebratory pennants.

The Ingersoll Rand Day 1 internal communications campaign united employees, bolstered financial growth and ensured the company continued production.

Company Launch: IR successfully launched all identified communications functions of the company by March 1, 2020; trained 200+ site champions and all business units prior to March 1; and hosted a live global town hall and Day 1 celebration on March 9, 2020 with 100% employee attendance.

Employee Engagement: Despite the pandemic and inability to travel and meet to integrate the global organization of 16,000, ‘feel more connected to the newly combined company’ improved 5 points to 77%, surpassing the 2-point target. ‘Better understanding of the long-term strategy’ increased 8 points, jumping 4 times the 2-point goal; and ‘leaders communicate a motivating vision’ maintained at 80%.

Financial Growth: By the release of the IR first quarterly financial results as a combined company after Day 1 event, IR delivered solid margins, strong liquidity at $1.6 billion with the quarter closing at $556 million of cash on the balance sheet and actions added up to more than $50 million of cost savings.

Interested in hearing more about how we can help you with a successful internal communications campaign? Drop us a line!

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And the Silver Anvil Award goes to …

And the Silver Anvil Award goes to …

June 18, 2021January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternAwards, Blog, Case Studies#IngersollRand, #publicrelations, #SilverAnvilAward, awards, events

We are thrilled to announce that with our client Ingersoll Rand, Clairemont Communications won a PRSA Silver Anvil for our “Owning the Future: Ingersoll Rand’s Equity Grant” campaign. Our entry received this high recognition in the Events and Observances category, and Clairemont is honored to have partnered with Ingersoll Rand on such a milestone initiative in the company’s history that combined internal communications, external communications and event planning.

Ingersoll Rand committed to make all employees owners in the company and awarded an equity grant of $150 million, one of the largest by an industrial company. To improve employee connection, contribution to financial performance and awareness within the industry, the team united 16,000 global employees during COVID-19 through a virtual bell ringing event with the New York Stock Exchange, meticulously coordinated with 300 simultaneous on-site and remote celebrations.

Since 1944, Silver Anvil Awards have recognized our industry’s outstanding public relations programs and awarded organizations that have successfully addressed challenging issues with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The honor, often referred to as the “Oscars of the PR Industry,” is bestowed only on the most outstanding programs with proven results. See a complete list of the 2021 Silver Anvil Finalists here.

Thank you to Ingersoll Rand for trusting us to collaborate day in and day out with you on such important, rewarding work!

Interested in reading more about Clairemont Communications’ award-winning work? Check out our blog on the 2019 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards here!

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Coming Back to Clairemont!

Coming Back to Clairemont!

June 2, 2021January 31, 2023 Taylor BoldenBlog, PR People, The Clairemont Team#AccountCoordinator, #ClairemontCommunications, #graduate, #PRprofessional, #publicrelations

My Clairemont Communications Internship

This past year of my life could be described as a whirlwind rollercoaster with many ups and downs.

During the final semester of my senior year in college in January 2020, I landed my dream internship at Clairemont Communications! I found my passion for PR (which you can read about here), and I was ready to dive right in to learn the ropes of an agency focusing on local clients. I loved making the journey from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to the Clairemont House in Raleigh three times a week. I could feel my experience and skills growing, and I truly felt I had landed in the perfect spot.

Then, along with March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. When I think about it now, the beginning of the pandemic was a little surreal. Everyone thought an extra week of Spring Break couldn’t be so bad, right? Well, we were wrong. The pandemic brought so many heartbreaks, challenges and complications to people around the entire world – myself included.

During that time of uncertainty, one constant I was extremely grateful for was the amazing women of Clairemont Communications. With their consistent help and support, I was able to successfully finish my internship virtually from the comforts of my small Chapel Hill bedroom.

Graduating College in a Pandemic

After leaving Clairemont in May 2020, I graduated college and headed home to Charlotte, North Carolina. From there, I started my search for a full-time position in public relations. I knew the post-grad job search would be challenging; however, the pandemic made it almost impossible. Most agencies were in a hiring freeze, and many had done away with entry-level positions.

