/content/five-steps-to-strategy-planning

Underlying any strategic approach to managing communication is a simple plan that makes a direct link between the output of the communication function and the goals and objectives of the organization. In clarifying exactly what we mean when talking about strategy planning, Patricia Bayerlein identifies five key steps to the process.

/content/collaboration-and-inclusion-implementing-global-communications-councils

Motivated by the belief that theyre on a moral crusade of sorts, communicators strive to control corporate communications through policies, approval procedures and other mechanisms that dictate and police the behavior of our corporate colleagues all in the quest for consistent leadership.

/content/demystifying-ways-employees-deliver-on-brand-promises

While companies can easily measure marketing dollars spent on brand-building initiatives, understanding how the brand drives customers purchasing decisions has often proven to be more elusive. How do companies use brand magic to form long-lasting relationships with customers?

/content/overcoming-barriers-to-global-success-at-international

When International Truck and Engine Corporation (now Navistar International) launched a multinational initiative in 2003, it quickly became apparent that critical business information was not flowing across the global team as it should. The result was slow progress and unnecessary cost. Here, Gretchen Rosswurm and Patricia Bayerlein describe the steps taken to improve information flow, resulting in savings close to US$1 million.

/content/hr-and-communication-partnering-for-business-results

Todays leaders are being challenged more than ever to deliver results quickly, to retain an edge for their organization, to keep an often cynical workforce engaged. For much of the 1980s and early 1990s, corporate leaders turned to their heads of the finance and legal departments for help in deciding how the company would deliver results. Today, however, an increasing number of leaders understand that achieving sustainable business success starts and ends with getting employees rallied behind them and what theyre trying to achieve.

/content/measuring-behavior-change

Most HR and communication professionals share a common belief that the ultimate goal of their efforts is to facilitate a change in behaviors that directly links to improved business results. But they may have different perspectives on how to effectively measure behavior change in the context of management objectives and often employ different approaches.

/content/telling-the-corporate-story-vision-into-action

A corporate story is a narrative tool that tells the tale of a companys strategy in action. It is a clear, structured, compelling articulation of who we are and where were headed that rallies emotional and rational support from stakeholders. More than mere words, however, the corporate storys strength lies in its ability to align leaders, drive decision making and mobilize the organization.

/content/inspiring-change-and-driving-results-what-can-your-employee-publication-do-for-you

Beyond simply reporting on company news and events, employee publications can influence change by inspiring new thinking and behaviors that lead to improved performance and business results.

/content/the-six-principles-of-performance-communication

Increasingly, organizations are becoming aware that engaged employees are fundamental to achieving business success. Alignment between HR and communication is at the heart of achieving true engagement and high performance.

/content/customer-loyalty-and-employee-engagement-an-alignment-for-value

Because corporate reputations and, in turn, bottom-line business results, now depend on a corporations ability to build strong relationships with customers and employees, quantifying the power vested in employee engagement and customer loyalty is the new business imperative.

/content/pr-should-continue-to-assert-its-case

A segment on the CBS Sunday Morning program several weeks ago little noticed by anyone outside our profession rocked the public relations world, causing many of us to question how far we have come in educating key opinion leaders about what public relations is, and what public relations professionals truly stand for.

/content/articles-organizational-design-for-communications

Articles Organizational Design for Communications

/content/articles-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Articles Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/articles-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Articles Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/articles-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Articles Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/articles-culture-and-change-leadership

Articles Culture and Change Leadership

/content/path-case-studies-organizational-design-for-communications

Case Studies Organizational Design for Communications

/content/path-case-studies-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Case Studies Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/path-case-studies-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Case Studies Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/path-case-studies-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Case Studies Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/path-case-studies-culture-and-change-leadership

Case Studies Culture and Change Leadership

/content/case-studies-organizational-design-for-communications

Case Studies Organizational Design for Communications

/content/case-studies-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Case Studies Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/case-studies-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Case Studies Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/case-studies-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Case Studies Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/case-studies-culture-and-change-leadership

Case Studies Culture and Change Leadership

/content/driving-a-brand-culture

There are two ways to approach a brand launch. The first is as an identity initiative with a primary focus on architecture and expression. The second is to use the brand roll out as a tool to drive execution of the strategy and deliver bottom line results. Some of the most successful brand launches focused on the latter.

/content/aligning-corporate-messages-to-lead-a-company

The message platform is the focus of leadership communications and must be reflected in all communications and actions. Management must be aligned around the platform for it to be effective. Its construction is based on political models of communications and persuasion, as well as research conducted concerning human memory capacity.

/content/reinventing-internal-communications-to-get-business-results

More than ever, business leaders recognize how effective communications can affect business issues. As a result, greater expectations are placed on Communications functions, and many of them are delivering. Once looked upon only as a staff service function, yesterdays spin masters are reinventing themselves into high-performance functions that partner in decision making and strategy execution.

