|
THE
RGL HISTORY
Anyone who believes you can’t change history has never tried to write his memoir.
-
David Ben Gurion
An eventful look
back at our evolution ...
The history that
follows provides an interesting glance at world events that have
been making headlines for the past 21 years. At the Rodgers Group,
we were busy creating some newsworthy events of our own. Feel
free to time travel by clicking on the year of your choice. Here's
hoping you enjoy the journey.
2008...
The economy melted down. The presidential race heated up. Obama made history. Madonna made fifty. Castro resigned. Consumer spending declined. The government bailed out. Batman cashed in. General Motors stalled. Sarah Palin spoke. Tina Fey spoofed. Michael Phelps made a splash. The Rodgers Group made strides.
True Value Company relied on our team to provide strategic direction and writing in the redesign of their corporate web site - www.truevaluecompany.com. We also helped coordinate research and direct a user group focused on steering the content and redesign of Associatesonline, True Value’s intranet. True Value’s legal department called on our team to assist with the updating and packaging of the company’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics. Throughout the year we continued to help communicate the success stories behind the rollout of True Value’s new retail store format.
We also continued to play a valuable role in supporting the annual "open enrollment" process for long-standing client Cook County. Providing writing, design, production and fulfillment, this year we updated communication materials for the Cook County Benefits Office with eye-catching new visuals and a focus on the message of wellness.
2007...
Pelosi headed the House. Toys were recalled. Hollywood rehabbed. Barack took on Hillary. Wildfires whipped California. Home foreclosures spiked. The writers took a strike. Barry Bonds took a hit. David Beckham had some kicks. Al Gore was prized. Paris Hilton was jailed. Karl Rove was history. Hannah Montana cashed in. The Sopranos cashed out. Pavarotti took a final bow. Harry Potter closed a chapter. The Rodgers Group turned another page.
The year was significant on fronts both professional and personal. We continued to strengthen our role as communication partner with True Value Company in the launch of the company’s inaugural President’s Award honoring excellence. Our strategic and creative skills also were applied in the rollout of the client’s innovative new store format – Destination True Value – and continue to serve as an extension of their communication department.
Our work with long-standing clients also moved forward. We remained involved in helping to implement an Intranet redesign for the Technical Center at Baxter Healthcare. Once again we delivered communication materials to support the annual “open enrollment” process for the Cook County Benefits Office and the Office of the Retirement Board.
Finally, the year was marked by the loss of our friend and colleague Cheryl Greene, senior consultant, writer and editor. Following an extended battle with ovarian cancer, Cheryl died in September. Cheryl always will be a part of The Rodgers Group. She had a hand in every project and, during her 17 years with us, helped the firm earn a myriad of awards and recognition. Her presence remains in the outstanding work she completed, the relationships she forged and the respect she earned.
2006...
Consumers monitored trans fats. Bagged spinach was sacked. Enron executives were convicted. Iraq remained conflicted. New England flooded. Tom Cruised with Katie. Borat blazed the box office. Ugly Betty glowed on the tube. George Ryan was corrupt. Saddam Hussein was sentenced. Tom DeLay was demoted. Britney Spears became untethered. Paul McCartney went un-Heathered. Stem cell research heated up. Immigration issues ignited. North Korea went nuclear. Pluto was reclassified. Rumsfeld resigned. The Democrats rallied. The Rodgers Group revved.
The new year kept us busy with a new client. True Value Company called on us to help develop a communication strategy to deliver awareness and education messages to employees during the rollout of a critical new consumer brand campaign targeting do-it-yourself enthusiasts. In addition to concept development, design and writing for two printed news vehicles, we provided content and design input for the co-op’s quarterly newsletter and assisted with the redesign of associate intranet pages linked to timely co-op news and events.
We continued to move forward with key projects for long-term client Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Working with the Medication Delivery division, we completed a new element for that division’s Technical Center web site – an element focused on new employee orientation. We also received positive feedback regarding a new link that makes information easily accessible to engineers when they are writing protocols.
Our long-standing project work with Cook County also continued with writing, designing, producing and fulfilling communication materials that supported the annual “open enrollment” process for the Cook County Benefits Office and the Office of the Retirement Board.
2005...
