Value

Our Value

We’ve had the pleasure of working with clients in more than 30 states for the past two decades, including many companies, government agencies, associations and non profits. Here are a few reviews from clients who we’ve assisted over the years, and a representative list of some of the crises that we’ve successfully managed over the years.

Testimonials

“Mark’s Crisis Communications Workshop was entertaining, engaging, and valuable. He spent a day with members of the President’s Cabinet and our Emergency Management Team. He really did his research as he knew much about my background and current events at our university that touched on his workshop topic. Mark’s credentials are impeccable and if you are seeking a highly experienced individual who can deliver the best education on crisis communications in a short period of time, Mark Weaver is the choice.”

— Kenneth S. Hawkinson, President of Kutztown University

“We have had Mark Weaver at a number of our training events and he has been an incredible asset for the New York State Association of Counties and its Membership. Mark has become an indispensable communication consultant whenever we need his strategic expertise. Mark has transformed the way we talk about and implement media relations. He is always there when we need him, and his advice is invaluable.”

— Stephen Acquario, Executive Director, New York State Association of Counties

“Mark Weaver and the professionals at Communications Counsel understand how to persuade in a world where misinformed public opinion and social media attacks can ruin a reputation overnight. Time and again, the members of our leadership series have been well served by the insightful, bold, and relevant advice Communications Counsel provides.”

— Bernie Comfort, Executive Director, Anne Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series

“The caring professionals at Communications Counsel help us understand and implement national best practices in communications. They are available immediately and their insights are thoughtful and effective. We’re proud to have them as a key partner in our mission to provide medicines and health supplies to those in need around the world.”

— Steve Stirling, President & CEO, MAP International

“Without having the crash course that you guys were able to provide for us we would likely have had a little bit of egg on our face.”

— Fonzie Flowers, Mayor of Youngsville, North Carolina

““Mark Weaver and his team provide exemplary service in times of significant need. I emailed him at 1:15am asking for help with a crisis and – although I was expecting a call the next business day – he called me back in 10 minutes!

Mark’s care epitomizes responsiveness, professionalism, empathy, and mission sensitivity. He brings his multifaceted experience and commitment to excellence to complex and sensitive situations in ways that not only help organizations weather difficulties but situate them to adapt and improve through them.””

— Dr. Michael Hayes, Head of School Worthington Christian School

Clients

Over the decades of our experience and across 30+ states, the professionals at Communications Counsel have helped protect the reputation and public credibility of hundreds of high-profile leaders, companies, governmental agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations. We have helped many organizations through high-intensity and often media-attracting crises. Below is a further sampling of those we’ve helped through crises, training, consultation, and helping to craft successful communications strategies.