So, I made the executive decision to take a slight detour from my planned career path. For seven months, I paused my job search and worked as a preschool teacher. Some people may think teaching is completely different from working in public relations, but I beg to differ. Being in charge of 20 3-year-olds can prepare any PR professional to practice patience, handle any last-minute issues (or crisis!) and prepare for a leadership role. I believe that those months as a teacher helped train me for a fast-paced career in public relations.

Returning to Clairemont a Year Later

In April 2021, I was ready to wrap up my teaching career and return to my true passion: public relations. I was thrilled for the opportunity to return to Clairemont and join Dana, Kelli and Tracy as a full-time member of the team. I look forward to this new chapter and what it holds.

Looking to join the Clairemont Communications team? Check out this post to learn more about our open position!

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Finding the Power in PR

Finding the Power in PR

September 8, 2020January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, The Clairemont Team#publicrelations, internship, journalism, Marketing, Storytelling

My mom loves her job. 

Throughout my 21 years of life, this truth has influenced my perception of work and ultimately, my own search for a career. Although the message was never explicitly stated, through my mother’s example I embraced the philosophy that one’s profession should be more. It should be a passion. 

My mom (left) enjoying her work as a Sommelier.

It wasn’t until I started college that I came to understand that not everyone is so lucky in life. It was a privilege to choose what I wanted to do for a living, and I felt an obligation to give back. I found myself entering UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Media and Journalism where I chose to major in traditional journalism and new media. 

Rushing Franklin St. after a Tar Heel win against Duke!

You might be thinking, “Why journalism?” And I know that given our political climate, where “fake news” and sensationalized stories run rampant, this is hard to believe; however, journalism remains a noble profession in my eyes, shedding light on socio-economic issues around the world and protecting our civil liberties through governmental checks.

There was only one issue: I didn’t love it. C’est la vie! 

A Global Perspective

My junior year, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris, France and intern for a journalism agency. This experience was different and challenging, but I realized that I wasn’t building the kind of relationships or seeing the tangible impact that I was craving in a career. I did, however, find myself taking pleasure in being a part of something greater. With a new perspective, I was able to consider a new possibility: Marketing and Public Relations. Ah la vache! (This means “OMG” in French and accurately describes my excitement for finding PR.)

Some friends and me on the Champs-Élysées in Paris

Seeing the Magic

I had a gut feeling this time. It just felt right and wasn’t the la vie en rose that I experienced with journalism. PR would allow me to apply my journalism background in a new way AND find satisfaction in my work through delivering a public service. Great public relations can help brands uphold decades of progress and move the needle of civil liberties. The strategies, tools and words we choose to tell stories are directly connected to our ability to change the world. When broadening a client’s grasp, PR has the power to imagine better. I believe that’s worthwhile. 

Coming to Clairemont 

I first heard of Clairemont Communications through the Hussman School’s weekly career services email. They stood out among the various company listings because they offered a real opportunity to be a part of the team. After my interview, I knew Clairemont was where I wanted to be. I could tell it was a special place to work, and I am thrilled to join such an innovative and passionate group of individuals. I can’t wait to learn more about the PR industry, as well as use storytelling and media in new and creative ways. 

Want to land your dream job or internship, too? Check out these stellar interview tips! Bonne chance!

By Clairemont intern Maia Guterbock, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill.

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#Clairemont10years

#Clairemont10years

January 8, 2020January 31, 2023 Dana PhelpsBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency#Clairemont10years, #publicrelations, #RaleighPR

Hello, 2020! As the whole world is making resolutions and looking ahead to the next decade, we at Clairemont are looking back at our first decade. That’s right! It is Clairemont’s 10th anniversary.

We’ll be celebrating throughout the year by sharing top 10 lists, TBTs and lots of hashtags —-> #Clairemont10years #Clairemont10 #Perfect10 #Clairemont10thAnniversary.

We have a lot of favorite memories from the last 10 years – of our work, of our clients and especially of our city. What about you? Shoot me an email and let me know! And if you feel like celebrating this milestone with us, stop by the Clairemont House any time!

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