JAMES M. GRANDONE
403 Jefferson Road

Edwardsville, IL 62025

618/692-1892
grandone@charter.net

PUBLIC RELATIONS/MEDIA RELATIONS/

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL

EXECUTIVE PROFILE__________________________________________

Exceptional media relations at local through national level, coupled with a reputation for excellence and integrity among both news executives and clients. Proven record of exceeding expectations after brief immersion in clients’ business and culture. Results that have driven stellar reputations and subsequent business success of clients in virtually all business sectors through clear communications. Ability to turn ideas into reality.

SAMPLING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS_______________________________

Handled media strategy for company accused of responsibility for major commercial airline disaster (ValuJet). Handled all aspects of media relations, including pitching stories, media training chief legal counsel/spokesperson, participation in message development with legal counsel, participated in legal strategy development.

Developed and supported multi-million dollar fundraising effort to support multi-year, economic development marketing campaign (Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois) for a largely ignored portion of major metropolitan area. Resulted in dramatic unprecedented increase - $100s of millions – in sustainable commercial and residential investment and development in target region.

Repositioned image of company (IVIS International) emerging from bankruptcy. Reassured clients that the company was on the right track and wrote strategy for client contact plan which stabilized revenues. Responsible for client and media relations following major acquisition of competing mainframe financial software development company. Handled emergence from bankruptcy and built reputation of new company

(Data Design Associates).

Generated tens of millions of impressions globally for Grand Re-opening of Hong Kong – based hotel (Regal Hotels International-Regal Riverfront Hotel in St. Louis) in a major Midwestern City. Re-positioned hotel image from two-star to four-star using media placements and familiarization tours. Increased traffic at hotel restaurant through repositioning as high quality destination with gourmet entrees.

Established a small public relations corporation (Grandone Hauser, Inc.)and successfully grew it to become a major player among firms in St. Louis metropolitan area and Midwest. Oversaw all aspects of company’s management and business development.

Transformed image of regional metropolitan transit agency (Madison County Transit). Overcame negative perception of public transportation and enhance image of transit in St. Louis metro region, increased participation through events and media relations for ride-sharing program sponsored and managed by the agency.

Developed strategy and implemented public relations campaigns resulting in the successful passage of a referendum for a new bridge in McHenry County (suburban Chicago). Successfully passed tax increase referendum for expansion of an Illinois library district. Developed strategy for passage of an election incorporating a new major city (Chesterfield) in Southeastern Missouri.

AREAS OF ADDED VALUE_______________________________________

Extensive experience providing counsel to dozens of CEO/presidents of varied business and not-for-profit organizations. Ability to establish excellent relationships with clients and news media at all levels and in virtually every industry locally and nationally. Understanding of news from experience as daily newspaper reporter. Fundraising; Media Training; Crisis Communications; Political/issue Campaign Management; Litigation Support; New Business Development; Event Marketing; Promotions, and Grant Writing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE___________________________________

Grandone Public Relations

President 2000- present

Served as outside Marketing Director for mainframe financial software company. Re-established company reputation and rolled out new corporate identity following emergence from bankruptcy. Oversaw development of company Web site for internal/customer access to new product software releases and to provide familiarization to media and prospective customers. Created and executed initial marketing plan for St. Louis metropolitan airport, focusing on international air cargo business attraction and commerical passenger service.

Conducted extensive research into Brownfield Redevelopment for inland port district.

Grandone Hauser, Inc. St. Louis, MO

President 1995-2000

Lead all aspects of small, regional public relations firm in Midwest. Responsible for new business development and client service, as well as managing day-to-day operations.

Significant accomplishments include:

Successful promotion of economic development of Illinois to Midwest region through trade publications and mainstream media. Promotions resulted in extensive capital investment by Dial Corp., Hershey’s Corp., Anheuser-Bush, Inc. and other major companies for logistics operations. Also drove expansion of retail and residential development in the area of Illinois served by the client.

Successful implementation and promotion of St. Louis metropolitan ridesharing program for regional transit agency. Resulted in significant increase in ridesharing, carpooling, vanpooling, and air quality awareness campaign to help bring region into compliance with U.S. EPA air-quality standards.