- A small college communicating with students, faculty, and alumni about severe cuts or even the potential closing of the campus.
- A fire department union that discovered its treasurer had stolen over $100,000.
- A tech company seeking legislative incentives while at the same time facing intensive pressure from stock short sellers.
- A community facing rigorous questions about quality of life, infrastructure, and education in light of a region-changing economic development announcement.
- The Mayor of a mid-sized city facing a hostile city council that hired investigators to look into allegations that she shared a conference hotel room with a male subordinant.
- The CEO of a major American manufacturer with plants in dozens of countries who was being blackmailed by a disgruntled senior employee. The false accusation involved an awkward text message the CEO had sent to a colleague.
- The family of a preschool boy crushed to death by a negligently manufactured cafeteria table that fell on him. Our effort garnered national publicity and the passage of a law to help protect children in the future. We successfully arranged for the governor to sign the bill at the school where the death occurred on the anniversary of the child’s death.
- A large public research university rebuilding its reputation after former administrators were charged with multiple federal crimes.
- A police organization defending a member acquitted after an officer-involved shooting featured on the TV program 60 Minutes.
- Two statesupreme court justices after they had a physical altercation between them in chambers.
- A successful property management company facing serious public backlash over an accidental death of a child in one of their apartments.
- A leader of a nonprofit housing organization who was repeatedly stalked by an over-zealous TV reporter trying to create a news ambush following a high-profile murder committed by a tenant.
- The top restaurateur in one of America’s biggest cities who was blackmailed by a former romantic partner with concocted allegations of sexual harassment.
- A majorlaw school that was forced to discipline a professor who then used social media, national press contacts, threats of litigation, and false allegations of racism to distract from the professor’s wrongdoing.
- A county government agency that faced a giant social media backlash during a time it was seeking voter approval for additional tax funding.
- A law enforcement agency that contended with potential riots following an officer involved shooting ruled to be legal. At one point, dozens of news organizations were in the agency’s parking lot and an angry mob began to form.
- A state legislator who was the subject of false rumors of spousal abuse during an acrimonious divorce.
- One of America’s largest cities facing riots following the acquittal of a white police officer who was charged after the shooting of an unarmed black man.
- More than two dozenlaw enforcement agencies dealing with criticism following use of force, typically involving deadly force. Most of these involved racial strife, social media attacks, and national news coverage.
- A popular and well-known general practice doctor who was extorted by a former romantic partner seeking to ruin his practice.
- A prominent gun retailer that dealt with a boycott and social media attacks effort following phony accusations of treating customers differently based on race.
- A statesupreme court justice accused of unethically leaking court opinions and confidential information to the press.
- A popular and high-profile medical professional targeted for doxing, false and defamatory online harassment and death threats following the leak of a controversial private photo on social media.
- A judge accused of violating judicial ethics rules while moving from private law practice to the bench.
- A police chief publicly berated for accidentally leaving a gun in an area accessible to children.
- A major hospital chain that had international news coverage over several weeks following the alleged criminal actions of one of its doctors resulting in numerous deaths.
- A restaurant chain that responded after a server posted a photo online of the server urinating in a kitchen area where food was stored.
- A city that needed to clear up misconceptions about why it was closing its own 9-1-1 dispatching center and joining a regional joint-dispatch center.
- A giant pension system that adopted financially necessary but unpopular changes in long-standing health care access for members.
- A large developer facing legal threats and negative news coverage over a multi-million-dollar commercial development.
- A major city that underwent serious media and citizen criticism for slow response times to emergency calls.
- A public school district that discovered its male kindergarten teacher had illegally filmed small children in the bathroom. This involved careful coordination of timing and message with law enforcement partners.
- Public officials were falsely accused (in a popular podcast and on multiple internet sites) of being complicit in the disappearance and death of another public official.
- A city that litigated a high-profile eminent domain issue with its most popular restaurant, which used social media to rally opposition.
- A police department that was forced to use a taser when a high school student charged at officerssecuring a suspect. The incident generated more than 11 million views on TikTok.
- A university undergoing powerful internal criticism because of changes in its foundation’s corporate governance.
- Multiple school districts dealing with media attention after teacher and staff misconduct involving child sex crimes.
- A county facing intense news coverageinvolving a large industrial vehicle that accidentally crushed a mother and a baby.
- A city navigating the potential for thousands of protesters spurred by a viral online call to illegally disrupt the downtown area.
- A university facing online outrage after controversial social media comments by a high-ranking university official went viral.
- An innovative start-upbusiness defending against a Fortune 100 company’s efforts to improperly discredit the start-up to both government and the media.
- A large privately-held company dealing with an angry former partner who threatened to sue and expose confidential information.
- A billionaire dealing with the new media and courts after a high-profile drug crime involving a family member.
- A police department addressing criticism from citizens and TV news following an unpopular but valid arrest of an activist.
- A school district featured on the TV program 20/20 after a teacher’s aide was recorded abusing a special needs child.
- A medical facility addressing accusations that it had harmed a former patient at one of its facilities.
We have anonymized the list above because we have confidentiality clauses in our contracts that we take seriously. However, most of these crises received widespread – often front page and newscast-leading national and even international – news coverage.