Tsunami aid poured in. The new Food Pyramid rolled out. The Bird Flu loomed. Saddam Hussein fumed. Jessica Simpson degroomed. Pro hockey slid to a halt. The Shuttle relaunched. Watergate’s “Deep Throat” was revealed. Pope John Paul II was revered. Katrina ravaged New Orleans. Terrorists bombed London. Rioters pounded Paris. Everybody loved Raymond. Everybody missed Johnny Carson. Prince Charles was hitched. Martha Stewart was released. Michael Jackson was absolved. Sandra Day O’Connor walked away. John Roberts stepped up to the plate. The Chicago White Sox hit it out of the park. The Rodgers Group scored.
In many ways, it was a winning year. We completed an important research project designed to help the Greater Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association determine what types of programs will be needed in the development of training for those who work with Alzheimer’s patients. We continued our long-standing benefits communication work with Cook County, including timely information for retirees regarding new Medicare prescription drug plan options.
Ongoing projects with Baxter involved a new employee orientation program for Baxter’s Technical Center and working with engineers to help tailor an online writer’s guide and training program to support more efficient preparation of protocols and reports. We continued to be a key strategic resource to Hewlett-Packard management with surveys developed to target information tools needed to help managers achieve timely communication with employees. We also helped Total Resource Management with a wide variety of marketing and public relations assignments and played an important role in the development of an online training program for a system designed to handle information management to guide projects underway within a third world country. We started work with True Value Hardware and helped Travel Technology Group with an award-winning series of eblasts that complement their marketing offer for clients.
Finally, we were proud to mentor students at Chicago’s Beaubien Elementary School with design, copy and programming assistance as they redesigned their web site.
2004...
Bush beat Kerry. Hurricanes trounced Florida. The Boston Red Sox crushed the curse. Google launched its IPO. Rover landed on Mars. Martha Stewart landed behind bars. Bill Clinton bypassed. Friends parted ways. Mt. St. Helens spouted. Same-sex marriage simmered. Desperate Housewives surged. Reagan was mourned. Brando left a legacy. War in Iraq spiraled. Gas prices pumped. Flu vaccines dwindled. Michael Moore’s movie mocked. Janet Jackson’s wardrobe shocked. Poker fans flocked. The Rodgers Group rolled and rocked.
Launching the year with new client Total Resource Management (TRM), we provided communication strategy, support and e-training development for this asset management consulting and technology solutions provider based in Alexandria, Virginia. One of their projects, the design and deployment of technology systems to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq. We continued to tap into the technology of electronic surveys to help Hewlett-Packard’s communication group assess how managers perceive their role as communicators and identify training and support resources.
Working with Ivantage Group, an independent agency subsidiary of Allstate, RGL helped the new management team define audiences and develop a strategic communication plan. And we worked with Allstate on several key communication projects for other divisions of the corporation. We also were pleased to help the people of Irving Park Methodist Church launch a first-time web site so that they can take advantage of today’s technology to communicate on a timely basis with an increasingly diverse and younger congregation.
Travel Technology Group called on us to provide creative, marketing and public relations support for numerous projects as they celebrated their 20th “platinum” year as an industry leader in housing, registration and travel management. We capped the year with an exciting project for long-time client Baxter. We are working to develop a new employee orientation program and a protocol writing workshop for engineers.
2003...
War with Iraq erupted. The
Columbia Space Shuttle exploded. The Middle East Peace Plan stalled.
SARS struck Asia. Heat waves hit Europe. Sammy Sosa corked his
bat. Ben & J. Lo almost tied the knot. POW Jessica Lynch
was rescued. Governor Gray Davis was recalled. Rush Limbaugh
was rehabbed. Katherine Hepburn was remembered. Chicago garbage
piled up. Telemarketers piped down. David Letterman entered into
fatherhood. Schwarzenegger muscled into politics. The Cubs slammed
their way to a division pennant. The Rodgers Group drove home
exciting research.
If ever there was a prevailing theme, the focus in 2003 proved
to be on our expanding expertise in using technology to facilitate
customized research for our clients. A breakthrough project for
the Alzheimer's Association enabled its targeted survey audience
(the scientific community) to link online and complete electronic
information, resulting in a streamlined, more efficient process.
