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November 16, 2020 By becky

New Buildings Institute

For more than 20 years, New Buildings Institute has been pushing for better energy performance in buildings. NBI works collaboratively with industry market players—governments, utilities, energy efficiency advocates and building professionals—to promote advanced design practices, innovative technologies, public policies and programs that improve energy efficiency. As the building industry has shifted from measuring performance in kilowatt-hours to measuring performance in carbon emissions, NBI has been a key player in shaping the policies and programs that help cities and states set a course toward carbon neutrality.

435 Indio Zero Energy Offices

435 Indio Way Net Zero Energy Offices, photo by Bruce Damonte

Since 2018, Pitchfork Communications has been assisting NBI with communication efforts, including blogging, public relations and technical writing and editing.

Services Provided

Public Relations
Blogging
Editing

Selected Media Coverage

5 Ways to Future Proof a Building - Grist.com

Zeroing In On Zero Energy Buildings - Commercial Property Executive

Zero Energy-Verified Commercial Buildings More Than Double Since 2018 - MarketWatch

Getting to zero carbon buildings requires zero carbon codes - EnergyCentral.com

Editing 

Improving Health and Resilience Through Better Building Design

Bringing Heat Pump Water Heaters Into the Mainstream

Could Coronovirus Be a Wake Up Call for Climate Action?

Getting to Zero With the Passive House Design Standard

Filed Under: work

June 15, 2020 By becky

Alliance For Higher Education in Prison

The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison believes all people, regardless of their location or circumstance, should have access to quality higher education. The nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colorado, is working collaboratively to advance the field of higher education in prison by supporting practitioners and students, producing reliable data and research, and communicating the need, importance, and value of quality higher education in prison.

Freedom Education Project at Puget Sound

Pitchfork Communications began working with the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison in 2019, soon after the organization hired its first executive director. Our first project was creating a Communication Plan, which would serve as an invaluable tool for the staff, board and volunteers. During the discovery phase, we read through the Alliance's founding documents and conducted interviews with current and former board members as well as staff.

Once the Communication Plan was complete, we went on to craft copy for the Alliance's future website. We introduced the organization to Blue Marble Creative, which helped bring the Alliance's story and work to life through beautiful illustrations and a user-friendly design. The Alliance launched its new site in February 2020. It has been an invaluable tool for the organization, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alliance was able to quickly launch a COVID-19 Action Page and archive a weekly community digest for its community members to access. 

"Each day, we began to lean on Becky more and more to help support the launch of our organization. Becky took the time to listen closely and with great curiosity to learn about our work and the industry-specific needs of our organization. She thoughtfully shepherded our team through a complete strategic communication planning, design and implementation process."

— Mary Gould, Director, Alliance for Higher Education in Prison

Services Provided

Communication Planning

Public Relations

 

Download the Communication Plan  

Alliance Communication Plan

Filed Under: work

June 1, 2020 By becky

Cycle Oregon

Cycle Oregon produces fully-supported, expertly-managed bike rides for cyclists of all levels that showcase Oregon’s natural beauty and rural communities.

The nonprofit organization takes riders through some of Oregon’s most iconic landscapes and welcoming small towns. Each Cycle Oregon event includes meticulously planned routes, healthy food stops, mobile bike mechanics, sag-wagons and friendly volunteers along the way. At the end of the day, riders enjoy hot showers, a beer and wine garden, live music and heaping plates of locally sourced food.

Cycle Oregon

Pitchfork Communications began working with Cycle Oregon in December 2018. Our primary goal was to increase registration for the Classic event while also attracting more people to check out Cycle Oregon's other, newer events (Gravel, Weekender and Joyride). Our secondary goal was to increase awareness about Cycle Oregon's impact on communities throughout the state through its philanthropic activities.

Due to our efforts, Cycle Oregon received coverage from more than 50 news outlets, including broadcast, radio and print publications (see sidebar for a sampling of coverage).

