Author: NP Strat

NP Strategy Adds Two SCPRSA Awards to Their Collection

Posted on May 8, 2019

Columbia, S.C. – To highlight a year of significant growth and quality services, NP Strategy (NPS+) brought home both a Silver Wing and Mercury Award from the South Carolina chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA). At SCPRSA’s annual Mercury & Silver Wing Awards Celebration, public relations professionals from around the state come together to recognize achievements from colleagues’ work and campaigns.

“To be recognized by industry peers is a significant honor for NP Strategy, especially as our firm continues to grow year after year,” said Heather Matthews, Director of NP Strategy. “Our goal is to provide the best product for our clients, and for that product to be recognized as among the best in South Carolina, is a testament to our team members and their work ethic.”

NP Strategy earned a Silver Wing Award of Excellence in Online Videos for their work on Introducing “Flip and Give,” an initiative with The Moore Company. The project produced a series of online videos, shared via The Moore Company’s Facebook page, which gave audience members the chance to watch and participate in the renovation of a Historic Shandon home, which will be donated to a charity.

NP Strategy also earned a Mercury Award in Content Marketing for “Running a New Race – Together,” the Q4 digital marketing campaign for Harvest Hope Food Bank that yielded a record number of donations for the Midlands-based non-profit.

NP Strategy Expands Leadership Team; Amanda Loveday Promoted to Associate Director

Posted on January 28, 2019

NP Strategy, a strategic communications firm with offices in North and South Carolina, will expand its leadership team to meet the aggressive growth of the public relations agency. In the last four years, NP Strategy’s revenues have grown 400%.

“We never expected this kind of quick growth,” said Heather Hoopes-Matthews, Director of NP Strategy. “But our clients like our streamlined approach and value the mix of business and media backgrounds we bring to the table. In order to keep growing, we need strong leadership and Amanda Loveday is the perfect person for our new Associate Director role.”

Amanda Loveday joined NPS+ in 2016 after serving as the communications director for Congressman Jim Clyburn. In the past three years, Loveday has led clients through challenging situations, managed statewide media events, organized numerous stakeholder meetings and helped launch The Charleston Forum – an annual community event in Charleston, S.C. born out of the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church tragedy. In December of 2018, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Loveday to the State Election Commission.

“I am excited to accept the challenge and opportunity that comes with helping lead NP Strategy during this season of rapid growth,” said Amanda Loveday. “Our team members are our number one asset and together we plan to expand our service areas, improve our efficiency and provide the best product to our clients.”

As Associate Director, Loveday will oversee NP Strategy’s business development efforts, help manage and recruit new NPS+ talent, and support the growing back office needs of the NPS+ team as it serves clients located throughout the United States.

NP Strategy Wins Four Palmetto Communications Awards, Recognized by the International Association of Business Communicators

Posted on November 19, 2018

SOUTH CAROLINA – NP Strategy (NPS+), a strategic communications firm in North and South Carolina, won four awards for exceptional work during the annual International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) 2018 Palmetto Awards on Thursday, November 8.  NPS+ received the awards for the team’s work with Harvest Hope Food Bank, OceanaGold Haile Operation and Samsung South Carolina.

“Serving world-class clients requires top-notch service,” said NP Strategy Managing Director Leighton Lord. “I’m proud of our NP Strategy team.  The diversity of award categories for which NPS+ was honored is a direct reflection of the team’s ability to serve our clients in a variety of ways.”

Palmetto Awards are judged by communications professionals from cities across the U.S. and Canada.

  • NPS+ won an Award of Excellence in Special Events for Samsung’s 2018 Grand Opening event, a two-day event welcoming both community leaders and employees’ families.
  • NPS+ received an Award of Merit in the Audio/Visual category for its Harvest Hope Food Bank Kids Café video, which promotes the food bank’s program to end child food insecurity and appeals to current and potential donors.
  • NPS+ received two Awards of Merit for its work with OceanaGold Haile Operation: in the Special Events category for Haile’s 2017 Grand Opening event and in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for the Carolina heelsplitter mussel preservation effort.

“We are honored to serve exceptional clients and we are grateful to be recognized by the IABC,” said Heather (Hoopes) Matthews, NP Strategy Director.  “These awards are among the many highlights of the past year as we’ve grown our team in both North and South Carolina. We look forward to an exciting 2019.”

This year’s four awards bring NP Strategy’s award total to seven Palmetto Awards in three years. Additionally, NPS+ client TSO3, Inc. will receive the award for Product Innovation as a winner of the South Carolina Chamber’s 2018 SC Branded Awards.

See also: Harvest Hope Food Bank, OceanaGold Haile Operation

NP Strategy Continues Expansion with Addition of Video Services Manager, Taylor Kearns

Posted on June 27, 2018

NP Strategy is pleased to welcome former journalist and professional videographer, Taylor Kearns, to our strategic communications team, as video services manager. With more than a decade of experience using video to tell clear and compelling stories, Kearns will work with clients across the Carolinas in the conception, creation and distribution of video communications.

“Within the last year, NP Strategy has aggressively grown our footprint,” said Leighton Lord, managing director of NP Strategy. “New clients and new projects naturally lead to new growth. We are ready for Taylor’s energy and creativity in providing a high level of service to our growing base of clients.”