/content/if-only-i-knew-how-to-use-information-flow-to-avoid-mistakes-and-get-results

If only I knew the managerial refrain of many a derailed project, results shortfall and career failure, as critical information inside an organization didnt get to leadership in time to make a difference. With 20/20 hindsight we can see that healthy information flow the movement of complete, accurate, candid and timely information people need to do their jobs might have avoided failures ranging from the fall of WorldCom to the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

/content/united-airlines-engaged-employees-to-deliver-record-breaking-performance

As it worked to successfully exit bankruptcy, United Airlines needed to engage employees to improve performance amid a complex restructuring. Key to the companys success was launching a new performance incentive program Success Sharing to build trust in leadership and align employee actions with Uniteds overall business strategy. Gagen MacDonald helped to engage employees to deliver record-breaking performance.

/content/united-airlines-engaged-employees-to-implement-sensitive-operational-changes

To support United Airlines efforts associated with its bankruptcy/restructuring work, a business transformation office (BTO) at United was charged in 2003 with meeting aggressive debtor-in-possession (DIP) covenants set by Federal Court. Uniteds Operations team was the largest and most complex program, overseeing the activity of 11 projects encompassing three business divisions and the entire global network of airports. The team needed to engage employees to think and behave differently to transform how the company worked and reduce costs by $150 million by 2004. Gagen MacDonald helped to engage the hearts and minds of employees and drive the necessary behavior change.

/content/united-airlines-equipped-leaders-with-new-skills-to-translate-company-strategy-into-action

As it approached exit from bankruptcy in 2001, United Airlines was under the microscope of creditors, shareholders, customers, media and competitors. Uniteds front-line supervisors, who represented a critical link between Uniteds strategy and the field, needed new skills, tools and insights to translate Uniteds strategy into action, every day, to improve operational performance and employee engagement. Gagen MacDonald helped to equip leaders with new skills to translate company strategy into action.

/content/corporate-communications-led-global-functional-transformations

Senior leaders of corporate communications functions were asked to adapt their organizations to drive business performance, improve leadership communication, support transformation and behavior change and create sustainable success. Corporate communications organizations are continuing to evolve from the changing demands of external factors, shifts in strategy and the expectations of new leaders and stakeholders. Gagen MacDonald has led numerous companies through global functional transformations to help achieve business results.

/content/international-truck-and-engine-aligned-leadership-to-collaborate-share-accountability-for-success

A new VP of Manufacturing at International Truck and Engine (now Navistar International) took the helm facing a tough political environment, product centers at odds with the manufacturing strategy, silo mentality and disparate goals across the plants. His goal: to bring plant leadership together to work in a new way, applying manufacturing expertise collectively, collaborating and sharing accountability for success against common performance improvement goals. Gagen MacDonald helped to align leadership to collaborate and share accountability for success.

/content/international-truck-and-engine-transformed-a-long-history-of-contentious-labor-relations

An adversarial management-labor relationship at International Truck and Engine (now Navistar International) threatened critical UAW contract negotiations and extensive capital investment in new product. Gagen MacDonald partnered with leadership to transform a long history of contentious labor relations.

/content/international-truck-and-engine-engaged-employees-to-launch-new-product-deliver-brand-promise

To ensure its position as a category leader, International Truck and Engines (now Navistar International) engineers and designers needed to fully understand expected customer benefits and deliver the brand promise via the first new product in 25 years. Gagen MacDonald helped engage employees in successfully delivering the new product and customer brand experience.

/content/international-truck-and-engine-inspired-employees-to-improve-key-metrics

A chronic under-performing manufacturing plant at International Truck and Engine (now Navistar International) needed to make dramatic operating improvements and reduce costs and headcount to successfully launch a new model that the company was counting on to invigorate its 100-year-old brand. Gagen MacDonald helped inspire employees to improve key metrics.

/content/international-truck-and-engine-improved-profitability-by-driving-alignment-action

Inconsistency on small-volume transactions and misinformation from dealers on local market facts negatively impacted International Truck and Engines (now Navistar International) profitability and challenged efforts to compete on the brands value, not price. Gagen MacDonald helped to improve profitability by driving alignment and action.

/content/baxter-improved-customer-service-and-inventory-management

With multiple, siloed forecasting and planning practices, Baxter experienced thousands of customer backorders, significant inventory surpluses and huge increases in distribution costs. Management needed to engage employees to align all procurement, production, sales and distribution planning against a single demand forecast. Gagen MacDonald helped engage employees in new inventory management processes, increasing employee accountability and improving customer service.

/content/basf-connected-with-employees-to-successfully-integrate-an-acquired-company

After completing a multibillion-dollar acquisition; BASF Corporation, a leading global chemical company, needed to connect with newly acquired employees to retain top talent and achieve integration objectives. Gagen MacDonald helped leadership establish a relationship with employees to successfully integrate the acquired company.

/content/american-standard-aligned-leadership-around-a-desired-culture-key-business-metrics

Leadership from operations and corporate communications of an $8 billion producer of consumer durables and vehicle components realized that their existing model of getting results wouldnt continue to deliver high performance for the future in a unionized environment. Gagen MacDonald helped to align leadership around a desired culture, key business metrics.