Hewlett-Packard continued to turn to The Rodgers Group for
guidance in assessing its internal communication resources. In
addition to developing a survey to determine how business groups
used the company's internal electronic news and information site,
RGL also steered research and focus groups to evaluate and examine
the role that managers play in the communication process.
Finally, our team spent the year plunging into a satisfying
personal project: coordinating the editing and design of a compelling
memoir tracing the career and accomplishments of Washington journalist
Gertrude L. Poe, the first female elected to the post of president
for a state press association and named the first lady of journalism
by the University of Maryland.
2002...
The war on terrorism took
hold. Corporate corruption let loose. Bin Laden was under cover.
Arafat was confined. Enron collapsed. An oil tanker took a spill.
Martha Stewart got crafty with stocks. England's queen celebrated
a golden jubilee. American Idol was a TV jamboree. Vote
rigging chilled Olympic skaters. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
scored hot at the box office. Church scandals shocked. The Osbournes
rocked. Weapons inspectors returned to Iraq. Pennsylvania miners
emerged from below. Steve Fossett ballooned the globe. The Rodgers
Group sailed aloft.
It was a challenging year for many companies. They didn't
hesitate to contact The Rodgers Group to steer a variety of communication
projects. With a stronger-than-ever senior level team, we had
the experience in place to help clients introduce new products,
bring the personalities of their companies to the web and expand
to other communication from print to high-end electronic.
Entering our 16th year with a client that's been with us from
the start, we created a new employee newsletter for a major business
group of Material Sciences Corporation. New clients tapped into
our web expertise from spa and salon developer Lenny LaCour
to United Financial Group. Progeny called on us to help conduct
research with dentists on how to distribute a new product. Hewlett-Packard
relied on our advanced technology resources to develop media
communication training for members of its executive team. We
continued to support Travel Technology Group with ongoing web
content, the launch of electronic newsletters, development of
a sales CD and public relations and marketing strategies for
the rollout of Trek-Quest.com.
On the lighter side, we jazzed the IABC 2002 International
Conference by coordinating and promoting a soul-stirring lineup
of blues music and dance performances to showcase "the rhythm
of Chicago."
2001...
Bush was inaugurated. Taxes
were rebated. Michael Jordan rebounded. The economy receded.
The Chicago Bears revived. Michael Jackson and the Cubs tried.
The Mir space station retired. Fans loved Lucy for 50 years.
15 minutes of fame was prolonged by Britney Spears. Venus Williams
"Grand Slammed" Serena. The Producers stormed
Broadway. Sharks assaulted Florida. Hurricane Michelle pounded
Cuba. Terrorism assailed the nation. New York was ground zero.
Resilience inspired heroes. Americans came to grips with war.
The Rodgers Group held out hope for peace.
In a year marked by the unsettling events of September, The
Rodgers Group stood steady as a reliable strategic resource to
clients. Our collaboration with Hallmark Cards resulted in a
presentation of the award-winning communication audit results
at IABC's International Conference in New York City. We teamed
up with Encompass Insurance (formerly CNA Personal Insurance)
to prepare a communication plan for its innovative, web-based
policy administration system. Ongoing creative work for Travel
Technology Group's web site prompted the client to praise the
design and layout as "first class" and the content
"solid and eye-catching."
Our long-standing relationship with Cook County continued.
Beyond updating "open enrollment" communication packages
for active and retired employees, we produced a procedures manual
for the "Timekeepers" who administer benefits for each
department. We judged the Best of the Best competition for Sears'
communication professionals and assisted with the awards program.
We started work with Hewlett Packard on executive communication
training. And we continued work with image and identity programs
for several Chicago law firms.
Finally, while helping clients maintain business-as-usual
in a climate that was anything but, we responded to world events
by launching a Peace Project to promote a message of hope.
2000...
The job market accelerated.
Gas prices soared. Harry Potter flew off the shelves. Yeltsin
resigned. Milosevic got the boot. The Dixie Chicks had the beat.
Elian Gonzalez made waves in Miami. Hillary Clinton made history
in New York. Darva Conger wanted to marry a millionaire. Then
she didn't. Corn was genetically altered. So was Cher. "Survivor"
swept the ratings. Regis ruled the airways. Dr. Laura rocked
critics. The Subway Series rallied fans. Streisand cashed it
in. Bush and Gore duked it out. The Election dragged on and on.
