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Strategies 360 1 PROPOSAL CREATED BY STRATEGIES 360 FOR Marketing, Branding, Campaign Development & Digital Marketing Services for LaQuinta, California CONTACT US Strategies 360 Samantha Marquez / samantham@strategies360.com / (562) 397-5583 Visit us online at strategies360.com 2 OFFICES DEDICATED TO THIS EFFORT Seattle, Washington Headquarters 1505 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 1000 Seattle, WA 98109 P: 206.282.1990 Orange County, California 400 Spectrum Center Drive, 19th Floor Irvine, CA 92618 P: 626.373.3146 samantham@strategies360.com 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER LETTER ..................................................................................... 4 ABOUT US .............................................................................................. 5 KEY PERSONNEL .................................................................................. 7 REFERENCES / SIMILAR PROJECTS ............................................... 19 CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................. 26 APPROACH ........................................................................................... 28 PROJECT WORKPLAN AND BUDGET ............................................. 36 4 COVER LETTER January 7, 2022 Hello. Dear City of La Quinta: On behalf of Strategies 360, thank you for the opportunity to submit a proposal in response to RFP #12032021. We are excited about this opportunity to work with the City of La Quinta and believe that our unique approach to the work and our commitment to getting the results you need to make our partnership robust and successful. We know the City of La Quinta and your role as a leader and trendsetter in the Coachella Valley. Even more, we know the responsibility entrusted to municipal governments like yours to communicate honestly, effectively, and in a manner that best represents your constituents. We deeply understand your accountability to elected leaders and voters. We believe Strategies 360 is uniquely positioned to partner with the City of La Quinta on this important effort given our ability to integrate disciplines not traditionally found in the same marketing agency. Our firm combines communications, public affairs, design, marketing and advertising, and more. Our multidisciplinary team brings out the best in all of us, challenging us to look at every problem from every angle. And, more importantly, we look at innovative ways to create campaigns that serve your wide-ranging needs. The proposal that follows is intended to outline our experience and expertise with branding, public relations for public agencies, video, design, and digital marketing. We have extensive experience throughout Southern California engaging the public on behalf of local government agencies. We bring our full suite of services to bear in engaging with the public, which means we run tailor-made campaigns in-house with a multidisciplinary team that works together seamlessly. We look forward to discussing this proposal further and answering any questions you may have as you finalize your decision. All information and pricing provided in this proposal is valid for 90 days from the date of submittal. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions at samantham@strategies360.com or at 626-373-3146. Thank you in advance for your kind consideration. Best regards, Samantha Marquez, Senior Vice President 5 ABOUT US We are Strategies 360 and our calling is to drive lasting change. We are Strategies 360 and our calling is to drive lasting change. With offices in 13 states as well as California,Washington, D.C., Vancouver, BC and Ontario, Canada, Strategies 360 is a leading public affairs, communications, research, and marketing firm. Founded in 2004, our team is drawn from the worlds of communications, advertising, marketing and design, the news media, quantitative and qualitative research, government, and politics. We bring deep expertise, integration and sharp, strategic thinking to all our clients. By offering more services under one roof, we guarantee the City of La Quinta, a seamless, tailored approach, crafted to meet your specific needs and overall objective of engaging the community and promoting the City at the highest level. Strategies 360 is incorporated in Washington state and is independently owned and operated, it is not owned or controlled by a parent company or parent organization. S360’s TIN is: 91-1304555. 