Trade journal names Lambert, Edwards & Associates of Grand Rapids as Small PR Agency of the Year

By Sharon Hanks

Lambert, Edwards & Associates, a Grand Rapids public and investor relations firm, has been named Small PR Agency of the Year by PRWeek at an awards ceremony in New York City.

PRWeek, the leading trade journal for public relations and corporate communications professionals, selected the 12-year-old firm from hundreds of applicants representing agencies with annual revenues of $5 million to $10 million.

"We're absolutely thrilled with this recognition by our peers in the industry," says Tara Powers, partner and managing director at the firm. "It's a testament to the work of our team on behalf of our clients."

Jeff Lambert is the president and managing partner of the company headquartered at 171 Monroe Ave. NW.

While a number of agencies struggled last year due the poor economy, LE & A reported a 6 percent growth in organic revenue and a 5 percent increase in net profit. It also recorded annual adjusted operating profit of more than 30% for the past five years. Besides financial growth, the award also recognized client roster growth, client and employee retention, client satisfaction, innovation, creativity and good human resources practices, such as fully paid employee health care, wellness reimbursement program and on-going training.

Part of that growth can be attributed to LE & A's acquisition last year of John Bailey & Associates, a Troy-based agency that brought with it a staff of 15 and about 25 new clients, Powers says. The acquisition expanded the agency's workforce to 37 employees, including 24 in Grand Rapids, making it West Michigan's largest public relations firm.

Spartan Motors, Georgia-Pacific, Zondervan, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Hangar42 Studios, and Salvation Army Kroc Center are among its 100-plus clients in 20 states.

Source: Tara Powers, Lambert, Edwards & Associates partner and managing director, Grand Rapids; PR Week website.


Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at [email protected]. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.