/content/coors-aligned-employee-thinking-enable-decision-making-and-action

Just three years after narrowly failing to unionize a regional plant at one of the nations largest beverage companies, a prominent labor union garnered the necessary union cards to petition for another election. The company recognized that its traditional way of communicating its position through letters, fliers and mandatory meetings (which had resulted in winning the previous election by a mere seven votes) would not be successful this time. Management needed to do better, and sought a new approach. Gagen MacDonald helped to align employee thinking around the issues to enable fact-based decision making and action.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with American Standard to deliver: Operations improvement communication support, message platform development and training.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Coors Brewing Company to deliver: Labor relations, message platform development and training; operations improvement communication support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Thomas Betts Corporation to deliver: Strategic internal communications support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Payless ShoeSource, Inc. to deliver: Strategic internal communication planning and execution support, organizational assessment and design, 100-day leadership transition planning, leadership conference support, message platform development and training.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Collective Brands Inc. to deliver: Merger integration communications support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with McDonalds Corporation to deliver: Leadership communications effectiveness, strategy alignment and execution, stakeholder engagement, global communication teambuilding and conference.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Elsevier to deliver: Message platform development and training.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Nationwide to deliver: Change communications workshop, strategic planning.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Accenture to deliver: Strategic planning, change communications.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Weyerhaeuser to deliver: Corporate communications competency building, change communications and strategic planning workshops.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Seyfarth Shaw LLP to deliver: Strategic planning, corporate communications competency building, message development and training, functional design, communications cascade.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Edison International to deliver: Culture change, ERP implementation, vision and values rollout, employee recognition, operations communications support, leadership communications.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Dairy Management Inc. to deliver: Business transformation support, leadership communications, message development and training, functional assessment, communications audit, Human Resource communications, strategy execution.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Dean Foods to deliver: Strategic internal communication planning, message development.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with USAA to deliver: Business transformation support, metrics framework development, leadership communications, CEO transition support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Sears, Roebuck and Co. to deliver: Organizational development and capability building (Planning for Business Results seminar), strategic employee communication and engagement counsel.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Rockwell Automation to deliver: Strategic planning, functional alignment and strategy execution, message development, ERP implementation.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Johnson Johnson to deliver: Leadership communications, strategic internal communication planning and execution support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with GMAC Financial Services to deliver: Strategic planning, corporate strategy alignment, leadership communications.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with General Motors to deliver: Strategic communications planning, communications research and analysis, internal communications functional assessment.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with GAP Inc. to deliver: Benefits communications, change communications plan development and execution support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Estee Lauder to deliver: Communications strategy and planning, internal branding, organizational design.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with BlueCross BlueShield Florida to deliver: Strategic planning, functional assessment.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Wrigley to deliver: Strategic planning, corporate communications competency building.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Whirlpool Corporation to deliver: Functional assessment and organizational design, merger communications strategic counsel and planning.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Thompson Reuters (formerly Thompson Financial) to deliver: Strategic planning, corporate communications competency building.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with L-3 Communications to deliver: Functional assessment and organizational design.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Gordon Food Service to deliver: Strategic internal communications counsel and strategy development.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Gateway Foundation to deliver: Strategic internal communications planning and execution support, on-boarding program development, message training.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with CNH Global to deliver: Internal brand audit, external communications planning support and program management.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Textron to deliver: Change communications, message development, internal branding, Lean and Six Sigma communications, corporate communications competency development.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Allstate to deliver: Employee and stakeholder engagement, issues management, strategic communications support, organizational design for corporate communications.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with The Kroger Company to deliver: Organizational development and capability building (Planning for Business Results seminar), strategic internal communications counsel.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Baxter International to deliver: Division restructuring support, team development and performance optimization; supply chain integration, operations transformation support, change management, ERP implementation, strategic planning and execution support, 100-day leadership transition planning.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Novartis to deliver: Leadership communications, change communications, communications research and analysis, workforce transition communications support.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with BASF Corporation to deliver: Merger integration communications support, employee engagement, leadership communications.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with International Truck and Engine to deliver: Culture change, internal branding, operations communications support, sales and marketing alignment, leadership conference support, strategic planning and execution support, communication audits, independent distributor communications, new product launches, employee engagement research and measurement, executive coaching, leadership alignment.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with Navistar International to deliver: Human Resource audit and department optimization.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with PolyOne to deliver: Leadership development and best practices to facilitate enhanced performance in a matrixed organization.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with O-I, Inc. to deliver: Financial communications, strategic planning.

/content/Our-Clients

Partnered with United Airlines to deliver: Operations communications support, bankruptcy and corporate restructuring communications, business transformation support, functional assessment and organizational design, strategic planning and coaching for performance, internal crisis communications, sales and marketing alignment, IT transformation support, merger communication support, leadership development and action planning, employee engagement, 100-day leadership transition planning.

/content/gagen-macdonald-privacy-policy

Our Privacy Policy was developed as an extension of our commitment to serve our clients and prospective business partners with the highest level of integrity. The Policy is designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us.

