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  Keisha Jones, Director of Operations

  Keisha Jones joined Open Channels Group in May 2011 managing the administrative and financial operations of the agency. Over the past 12 years, Keisha has worked as a financial auditor in the public and private sectors, a financial and operation process consultant, an advisor to small business, homeowners associations and sororities as well as an adjunct professor. The industries she has served are institutions of higher education, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, real estate, nonprofit and service organizations. Keisha graduated from Clark Atlanta University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting. She is currently pursuing a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.

  Tiffany Levine, PMC/Admin Assistant

  Tiffany Levine works with corporate partners for the efficient delivery of projects associated with public participation, internal and external communications. She is an experienced program manager with more than 10 years of quality management, risk management and operations management in the public and private sectors. Levine’s expertise includes strategic planning, process improvement, communications, marketing, and event planning. Levine graduates with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Texas A&M University–Commerce in May 2012. She also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University where she majored in Management and minored in Spanish.

  
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  Brittany Taylor, Account Executive

  Brittany Taylor brings a variety of specialties impacting public participation strategies and multicultural communication development. Her experience in strategic planning, advanced market research government relations and community outreach brings a mixture of assets allowing clients to achieve results from major planning projects to reaching specific audiences through diverse communication. Taylor is a graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington.

  Amoya Edwards, Account Executive

  Amoya Edwards is a talented public relations professional whose social media expertise and exceptional writing abilities contribute to her success and professional development. Edwards assists on one of the agency’s largest client accounts and supports the team with social media content, news monitoring, and developing creative content for press materials. Her solid knowledge of the public relations industry aids in her ability to communicate effectively across various platforms for clients. Edwards is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where she attained a degree in public relations.

  
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  Corey Lark, Director of Digital Communications

  Corey Lark leads the agency's emerging digital practice, shaping the strategy for social media, Web design and development, video production, photography, and new media communications. Lark's passion and creativity, coupled with her PR, graphic design and media relations experience allow her to provide clients a range of services and deliver quality work. She is vice president of Social Media Club Fort Worth, and a member of the Public Relations Society of America and Vision Fort Worth. Lark is a graduate of Baylor University. Connect with her on Twitter at @CoreyLark

  Stephen Fashoro, Senior Account Executive

  Stephen Fashoro specializes in maximizing clients' communication strategies, generating media interest and building relationships throughout the community. His experience ranges from the public sector, which consists of strong community involvement, crisis management and Web marketing development to increasing public and private sector clients’ presence in the media by cultivating relationships with the press and thorough attention to detail. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University.

  
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  Kimberly Sims, Director of Public Participation
  

  Kimberly Sims leads the firm’s growing public participation practice and is responsible for engaging the public on transportation, water quality and economic development projects. Sims' background includes more than 10 years in marketing, communications, stakeholder relations, and event planning. Her experience in the public sector gives her tremendous insight in crafting and executing successful public participation and outreach campaigns. Kimberly is a Dallas native and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University in Denton.

  Chris Turner, Senior Vice President of Communications

  Chris Turner leads the communications team, helping clients advance strategic business objectives by effectively and clearly communicating their messages to targeted audiences. Turner has a strong background in communications and the shaping of public opinion, having spent years in the Texas political arena. Most recently, Turner served as a state representative, representing parts of Fort Worth and Arlington. Prior to holding elective office, Turner managed a number of successful political campaigns and served as the district director for a senior member of Congress. Turner is a native of Dallas and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

  
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  Tonya Veasey, President and CEO

  Tonya Veasey founded Open Channels Group in 2005 after more than 10 years in the public affairs industry. She is known for her impeccable relationships, political know-how and community outreach efforts conducted on behalf of her clients. As president, Veasey provides consulting for top corporations and nonprofits and has assembled a top-notch staff to serve her company's clients. Veasey has past experience as a registered lobbyist and as a director of public affairs for a Fortune 500 Company. She is a graduate of Paul Quinn College and is currently pursuing her Executive MBA at Texas Christian University.

  Malizy Scruggs, Senior Vice President of Multicultural

  Malizy Scruggs oversees Open Channels Group's multicultural communications practice. For more than a decade, she has worked to position companies and brands in a way that helps them to connect to and create a dialogue with their target audiences. Scruggs is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and past board member of the Public Relations Society of America Dallas Chapter. A Dallas native, Scruggs holds a Bachelor’s in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Arlington.

  
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  What We Do

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  History

  Open Channels Group is an emerging, forward-thinking general market public relations agency specializing in multicultural communications. Our team values collaborative partnerships with our clients, which allow us to connect with the diverse communities and customers they serve.

  

  Founded by Tonya Veasey in 2005, Open Channels Group began as a small consulting business with one client and has quickly grown into a prominent public relations agency in the Dallas/Fort Worth region. In an industry where reputation is everything, Open Channels Group has experienced success and dramatic growth by living up to its motto: “Exceeding our clients’ expectations.”

  Open Channels Group’s team members’ backgrounds range from Fortune 500 experience to major governmental entities; from media relations to graphic design; from event planning to social media expertise. As Open Channels Group continues to grow, we remain committed to providing each client with a unique approach tailored to meet its specific needs and business objectives. We Are PR.

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  WE ARE PR.

  The practice of public relations is constantly evolving. Five years ago, not many people had heard of Twitter — today, there are 100 million people who use the social network, and it drives the conversation in everything from entertainment to politics to sports. That's just one example of our ever—changing PR landscape, but it proves a point — if a PR team isn't learning new tactics and adapting to change every day, then it's already behind the times. To be executed effectively, it has to be planned thoroughly.

