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1996 ALL STARS
AL GOLIN
GOLIN HARRIS COMMUNICATIONS
Golin/Harris Communications, the firm founded by Alvin Golin, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1996 with its best year ever. Golin/Harris has grown to become the largest PR firm in its headquarters city of Chicago and one of the top firms - both in fees and reputation - on a national level. It represents some of the blue-chip names in American business - Chrysler, Dow, Kraft General Foods, Sony - and enjoys some of the strongest client-agency relationships in the business, most notably its 40 year association with McDonald's.
Golin founded his PR firm, then known as Golin & Cooper, in 1957. McDonald's was one of the firm's first clients, and in his autobiography Grinding It Out McDonald's founder Ray Kroc credits Golin with "a lot of the credit for making McDonald's a household word." Golin's contribution includes selling franchises, taking McDonald's public, handling the debut of the company in Moscow and Beijing, and establishing the Ronald McDonald House charities.
In the meantime, Golin/Harris grew to be a major force in Chicago public relations. With the acquisition of Berkhemer & Kline in Los Angeles, G/H became a national force, and has since expanded into New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. It was acquired by Shandwick in 1987, and in a recent consolidation not only retained its own brand identity but also took management oversight for the operations of Shandwick's Atlanta office and San Francisco technology operation.
The agency has also expanded internationally, with offices in Canada and the United Kingdom.
"The corporate culture of Golin/Harris is the personality and character of Al Golin," says the firmÕs president, Rich Jernstedt. "So much of what we believe, how we perform and the way we strive for excellence is based on Al. The standards he established 40 years ago are still relevant today. And he performs his responsibilities today as he always has: with dedication, integrity, humor and insight."
GolinÕs first priority has always been client service. McDonaldÕs, the companyÕs oldest and still largest client, has named an award - presented to PR counsel around the world for their contributions to the company - after him. He was, fittingly, its first recipient. And as both Golin and his agency have matured he has been called on not only to counsel clients but also to mentor them, offering critical career advice along with his public relations wisdom.
In addition to his personal counsel to McDonaldÕs senior management and other corporate clients, Golin has provided advice to the U.S. Department of Commerce, helping to create a major public awareness program for U.S. companies on the benefits of exporting to build the economy, increase employment and reduce the balance of trade deficit.
He is also just as accessible to his own staff - at all levels of the agency - as he is to his clients, contributing to brainstorming sessions, conducting in-house seminars, and constantly available for one-on-one meetings at which he shares his experience freely.
Golin also donates his time and knowledge to a wide range of good causes. He has been active in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Goodman Theater, the University of Tennessee, Roosevelt University and, of course, the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
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Sounds like TSIG got themselves the right PR company!
regards,
Andretti |