/content/path-give-us-a-call-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Think we can help you? Give us a call and well gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.

/content/path-give-us-a-call-employee-communications-and-engagement

Think we can help you? Give us a call and well gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.

/content/path-give-us-a-call-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Think we can help you? Give us a call and well gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.

/content/path-give-us-a-call-culture-and-change-leadership

Think we can help you? Give us a call and well gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.

/content/path-give-us-a-call-organizational-design-for-communications

Think we can help you? Give us a call and well gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.

/content/path-tools-organizational-design-for-communications

Tools Organizational Design for Communications

/content/path-tools-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Tools Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/path-tools-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Tools Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/path-tools-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Tools Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/path-tools-culture-and-change-leadership

Tools Culture and Change Leadership

/content/path-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

At Gagen MacDonald, we work with companies to enhance the performance of employees and key functions to ensure the right capabilities are in place in order to be successful. Our diverse, global team of certified trainers and consultants can help you build capabilities within your organization to develop the high-performance culture you need to compete and grow.

/content/path-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

At Gagen MacDonald, we dont develop brand promises we promise to help companies deliver them. And that means helping you to focus behaviors and motivate people to deliver the expected brand experience consistently at every point of customer contact. We do this by engaging your people, using our experience and a selection of proprietary tools, including message maps, brand delivery modeling and brand/business strategy alignment.

/content/path-culture-and-change-leadership

Creating a culture that leads to improved operating results is challenging; it requires your people to behave differently to achieve different results. When improving performance requires your company and its people to take big steps forward together, Gagen MacDonald can help you create a sense of shared purpose and lead your organization to better results.

/content/path-organizational-design-for-communications

At Gagen MacDonald, we believe organizational design for corporate communications extends far beyond rearranging boxes on an org chart to looking at the complex relationship between strategy, structure, people, process and culture and making sure all are aligned to support the objectives of the business.

/content/path-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Gagen MacDonald can help you engage your employees to turn strategies into bottom-line results. We approach business opportunities with a communications mindset because thats how we believe you successfully run a company. By extending strategic communication expertise deeper into management decision-making and strategy execution, the communications function helps drive the business rather than just report on it.

/content/employee-engagement

We use employee engagement tools to create momentum, build visibility and drive commitment to the business cause. Often these tools are transformational experiences that change how people think about their work, about management and about their relationships with the company and other employees.

/content/announcements-archive-2005

Announcements Archive 2005

/content/announcements-archive-2006

Announcements Archive 2006

/content/announcements-archive-2007

Announcements Archive 2007

/content/tools-organizational-design-for-communications

Tools Organizational Design for Communications

/content/tools-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Tools Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/tools-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Tools Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/tools-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Tools Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/tools-culture-and-change-leadership

Tools Culture and Change Leadership

/content/garcia-joins-gagen-macdonald

Gagen MacDonald LLC, the Chicago-based strategy execution and employee engagement firm, today announced that Bob Garcia, formerly of Alvarez Marsal Business Consulting, has joined the consultancy.

/content/firm-renamed

Gagen MacDonald is the new name of the strategy execution and communications firm co-founded by Maril Gagen MacDonald in 1998. With this change, the company also is announcing its additional capabilities in offering clients leadership assessment and coaching, organizational design, diversity strategies and information flow management.

/content/wbe-certification

Chicago-based strategy execution and employee engagement firm, Gagen MacDonald LLC, announces it has been certified as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), based in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Women's Business Development Center, Chicago.

/content/gonring-to-join-gagen-macdonald

Gagen MacDonald LLC, the Chicago-based strategy execution and employee engagement firm, today announced that Matthew P. Gonring, currently vice president of Global Marketing and Communications for Rockwelll Automation will be joining the consultancy effective January 1, 2007.

/content/basf-captures-gold-sabre

BASF Corporation and Gagen MacDonald today announced they received The Holmes Group's prestigious Gold SABRE Award in the "Change Management" category. The honor recognized the communications program that was designed to integrate employees of the former Engelhard Corporation into BASF following the company's acquisition by BASF in June 2006.

/content/page-society-elects-new-president

At the annual business meeting held today the 24th Annual Conference of the Arthur W. Page Society, the Nominating Committee announced that the Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to elect Maril Gagen MacDonald, CEO of Gagen MacDonald, as President of the Page Society, beginning January 1, 2008.

/content/share-your-thoughts

Share a bit about yourself and your thoughts on what we can do for you.

/content/give-us-a-call

Think we can help you? Give us a call and well gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.

/content/strategic-communications-and-planning

From CEO transitions, to labor agreements, to strategic shiftssuccessful implementation requires thoughtful and thorough strategic planningplanning that considers all dimensions of the issue. Gagen MacDonald helps leaders see issues from multiple points of view through various filters, with an eye on the successful implementation of the plan or program.

/content/message-alignment-and-delivery

To inspire action, strategy has to be translated into a message set that is easy to remember and say. We combine what management wants to say with what employees want to know. Then we provide the instruction to improve leadership credibility.