In 2020, we led the PR campaign around Cycle Oregon's announcement of its 2020 rides, gaining extensive coverage and helping boost registration. Then, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States, we helped Cycle Oregon create a communication plan and FAQ for the postponement of its GRAVEL ride. Eventually, when the board made the hard decision to cancel the entire season, we helped Cycle Oregon with the communication plan, FAQ and PR around the 2020 season cancellation. 

Services Provided

Public Relations
Graphic Design

A sampling of Cycle Oregon coverage

Let's take a Joyride! - Lake Oswego Review

Cycle Oregon’s uphill climb - Portland Business Journal

Bikes bridge cultural divide - The Register-Guard (Eugene)

Cycle Oregon to bring hundreds of cyclists to Central Oregon - The Bulletin (Bend)

Cycle Oregon returns to Central Oregon - KTVZ-TV (Bend)

2020 Cycle Oregon will ‘Ride the Painted Hills’ with easier route options, focus on community service - BikePortland

Cycle Oregon announces 2020 bike rides at scenic destinations around the state - OregonLive

Cycle Oregon cancels all 2020 events due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic - OregonLive

Morning Conversation: Steve Schulz - KQEN-FM (Roseburg)

 

Download the Cycle Oregon
2020 Press Kit 

Cycle Oregon 2020 Press Kit

Filed Under: work

May 31, 2020 By becky

City of Forest Grove

The City of Forest Grove, population 24,600, is just 26 miles west of Portland and home to Pacific University and a vibrant business community. It's known as a gateway to the Tillamook National Forest as well as the North Willamette Valley wine country. The City believes great communication is essential for reaching the City’s goals and objectives, particularly around providing excellent customer service and upholding its responsibility as a government to preserve the democratic process. In 2019, the City of Forest Grove engaged Pitchfork Communications to help with the development of internal and external communication policies as well as a communications plan.

City of Forest Grove Communication Plan

first completed a situation analysis of the City's internal and external communications. We reviewed existing communication policies, written procedures, branding and communication guides, strategic planning documents, and the City's various communication channels. We interviewed staff from the City Manager's Office and various city departments to determine what was working and what was not in regard to internal and external communication, what's the level of public engagement, and we developed a list of recommendations.

We then developed an internal communication policy that included the following: email, Internet and equipment policy, social media policy and media relations guidelines. We also developed an external communication policy that included the following: updated social media management guidelines (hashtags, guidelines for each social media channel, Dos and Don’ts of social media, Tips for On-Camera & Print Interviews), website policy and best practices, media relations guidelines, public-facing forms (downloads), and a press release template.

With these policies in place, we create a communication plan that outlined the City's communication goals, key audiences, tone/voice, style guidelines, brand guidelines, photo guidelines and communication goals, strategies, tactics and measurements of success. The process helped the City's communication staff realize all the various tools that were already available to them — a Style Guide, Branding Guidelines, etc. — and together determine how to efficiently and effectively use these tools to more effectively communicate to City residents.

Services Provided

Communications Planning
Graphic Design

ForestGrove_CommunicationsPlan_Cover

Filed Under: work

May 20, 2019 By becky

Columbia Land Trust

Columbia Land Trust is working to conserve and care for the heart of the Northwest, the places that make the Columbia River Gorge an incredible region to live, work, raise a family, and grow old in. Pitchfork Communications partnered with Scheinberg Consulting to complete a communications assessment for the East Cascade Oak Partnership. The communications assessment revealed important insights into the communication preferences of many of the group’s stakeholders. 

Columbia Land Trust

By interviewing stakeholders, conducting research and advising the partnership around a community survey, we learned about specific language to avoid, messages that resonate or alienate, what sources of information stakeholder groups trust, and how to effectively deliver information, or more accurately, how to learn toward a common goal. Learn more about the East Cascades Oak Partnership and how the group intends to leverage the communications assessment. 

Services Provided

Communications Assessment
Graphic Design

Learn More

Download the Communications Assessment

Read "Know Your Audience: Talking Oaks With People in the East Cascades"

Download the Guide 

East Cascades Oak Partnership

Filed Under: work

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