The Alliance Group
 Government Relations/Media/PR

It's really pretty simple. Define what you want. We'll work with you to make it a reality.

In today's complex world, with information overload and deadlines getting tighter and tighter, it can be a daunting task to tackle business or government relationships on your own.

You want answers to your questions yesterday. You need solutions before you realize there's even a problem. And you want the parties involved to feel good about the outcome - and about you.

And you want it all done right - the first time.

At the Alliance Group you get all of that. Our team of proven professionals focuses on two major areas, which we believe are intertwined, each a critical component to your overall success.

Government Relations/Grassroots Work/Association Management

  • Knowing the issues important to you and linking your interests with legislative and government leaders to affect change. Working on the grassroots level to advocate for issues that need nurturing to come to fruition. Having the connections to make the b2g (business to government) contacts to advance your company forward.


    • PR/Media Strategy

  • Crafting your message to convey the intent in an honest, straightforward, and effective manner. Using earned media to promote your message and reach the proper target audience. And in the event of a crisis, we can safely navigate you through the choppy waters to keep your message on point.


    • By working on these key areas - separately and in tandem with each other - the team at the Alliance Group answers your questions, finds solutions to your problems, and we do it right - the first time. After all, isn't that really what you want?





    Services

    Government Relations
    Public Relations

     
    Government Relations

    Legislative Affairs and State & Federal Lobbying

    As a full-service public affairs group, the Alliance Group has a team that can assist organizations with lobbying efforts at all levels of government.

    Our government relations team has key contacts on both sides of the aisles in Washington, DC, many state capitals, and many municipalities.

    The Alliance Group helps clients develop comprehensive and integrated government relations plans as part of their core strategy. Experience has shown that a proactive strategy is paramount to saving time and money, and the difference between success and disappointment. Whether lobbying various state bodies of government, tracking and monitoring legislation, advocating for your issues, or developing grassroots momentum, the process must be approached as a cohesive, integrated whole.

    Business Development/Business-to-Government Procurement

    The Alliance Group can play a vital role assisting your company in identifying and developing business with government entities at the local, state, and national levels - or partnering opportunities with other private-sector government providers - resulting in new and substantive revenue streams.

    Our key contacts in government and politics, and our experience in corporate business development gives us a unique perspective with opportunities that potentially exist between companies - with building dynamic relationships. Our commitment to partnering quality companies in mutually beneficial relationships is a cornerstone to our business development practice.

    One of our primary strengths is working with companies to develop business opportunities with governments at all levels. As the size and scope of government increases, so do the opportunities for businesses. Even in the midst of lean financial times, there are vital sectors of government that must continue to find new solutions to existing and new problems. While the process can seem daunting, the Alliance Group can help you with RFP support, meeting coordination, and monitoring procurements and regulations.

    The Alliance Group assists companies with leveraging existing resources to develop opportunities through a well-designed strategic plan. We can help companies navigate the state and federal procurement process, work with agencies and department heads, and development innovative and sound proposals to increase your bottom line.

     
    Public Relations/Media Strategy/Grassroots/Corporate-Community Relations

    PR

    Public relations isn't all about flash and spin, though those two components - used responsibly --should not be discounted, as their effectiveness can be tremendous. At the Alliance Group, we combine all the elements -- local, regional and national media strategy, press releases, press contact, story pitching, bylined articles, analyst relations, and event coordination - to craft a solid, results-oriented campaign.

    Our team will work with you to define your message and implement the most effective strategies to get your message out there. You can expect everything from creating and designing a new name and logo for you to developing collateral and informational materials to launching your initiative through the media. It's your name on it, but ours, too. And we take that responsibility very seriously.

    Message Outreach

    The Alliance Group's media strategy team understands the importance of conveying your message to your target audience. With so many different types of media venues available today, you need someone with experience to determine the best course of action. Our team has that experience.

    While paid advertising certainly has benefits, earned media is one of the most effective ways to convey your message to mass or targeted audiences. We work regularly with television, newspaper, newswire, magazine, and Internet news contacts on the local, state, regional, and national levels to get your story out there and in front of the people who matter.

    We will work with you to determine the most effective course of action - whether it be coverage for an issue, a one-on-one interview, a sit down with an editorial board, or a full-blown media event - and then follow through to make it happen.

    Crisis Management

    Like it or not, bad things do happen. And how you react in times of crisis speaks volumes about the character of you and your organization. A calm, measured response is best. Of course this is easier said then done, but the Alliance Group can show you how to make a potentially bad experience manageable.

    We have been through situations that require multiple components to happen in tandem for a successful resolution. We can help you tackle an issue on a minutes notice and develop a strategy to successfully put you back in the driver's seat. Additionally, an already good relationship with area media (achieved through regular media contact) can aid in working through the crisis and returning to normal operation.

    Issues Advocacy and Grassroots Public Relations

    Sometimes in business and government the best ideas are those that are never heard. The Alliance Group can help bring those good ideas to the forefront of public opinion, using grassroots networks, public relations and advocacy.

    Government is about choices, and on any given day, a new or altered political agenda can appear with new issues. It is important to ensure that your issue is a priority, and can demonstrate that it has broad appeal. Whether the focus is on the local, state or national level, the Alliance Group can design and implement a strategic program to help an issue find its voice.

    Corporate-Community Relations

    A good corporate citizen can have a significant and positive impact in its industry. In government, this fact is extremely important as the credibility of a company means everything. Governments want long-term partners that it can trust, but this takes time, energy and a strategy. From scheduling public events to building bridges throughout the Virginia communities, the Alliance Group can help you in developing and implementing a plan that reaches out to groups of people that matter most. Good corporate citizenry is the lifeline of companies and government officials take it seriously.





