PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Smith & Harroff, Inc. (S&H) is a full-service public affairs firm providing strategic communications and advocacy advertising to corporations, coalitions and associations. The firm has over 25 years of experience in the growing public affairs field.

Unlike many of our peers, S&H made a strategic decision to focus on our core competencies in the public affairs arena. We firmly believe clients seek real mastery from an agency -- mastery that cannot be achieved through a jack-of-all trade's approach. We understand what works in Washington, DC, what motivates politicians and how to efficiently achieve political objectives. Whether it is winning support for legislation, maneuvering a client through the regulatory process, or swaying public opinion in our clients' favor, The S&H staff are, as Fortune Magazine puts it, "seasoned hands at using political campaign techniques for corporate causes."

S&H offers public affairs assistance to several energy clients. In the spring of 2001, we were retained by the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth (AEEG), a coalition of over 300 organizations advocating a national energy policy. We provided AEEG with message strategy, advertising and media relations. For Westinghouse Government Services S&H provides strategic advice related to Department of Energy contracts. 

Given soaring energy prices, shortages of electricity generation and concerns over global climate change, many people are taking a new look at nuclear energy. One of our clients in this field, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), is leading the industry in communication activities. For example, NEI, with the assistance of S&H, is encouraging policymakers and opinion leaders to take a fresh look at nuclear power by using radio and print advertising to showcase the many benefits of nuclear power. Survey research has demonstrated the positive impact of this campaign and the industry has approved a budget for a sixth year of advertising.

S&H won the Consumer Aerosol Products Council (CAPCO) account in 2000. S&H developed a unique program of radio air quality sponsorships aimed at educating the consumer that aerosol products are CFC-free and do not harm the Earth's protective ozone layer. S&H is also assisting CAPCO in other public education efforts on CFC-free aerosol products.

U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (l) with S&H President, Jay Smith

The NRCC came to S&H in early 1999, when House Republicans were still reeling from the rapid-fire resignation of Newt Gingrich and subsequent resignation of Speaker-Designate Bob Livingston. S&H crafted communications strategy designed both to introduce new Speaker Dennis Hastert and put a new public face on the House majority.

S&H helped establish the new House leadership and put House Republicans in position to hold or possibly expand their narrow legislative majority. As part of S&H's relationship with the NRCC, the firm produced advertising and orchestrating strategy for the House Republicans' "Battleground 2000" campaign that targeted races in key Congressional districts.

S&H boasts a long record of success in Arizona, so it came as no surprise that the Arizona Cardinals retained the firm to help build public support for a tourism and sports authority ballot initiative that would pave the way for a new football stadium in greater Phoenix. Working with the Cardinals, S&H rapidly developed a multi-faceted campaign featuring advertising and community relations efforts that proved successful as the initiative - to the surprise of most observers - received a majority of the popular vote.