Gordley Group

J.P.

Gordley Group — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:46:54 +0000

Public Involvement Coordinator
Role: Information Facilitator “The Glue”

As a native Tucsonan, I am very passionate about my role as Public Involvement Coordinator. Having grown up in a Spanish-speaking household, I experienced first-hand the importance of ease and access to information. It’s an honor to serve the community by ensuring our public-sector clients hear the concerns and needs of constituents on issues that affect our day-to-day lives. This includes responding to public inquiries and concerns, providing communication through informational materials, and coordinating and facilitating various types of meetings and special events to engage the public. As an involved member of our Tucson community, I serve on the board of directors for a few local organizations and also serve as a super volunteer at large. Most recently, I was honored with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and the Maurice Grossman Award for Community Outreach. My favorite role in life is as a mother to an amazing son.

Jessica Pacheco
jessicap@gordleygroup.com

Favorite Quote:

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” — Steve Jobs

BJ

Gordley Group — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:43:27 +0000

Public Involvement Specialist
Role: Puzzlemaster

In my role as public involvement specialist, I put people together with ideas and projects that affect their lives, and I put words together that inform and explain.

While my past career as a newspaper and online journalist had many fulfilling moments, meeting new people, finding common interests and having a more active, participatory role in my community are hugely rewarding.

Whether it’s researching and producing information on a road project or speaking in public about an issue affecting people, my ease with writing and speaking in plain language gives our Gordley clients the ability to connect on all levels.

I used these skills during recent work with the UA College of Public Health performing community outreach on behalf of the obesity-prevention grant known as Communities Putting Prevention to Work. That position led directly to my board membership on the Living Streets Alliance, a new, exciting group that advocates for bicycle and pedestrian issues and creative ways to use streets as public space.

My knowledge of local and national issues was sharpened over a 25-year career in news, sports and features at the Arizona Daily Star, The Seattle Times and The Boston Globe. That experience also translates into insight into the world of media.

Outside of work, I like to play and coach my kids in soccer and strum a bass. Most of all, I care about Tucson. Deeply. My family has lived in Southern Arizona since the 1880s. I know this region as well as I know the stories behind the El Tiradito shrine and local television personalities Uncle Bob and Dr. Scar. If you want to know something about Old Pueblo politics, sports, education, transportation or downtown, I have answers beyond “It’s a dry heat.” And if I don’t know the answer, I know how to find it.

BJ Bartlett
bj@gordleygroup.com

Favorite Quote:

“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them … well, I have others.” — Groucho Marx

David

Gordley Group — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:39:50 +0000

Public Involvement Specialist
Role: The distiller – helping get to the essence of an issue.

Clarity often can be a challenge when it comes to complex issues. As a newspaper reporter and editor for several years, trade magazine editor for a dozen more, and most recently a communications and public involvement professional, I take tons of notes on what people say in public meetings and one-on-one or group interviews. The challenge is to distill those thoughts in a way that encapsulates the essence of not only what people say but how they want to say it – balancing different perspectives fairly and seeking out other opinions if all sides aren’t represented. An Indianapolis native with cultural roots in South America, I’m a Spanish speaker. I hold a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University, and am completing work toward a Graduate Certificate in Water Policy from the University of Arizona. I’ve covered business, government and politics for newspapers in Indiana, Georgia, Florida and Arizona, and have been editor of and written for several water and wastewater industry publications. I believe collaborative processes that meld the ideas of many minds are the best way to arrive at sustainable solutions to the decisions we’re required to make in arriving at a mutually beneficial answer to today’s challenges. Like most parents, I hope to leave the world a better place – one that allows for progress but preserves the best of the natural environment and diverse heritage that makes the Southwest such a wonderful place to live – not just for my son’s generation, but for their children’s as well.

David Mogollón
david@gordleygroup.com

Favorite Quote:

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” — Lily Tomlin

Get People Talking

Gordley Group — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:27:20 +0000

Gordley Group is known for our highly successful communication and relationship building expertise used in a wide range of projects, involving groups with diverse and often complex interests. We are passionate about enriching people’s lives and making communities a better place to live by bringing people together.

Biogas Utilization Master Plan

Gordley Group — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:37:17 +0000

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Systemwide Biosolids and Biogas Utilization Master Plan

Challenge:

The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) wanted to develop a long-term biosolids/biogas management and utilization strategy to maximize the beneficial use of biosolids and support the County’s Sustainability Plan. Biosolids, non-hazardous processed wastewater solids, have varying levels of treatment standards that allow for many uses, including agriculture and land reclamation. But because of their source, they carry a certain “yuck” factor. Pima County needed to understand who the potential users might be, their concerns, what biosolids products they would likely use and how to encourage a positive reaction.

Solution:

Gordley assisted with identifying potential public and private biosolids products users and facilitated meetings with them and the consultant technical team. At the meetings, potential users were able to discuss their plans and learn about the benefits and positive traits of biosolids products.