    Clients

    The following clients have been previously and/or are currently represented by the Alliance Group:

    ADT - Tyco
    American Bird Conservancy
    Anthem
    AstraZeneca
    Bon Secours
    Centex
    Dominion
    Echostar
    Environmental Defense
    EZ Filer
    Ford
    iGov
    KBR
    LR Kimball & Associates
    M/A-Com
    Medicare RX Access Network of Virginia
    Microsoft
    National Home Service Contract Association
    Partnership for Prescription Assistance - Virginia
    PhRMA
    RAID
    SAP
    Siemens
    The Home Depot
    Traffic School Online
    Virginia Bar Association
    Virginia Climate Initiative
    Virginia Interactive
    VQHN - Virginia Quality Healthcare Network





    Team


    Rob Jones, President and CEO

    Rob Jones, a former Richmond city councilman, earlier served as a Special Assistant to Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles, and he was a member of the government relations team at the law firm of Mays and Valentine. Governor Warner appointed him to the board of the Virginia Information Providers Network Authority. He was also a director of the Richmond Industrial Development Authority and has served on the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission. Rob is active with the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), the Virginia Public Access Project, the Virginia Citizenship Institute, Greater Richmond Technology Council, YMCA Model General Assembly, A.C.O.R.N., and the Fan Free Clinic. Rob also heads StatePulse, an online content service providing state government and political information from all 50 states. In 1997, Inside Business magazine gave Rob and 39 others its prestigious "Top 40 Under 40 Award" for leadership in the Richmond area before age 40. Jones is a graduate of the University of Virginia - McIntire School of Commerce and holds a J.D. from Lewis & Clark, Northwestern School of Law.

    David Bass, Research Analyst

    David is a local government and communications expert, supporting the Alliance Group team with research, political insight and market analysis. For seven years David has been the director of Research for StatePulse, the online content service from all fifty states. He is responsible for delivering political and state government news content to meet the daily needs of the service's more than one hundred clients. David resides in Richmond, VA and has been involved in civic, community organizations as well as local politics in the neighborhood of Manchester, downtown Richmond and the City of Richmond at-large. He held leadership positions with the City's award winning Neighborhood Team Process and was Vice-President of the Shockoe Neighborhood Committee. Currently he is the President of the Manchester Alliance and serves on the Marketing and Advocacy Committee of Venture Richmond. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond where he earned a BA in International Studies with a minor concentration in German.

    Liz Bryant, PR/Media Relations Advisor

    Liz is a former award-winning ABC television affiliate news reporter and anchor, and brings with her 20+ years experience in journalism, the hospitality industry, non-profit management, and government relations. Her years working with public and private sectors have included advancing concerns of importance to the public, event planning of all types, working with legislators and lobbyists, and detailed research, writing, and evaluation of a complex variety of issues. A Virginia native, Liz holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University with minor concentrations in Political Science and Criminal Justice.

    Meg Coady, Account Executive

    A former Fellow in the Office of Governor Timothy Kaine, Meg Coady assisted the Senior Advisor to the Governor for Workforce Development. Prior to working in the Governor's office, Meg served as the local director of National Student Partnerships where she worked directly with people in need and led volunteer trainings, meetings and recruitment efforts. Meg has also worked for Electionline.org, a think tank in Washington D.C. There she was responsible for researching and writing daily updates of election news from across the country. Meg has considerable experience working in the Louisiana executive and legislative bodies as an intern to the Lieutenant Governor and page to the Louisiana Senate. She graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Richmond where she majored in Political Science and received a minor in History. She was the recipient of the several leadership awards and academic scholarships.

    Peter DuMont, Internet Strategist/Developer

    Peter manages a variety of IT and Web Development responsibilities for the Alliance Group. Trained as a web developer, he builds and maintains several client websites, while functioning as the primary technical contact for StatePulse.com. He has done light Visual Basic design work, as well as handling webserver and email configuring needs on both shared and VPN webservers. In addition, Peter handles the in-office networking, phone system administration, and computer purchasing and maintenance. Peter is an avid cyclist, and graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Richmond.

    Nicole Pugar, Senior Liaison, Grassroots PR and Government Relations

    Having served in the public sector on the staff of both federal and state legislators, Nicole Pugar has experience communicating and navigating client interests through the legislative process. Nicole also has experience in creating and maintaining coalitions among many of Virginia's nonprofit organizations. Nicole previously served as the Director of Public Policy for the Virginia Dental Association where she was responsible for mobilizing the Association's legislative grassroots campaigns. Nicole successfully assisted with ensuring that the interests of the Association were represented throughout the regulatory bodies that govern health professions as well. She was part of the Washington D.C. staff of Congressman John Linder; additionally, she served on the district staff of former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and assisted with the successful reelection campaigns of members of the United States Congress. Nicole received her undergraduate degree from Randolph - Macon College.

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    Extended Network - A network of consultants, lobbyists, PR professionals and grass roots advocates is at our fingertips to assist when needed.





    Contact Us


    The Alliance Group
    9 S. 12th Street, Suite 300
    Richmond, VA 23219

    Phone: (804) 648-6299
    Fax: (804) 643-4490


    Rob Jones


    David Bass


    Liz Bryant


    Meg Coady


    Peter DuMont


    Nicole Pugar






    News

    Alliance Group profiled in the Richmond Times Dispatch


        Virginia State Government News