Jim Grandone, Principal

 

Grandone has more than 20 years of experience working with local and national media.  A former congressional campaign press secretary and reporter with a daily newspaper, Grandone understands how the media works and what it needs to do its job.  He also understands how news can affect a company's reputation, earnings and stock price.  More importantly, he works with clients to identify opportunities that exist or create opportunities to generate positive stories in the news.

 

In addition, Grandone has extensive experience in dealing with local and national media during a crisis.  From commercial airline disasters to a hostile takeovers and bankruptcy, he knows how to keep a crisis from destroying a reputation.  He can help you assemble a crisis team, develop a communication strategy, key messages, disseminate information quickly to the media locally or nationally.

 

Prior to forming Grandone Public Relations, he was president of Grandone Hauser, Inc., and General Manager of Public Relations for a Clayton, Mo.-based public relations/advertising company. He has worked in two of the top 10 privately held public relations firms in the U.S.

 

In addition to creating positive news stories and managing crisis situations, Grandone has an extensive background in communications supporting fundraising for not-for-profit organizations.  He has developed campaigns, created support materials and generated publicity for campaigns that have raised millions of dollars for organizations.

Grandone is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Coro Foundation’s Graduate Fellow’s Program in Public Affairs.  He is past president of the St. Louis chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators and has served on numerous boards, including the Journalism Foundation of Metropolitan St. Louis, American Red Cross and Southern Illinois University.

 

Resume               Aviation Background               Campaign and Referenda Experience               Litigation Support Background               Marketing Southwestern Illinois: A Case Study