Managed media relations, fundraising support and community awareness campaign for opposition to recommendations by the federal defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 1995. Successfully reversed recommendation by U.S. Department of Defense to close an Army installation, and successfully retained a major Air Force joint command base in Southwestern Illinois, which retained more than 10,000 jobs.

Marketing Mix, Inc. Clayton, MO

General Manager Public Relations 1992-1995

Lead Public Relations effort of integrated marketing company in suburban St. Louis. Developed strategy and managed implementation of public relations aspects in combined advertising/events marketing campaigns.

Repackaged and reintroduced major re-flagged hotel in downtown St. Louis through creative event that drew thousands of people. Partnered with local radio station and created an event that generated extensive local publicity and more than 1 billion impressions worldwide.

Successfully introduced new product category in test market in Arizona. Generated extensive media resulting in trial of product by target market. Product later introduced nationally based upon results on test market success.

Edelman Worldwide, St. Louis, MO

Account Supervisor 1988-1992

Significantly increased awareness of orthopedic and anesthesiology services provided by major St. Louis Health Center. Dramatically increased number of patients seeking services by Doctors providing such services through intense media relations and awareness campaign, which resulted in the two areas becoming major profit centers for the practices of the physicians.

Established identity and maintained awareness of small community hospital through integrated marketing and community outreach to surrounding cities and towns.

Developed and implemented strategy for economic development campaign to attract jobs and businesses to middle-size industrial city in Central Illinois through a comprehensive regional and national publicity campaign utilizing national trade publications and local and Midwest media outlets.

Tretter Gorman Inc.

Senior Account Executive 1984-1987

Developed and implemented media strategy for national games of the American Athletic Union. United States of America (AAU/USA) held at Washington University in St. Louis on behalf of civic group client. Coordinated publicity for the games at 32 venues involving a total of more than 5,000 athletes. Wrote and presented video welcome to athletes by President Ronald Reagan. Resulted in firm received national award from AAU/USA for outstanding contribution to the organization.

Belleville News-Democrat

Reporter 1983

As a reporter in this daily newspaper, I began as a police reporter and rapidly advanced to covering regional organizations and political campaigns. As a regional reporter, my beat included: Bi-State Development Corporation; East-West Gateway Coordinating Council; St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association; Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, and Belleville Area College.

Illinois General Assembly

Legislative Aide 1978-1982

Aide to Representatives Sam Wolf (D- Granite City) and Sam McGrew (D-Galesburg). Primarily handled constituents' inquiries and assisted in research relating to drafting legislation and in-district media relations.

EDUCATION__________________________________________________

B.A., Political Studies, University of Illinois at Springfield

Additional studies in journalism, senior with degree, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

CORO FELLOW:

Graduate Fellowship awarded by Coro Foundation, a national not-for-profit foundation that provides leadership training in public affairs.

Assigned to: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy, Mallinckrodt Chemical, City of St. Louis Community Development Agency, Missouri AFL-CIO, and Roy Blunt campaign.

ADDENDA

Industries Served:

Aviation/Aerospace

Airport Business

Banking/Finance

Campaigns/Referenda

Economic Development

Entertainment

Environmental

Food & Beverage/catering coordination

Gaming

Health Care

Higher Education

Hospitality

Labor/Unions

Military/Defense (BRAC)

Not-for-Profit

Publishing

Religious Organizations

Retail

Sports Marketing

Technology

Television/Radio

Trade

Travel/Tourism

Urban Rail Transit

Select Clients Served:

AFL-CIO Southern Illinois Builders Association

Busch Gardens

Tampa (FL) & Williamsburg (VA)

Casino Queen

Centenary United Methodist Church

Civic Entrepreneurs Organization (St. Louis)

Congressional Prayer Breakfast (IL)

Coro Foundation

Data Design Associates

Decatur Economic Development

Foundation (IL)

Emmis Broadcasting

GHB Publishers

IVIS International, Inc.

KMOX Radio

Korte Construction

KSDK TV

Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois

McHenry County (IL) Economic

Development Council

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

MidCoast Aviation

National Tour Association

Ralston Purina

–Protein Technologies International

Regal Hotels International Holdings Ltd

Sabreliner Corporation

SabreTech, Inc.

St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church

St. Louis Homes & Gardens magazine

St. Louis Hotel Association

Southern Illinois University

Southwestern Illinois College

The Pasta House Company

Tri-City Regional Port District

Tri-Star Business Communities