The Rodgers Group won the popular vote.
The new millennium brought new clients.
And new challenges. The Rodgers Group was called on to help companies
crystallize communication messages ranging from eBusiness solutions
for iLogistix to a web site developed for Travel Technology Group.
Our expertise in research caught the attention of Sisters of
Mercy Health Systems, resulting in the launch of an audit of
its communication programs. Our collaborative efforts with Hallmark
Cards in 1999 won recognition throughout 2000 and resulted in
follow-up research - this time, with Gold Crown retailers.
We continued to assist Baxter Healthcare
with the creation of professional development tools for its technicians,
and for the ninth year, produced benefits "open enrollment"
communication packages for both active and retired employees
of Cook County. We continue to assist Encompass Insurance (formerly
known as CNA Personal Insurance) with delivery of critical messages
to employees and independent agents.
On the personal path, members of the
RGL team and its circle of creative communicators took on their
own eclectic challenges including climbing mountains, teaching
art, promoting vision awareness, producing independent films,
and putting a best foot forward to master tap dancing.
1999...
Chicago was pummeled
by snow. New York was pondered by Hillary. The economy energized.
E-commerce capitalized. Microsoft monopolized. La Niña
settled in. Low-carb diets took off. The Blair Witch Project
went through the roof. Wayne Gretzky left the ice. Mick Jagger
left his wife. Ricky Martin was "Livin' La Vida Loca."
Pokémon was in. Ally McBeal grew thin. The Cubs didn't
win. The century turned. The Rodgers Group was Y2K ready.
Although the prospect of
doing business in the 21st century may have been a daunting concept
to some, The Rodgers Group was fully prepared. Working for more
than a decade with an eye toward the future, we long had been
comfortable communicating with tomorrow's technology. In 1999,
our ever-evolving web site proved to be a user-friendly resource
for clients and was honored with its first design award. Challenging
projects tapped into our expertise - from production of a multimedia
tribute presented at a benefit for The Chicago Lighthouse to
completion of a comprehensive communication audit for Hallmark
Cards. Along the way, the path led us to a rewarding "walk"
in Y-Me's Race Against Breast Cancer. With miles of experience
under our belts, the RGL team was fully conditioned to cross
into the next century.
1998...
Sinatra left
a void. Swing dancing filled The Gap. Titanic surged. Japan's
economy tanked. Hurricane Mitch went overboard. Sosa and McGwire
were a hit. The NBA locked out. Seinfeld took a hike. Monica
took the stand. Bill postured. Linda tripped. Newt tumbled. Furbys
flew out the door. John Glenn returned to outer space. The Rodgers
Group launched into cyberspace.
1998 was another
active year. It also marked the year The Rodgers Group went interactive.
The unveiling of our new web site propelled our communication
capabilities on a worldwide leap. We continued collaborating
with long-time clients on challenging projects. In addition to
the National Alzheimer's Educational Conference, our team also
worked on benefits communication materials for Cook County's
Employee Health Care Program, which we've been involved with
since 1992. As the year progressed, Hallmark Cards called on
us to manage a major communication audit. Our efforts continued
to provide rewards - and awards. A communication package for
the Sears Executive Compensation Program was recognized with
an IABC Silver Quill. Capping a year of growth, we were pleased
to share our good fortune by joining forces with Y-ME National
Breast Cancer Organization to lend support in the fight to find
a cure.
1997...
El Nino blew
in. Ellen came out. Chelsea went away. The Spice Girls hung around.
Star Wars gained re-entry. Barbie was reconfigured. Taxes were
reformed. Ground beef was recalled. Mike Tyson chomped. Frank
Gifford cheated. Marv Albert chafed. The Chicago Bears choked.
Al Gore was probed. The paparazzi were skewered. The McCaugheys
multiplied. The Rodgers Group expanded.
The finale of another
eventful year signaled the start of our second decade in a business
that continued to challenge and satisfy. It was a good time to
catch our collective breath and reflect. Since first opening
our doors in 1987, The Rodgers Group family had grown - not only
professionally, but personally. Marriages had bloomed; babies
had brightened our lives (and enlivened our schedules); new friends
had entered (and departed) the bursting folds of our growing
network. Determination and hard work may have helped us thrive,
but the opportunity to work with the best clients and colleagues
was why we continued to enjoy the ride.
