We’re Hiring an Accounting & HR Manager (Part-time/Contract)
About the Team VVK PR + Creative is an independent, integrated communications firm based in Detroit, with offices in New Jersey and South Carolina. We help brands define themselves with strategic and creative communications services. We are a team of nearly 25 PR strategists, digital media specialists and video producers who implement comprehensive campaigns that […]
Curiosity Over Certainty: Reflections on My First Mackinac Policy Conference
There were two key moments that stayed with me during my first time at the Conference and as a Mackinac Future Leader. The first lasted maybe fifteen minutes. Tuesday evening, after check-in but before the event fully began, the halls of the Grand Hotel briefly emptied. I intentionally walked through the space, mostly alone, taking […]
How to Give Healthcare Messaging an Emotional Reset
For years, the healthcare industry has leaned heavily on the logic of metrics. Billboards tout “Top 100 Hospital” rankings, websites highlight low ER wait times and press releases praise the acquisition of cutting-edge robotic tech. These proof points matter. But as we navigate the complexities of effective communications in the current climate, logic alone is […]
Beyond Opening Day: How Hospitality Brands Build Legacy Through Storytelling
When people think about hospitality PR, they often think about grand openings. The ribbon cutting. The influencer previews. The first wave of media coverage. The excitement that comes with introducing something new to the market. While those moments matter, they’re only the beginning. One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter in hospitality communications is the […]
The Future of Agencies Is More Human Than You Think
I recently sat down with Nicole Schuman, Managing Editor of PRNews at the PRSA Counselors Academy Spring Conference for a conversation about where agencies are headed and what’s already changing in our business. Here are five takeaways from that conversation and how they show up in our work at VVK PR + Creative. 1. The […]
VVK’s May Newsletter | Why We Sometimes Say “No” in New Business
Over a 30-year career in public relations and marketing consulting, I’ve had my hand in more new business opportunities and written more proposals than I could ever count. However, joining VVK in early 2025 provided a fresh lens. Now more focused on business development, I’ve come to learn that some of the proposals I’d worked […]
VVK’s April Newsletter | Elevating Agency Work and the Clients We Serve
During introductory meetings, I often say, “I’ve been doing this work for over 30 years, but joining VVK slightly after its inception four years ago was my first experience on the agency side of the communications relationship.” My career has taken me through corporate communications, nonprofit leadership, and complex organizational change, yet stepping into agency […]
VVK’s March Newsletter | Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
One year ago, VVK made a monumental decision—one that would shape the future of our agency and expand the impact we deliver for clients across the country: We acquired Stern Strategy Group’s PR division. But the heart of that decision wasn’t rooted in spreadsheets or valuations; it was grounded in something far more enduring: people over […]
What if the Mascot didn’t Show up for a Sponsorship… but Showed up for Work Instead?
There’s a template for sports sponsorships. You’ve probably seen this a thousand times – a suit standing next to a mascot, sport-related puns flying everywhere, everyone trying very hard to look like this is fun. It’s familiar. It’s safe. It’s also totally forgettable and, depending on what side of the monitor you’re on, totally embarrassing. […]
Using Mindset Mapping to Restore Trust and Optimism in Higher Ed
Data Proves the Value, but Emotion Restores the Belief For years, higher education has relied on the logic of prestige – rankings, endowment growth, and impressive research outputs. But as we navigate 2026, logic alone isn’t enough to bridge the growing divide between academia and the public. With the demographic cliff shrinking the pool of […]