Why Values Matter

Curley Company was named a finalist for Provoke Media Boutique Agency of the Year North America.  Led by Paul Holmes, a 25-year veteran in covering the PR industry, the PRovoke awards are considered “the most exhaustive analysis of PR firm performance across the world,” and Curley is one of the five chosen finalists.

In doing research for the award, the PRovoke team asked us several questions about finances, growth, operations, and culture.

They asked us what makes Curley special.  And we answered the question with one word:  Values.

Our values define our company culture. As a woman-led agency, we highlight the importance of our values by putting them on the wall of our office and living them each and every day.  Our “house rules” are a reminder of what we can expect from each other and how we choose to do business.  We use these principles to guide our decision-making on hiring, our focus on professional development and, most recently, our plan to return to a part-time, in-person collaboration-driven work schedule.

We also embrace these values to differentiate Curley with our clients.

Leading from every seat means that each member of the Curley team is empowered to think creatively, actively problem-solve and engage strategically.

Putting client service first means we care about each and every client.  We get to know them; we understand their business and how they measure progress.  And we take incredible joy in being part of their success.

By embracing the ever-evolving business of PR, we prioritize curiosity and resourcefulness to ensure we use the best tools, tactics, and strategies to help our clients hit their goals.

Ultimately, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and value a fun working environment.  That means we deliver smart and strategic service to our clients, but we are also good to work with.  We have our clients’ backs.  We answer the call for help, always.  We enjoy what we do, and it shows.

Our culture is tied directly to our growth and financial success.

Despite the uncertainty of the raging pandemic and swift economic downturn in 2020, Curley achieved new heights in client retention, client growth and organic growth. We helped our current and new clients pivot quickly to weather the challenges of the global pandemic and economic recession. We provided crisis counsel to clients facing challenges to their reputation and their way of operating.

We also expanded our trade association practice by investing in publishing our monthly newsletter, The Association 100, distributed to more than 25,000 association leaders and professionals.  The newsletter provides much desired content – all in 100-word stories or videos – to association leaders at the highest levels and ensuring we’re at the forefront of trends and best practices in areas important to our association clients. 

This resulted in one of the best years financially for our boutique agency, posting 63% growth in fee revenue.

According to PRovoke, “Curley is best known for public and corporate affairs, crisis communications and digital, but its full-service nature includes in-house video and design capabilities, that are a notch above most boutique players, along with a new association practice (up 47% in 2020). That helped Curley diversify its client base in 2020, supported by specific investment in public affairs and digital.” 

We are honored to be recognized by leaders and peers in the PR industry and attribute much of our financial success to our values and the colleagues who live them every day. 

About PRovoke & North America PR Agencies of the Year

The 2021 North America PR Agencies of the Year are the result of an exhaustive research process involving more than 150 submissions and 50 virtual meetings with the best PR firms across the US and Canada. Analysis of each of the 61 finalists across 13 categories can be accessed here.

PRovoke was founded as the Holmes Report in 2000 by Paul Holmes, founder and chair, who has more than three decades of experience writing about and evaluating the public relations business and consulting with both public relations firms and their clients. PRovoke delivers against its mission by providing the most sophisticated reporting and analysis on public relations trends and issues, along with an extensive global footprint of events and awards.