1996...
Sears Tower relinquished
its world title. The Bulls reclaimed theirs. JFK Jr. tied the
knot. Bob Dole was in a bind. Madonna became maternal. The Macarena
droned eternal. Cigars were hot. Cappuccino was cool. Dennis
Rodman wore a dress. Demi Moore wore somewhat less. Di and Charles
called it a day. The Rodgers Group called it a decade.
Approaching ten
years at the forefront, The Rodgers Group had come full circle.
As corporate clients continued to face the evolving challenge
of reorganizing, divesting and acquiring new business, the demand
for sophisticated and strategic communication expertise was greater
than ever. The Rodgers Group integrated new technologies and
internal efficiencies. The company took on projects that pulled
on its full spectrum of capabilities, technologies and creative
solutions. From compensation programs aimed at top executives
to policy communication targeting service employees, The Rodgers
Group did what it does best - got the message across with integrity,
innovation and impact.
1995...
The baseball
strike ended. The trial of the century began. The Republicans
heated up Congress. The midwest sweltered. Cal Ripken ripped
a record. The 49ers smashed the Super Bowl. Shannon Faulkner
shattered the Citadel. The Million Man March made strides. Bob
Packwood took a hike. The Rodgers Group picked up the pace.
The initial growing
pains had subsided. The Rodgers Group stood ready to flex its
muscles. IBM called for assistance with marketing to small business.
Sears asked for help in the lead it was taking to introduce a
drug-free workplace. The Rodgers Group was challenged with creating
an integrated, bi-lingual communication and training package
for roll-out to more than 350,000 associates. A communication
audit for a West Coast-based health care alliance became the
second Touchstone Award winning research project for The Rodgers
Group in three years. The network was in place to provide clients
with the talent they needed when and where they needed it. People
were in place and adrenaline was in force. The Rodgers Group
had what it took to run at the front of the pack.
1994...
George Foreman
pulled off the heavyweight title. Air Jordan tried his hand at
the minor leagues. Tonya Harding took a whack at the Olympics.
The Lion King roared. Whitewater gurgled. Michael Jackson took
a bride. Kato Kaelin took the stand. The Wonderbra took hold.
Men were from Mars. Women were from Venus. The Rodgers Group
was virtually everywhere.
The traditional
company no longer existed. Small business was booming. More women
were taking charge. Organizations were discovering strategic
new ways of working - from flex schedules to satellite offices.
New ways of working required new ways of communicating. As entrepreneurs
whose business was pioneered on pliability, The Rodgers Group
was equipped to guide others through this dynamic transition.
By serving clients as an adjunct resource, it was possible to
provide structure in a workplace no longer centralized. For those
clients who no longer had communication functions, The Rodgers
Group filled in. Asea Brown Boveri called on this team to help
integrate its Westinghouse purchase by assisting human resources
staffs at 20+ U.S. locations. Whirlpool needed clearly stated
relocation information for employees around the globe. The Rodgers
Group was the virtual communication company at work.
1993...
The Fugitive
escaped. Heidi Fleiss got caught. The Bobbitts went to court.
Elvis was sighted on a stamp. Jurassic Park made a killing. Barney
survived. The east coast was snowed in. The midwest was soaked.
The Hubble telescope put the world in perspective. The Rodgers
Group kept its eyes on the road.
Paved with promise,
the path to the information highway was daunting. As technology
continued to drive communication, the challenge ahead became
clear. It would require keeping up to speed with the latest tools
and steering clients to the most appropriate means of applying
technology without compromising quality practices. Technology
brought less required time on the road and more opportunities
to build alliances with Chicago talents and clients. The strategy
was simple: allow clients to plug into a reliable network of
well-grounded professionals. Understand what works. Use technology
and talent effectively. Offer solutions based on solid experience,
not hard sell.
1992...
Bill Clinton
edged his way to the Oval office. Johnny Carson stepped away
from his desk. Dan Quayle had family values. Howard Stern had
shock value. Chicago flooded. Step aerobics pumped. Achy Breaky
Heart pounded. Jackie Joyner-Kersee made a run for the gold.