/content/coaching-development-and-training

We have developed a variety of tools to help our clients ensure they have the right people, with the right skills to get the job done. Working virtually, or embedded on-site in client teams, we help individuals improve their impact as change agents; Human Resource and Communications teams grow as business drivers; and companies engage all employees in building a better business.

/content/research-and-measurement

Our view on metrics and measurement is to build strong, conclusive research. In addition to using traditional research methods, we actively work with experts from all fields to redefine and build solutions to help organizations become more effective.

/content/organizational-design-for-communications

At Gagen MacDonald, we believe organizational design for corporate communications extends far beyond rearranging boxes on an org chart to looking at the complex relationship between strategy, structure, people, process and culture and making sure all are aligned to support the objectives of the business.

/content/internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

At Gagen MacDonald, we dont develop brand promises we promise to help companies deliver them. And that means helping you to focus behaviors and motivate people to deliver the expected brand experience consistently at every point of customer contact. We do this by engaging your people, using our experience and a selection of proprietary tools, including message maps, brand delivery modeling and brand/business strategy alignment.

/content/strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Gagen MacDonald can help you engage your employees to turn strategies into bottom-line results. We approach business opportunities with a communications mindset because thats how we believe you successfully run a company. By extending strategic communication expertise deeper into management decision-making and strategy execution, the communications function helps drive the business rather than just report on it.

/content/leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

At Gagen MacDonald, we work with companies to enhance the performance of employees and key functions to ensure the right capabilities are in place in order to be successful. Our diverse, global team of certified trainers and consultants can help you build capabilities within your organization to develop the high-performance culture you need to compete and grow.

/content/culture-and-change-leadership

Creating a culture that leads to improved operating results is challenging; it requires your people to behave differently to achieve different results. When improving performance requires your company and its people to take big steps forward together, Gagen MacDonald can help you create a sense of shared purpose and lead your organization to better results.

/content/employee-engagement-forum

Our Employee Engagement Forum creates opportunities for our clients and contacts to hear directly from one other about fresh approaches to solving common challenges, to talk about whats going on with communications and how they want to shape our industry, and on a personal level expand their own networks.

/content/speaking-engagements-and-events

Our consultants are often invited to speak and present on a range of topics at local and national events hosted by industry associations, educational institutions and clients.

/content/industry-affiliations-and-leadership

Our active leadership and participation in strategic industry organizations enable us to continually stay abreast of the key trends and critical news events impacting our clients.

/content/awards

Weve had the privilege to partner with great clients on some of the most interesting business challenges and opportunities, and weve been honored and recognized by leading organizations for our work.

/content/announcements

Gagen MacDonald announces a new offering Leading Bold Change, an interactive learning program based on Our Iceberg Is Melting, the fable by Harvard Business School Professor, John Kotter, Ph.D. and Holger Rathgeber.

/content/sample-page

Sample Description

/content/awards-archive-2003

Awards Archive 2003

/content/awards-archive-2004

Awards Archive 2004

/content/awards-archive-2005

Awards Archive 2005

/content/awards-archive-2006

Awards Archive 2006

/content/awards-organizational-design-for-communications

Awards Organizational Design for Communications

/content/awards-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Awards Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/awards-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Awards Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/awards-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Awards Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/awards-culture-and-change-leadership

Awards Culture and Change Leadership

/content/careers

Because we pursue breakthrough solutions with some of the worlds most prominent companies, we offer our team exciting professional opportunities.

/content/our-people

Our core consulting team.

/content/our-clients

A sampling of our past and current clients. Due to confidentiality agreements, we are unable to disclose our full client list.

/content/what-we-do

Gagen MacDonald moves corporate and operating strategies off the shelf and into the workplace, turning them into reality. We engage employees by leveraging an organizations vision, leadership, brand, culture or history to motivate and align them behind business objectives.

/content/katherine-wilburn

Katherine Wilburn joined Gagen MacDonald as a recent graduate of Boston University where she received a Masters of Science in Corporate Communication. Currently, she is providing writing support and exploring methods of social media that will assist in the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system at Edison International, parent company to one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., Southern California Edison.

/content/julie-kness

Julie Kness brings a wealth of strategic communications experience to clients who are seeking change management and culture building expertise. From mergers and acquisitions to innovation methodology and internal branding, her work has focused on creating a clear line of sight between individual efforts and organizational goals.

/content/barbara-jacobs

With more than two decades of providing advice and counsel to a variety of businesses, Barbara Jacobs experience spans across the spectrum of communications, advertising, marketing and public relations. She specializes in organizational and HR Communications, in change management initiatives and in driving employee adoption of new behaviors.

/content/barbara-govednik

Helping company leaders at all levels talk with their employees with impact and empathy has been the hallmark of Barbara Govednik's communications career. A communication consultant and writer with more than 20 years experience, Barbara helps individuals uncover their stories and tell them with clarity.

/content/j-chandler-goodman

Chandler Goodman joined Gagen MacDonald as a recent graduate of Colgate University. In Chandlers short time with the company he has already participated in internal communications assessments for two major companies. In these projects, Chandler used his propensity for research and analysis to sort complex survey data and identify relevant themes.