Kearns is the third hire for NP Strategy since January 2018, for a team now comprised of 15 veteran professionals spread across North and South Carolina.

“When business grows, we need to follow suit,” said Heather Matthews, director of NP Strategy. “We are excited to bring on new talent because not only will it increase our level of service, but Taylor adds significant value to our team through collaboration and an added skill set. Plus, as you’ll see below, he has a great sense of humor.”

Kearns spent seven years as a photojournalist and reporter at Columbia’s NBC affiliate, WIS-TV. During his time on air, he was honored with awards including two regional Emmys and recognition from the National Press Photographer’s Association. Most recently, Kearns operated his own business in Columbia offering companies and non-profits professional video services with a personal touch.

“I’m ready to get in the door and get to work,” said Kearns. “Running my own business was hugely rewarding, but it was also isolating at times. My dogs don’t laugh at my jokes anymore, so I can’t wait to have a new audience. Also, the opportunity to work with some of the region’s leading companies and organizations was hard to pass up. The demand for video continues to grow, and I’m honored to join a team that prides itself on quality client service.”

Kearns is originally from Hartsville, SC, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism. He will be based out of the firm’s Columbia, SC office.

See also: Video Production

NP Strategy Expands; Adds Jean Cecil Frick as Senior Advisor

Posted on February 6, 2018

With more than a decade of experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors, Jean Cecil Frick joins NP Strategy (NPS+) as a senior strategic advisor. Jean Cecil has built a career in Washington, DC and South Carolina by giving expert advice and building trusted relationships.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jean Cecil to the team,” said Leighton Lord, Managing Director of NPS+. “Jean Cecil’s broad experience in the highest levels of government to growing a business in South Carolina brings a unique perspective to our clients.”

Jean Cecil most recently served as the CEO of a start-up web development firm in Columbia, SC. Her career started in Washington, DC where she served in the George W. Bush Administration as a Senate liaison in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs and as a legislative specialist for Vice President Cheney’s Senate Office on Capitol Hill. Jean Cecil began her career in Washington, DC working for U.S. Senator Jim DeMint.

“Joining the NP Strategy team allows me to combine the best of my experiences in both South Carolina and Washington, DC to work on behalf of our clients,” said Jean Cecil Frick. “I am excited to help businesses and organizations in the Carolinas grow.”

Jean Cecil’s background also includes work with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.

“Jean Cecil’s professional network and commitment to helping clients achieve their goals will be indispensable to our team,” said Heather Matthews, Director of NPS+. “As a native of Spartanburg, we look forward to Jean Cecil growing NP Strategy’s presence in the Upstate and throughout the Carolinas.”

Frick will be working with businesses, individuals and non-profit entities with a focus on communications, public relations and community assessment out of the firm’s Columbia, SC office.

NP Strategy Recognized by IABC for Communications Work

Posted on November 17, 2017

NP Strategy received two prestigious communications awards at the International Association of Business Communicators (“IABC”) S.C. Chapter’s 2017 Palmetto Awards on November 2. The awards, Award of Excellence in Issues Management and Crisis Communications and Award of Merit in Digital Communication, recognize the NP Strategy team’s work for select clients over the past year.

The issues management and crisis communications award recognizes NP Strategy’s quick and detailed response to a negative social media and communications situation prompted by Hurricane Matthew’s destruction in October 2016. The strategic response plan mitigated the false information circulating social media and navigated NP Strategy’s client to a quick and favorable resolution with concerned community stakeholders.

“It’s an honor to serve our clients each day in such dynamic, individualized ways,” said Heather (Hoopes) Matthews, NP Strategy Director. “These awards highlight the results of collaboration and commitment that NP Strategy highly values.”

The second award recognizes NP Strategy’s development and rollout of the new website for OceanaGold’s Haile Gold Mine Operation. The historic gold mine’s website reflects the innovative operations on-site with an adaptive interface and content that reflects some of the mine’s key values: environmental responsibility, community involvement and commitment to safety.

The 2017 Palmetto Awards is an annual event hosted by IABC S.C. Awards recognize excellence in communication strategy, planning and execution. In total, over 40 awards were presented for nearly 100 submissions from organizations around South Carolina. An international judging panel reviewed all submissions.

NP Strategy Receives Business Communication Award

Posted on November 10, 2016

NP Strategy received the “Award of Merit” in the category of “Special Events” on Nov. 3, 2016 at the International Association of Business Communicators (“IABC”) S.C. Chapter’s 2016 Palmetto Awards, recognizing the NP Strategy team’s work with the Nestle Waters North America Chesterfield County plant grand opening event.

The award recognizes NP Strategy’s planning and execution of the two-day event, hosting nearly a thousand community leaders and citizens to welcome NestléWaters North America’s $40 million bottling facility to Chesterfield County.

“We have been honored to serve Nestlé Waters North America and we are grateful for the recognition of our work,” said Heather (Hoopes) Matthews, NP Strategy Director. “These exciting events were a highlight of 2016 for our entire NP Strategy team.”

As part of the grand opening events, guests participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting, tours of the impressive bottling facility and presentations on the scientific studies and management of the Swift Springs site which supplies spring water to the bottling plant.

Read the full story on Soda City Biz Wire’s website.