The Rodgers Group made a splash with the silver.
The work had always
been rewarding. Now it was being noticed over and over again.
A comprehensive benefits program developed for Chicago's Cook
County active and retired employees was recognized by the International
Association of Business Communicators. McDonald's chose The Rodgers
Group to assist with internal research with stores throughout
the U.S. Sears and Whirlpool turned to us with a variety of benefits-related
communication challenges. The Rodgers Group had managed to not
only keep its head above water, but make waves during its first
five years. The ripple effect was creating a surge of excitement.
The consulting business envisioned by Vicci Rodgers - with the
help of some very special friends and mentors - was taking on
some big competitors ... and coming out the winner.
1991...
Boris Yeltzin
stepped in. Clarence Thomas was sworn in. Flashy neckties were
wearing thin. Mount Pinatubo erupted. Desert Storm exploded.
Thirtysomething was put out of its misery. Donald Trump went
under. Thelma and Louise went over the top. Corporations downsized.
The Rodgers Group sized it up.
What had started
as consultation to the defense and manufacturing industries was
growing in scope. Clients calling on The Rodgers Group ranged
from industrial-based companies to organizations representing
government, service and technology. The network of expertise
also expanded. The link was strengthened to critical skill areas
in engineering, compensation, public relations and marketing.
Clients wanted more than initial consultation and research that
surfaced communication issues. They wanted the talent that could
help them solve their problems and implement recommendations.
By tapping into consultants representing more than 25 years of
experience in specialized areas and by growing the full-time
staff, The Rodgers Group was fast becoming both a think tank
and resource pool for our clients.
1990...
Lech Walesa took
control. Schwarzkopf took command. Moscow took to the Big Mac.
Millie The Dog made the best-seller list. Milli Vanilli was in
the doghouse. Cincinnati upset Oakland. Roseanne ravaged the
National Anthem. Margaret Thatcher threw in the towel. Goodfellas
cleaned up. The Rodgers Group continued to shine.
A rapidly evolving
business climate demanded a fresh approach to reaching audiences
- both internal and external. Innovative communication plans
were needed for employee benefit programs, mergers and acquisitions,
compensation strategies, marketing efforts and other internal
and external campaigns. As The Rodgers Group continued to build
a reputation, word spread. Companies were discovering the value
of drawing on the experience of a network of industry experts
and skilled communicators who understood their business needs.
The virtual communication company was taking shape.
1989...
Bush was inaugurated.
Panama was invaded. Zsa Zsa was incarcerated. Salmon Rushdie
went into hiding. The Little Mermaid surfaced. The Berlin Wall
came down. Wayne and Garth were captured by aliens ... not! South
Carolina was hurricaned. San Francisco was badly shaken. The
Rodgers Group was on steady ground.
As change and upheaval
continued to send shock waves through business and industry,
it would take a strong link of communication between management
and labor to maintain the stability to move forward. Employees
needed to be heard. Managers needed an open ear. Companies needed
communication support in research and evaluation, strategies
and training. Tailoring its pool of talent and services to organizations
of all sizes, The Rodgers Group quickly established the key elements
to its strategic approach: offering a professional team of industry
specialists; practical experience in every avenue of communication;
and flexibility applied to all areas of business. The Rodgers
Group proved to be adept at adapting.
1988...
America devoured
oat bran. Oprah discovered Optifasting. Dustin Hoffman was in
Rain Man. The U.S. was in a drought. Leona Helmsley was in deep.
Jimmy Swaggert exposed his dark side. Wrigley Field saw the lights.
Playboy bunnies became extinct. The Rodgers Group was hopping.
Leaping into its
second year, The Rodgers Group soon discovered that clients wanted
on-site consulting and an extension of their own communication
functions and that's what they got. From labor contract negotiations
to reorganizations ... facility shutdowns to total quality launches,
clients were offered the resources to help them manage change
through effective communication. The Rodgers Group team started
to grow to meet the communication challenges being presented
by companies like General Dynamics, Hobart, and Material Sciences
Corporation. And our work was recognized with awards for outstanding
research and communication program development.
| 