6 ABOUT US Our services include: n Communications: Message Development Public Relations Media Relations Strategy Reputation Management n Creative Services: Branding Marketing & Advertising Media Strategy Videography / Video Production Media Planning, Buying, ongoing Management Design Production Social Media Content Development & Management n Web Development & Engineering Public Affairs and Government Relations: Advocacy - local, state and federal Coalition Building Campaigns - including collateral, fundraising, and voter engagement Policy development n Research: Executive and Opinion Leader Research Message Development Public Opinion Polling Targeting and Segmentation 7 KEY PERSONNEL Our team. Your partners. We have compiled a team of professionals led by our colleagues in Orange County and working across our Creative, Research, and Web Engineering Group. At Strategies 360, we are accustomed to teamwork to get the best result for the client. Our team relies on varied tactics across our areas of expertise to get the best results possible and our seamless collaboration is the foundation of our client success. 8 KEY PERSONNEL Samantha Marquez Senior Vice President, Orange County Samantha is a community relations specialist with nearly a decade of experience in legislative affairs, targeted policy messaging, and public agency communications. As Senior Vice President of the Orange County office for S360, she oversees the team’s public agency portfolio and spearheads business development. Prior to S360, Samantha served as Vice President of Presidio Strategic Communications, where she managed the public affairs work on behalf of the firm’s clients. Samantha also served the California Assembly Majority Leader, first as a Senior Field Representative and later as District Director. In these roles, she blended her policy expertise with strategic communications and community outreach to connect the public and District leadership on critical issues. She currently serves as the Chair of the La Puente Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization. She enjoys spending time with her 3-year-old twins and partner, Addison, at Disneyland or camping throughout Southern California in her free time. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies S360, formerly Presidio Communications, Inc. Senior Vice President, Orange County, CA 2019-Present California State Assembly Majority Leader’s Office, 57th District District Director 2013-2019 EDUCATION University of California at Riverside, B.A. in Political Science 9 Hannah Dragoo Communications and Public Affairs Manager Hannah specializes in policy research, media relations, marketing campaigns, and social media content creation. She also oversees officewide communications and client management. Hannah has experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors supporting organizations with their communications and public relations strategies. Prior to S360, Hannah was a client and project manager for Presidio Communications Inc., a communications firm where she primarily worked with K-12 school districts. She has also supported nonprofit organizations' strategic communications needs, including Together We Rise, March of Dimes, and the Newport Beach Film Festival. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360 formerly Presidio Communications, Inc. Communications and Public Affairs Manager 2020-Present EDUCATION California State University at Fullerton, B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations, Minor in Business Administration Josef Holper Account Manager Josef is responsible for communication consultations, social media management, community outreach, content creation, and overall oversight of projects on behalf of the client. Previously Josef served as the Communications Director and Senior Field Representative for State Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva for three years. Josef oversaw all internal and external communications on behalf of Assembly Member Quirk-Silva, including drafting talking points, press relations, and event management. He has extensive experience working on campaigns on the local to federal level including strategy and community outreach. 10 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360 formerly Presidio Communications, Inc. Account Manager 2021-Present California State Assembly, 65th District Senior Field Representative/Communications Director 2018-2021 EDUCATION Valparaiso University, J.D. from School of Law California State University at Fullerton, B.A. in English Kevin Patnik Vice President, Brand Strategy Kevin is a strategist, creative director, and writer who specializes in verbal identity—the way brands express themselves and connect with audiences through stories, language, and voice. He currently leads all brand work at Strategies 360, including the development of solid strategy and working with our creative teams to ensure the strategy is being expressed through top notch creative. Kevin’s previous major branding projects include KUOW 94.9, KEXP 90.3, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Colleges, Port of Vancouver USA, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, and Starbucks Roastery & Reserve Brand. Prior to agency life, he spent 15 years as a marketing and advertising professional in media, arts organizations, and entertainment companies. Kevin was chosen for this project because his focus on brand make sure that every piece of communication feels authentic to you and speak effectively to your audiences. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360 - Seattle, WA Vice President, Brand Strategy, 2019 - present Phinney Bischoff Sr Creative & Brand Strategist, 2018 - 2019 11 Strategies 360 Creative Director, Brand Strategist, 2013 -2018 Pyramid Communications- Editorial Director, July 2008 - July 2013 Village Voice Media/ Seattle Weekly Marketing Director, 2006 - 2008 One Reel/Bumbershoot Creative Director, Advertising & Promotions, 2004 - 2005 EDUCATION Pennsylvania State University, B.A. in Media Studies & English, Magna Cum Laude Arnold Phommavong Vice President, Creative Director Arnold Phommavong has been a creative director and designer for the past ten years. He utilizes research and empathy to understand end-user needs and create a seamless user experience in both print and digital environments. As a Creative Director, Arnold mentors and art directs junior staff, ensuring design solutions map back to brand strategy while maintaining quality control of design products. He works closely with the other creative directors and brand strategists, ensuring creative adheres to established brands. Arnold has created compelling design systems for KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, KEXP, Adrift Hotels, and United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. He has also worked for governmental agencies like the Idaho State Board of Education, Idaho Workforce Development Council, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Port of Vancouver, along with Alaska Native Corporations such as Bristol Bay Native Corporation and Koniag, Inc. Arnold was selected for this project because of his history with large organizations, which has honed his big-picture strategic perspective. Although his background is in design, he brings to a project a leadership perspective that encompasses all disciplines. . He is highly capable of crafting strategic programs with the right amount of cohesive glue to make them stick and drive results. 12 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360 - Seattle, WA Creative Director, 2015 – Present AIGA Seattle Vice President, Design for Good, 2016 – Present Pyramid Communications Senior Designer, 2011 – 2015 AmeriCorps VISTA: OlyCap Marketing Coordinator, 2009 – 2010 EDUCATION University of Kansas, B.F.A. Visual Communication – Graphic Design Michael Baldwin Art Director As Art Director for Strategies 360, Michael Baldwin delivers high-impact creative across a wide range of sectors and industries. Whether working on a multi-channel digital campaign, from-scratch visual brand identity or new website, he consistently raises the bar for our clients, bringing versatility, vision, and a collaborative, can-do approach to every project. His client list includes Fortune 500 companies and global brands such as Alaska Airlines, Go-Lite, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Bowflex, and Philips Sonicare. Michael has also worked on many governmental agencies across the U.S. landscape including Idaho State Board of Education, Next Steps Idaho, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Elevate Washington, City of Redmond, and United Way King County. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360, Art Director, May 2018 – Present Williams Helde Marketing Communications Art Director, Jan 2015 - November 2017 Sr. Designer, July 2013 - December 2014 13 Hagadone Directories, Graphic Designer, January 2012 - January 2013 Blind Renaissance, Contract Graphic Designer, July - October 2011 Creature, Graphic Artist Intern, October 2010 - January 2011 EDUCATION Gonzaga University, Bachelor of Fine Arts The Art Institute of Seattle, Graphic Design Coursework Andrew Coleman Smith Vice President, Video and Content As Vice President of Content and Videography, Andrew leads the video content creation for S360’s creative services team. With a decade in multimedia creation, Andrew provides the firm’s clients the latest in creative storytelling capacity. From ideation through editing, Andrew’s work delivers emotional resonance that inspires and connects with people. Andrew’s energy and passion for creative expression emerged early. He has been making videos since he was 12. As a teenager, he interned as a production assistant for Jupiter Entertainment after school and on weekends, often choosing work on the set over social time with friends. Following his passion, Andrew left school to pursue his art full time. From production assistant to entrepreneur, he built his skills and a portfolio that includes fundraising impact stories, events, promos, PSAs, and news segments. Andrew joined S360 from KING 5-TV, where he was a marketing writer and producer. There, he won a Northwest Regional EMMY® Award for his commercial work telling the story of a Pike’s Place flower farming family. Before KING, Andrew cultivated his skills as a Producer at WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee and then built his own business. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360, Vice President, Content & Videography, 2019-present KING 5 Creative Services, Writer/Producer, 2016-2019 14 WBIR, Image Promotions Producer, 2014 - 2015 USA TODAY, Game of the Week Sideline Reporter and Content Creator, 2013 - 2014 WBIR, Community Relations Promotions Producer, 2013 - 2014 HONORS AND AWARDS 2016 Northwest Regional Emmy 2016 PromaxBDA® Local Award |Gold Winner 2016 PromaxBDA® Local Award |Bronze Winner 2015 ADDY® Award | Silver 2014 ADDY® Award | Gold 2014 ADDY® Award | Bronze Gretchen Moosbrugger Project Manager Gretchen supports S360 clients as a project manager with deep experience in corporate and agency creative services. For each project, she drives success by establishing a deep understanding of the client goals, assessing the strengths of the team, and creating plans and managing milestone timelines that will guarantee results. With over 15 years of experience at creative agencies and in corporate creative services, Gretchen has managed branding, collateral and advertising projects for luminary brands including Eddie Bauer, Keen Footwear and the Philadelphia Phillies. She knows how to take an idea and make it a reality and keep a team moving forward both within the agency and with clients. From designing a logo to building a full suite of marketing collateral, Gretchen ensures the process runs smoothly. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360 - Seattle, WA Project Manager, 2019 – Present 15 Amazon Web Services Resource Manager, 2018 - 2019 Cognition Studio Creative Project Manager, 2017 Rational Resource Manager, 2016 - 2017 Eddie Bauer Visual Merchandising Operations Manager, 2014 –2016 EDUCATION Temple University, Bachelor of Arts, Journalism Abraham Godong Senior Vice President, Web Engineering Group A veteran software developer and system administrator, Abraham applies his skill and expertise in project management, system and infrastructure architecture and web development best practices to lead the S360 Web Engineering Group’s development team. In this role, Abraham helps clients leverage and expand their technology assets – from online advocacy portals to marketing-focused websites – to achieve objectives. He brings an uncanny sense of value and efficiency to every project he tackles. Abraham is the person to go to talk about the nuts-and-bolts of website development, system and infrastructure setup and could spend hours talking about the latest technology in the field. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360, Senior Vice President, Web Engineering Group, 2021 – current Strategies 360, Vice President, Web Engineering Group, 2016 – 2021 FasterCampaigns, Co-founder & CTO, 2014 – 2016 Upwards Technologies, Senior Software Developer, 2012 – 2016 16 Upwards Technologies, Software Developer, 2010 – 2011 Upwards Technologies, IT Analyst, 2008 – 2010 Downtown Seattle Association, CRM Developer & Database Administrator, 2006 – 2008 Wowrack, Network Administrator, 2003-2005 EDUCATION Seattle University, MBA – Management and Finance Seattle University, BSc – Computer Science with a minor in mathematics Matt Davidson Senior Vice President, Digital Marketing Matt Davidson is a marketing leader with broad experience in all core digital marketing functions (communications, social media, digital strategy, media buying, creative direction, landing page development and online analytics). He is constantly looking for the latest and greatest digital tactics to incorporate across innovative campaigns. Matt has been chosen for this team because his deep experience in digital marketing, and specifically in public outreach efforts, gives him valuable insights and experience to help us target and communicate to often hard-to-reach individuals. Matt has a proven history of helping clients cut through the noise and clutter to reach key audiences. Matt runs our Digital Marketing Group, increasing visibility and results for clients across a broad range of online marketing channels, including display advertising, email marketing and mobile ads. With spending on digital advertising rapidly growing, Matt develops effective digital marketing for a wide variety of clients and projects. Prior to joining S360, Matt owned the online advertising agency, Sovo Media, where he managed digital advertising campaigns across dozens of industries. Matt has worked with hundreds of business owners to find ways to build awareness with potential customers. Matt also worked at Microsoft where he was part of the launch of the company’s search engine, Bing.com, and experienced a major evolution in search engine marketing. Matt eventually expanded his role at Microsoft to work with advertisers interested in building exposure across all of Microsoft’s online properties, including Hotmail, MSN, and Xbox. 17 Matt is also an author who recently wrote a best-selling book on search engine marketing, “Step-By- Step SEO: The Complete Guide To Search Engine Success,” and is a frequent contributor to publications focused on digital advertising. A native of Los Angeles, Matt happily traded the concrete jungle for the verdant northwest, where he enjoys spending time outdoors as much as possible. Matt, a newlywed who lives in Seattle, is also the only staff member with his own mini-putting green in the office. