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There is power in partnerships – if you can find the right partner. For Kelley Chunn & Associates (KCA) and Geri Denterlein the strategic partnership has meant expanding the reach and building the capacity of their respective public relations businesses. Their collaboration leverages their perspectives as certified women owned businesses and, in the case of KCA, a consultancy owned by a Black woman.
For more than a decade, Denterlein and KCA have collaborated on a wide range of projects including media relations and civic engagement for, among others, the restoration of the Shaw 54th Memorial on Boston Common, the Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill and Nantucket, the Urban Edge community development organization, and the Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology.
What brought them together was a shared experience working in TV news and public affairs for one of Boston’s network affiliate TV stations. Beyond that, as with any partnership, trust, good chemistry and clear communication have made the collaboration a success.
So if you are considering a partnership, how do you go about it? First, do some self-reflection. What are your strengths, skills and expertise? What are your objectives? What do you bring to the table? What’s missing? A complementary strategic partner can fill gaps in your knowledge base and create more relationship building opportunities. Consider the ever changing market dynamics which you can respond to more nimbly with a collaborator. Together you can monitor trends in the market and share intelligence about potential competition.
Second, consider your values. Integrity, honesty and transparency are key for the partnership and for your clients. For KCA and Denterlein projects that promote social change and contribute to community well being have been the glue that has kept the partnership together. They also share a commitment to the collaborative model and to fostering talent in the next generation.
Third, explore which partnership model will best suit your situation. A formal joint venture agreement will allow you to combine your resources and gain a competitive advantage in the market place. Client by client contractual agreements can be based on client needs. Informal agreements also can be based on client needs. Or a memorandum of understanding between partners can cover all aspects of your relationship including confidentiality, timeframe and fee structure. Weigh the risks of each business model to determine how you can work best together.
Fourth, consider the pitfalls. With smaller budgets, it can be difficult to make a dual-partner model work. Make the case for a larger budget by showing the positive impact of an expanded team and scope. Avoid client confusion by letting clients know who is in charge and that they won’t functionally be managing two vendors. Create seamless processes (shared e-mails, regular check-ins, and clearly outlined responsibilities.) Make time for proactive communication with monthly or bi-weekly meetings where there is an agenda and opportunities for sharing ideas.
Kelley & Geri Speaking Freely
Geri
Kelley, you have such a great way of writing about the benefits of partnership and encouraging, especially those new to business, to seek out collaborative opportunities. I have appreciated the way you are so open to new people and new ideas. I recognized that quality early on when we both worked at WBZ. Who would’ve expected back then that we would both find ourselves in business, and then look to each other for a partnership?
Kelley
Life does have its twists and turns, and, in my case, the twists have included travel, including a year and a half in Africa. But coming back home was the best decision for me as I have been able to plant deep roots here, especially in the communities of color. In particular, I have thrown myself into the work of the Roxbury Cultural District in Nubian Square and John Eliot Square, and, Geri, your team has been so supportive. Seeing the changes around what was called “Down Dudley” has been transformative not only for the neighborhood but also for me.
For me, seeing the evolution in Boston through your eyes has been wonderful and has carried lessons for my whole team. In the 90’s, I wrote essays for any number of outlets on the attributes of Boston. Having worked in television, I thought I knew the city pretty well. But only in the past 10 years through you and being on the board of Boston’s Main Streets Foundation, have I been totally awakened to the many ways the neighborhoods, the small business owners and the newcomers to the city contribute to its economic and cultural well-being.
We were lucky to have joined together well before the recent so called racial reckoning. It seems we were a bit ahead of the curve in what many people are discussing today – the importance of respecting the lived experience of those whose voices have not historically be heard. And yet, now here we are facing a backlash against initiatives designed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). So, the struggle continues and we are here for it.
Kelley & Geri
In amplifying the work of our clients and embracing the notion of a better Boston, we also are great believers in the quote, “Remember, when women support each other, incredible things happen.” Perhaps the secret sauce to achieving success in business and in life is not competition, but collaboration.
The Denterlein team is driven by a passion to be involved in the most pressing issues facing our city, using communications to educate, connect and problem solve, working collaboratively to achieve success for our clients and support our colleagues as they grown. Every day, we are fortunate to learn new things, explore varied perspectives and grow in community. We love to tell stories – using words, pictures, activations and more – to bring authentic narratives to the surface and connect people, places, and ideas in pursuit of a stronger, more equitable community. As an independent, certified woman-owned agency based in Boston with connections throughout the nation, the Denterlein team delivers results. We stand with our clients—complex higher education institutions; professional services firms; healthcare organizations; advocacy organizations and associations; nonprofits and cultural institutions; shapers of skylines and the public realm —at the intersection of business and policy. Our strategies combine an understanding of how to shape messages that drive brand awareness, what interests the media with the communications tools that educate and engage key audiences. In a time where influence is power, we specialize in creating narratives and messages that inspire, engage and persuade. Our work has evolved from straightforward media relations to comprehensive strategic partnerships encompassing firm and leadership positioning in the market; content development across multiple platforms; amplifying visibility through social media channels; sponsored media opportunities and issues management. Our expertise includes:
Kelley Chunn is the founder and principal of Kelley Chunn & Associates (KCA), an award winning 33 year old, state-certified M/WBE and DBE certified (MA Office of Supplier Diversity) collaborative consultancy. KCA specializes in multicultural and cause-related public relations and marketing. Based in Boston, KCA specialties include strategic communications planning, branding, community outreach, audience development, media relations, civic engagement, event planning and management and training. In addition, Kelley is a professor of practice in public relations at the Boston University College of Communication. She also serves as interim president of the Roxbury Cultural District in Roxbury’s Nubian Square and John Eliot Square. Chunn is an appointee to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Kelley’s journey has taken her through the neighborhoods of Boston and New York City, overseas to Nigeria and to the White House. There she joined other business leaders in providing counsel to the Obama Administration on best small business practices. KCA provides culturally smart strategies to promote social change. We believe in the power of multicultural, cause-related marketing to raise awareness, influence behavior and have a positive impact on the culture. Feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Jan 26, 202411:00am – 1:30pmOmni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
Feb 01, 20242:00pm – 3:30pmGreater Boston Chamber of Commerce
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