/content/matthew-p-gonring

Matt Gonring joined Gagen MacDonald in 2006 after a nearly-30-year career with major global corporations - the past 20 leading the function of communications and marketing for four Fortune 500 companies. He is widely published and recognized as a global leader in marketing integration, internal, organizational and external communications.

/content/m-erik-gonring

Erik Gonrings experience with Gagen MacDonald is affording him opportunities to contribute to a wide array of client assignments in the automotive, aviation, chemical manufacturing, consulting, consumer products, financial services, food service, pharmaceutical and retail industries. His experiences include integration communications strategy and execution for two major merger-acquisitions in the chemical and retail industries.

/content/robert-a-garcia

Bob Garcia brings to client engagements over 20 years of global industry and higher education experience in executive coaching, HR integration, strategic planning, talent management, organizational effectiveness, succession planning, training and group facilitation.

/content/rose-r-gailey

During her near-30 year career, Rose Gailey has led leadership development initiatives in over 20 Fortune 1000 companies, ranging in industry from automotive manufacturing, commercial aerospace and foodservice to pharmaceuticals, financial services and insurance. Rose is an expert in executive coaching and assessment, and is currently co-pioneering a versatile leadership analysis model, and applying it with two global clients.

/content/maril-gagen-macdonald

Maril MacDonald is a nationally recognized leader in communications and strategy execution. She has pioneered a discipline that collaborates with corporate leaders to optimize business performance by engaging and mobilizing stakeholders behind a companys strategic goals, its culture and its brand. Her clients include some of the most recognized brands in the world.

/content/rich-fruin

Rich Fruins seven years of broad consulting and corporate experience are enabling him to contribute in a big way to one of Gagen MacDonalds largest-ever change initiatives. Working as part of an embedded team, Rich is responsible for leading and executing the internal communications and change effort in the finance and corporate center departments of the company as well as overseeing external communications with suppliers.

/content/nora-ellis

Nora Ellis 18-year career has focused on enhancing employees professional development to unleash an organizations talent and competitive advantage. She specializes in human resource systems and organizational design.

/content/peter-debreceny

After recently retiring as vice president of Corporate Relations at Allstate Insurance Company, responsible for internal and external communications for the Allstate Corporation and its subsidiaries, Peter Debreceny has been with Gagen MacDonald since the end of 2007.

/content/patricia-r-bayerlein

With over 15 years of experience in international marketing and communications, Patricia Bayerlein has advised local governments on international relations and developed business-to-business markets in Europe and the Pacific Rim.

/content/vikki-watson

Vikki brings more than 22 years of internal, corporate, executive communications and media experience to clients, with a focus on creating strategic communications that inform, educate and positively influence internal stakeholders.

/content/mary-e-wallenfang

Mary Wallenfang brings more than a decade of experience in a full range of internal and external communications activities that have helped organizations achieve their strategic goals. Mary enjoys getting to the bottom of what motivates people and creating powerful programs that get results.

/content/donna-j-uchida

Donna Uchida offers her clients the experience of a senior-level executive with results-oriented management experience in strategic communications including change management, employee engagement, issues management, global communications, risk communications, media relations, executive and financial communications.

/content/sherry-scott

Sherry Scott has 18-years of results-driven experience in change management, leadership and employee engagement, strategic planning, labor communication and internal and corporate communication.

/content/adrianne-g-rieck

With a broad background in product and brand management, as well as strategic business communications, Adrianne Rieck has led product development efforts enabling companies to tap emerging markets and counseled clients on maximizing employee relationships to drive performance and bottom-line results.

/content/donna-l-reynolds

Donna Reynolds combines leadership with expertise in developing and implementing strategic employee communications initiatives during times of corporate transitions and new strategic directions.

/content/morgan-marzec

Morgan Marzecs ability to get to the heart of complex business issues, simplify change and create actionable plans helps Gagen MacDonald clients engage employees to improve operational performance.

/content/patricia-ratulangi

With broad experience in corporate and marketing communications, Patricia Ratulangis passion is engaging employees to become brand ambassadors for their companies. She has developed and implemented strategic internal and external communications solutions for global and regional companies.

/content/lisa-m-perkins

With an ability to clarify and simplify complex business strategy, Lisa Perkins has helped a number of Gagen MacDonald clients succeed in large-scale change where employee engagement was imperative to achieving sustainable business results. Taking a change management approach to communications, she has applied her expertise during performance turnarounds, merger integration, major system implementations and culture change efforts.

/content/bronwyn-poole

As a change management professional with more than 15 years of consulting experience, Bronwyn Poole helps leaders engage employees to implement major transitions in business strategy and achieve results. Her expertise includes change program design and management, merger integration, culture assessment, organization redesign, change leadership development and strategic internal communications.

/content/judith-a-muhlberg

Judith Muhlberg understands first-hand how to drive results within Fortune 500 global companies and is experienced in dealing with many business issues, ranging from mergers and acquisitions to leadership communications, labor relations and executive development to employee engagement and change and culture management.

