Adding Business Development through Public Relations, Marketing, and Communication to the Accord Strategies menu of services with the

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24/7 Consultant Care Package


Your Public Relations professional on-call to help you proactively navigate the benefits and challenges of the new world of 24/7 media, and social marketing. Sign up for the Consultant Care Package today and feel confident in your PR, communications and marketing programs of your business plan all year long.


Don’t have a business plan that includes these primary services and program Contact Accord Strategies today for organization consulting and strategic business planning.
www.accordstrategies.com.

Additional hours at $300 per. 4hrs max. Available on Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Other dates and evening hours available for additional fee. *Special cancellation fees apply.

Green Package – Energize your pr, marketing and communications plan with individualized services, good for anytime use over a 3 month period. 8 hrs $1,995. Billable at 20 minute intervals.

Silver Package – Extend and enhance the principals of the Green Package, annual anytime use. 12 hrs $2,795 Р12 month period
Billable at 20 minute intervals

Gold Package – Consistent and comprehensive, 20 hrs annually anytime use of planning and available execution of special services (may require additional fees), including monthly tailored tips with execution protocols, social media updates.
20 hrs $4,495 – 12 month period.
Billable at generous 15 min increments.

Platinum Package – Consistent and comprehensive, 40 hrs annually of planning and available execution of special services (may require additional fees), including monthly on-site process meetings monthly and tailo#8a2617 tips with execution protocols, and social media updates. 40 hours $7,795 – 12 month period.
The most conservative billing system available at 10 min increments.

Who needs a Public Relations Consultant?

Why do I need a Public Relations Consultant?

If any of the above items are familiar challenges to you and your company YOU need a professional and creative Public Relations consultant to advise and guide you in emergent issues, program planning, and long range business development through communications, public relations, and marketing protocols. A Simon Says, LLC will provide you with the advice, products, and services that you need to accomplish these goals.


Why should I have access to my own Public Relations consultant?

24/7 Consultant Care Package from A Simon Says, LLC
Terms and Conditions

*Starter Package must be booked at least seven business days in advance and paid in full by check, direct deposit, or credit card (using Pay Pal) prior at least three business days hours prior to session date. Returned checks will be charged $65 service fee.

Cancellation fee of $100 will be charged if cancellation is made within three business days of booking. No refunds of fees for cancellations after three business days prior to session.

**Packages must be paid in full three business days prior to first date of service by check, direct deposit, or credit card (using Pay Pal).

Returned checks will be charged $65 service fee. No payment plan is available for this package series. There is no refund of fees for early termination of contract.

For flexible payment service call about our contract for services, and retainer programs.

“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”

William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Understanding between opposing forces, whether the causes for opposition are real or imagined, is older that Shakespeare. Like for the Montagues and Capulats, where the lack of desire to approach the opposing forces with conscious dignity, based in understanding, and acknowledgment, was a recipe for death, in business the result is the metaphoric death of active listening and productive discussion. It is a tenuous and often confusing dance for the actors in a global community where myopic views must be redefined to include so many others points of view, and then actively put into practice.

Just recently in New Jersey an example of insensitivity to the issue of race was acted out in context of the discussion regarding the current rate of unemployment benefits, by two members of the State Legislature, one African American, one Caucasian. While the media parlayed the ‘race issue’ into major headlines for a cycle or two, too soon the public discourse traveled away from long standing issues of race relations, and from the immediate and crisis issue of unemployment benefits for residents, to the more salacious discussion of which political party receives more benefits from their public contract jobs. An opportunity for real understanding between people, for growth and leadership on the issue of race was lost. While questions have been raised about the quality of the diversity and sensitivity training, elected officials at all levels of government are provided with.

The New Jersey case exemplifies the pitfalls we all face in business and in our personal lives when issues of race and stereotypes are raised. To be cognoscente of history and context of the cultures with which one comes in contact with, is the first step in recognizing that there are ‘trigger words’ that can express a meaning to the receiver that may not be what was intended by the speaker.

