Part Two of Two Parts

By JOHN KEREZY, eyeoncleveland.com founder

COLUMBUS – To be successful in the communications business, smaller firms or solo practitioners must exhibit many ambitious characteristics like terrific customer service, attention to detail, and responsiveness to client needs. To truly make an impact, a firm should help clients anchor their marketing and communications strategies to meaningful business outcomes. This is where Kevin Saghy and his new business Earned Impression shines.

Saghy’s track record of improving measurable results is why some of his first clients come from past associations. Others come from business and social contacts during his years in Columbus and, before that, Chicago.

One such client is the non-profit Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes. Kyle Schwarber, the 31-year-old DH/left fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, and his wife Paige began the organization to create positive experiences for first responder families. Among its many activities, Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes funds wellness, education, and crisis needs for those families. Here’s a link: https://schwarbersneighborhoodheroes.org/

Caring about first responders is an integral part of Schwarber’s DNA. His father was a police officer, his mother a nurse. Kyle is very much from middle-class roots as well, born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, about 40 miles north of Cincinnati.

Through his past association with the Chicago Cubs and with Connie Falcone, Saghy is working with her organization, Firefly Group Advisors, a business which helps professional athletes amplify their impact beyond the game through more effective sports philanthropy. [See Firefly’s web page here: https://fireflygroupadvisors.com/] In this role, he’s helping Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes accomplish its most important community engagement and fundraising goals.

“Athletes often have the passion, but not the time or expertise, to follow their philanthropic passion, and that’s why we started Firefly Group. We know that athletes gain benefits for their causes by working with a trusted advisor who can help them create impact off the field,” Falcone explains.

“Kevin was part of that trusted team, alongside us with players we supported (together) at the Cubs. He knows that in sports philanthropy, a professional athlete or sports team can drive funding and awareness for communities of need,” she adds.

“We can talk all day about the important of funding wellness for first responders, but it would take years (of communication) to reach the ears and hearts of as many people as a favorite athlete who cares — such as Kyle Schwarber — can touch with just one social media post,” Falcone says. “Kevin deeply understands that power of communication in sports, and how it can move ‘the needle’ and get people to take action. He’s demonstrated this proficiency time and time again. He’s our perfect partner in helping athletes build their legacy off the field.”

Another initial Earned Impression client is 30PR, a Columbus-based public relations agency whose members have guided communications strategy for well-known brands and served as advisers to leaders at the highest levels of government, corporate, education and non-profit sectors. Amazon, Tesla, The Ohio State University, Pew Charitable Trust, the Governor, Attorney General, and Supreme Court of Ohio are among past and current beneficiaries of counsel from the members of 30PR. Here’s a link to the firm’s web site: https://thirtypr.com/

“I first worked with Kevin at The Ohio State University, where I was vice president for communications and chief spokesperson. We collaborated very closely over several years, managing the university’s brand for the long-term while often being called upon to coordinate communications response in some intense crisis situations,” Chris Davey, co-founder and partner of 30PR, explains. “As Woody Hayes said, ‘You win with people.’ Kevin is good people. He knows his craft and always plays for the team.

“We help 30PR clients succeed in the new information environment through our strong digital capacity combined with ‘old school’ communications such as media relations, events, crisis response, etc.,” Davey adds. “We see Kevin and his firm as key partners in our digital focus, and that’s critical in an ever-evolving communications environment.”

Also joining Earned Impression as an anchor client is the Tradesman Group LLC. In business for more than 25 years, the Tradesman Group is a full-service restoration company with a proven track record of rehabilitating and restoring significant structures. Their website, soon to be redesigned as part of an audience-centric channel refresh, is https://www.tradesmengroup.com/

After getting introduced to the Tradesman Group, Saghy was immediately intrigued with their business and compelling opportunities for effective storytelling. “This organization is passionate about preserving the history of our country for future generations, and they have done or are currently undertaking major projects in notable markets such as Nashville, Savannah, and Washington DC,” he says.

“We changed our business structure to a 100-percent, employee-owned business,” explains Rick Freitag, chief executive officer of the Tradesman Group. “We were seeking a PR/Marketing company to represent us and our Tradesman Crane & Equipment company. Kevin was recommended to us.”

Earned Impression will also be handling significant communications and marketing activities for the Tradesman group. “Kevin will develop and promote curated stories about our work and purpose, for internal and external marketing, through multiple media sources,” Freitag explains. “He’ll harmonize our messaging and help promote The Tradesman Group (TTG) and Tradesmen Crane & Equipment (TCE)’s visibility. He’ll also optimize and magnify our social media and digital presence to help build and develop our companies for the future.

“He’s the right person to represent and promote TTG and TCE to the world,” Freitag adds.

Earned Impression’s initial clients have many commonalities. They are highly regarded organizations whose activities are associated with the public good. They have experienced and dedicated professional leadership at the top. And they are all turning to Kevin Saghy’s company to help tell their stories in support of their most meaningful goals.

“My initial uncertainty about having to pitch and win new clients quickly dissipated once I started having conversations about the strategic planning process we use to drive results beyond typical media metrics,” explains Saghy. “Many brands manage owned, earned and paid channels, but few do so with complete alignment to their goals and the target audiences whose actions will accomplish them. Once you see the upside to building and executing such an intentional strategic plan, it’s hard to accept anything less.

“I can’t describe how thankful I am to have an initial group of clients who understand this value and entrust me to be their partner to deliver it,” he concludes.

It is clear Saghy is motivated to succeed, and his clients who’ve bought in early stand to be the main beneficiaries.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH KEVIN SAGHY

Email: kevin@earnedimpression.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsaghy

Website: www.earnedimpression.com