/content/lauren-a-kostas

Lauren Kostas works with companies to achieve results by creating actionable plans to engage employees in delivering on the business strategy. Her areas of experience include helping clients visions and values become operational and enabling employees to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

/content/our-values

Our values represent who we are and what we do for our clients and the people we reach.

/content/the-gagen-difference

Gagen MacDonald developed a core process or, more accurately, a way of thinking to create solutions that help our clients meet demanding, changing requirements. We dont force a model on your company; we mold our approach to fit your specific organization, culture and need.

/content/thankyou

Thank You

/content/gagen-testimonial-12

Providing a non-judgmental sounding board and sharing experience and ideas in creative ways, we can help our clients do pretty wonderful things for their companies.

/content/frank-bozich-basf-catalysts

Gagen McDonald brings a very unique combination of skills to a project. They offer great strategic and cultural insights combined with the best execution and discipline I have seen. They are able to quickly make contributions and become critical parts of any project team.

/content/blank-united

BLANK United

/content/blank-international

BLANK International

/content/blank-baxter

BLANK Baxter

/content/blank

/content/path-transition-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery-contact

Path Transition: Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery Contact

/content/path-transition-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery-tools

Path Transition: Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery Tools

/content/path-transition-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery-articles-and-white-papers

Path Transition: Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery Articles and White Papers

/content/path-transition-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery-case-studies

Path Transition: Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery Case Studies

/content/path-transition-organizational-design-for-communications-contact

Path Transition: Organizational Design for Communications Contact

/content/path-transition-organizational-design-for-communications-seminars

Path Transition: Organizational Design for Communications Seminars

/content/path-transition-organizational-design-for-communications-tools

Path Transition: Organizational Design for Communications Tools

/content/path-transition-organizational-design-for-communications-white-papers

Path Transition: Organizational Design for Communications White Papers

/content/path-transition-organizational-design-for-communications-case-studies

Path Transition: Organizational Design for Communications Case Studies

/content/path-transition-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities-contact

Path Transition: Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities Contact

/content/path-transition-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities-seminars

Path Transition: Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities Seminars

/content/path-transition-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities-tools

Path Transition: Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities Tools

/content/path-transition-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities-articles

Path Transition: Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities Articles

/content/path-transition-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities-case-studies

Path Transition: Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities Case Studies

/content/path-transition-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement-contact

Path Transition: Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement Contact

/content/path-transition-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement-seminars

Path Transition: Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement Seminars

/content/path-transition-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement-tools

Path Transition: Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement Tools

/content/path-transition-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement-articles-and-whitepapers

Path Transition: Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement Articles and Whitepapers

/content/path-transition-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement-case-studies

Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement transition to Case studies

/content/path-articles-and-white-papers-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Articles and White Papers Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/path-planning-for-business-results

Planning for Business Results

/content/path-white-papers-organizational-design-for-communications

White Papers Organizational Design for Communications

/content/path-planning-for-professional-development

Planning for Professional Development

/content/path-articles-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Articles Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/path-employee-engagement-forum

Path Employee Engagement Forum

/content/path-articles-and-white-papers-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Special Path Page Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/matt-gonring-named-prnews-all-star

Matt Gonring Named PRNews All-Star

/content/maril-macdonald-makes-prweeks-power-list

Maril MacDonald Makes PRWeeks Power List

/content/path-leading-bold-change

Leading Bold Change

/content/path-articles-and-white-papers-culture-and-change-leadership

Articles and White Papers Culture and Change Leadership

/content/path-transition-culture-and-change-leadership-contact

/content/path-transition-culture-and-change-leadership-seminars

/content/path-transition-culture-and-change-leadership-tools

/content/path-transition-culture-and-change-leadership-articles-and-wp

/content/path-transition-culture-and-change-leadership-case-studies

/content/white-papers-organizational-design-for-communications

White Papers Organizational Design for Communications

/content/white-papers-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

White Papers Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/white-papers-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

White Papers Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/white-papers-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

White Papers Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/white-papers-culture-and-change-leadership

White Papers Culture and Change Leadership

/content/awards-archive

Awards Archive

/content/announcements-archive

Announcements Archive

/content/sidebar-organizational-design-for-communications

Sidebar Organizational Design for Communications

/content/sidebar-internal-brand-strategy-and-delivery

Sidebar Internal Brand Strategy and Delivery

/content/sidebar-strategic-employee-communications-and-engagement

Sidebar Strategic Employee Communications and Engagement

/content/sidebar-leadership-development-training-and-organizational-capabilities

Sidebar Leadership Development, Training and Organizational Capabilities

/content/gagen-testimonial-25

Gagen MacDonald is a strategy execution firm that consults and partners with leadership teams and their employees to drive business results.

/content/gagen-testimonial-24

The 'Gagen Way' is expressed by the values and code of conduct we share; it connects us to our colleagues, clients, friends, families, and our common cause.

