Cheers to Five Years: Celebrating Evocati PR's Commitment to PR with A Purpose
Five Years Later, We're Still in Business. That's Worth Celebrating and Reflecting
Timid People Need Not Apply
Evocati PR began as a side-hustle five years ago when I incorporated the company in Virginia and began the most difficult journey I had ever faced. Entrepreneurship is not for the timid.
I have covered what I wish I had known before starting, but what have we achieved along the way?
Turns out, it's been a lot—the military-connected community and our clients are better off for it.
Conan, What is Best in Life?
The Barbarian (Source: Giphy)
I first announced Evocati PR on LinkedIn in 2019, revealing how this company started as my side hustle while I worked at Student Veterans of America.
I wouldn't have made the batsh*t crazy choice to start a side hustle then leave my low-paying nonprofit job for an even lower paying start-up without the support of my partner—despite my adversaries' attempts at mischaracterizing her role as something nefarious.
It was nothing more than the full-throated support from a wife to her husband who lacked confidence in himself.
She saw in me what I could not see in myself—she saw potential.
Today, my adversaries continue to cry lamentations while Evocati PR goes full barbarian-mode providing unrelenting PR with a Purpose with historic results.
But I have to offer one mea culpa before we celebrate said results.
Babe, I Forgot Our Anniversary
Again, this has not been an easy journey. I've talked about my journey both on this blog and in podcasts including, I AM CEO, The Veteran Semi-Professional, Growth Secrets & Systems, Niche in Control, and The Scuttlebutt.
If anything, it's been a relentless battle internally as I manage my own imposter syndrome and externally as we seek new and innovative ways to serve more clients. If you want the inside scoop for how we're navigating that journey, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.
The journey has been so all-consuming that I didn't even realize we were celebrating five years!
It wasn't until Dylan, our PR Apprentice, pointed it out and asked if we wanted to publish anything.
My first inclination was to say no because any discussion about Evocati PR's history involves talking about myself, which I hate. I changed my mind though after reviewing everything we've accomplished as a team for our clients in five years. So, let's talk about them instead.
Five Years of Winning
(Source: Giphy)
In 2018, we provided PR services to Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors and Veterans Education Success who support specially adapted housing and education benefit programs for our nation's military-connected community.
In 2019, we provided PR and consulting services to Veterans Education Success, The Washinton Center, The University of North Carolina System, The Ivy League Veterans Council and The College Board; we were also selected to participate in the Bush Institute's Stand-To Veterans Leadership Program. Our contributions increased awareness about the need to better support student veterans in higher education.
In 2020, we supported The College Board's advocacy to increase opportunities for veterans to attend high graduation rate colleges; announced a partnership with Aliro to support corporate clients attracting military-connected talent; supported Veterans at Zoom to increase corporate support for their military-connected employees; continued a partnership with The Washington Center's Veterans Employment Trajectory (VET) Initiative; and was selected for Bunker Lab's Veterans In Residence Program. Finally, we worked with CNAS to publish groundbreaking research titled, "Called to Lead" discovering the connections between military service and higher education leadership.
In 2021, Evocati PR welcomed Soldiers' Angels as a client providing full-service PR support as an agency of record; renewed our partnership with The Washington Center; featured Women Veterans for Women's History Month; featured civilian leaders who support the military-connected community on Veterans Day; worked with clients, stakeholders in Congress, and the White House to respond to the fall of Afghanistan and provide support for refugees; continued our support for Veterans at Zoom; announced a historic research partnership with Fayetteville State University (FSU); finally, Evocati PR was selected to participate in Standford University's Graduate School of Business Ignite Program for post-9/11 veterans.
In 2022, Evocati PR and FSU published their research findings titled "The Call to Serve" with national acclaim and were featured in The Washington Post; published a feature on how to better diversify higher education; continued to provide PR services to Soldiers' Angels with historic results + a feature on the #1 Daytime talk show, LIVE with Kelly and Ryan; announced our new CEO, Mark Szymanksi, and welcomed the National Potato Council as a client, as we transitioned to a full-service PR firm; and we attended the Virginia Veterans & Military Affairs Conference and Great American Beer Festival.
So far, in 2023, we announced our rebrand from Evocati LLC to Evocati Public Relations; helped our clients The National Potato Council host the largest potato industry conference with historic results; announced groundbreaking research called Spud Nation which led to the #1 Google Search result; finally visited our clients Soldiers' Angels in San Antonio, TX on a fun site visit; called attention to the mental health benefits of gaming and eSports for the military-connected community thanks to Stack-Up; celebrated a client feature on Jeopardy!; began featuring Clients in the News (almost) every Friday; started a newsletter, Squared Away, to help entrepreneurs and marketing professionals like you level-up your PR and marketing skills; and much more as we work towards supporting our clients through the end of the year.
Most small businesses fail within the first five years, but we haven't. We've thrived, providing employment opportunities to talented PR professionals and serving the best clients.
Through the years we've added major policy and PR contributions in the higher education, nonprofit, agriculture, and military-connected sectors of the economy.
Cheers
Upon reflection, I'm proud of what we've accomplished at Evocati PR and make no apologies for the choices I've made or people offended by being successful.
We've placed clients across the world and shared their missions through billions of impressions across traditional and online media.
That’s worth celebrating.
But my most cherished accomplishment is knowing the people both inside and outside of the company who've joined me on this journey.
To Mark, Cheryl, Dylan, Brittny, Janette, LeNaya, Kyle, Lindsey, Stacey, Andrew, Lauren, Sara, Arch, JFR, and Tanya: these five years of success are thanks to you. I'm in your debt.
If you’re interested in our team helping you win more at PR, contact us today to get started. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter to level up your PR and marketing game with actionable insights from our team.
Cheers to five years at Evocati PR! I look forward to celebrating our ten-year anniversary in 2028 as we continue to provide PR with a Purpose.
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