Results:

Many potential users became enthusiastic supporters of the County’s biosolids efforts and were interested in the prospect of using it to their advantage in various forms. Through discussions, the team was able to successfully identify additional potential users. The results of Gordley’s stakeholder engagement process were used to help provide direction to RWRD regarding the future direction of the biosolids program.

Academy Village

Gordley Group — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:23:44 +0000

Situation:

Academy Village is a unique retirement community that was initially created for individuals retired from academia. Early marketing efforts focused solely on this niche and did not capture the interest of the much larger market of affluent retirees living in or relocating to Tucson. Sales were well below expectations.

Solution:

Gordley elicited input from current residents to help define the community’s core attributes and characteristics, and redirected the marketing efforts, including the brand message, to attract a wider audience of qualified retirees, including non-academic seniors.

Results:

The multimedia campaign succeeded in increasing overall awareness, as well as traffic and sales among both out-of-state winter visitors and local residents. In one year, new home sales increased tenfold compared to the prior year.

Basket Bridge Dedication

Gordley Group — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:22:52 +0000

Challenge:

The 240-foot “Basket Bridge” provided a critical link in Tucson’s pedestrian and bicycle path system. This bridge connected downtown Tucson with the southeast side of town. The City of Tucson wanted to increase community awareness of the new connection and celebrate the opening of the bridge in concert with the Tour de Tucson and related festivities.

Solution:

Gordley worked closely with the project team to stage a high-profile event, which reached out to bicycle and pedestrian groups throughout the region. The dedication was held the day before El Tour de Tucson as part of the festivities, and culminated in the first ride/walk over the bridge, with the bridge artist’s granddaughter cutting the ribbon and leading scores of cyclists and pedestrians across the bridge.

Results:

International celebrities, including Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, attended the dedication, along with over 100 other attendees. The event received positive news media coverage, heightening the community’s awareness of the improvements. Client organizers remarked on the success of the event and how it exceeded their expectations.

Catholic Foundation

Gordley Group — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:22:07 +0000

Challenge:

Catholic Foundation was established to build endowments to support the pastoral missions of the Diocese of Tucson. Since the Foundation was not well known or understood, they wanted to build greater awareness and understanding within the community in order to increase support and fund the needs of the Diocese. Additionally, the Foundation wanted to distinguish itself from other organizations competing for resources. To achieve these goals, and build endowments, the Foundation recognized the need to review its brand and the way it was expressed to both the Catholic community and the general public.

Solution:

Gordley worked with the Foundation to refine their brand, which started with in-depth research. Gordley facilitated a workshop with the Foundation’s Board and staff, and conducted an interview with the Bishop to better understand the Foundation’s history, challenges, goals and mission. Phone surveys were also conducted with members of the Diocese to gauge awareness and perceptions of the Foundation’s mission and purpose.

Results:

Gordley unified and revitalized the Foundation’s brand, which included a refined logo and mission statement, and clearer messages to resonate with each target audience. The revitalized brand served as the basis for new print and collateral materials, as well as the redesign of the Foundation’s website. The Foundation’s mission and messages were communicated consistently across all channels.

Community of Civano

Gordley Group — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:21:25 +0000

Challenge:

Civano is a unique, innovative and environmentally sensitive planned community. Despite 10 years of aggressive public relations efforts, Civano suffered an image crisis — as a failed “green” experiment — and marketing was scattered and lacked focus. Consequently, sales were lower than projected.

Solution:

Gordley collaborated with a national firm to research public perceptions and to implement a repositioning within the region — changing Civano’s image to one of authenticity — from an insular “Solar Village” to a mainstream home development built on the principles of using energy-efficient and environmentally sound materials.

Results:

Gordley’s extensive public relations and multimedia advertising campaign with the new brand message resulted in a positive public image, and attracted hundreds of new qualified homebuyers. Sales immediately increased.

El Paso Greenway

Gordley Group — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:20:30 +0000

Challenge:

The City of Tucson, in conjunction with the Regional Transportation Authority and the City of South Tucson, began to develop a six-mile multiuse path for bicyclists and pedestrians to provide and promote connectivity and recreation. The pathway will extend along the corridor that was once used by the old El Paso Railroad, from north of downtown Tucson, through the City of South Tucson, to the Kino Sports Complex. The pathway is meant to connect with other regional bikeways and many nearby neighborhoods while highlighting unique historic elements of the surrounding neighborhoods and preserving pieces of the original railroad.

Solution:

As part of Gordley’s outreach and public involvement efforts, a complete public information plan was formulated to disseminate information. The plan included extensive outreach to stakeholder groups impacted by the project area, including area neighborhoods and neighborhood representatives. The project team worked hand in hand with residents and potential path users to develop a Master Plan to ensure the safest and most desirable user experience. Additional outreach methods included technical advisory committee meetings, public meetings, news releases, and newspaper and radio advertisements.

Results:

This comprehensive effort kept the public informed and involved in project developments, resulting in community support and an improved project based on public input.