In the New Jersey case the trigger word was ‘those people’ stated by a Caucasian man, leader of one political party, in reference to the unemployed, with the receiver being an African American woman from the opposing political party. To give the reader context, it is important to understand that the term ‘those people’ has been, and is, commonly used to denote superiority by the person using it. The term has also been used to illustrate that people are other and not like use – therefore suspect. In historical context in our country, the term has been used as a derogatory reference to African Americans, as well as other minority groups, that haven’t been considered part of the ‘main stream’. These are just three contextual definitions for the trigger phrase ‘those people’.

Trigger words cause conflict, anger and pain in society, and in the workplace. Understanding what trigger words are, their context and how one uses them, and the nouns and pronouns to describe ‘others’ that are created and defined each day, as sensitivity triggers, is an important step in learning to navigate ethically, and legally in a diverse, and complex environment. Anger and misunderstanding do more than cause pain in the workplace – it reduces productivity, causes management challenges, and may in the case of racism, sexism, and ageism, result in litigation for a business owner – a costly prospect.

A comprehensive diversity and sensitivity program for businesses, communities and schools, with training and monitoring on a yearly basis is our best chance to act ethically and morally, and to educate our colleagues, friends, and leaders, in the ancient, ever present, and expanding need for understanding between diverse communities. A proactive D&S program that meets or exceeds mandates is also a best business practice that can protect the productivity levels and financial bottom line of ones company or organization.

The question before the court is whether claims by individual employees may be combined as a class action. A decision on that issue will almost certainly affect all sorts of other class action suits. If nothing else, many pending class actions will slow or stop while litigants and courts await the decision in the case.

Wal-Mart objects to the class action in part because the number of potential claimants would be so large. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the size of the class is inevitable because Wal-Mart is such a huge company, and is anyway legally irrelevant.

Read More from the New York Times

A comment from Amy Simon, Principal

The Wal-Mart case is an example of a compliance issue turned into a public relations gaff that strains resources, and has far reaching implications for the company in the marketplace, and the productivity of its employees. The Wal-Mart firm is not the only company facing this crisis.

While the news cycle is currently focused on the single issue of the legality of a class action suit in cases like these, the case keeps Wal-Mart, and other firms that are facing class action suits, with their names in the news for negative reasons. The true issue in this case is job discrimination against women with a 500,000 female workers signed on. Those are not only a lot of claimants but a lot of customers to be in conflict with.

As reported by the Associated Press, Wal-Mart ‘argued they don’t have a companywide policy of discrimination……’. One would ask, does Wal-Mart have a clear companywide policy against discrimination? The response by Wal-Mart that each store operates independently, and actions therein should be tried independently, is a defense that seems out of concert with the company’s brand marketing, as well as the marketing of its employment opportunities.

Instituting a clear and ethical diversity and compliance program that exceeds that which is required by Federal law, maintaining that program with training, and an integrated internal review committee, and promoting the effort with a responsible public relations and marketing program, will ensure that a firm stays in the office, meeting the responsibilities of its stock holders, and out of the courtroom.

A firm should be proactive in the areas of diversity and compliance. These types of cases whether individual or class action are not new, and can be avoided with proper planning and training. By doing so a firm is not only doing the right thing for its employees, but also protecting its brand and stockholders from the results of negative publicity.

Accord Strategies provides consulting, planning and training in compliance and diversity, and A Simon Says, the public relations and marketing protocols that support that effort.

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Communicating a message to others happens when one acts – whether or not you intend to communicate a message, have prepared to communicate a message, or think anyone would really care about what you say or do.

We are a highly message driven society. Today we live, watch, listen, and surf in a three dimensional media world. Think about everything you do in the context of a chess game. Professionally, and personally, we need to understand or imagine the future implications of every move on the board, and every possible counter move. Our every statement, blog, Twitter, or Facebook entry is an invitation for a variety of perceptions, and a barrage of public comments. Cell phone cameras can be used in a blink of an eye to upload the most personal moments to public view.

Its time for all of us to truly realize that everything we say and do is public.

We must be prepared to respond to both the challenges and opportunities inherent in every messaging move in our business and personal chess game. Even when we saturate the messaging roadways with our point of view, like an Ethernet black hole, there is room for counter messaging, caused by our own missteps, or generously donated from our competitors. The goal then is to turn every messaging challenge into an opportunity, and to maximize every opportunity realized from our message.

