Skanska

Skanska | Thought Leadership and Power Mapping for Texas Cities

Commercial & Industrial, Healthcare & Wellness, Public Affairs, Public Relations
Challenge

Skanska USA and Pierpont worked across a 5-year engagement to build a thriving program of PR, thought leadership, and senior leadership power mapping.

Objectives

With programs concurrently running in San Antonio and Houston, the Pierpont team balanced work for individual team members including by-line articles, speaking engagements, board opportunities, media coverage, and expert commentary, with a steady program of ground-breakings, “first tenants” and anchor tenants, featured presentations at target associations, key sponsorships, and corporate social responsibility (green building) efforts.

Solution

In addition, Pierpont provided strategic crisis counsel, content, and media representation for Skanska, particularly around a community duck pond issue picked up by local media. Skanska had purchased a property for tear-down and new development, but unknown during the transaction was that the pond on the property (called “Lake Thicket” and also to be removed) had neighborhood sentimentality due to the resident flock of ducks.

Results

Pierpont engaged the local neighborhood “save the ducks” counsel, neighborhood board, local elected officials, and local media. A series of meetings and negotiations were held, and the ducks successfully relocated, keeping the project on-track and resolving neighbor issues and media coverage.