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Strategies 360 - Seattle, WA SVP, Digital Marketing 2014 - Present SOVO Media Co-Founder and Director of Marketing 2010 - 2014 Microsoft Corp. Account Executive, MSN 2006 - 2010 Media Specialist, MSN EDUCATION Woodbury University, B.S., Business Management with Minor in Computer Information Systems, Magna Cum Laude Drew Lieberman Executive Vice President, Research Drew directs Strategies 360′s national research practice, leading public opinion efforts and providing strategic advice to clients that include political campaigns, corporations, issue advocacy organizations, foundations, and the media. Drew has appeared on NPR, authored opinion pieces for Politico and the Huffington Post, and his research and commentary have been featured in news outlets from coast to coast, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post. Beginning in 2009, Drew helped re-launch the Los Angeles Times-University of Southern California poll, building it into one of the most acclaimed public polls in the country. He has also served as a guest lecturer for several colleges and universities. With an extensive background in electoral politics, Drew serves or has served as pollster and advisor to elected officials at all levels of government, including former Chicago Mayor 18 Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, and governors and members of Congress across the country. He was pollster for Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone in his defeat of Joe Arpaio, and he most recently helped elect Todd Gloria mayor of San Diego. Drew has a broad range of experience across a diverse group of sectors, from energy to investment banking to infrastructure. He has a particularly strong background in land use campaigns and on public health issues. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, Vice President, 2006-20015 U.S. Congressman Heath Shuler, Campaign Manager, 2005-2006 U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth, Get Out The Vote Director, 2004 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Regional Political Director, 2004-05 Candidate Services Director, 2003-04 National Field Coordinator, 2002 EDUCATION Vanderbilt University, B.A. in American Studies with a minor in Spanish, cum laude 19 REFERENCES / SIMILAR PROJECTS Experience. Creative. Opportunity. Our customer base is diverse and includes numerous public agencies at the state and local levels, non-profits and foundations, tribal governments, and private companies in a diverse range of industries, including education, healthcare, high-tech, energy, transportation/infrastructure, natural resources, hospitality, retail, and more. Clients include some of the largest private foundations and Fortune 500 companies. 20 CASE STUDIES Bristol Bay Native Corporation 2013 – Present REFERENCE Jason Metrokin, President & CEO Phone: (907) 278-3602 Email: jmetrokin@bbnc.net Relevance Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), the second largest Alaskan company, has contracted S360 as their agency of record for more than six years. In that time, we’ve provided a full spectrum of brand, marketing, and advertising services to elevate BBNC’s brand and increase awareness while also demonstrating BBNC’s contributions to its shareholders, communities, and to the state’s economy. Scope and Services Research & Message Testing Brand Strategy Brand Visual & Verbal Identity Advertising Campaign Strategy Advertising Campaign Development Website Design, Development, & Maintenance Media Strategy, Planning & Management Photography, TV & Radio Production Social Media Strategy & Community Management Communications & Crisis Management Shareholder Communications Staff Kevin Patnik, Brand Strategist; Arnold Phommavong, Creative Director; Sunshine Stevens, Creative Director – Advertising and Marketing; Michael Baldwin, Art Director; Jessika Verduzco, Designer; Matt Davidson, Digital Marketing, Drew Lieberman, Research Lead; Tiera Lanier; Technical Project Lead. Outcome BBNC was named the Corporate Marketer of the Year from 2012 -2015 and continues 21 to win awards for individual projects such as annual reports and radio spots. The American Marketing Association and polling conducted by S360’s research team throughout the course of each campaign, shows that BBNC continues to see large increases in corporate favorability and statewide name recognition. BBNC is now the most positively viewed Native Corporation in Alaska. Importantly, subsequent focus groups and