The recent NPR action, the firing of commentator Juan Williams, is a perfect example of a self-inflicted communications crisis. Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with the choice to let Mr. Williams go, it’s the way in which the choice was executed that put NPR in a crisis management situation. How did they prepare for the public and industry reaction to his dismissal? Did they take into account the timing of the firing, financially, politically, or the implication of the media cycle? Did they act in concert with their brand identity? Once, these questions and additional issues are considered, what was the plan to manage the message pertaining to this choice? Juan Williams’ firing was being discussed on nearly every media outlet, in a plethora of chat rooms, even in non-industry business meetings that I attended over a three day cycle. By Monday, October 25th, Google posted over 50,000 hits in 21 seconds for the story on Vivian Schiller’s apology alone. The dialogue is dying down but NPR took an unnecessary hit.

We must remember, we do and say nothing in a vacuum. As a PR and messaging consultant, and from personal experience, this is difficult territory to navigate, and we continue to learn as much from our mistakes as from our successes. So, three words to the wise, THINK, PLAN, PREPARE. Think before you speak, plan before you act, and prepare to meet the challenges and opportunities inherent in every message you convey.

Amy Simon, Principal A Simon Says, LLC / Accord Strategies, LLC

The spirit of Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress and a woman known for not just standing on the sidelines but implementing ideas, was felt in the room as these women were honored by New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D- 34th District), the first African-American woman in New Jersey’s history to be sworn in as Speaker of the New Jersey Assembly

Mistress of ceremonies Della Crews, Anchor, News 12 New Jersey, presented Ms. Simon with her award.

“It is a great honor to accept the Shirley Chisholm Award from a woman such as the Honorable Sheila Oliver, who embodies the ideals, and political approach of the late Congresswoman,” said Ms. Simon. “Art provides our State with solutions for our social and economic challenges. Now, more then ever, is the time support the Arts in New Jersey.”

As Executive Director of the non-profit New Jersey Arts Incubator Ms. Simon has spent the last three years stimulating the economy through developing artists and arts organizations through technical assistance, employment, marketing, programming, performance and education in an effort to support, sustain and promote viable arts agencies as economic drivers in communities across the State of New Jersey. Last summer NJAI sponsored “A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Festival” along with the Essex Country Department of Parks and Cultural Affairs bringing thousands of people through Verona Park to support the arts and small business in New Jersey. Operating out of donated space in Essex Green, West Orange, the New Jersey Arts incubator offers workshops, performances and art exhibitions monthly.

President of A Simon Says, LLC a Public and Community Relations and Media Management firm based in West Orange, New Jersey, and a principal of Accord Strategies LLC, a business development and compliance firm. Ms. Simon is also a member of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a legislative aide to Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-27th District), a member of the Arts Build Community Initiative of the Rutgers Bloustein School, and serves on a number of other boards and committees. She has most recently been recognized as a recipient of the 2008 NJ Biz New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business Award and the 2008 New Jersey State Jefferson Award. A published author and editorial writer, radio host and television producer, Ms. Simon began her career as an actor and writer in New York City.

Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-West Orange) and Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey (D-South Orange) with Amy Simon, 2010 Shirly CHISHOLM Award recipient for arts & entertainment. Simon is the Executive Director of the NJ Arts Incubator. She was one of 15 awardees recognized for their accomplishments in various fields at the award ceremony on Saturday, Apr. 17th at the Valley Regency in Clifton, NJ.	Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-West Orange) with Amy Simon, 2010 Shirly CHISHOLM Award recipient for arts & entertainment. Simon is the Executive Director of the NJ Arts Incubator. She was one of 15 awardees recognized for their accomplishments in various fields at the award ceremony on Saturday, Apr. 17th at the Valley Regency in Clifton, NJ
Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-East Orange) and News12 reporter Della J. Crews with Amy Simon, 2010 Shirly CHISHOLM Award recipient for arts & entertainment. Simon is the Executive Director of the NJ Arts Incubator. She was one of 15 awardees recognized for their accomplishments in various fields at the award ceremony on Saturday, Apr. 17th at the Valley Regency in Clifton, NJ