  Open Channels Group understands that effective public relations require staying on top of an evolving industry. However, we also know that the fundamentals of good PR remain unchanged — your message has to be compelling and it has to be credible. If it's not, it doesn't matter what you're saying or whom you are saying it to.

  Open Channels Group can help you craft that message — and then we'll devise the communications plan to deliver it to your target audiences, with an eye toward your organization's strategic goals and core values.

  
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  •  Message Development
  •  Identification of Target Audiences
  •  Media Relations
  •  Blogger Outreach
  •  Digital Communications
  •  News Media Coverage & Analysis Reporting
  •  News Monitoring
  •  Social Media Strategy & Implementation
  
  •  Crisis Communications
  •  Rapid Response
  •  Printed Materials
  •  Communications Protocols & Procedures
  •  Measurement Systems
  •  Market Research
  •  Speech Writing
  •  White Papers
  

  "Open Channels Group has brought a fresh perspective to our communications and outreach efforts by branding our community benefit initiatives and devising various strategies to deliver our message, keeping opinion leaders and the general public better informed about our work in the community."
  

  - Tim Hanners, Sr. VP, Cook Children’s Health Care System

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  WE ARE P2.

  From community relations to public participation, Open Channels Group has earned a reputation for success by providing communications strategies that build public trust and forge relationships with the right stakeholders. We begin our public participation — or P2 — approach by determining the level of engagement necessary to help guide our clients through the decision-making process. Open Channels Group's specific experience with transportation and urban planning projects gives us the ability to work collaboratively with our clients to help keep their projects on track. Whether a stakeholder is high-tech or prefers a more traditional approach, Open Channels Group tailors and executes P2 programs to meet your objectives and deliver tangible results.

  For Open Channels Group, P2 goes beyond the meeting to engage audiences wherever they are. It's truly about "community visioning" with long-term sustainability in mind.

  • We build trust with your audience.
  • We solicit public input that adds value to your next project.
  • We create effective communications tools that promote your message.
  

  What is community outreach? Simply stated, it is the act of executing public awareness activities through targeted interaction with an audience. In our tool bag are a variety of innovative tools and techniques that facilitate community education, outreach and input. Let us serve as the change agents on your next project.

  
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  •  Building Strategic Partnerships
  •  Copywriting
  •  Community Outreach
  •  Media Relations
  •  Issues Managements
  •  Meeting Facilitation and Planning
  
  •  Message Development
  •  Multicultural Communications
  •  Relationship Development
  •  Social Media
  •  Stakeholder Analysis
  

  "Open Channels Group has a great team to handle a variety of public participation needs: they understand traditional and newer communications strategies and how to best put those to work for their clients and they have a deep understanding of North Texas communities. OCG understands the unique challenges both architectural and engineering firms and public entities face on public projects and they work in tandem with both to keep the public informed and engaged."

  
  

  - Bob Herchert, Chairman of the Board, Freese and Nichols, Inc.

  "OCG has proved vital to HNTB's success in planning and developing multiple projects for the North Texas Tollway Authority. OCG's team ensures we are in touch with the communities we serve by facilitating a crucial exchange of information between the NTTA and the public ... we have a clear understanding of the community's concerns, helping to guide our planning and designing efforts."

  
  

  - Stephen Knobbe, Vice President, HNTB Corporation

For more information please download a complete capabilities brochure.

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  WE ARE DIGITAL.

  Digital communications are a key component to a successful, well-rounded public relations strategy.

  Open Channels Group defines digital as online, fluid and immediate, using new and emerging media and technology to execute creative, interactive and cutting edge projects and campaigns for our clients. However, digital is continuously evolving, so our approach reflects the ever—changing nature of this medium — we are continuously expanding our capabilities, growing our services and revising our definition of digital.

  Open Channels Group can help extend your brand directly to your audience through our digital services. We will customize our approach based on your needs and objectives. Whether we start from scratch with social media, customizing your strategy and creating and managing your accounts; help take your company to the next level with a full branding and online refresh; or work as your partner to draft website content or create a marketing video, we will help you harness the power of digital to achieve results.

  
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  •  Graphic Design
  •  Content Development
  •  Strategy & Planning
  •  Measurement & Analytics
  •  Email Marketing
  •  Search Engine Optimization
  
  •  Press Release Optimization
  •  Web Design & Development
  •  Video Production
  •  Photography
  •  App Development
  •  Mobile Marketing
  

  "We loved working with Open Channels Group! They helped breathe new life into our social media efforts, developing our new strategy, customizing our pages and sharing their knowledge. We were so impressed with the digital team's experience and expertise and look forward to working together on future projects."

  
  

  - Cynthia Cuellar, Chief Development Officer, Recovery Resource Council

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  WE ARE MULTICULTURAL.

  We know a good message means nothing if it is not relevant to the audience receiving it or if it is not communicated through the right medium. Open Channels Group specializes in multicultural communications — refining and delivering the messaging to achieve maximum impact in targeted audience segments. We will create a customized strategy, help craft your message so it’s relevant to the segment you’re trying to reach, and use the appropriate channels and mediums to help you connect with your multicultural audience.

  
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  •  Blogger Outreach
  •  Branding
  •  Campaign Planning
  •  Consumer Awareness
  •  Copywritings
  •  Event Planning/Coordination
  •  Graphic Design
  
  •  Marketing Communications
  •  Media Relations and Analysis
  •  Message Development
  •  Printed Materials
  •  Research
  •  Social Media
  

  "Our partnership has been a success all around. Thanks to Open Channels Group, our telecommunications client has a stronger African American program, much needed general market support for U-verse and Wi-Fi and continued momentum on the diversity PR front."

  
  

  - Amy Calvin, Sr. VP & Sr. Partner, Fleishman-Hillard