/content/gagen-testimonial-23

The 'Gagen Way' is a dedication to client service and acting with integrity, humility and kindness.

/content/gagen-testimonial-22

The 'Gagen Way' is a commitment to doing the right thing and doing more than expected to help others achieve success.

/content/gagen-testimonial-21

Our goal is to create the environment, systems and processes to get the immediate results needed while building the knowledge and experience of our clients for long-term success.

/content/contact

Contact

/content/gagen-testimonial-7

We have a cause, a heart, a desire to learn and to help; this is core to being Gagen

/content/sidebar-culture-and-change-leadership

Sidebar Culture and Change Leadership

/content/home

Turning, descriptions....

/content/gagen-testimonial-20

We want to guide our clients to success, but also help them build the skills and knowledge to get there on their own.

/content/gagen-testimonial-19

We believe that only when being careful to listen can you develop recommendations that will lead a client to a successful result.

/content/gagen-testimonial-18

We believe that every company is unique, with its own set of challenges and nuances.

/content/gagen-testimonial-17

For us, the thrill is bringing customized solutions to our clients based on what we know works.

/content/gagen-testimonial-16

We get it. We have been there and succeeded, and now thrive on sharing our experience with our clients.

/content/gagen-testimonial-15

We bring essential leadership skills and know-how to our clients, along with the vast knowledge of best practices in the industry.

/content/gagen-testimonial-14

When our clients are noticeably proud of their progress and achievements, and we know we played a supporting role in making their vision come alive, we are once again reminded of how much we love our work.

/content/gagen-testimonial-13

It is our goal to provide our clients with a sense of security and confidence that together we will get the work done and done well.

/content/gagen-testimonial-11

We have a strong bias for action but accept setbacks, challenges and problems with grace and ease.

/content/gagen-testimonial-10

We help bring order to the chaos and ambiguity our clients face, while recognizing that the companys disciplines (or lack thereof) may not easily shift, at least in the short term.

/content/gagen-testimonial-9

We strive to solve problems in a positive way that energizes our clients, versus exhausting them with negativity or judgment, because we recognize that they work in a complicated and not always healthy culture.

/content/gagen-testimonial-8

We pride (and differentiate) ourselves on being collaborative and resourceful, confident but not arrogant, knowledgeable but open to learning and new points of view.

/content/gagen-testimonial-6

At Gagen, listening begins and ends each client engagement. We dont assume that we know everything, or that our methodologies and tools are the end-all, be-all.

/content/gagen-testimonial-5

We listen to learn and understand the intricacies of our clients challenges, to gain their trust and respect, to find clarity and generate insights that lead to breakthrough work.

/content/gagen-testimonial-4

The strategic and brand differentiator for Gagen MacDonald is the fact that it is populated with smart people who have occupied almost ever chair in the corporate communications environment.

/content/gagen-testimonial-3

Its all about showing up to help. We want our clients to know and feel that we will stand by them, helping them clear a path and delighting in their success.

/content/gagen-testimonial-2

We are energized by the thought of helping our clients realize their full potential for performance.

/content/gagen-testimonial-1

Its our obligation to help clients think deeply about what they want to do to strengthen their organization over time.

/content/bruce-amundson-weyerhaeuser

Unlike consultants and agencies who come to the table with a one-size-fits-all approach, Gagen MacDonald approached our project focused on first learning about our unique situation and then working beside us to discover the right solution for our company. It was almost like they were a member of our team. In the process we tapped into Gagen MacDonalds experience and expertise to create a plan that complements the strengths of our corporate culture while addressing its weaknesses through positive action.

/content/melinda-brunnell-dmi

What really sets Gagen MacDonald apart is their approach to the client relationship. Theyre far more than a service provider. Theyre a true partner they have a genuine and active interest in my professional success and my organizations advancement. As a mentor and coach, they help me craft strategies to address any challenge.

/content/barbara-parsky-edison

It is incredibly refreshing to work with such a high-performing group of professionals. The team hits the strategic mark as well as the creative innovation thats required in todays business environment. They are a valuable addition to our team.

/content/debbie-radishaw-gateway

My experience in working with Gagen MacDonald has been wonderfully positive. They bring to the table the ability to synthesize all of the pieces of puzzle into a beautifully crafted solution that reflects our ideas and intent. The Gagen difference is reflected in the fact that whatever work we receive is much better than any we envisioned.

/content/felix-gress-basf

BASF and the consultants from Gagen MacDonald worked together as an integrated team right from the start. Their ability to prepare leaders on various levels and implement our joint communication initiatives has allowed us to ensure one voice to employees worldwide.

/content/seminars

Gagen MacDonald seminars are focused on helping Communications and Human Resource professionals positively impact the bottom line.

/content/white-papers

Gagen MacDonalds thought leadership and research provides the latest thinking in strategy execution, as well as valuable insights to help enable your business strategy.

/content/articles

As strategic partners, trusted advisors, teachers, mentors, and coaches, we are compelled to share our experience, knowledge and perspective to be a catalyst for change.