polling have demonstrated that the campaign’s focus on the Bristol Bay region and the importance of fishing and salmon to the people of the region—a key attribute of BBNC’s brand story—has subtly, yet clearly, communicated BBNC’s anti-Pebble Mine position. This has helped BBNC avoid any backlash in corporate favorability by being seen as getting involved in a very politically charged issue. BBNC’s brand recognition has also seen substantial up-ticks amongst peer organizations. Finally, the brand’s focus on economic development resonates loudly throughout Alaska—a state that has just come out of recession, yet recovery looks mild in the short-term. Strategies 360 has run a variety of PSAs created in-house to help build better community engagement with BBNC. These campaigns have included social media, search marketing, display ads and pre-roll video. This has resulted in significant exposure and increasing favorability based on regular polling data. Results include: n 91,077,394 impressions n 5,164,976 video views n 244,199 website visitors from the campaign View the Work https://www.strategies360.com/bbnc/ 22 Bristol Bay Native Corporation BROADCAST PRINT BBNCONNECT.COM OOH 23 Next Steps Idaho 2015 – Present REFERENCE Byron Yankee, College and Career Advising Program Manager, Idaho State Board of Education Phone: (208) 332-1596 Email: Byron.yankee@osbe.idaho.gov Relevance S360 has worked with the Idaho State Board of Education on the Next Steps Idaho website since the beginning of the project in 2015. Our research helped the Board clarify its goal of creating an online hub of information for students and informed the development of the Next Steps Idaho brand foundation. Over the years, at different times, we have provided a full range of communications, creative services, strategic planning, web development and maintenance services to support the Next Steps Idaho website and State Board of Idaho initiatives. Scope and Services Multiple Research Projects Brand Development (Visual & Verbal Identities) Design Production Graphic Design Copywriting & Content Development Custom Photography Website Design, Development, & Maintenance Video Production Staff Casey Bender, SVP Idaho, Account Director; Kevin Patnik, Brand Strategist; Arnold Phommavong, Creative Director; Sunshine Stevens, Creative Director – Advertising and Marketing; Michael Baldwin, Art Director; Matt Davidson, Digital Marketing; Drew Lieberman, Research Lead; Tiera Lanier; Technical Project Lead. Outcome The work we have done on Next Steps Idaho has been a hallmark of our education practice Statewide and a source of pride for our team and our firm—and we have seen the efforts of our collaboration with the Office of the State Board of Education bear fruit. Idaho’s students now have access to a comprehensive, easy-to-use resource for young Idahoans considering college or some other form of postsecondary training. The strong brand foundation we have developed allows us continues to evolve to help even more Idahoans, with adult learners as our next target audience for 2020-21. 24 View the Work https://www.strategies360.com/next-steps/ 25 City of Anaheim 2015 – 2020 REFERENCE Greg Garcia, Assistant City Manager Phone: (714) 765-5162 Email: ggarcia@anaheim.net Relevance Newly elected council members need to ensure that their constituents feel engaged and heard. Otherwise, their legislative agendas can't come to fruition, and the promises they made during election season can't be fulfilled. Fortunately, our digital age provides us with more outreach opportunities than ever before. We made it our goal to support the council member's in-person activities with a robust digital campaign to engage constituents, build their trust, and make them aware of the important work done by the Anaheim City Council. The Presidio team developed a multi-pronged plan, including providing legislative analysis to the council member and embarking upon an ambitious digital outreach effort. We also made it a priority to produce high-quality graphics to include in a monthly newsletter to constituents and on social media posts. Scope and Services Social Media Content Creation & Management Monthly Email Newsletter Graphic Design Legislative Analysis Outcome We knew that our campaign would find success in this digital age, as more and more people engage with their local representatives online, but we were thrilled at just how successful our social media efforts were. We reached more than 27,000 constituents and generated over 520 social media posts, effectively interacting with the community and building trustworthy lines of communication. 26 CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS Strategies 360 meets all of the requirements outlined in the City’s Request for Proposal and has included affirmations herein. 27 DISCLOSURE (D) D. Disclosure of any alleged significant prior or ongoing contract failures, any civil or criminal litigation or investigation pending, which involves the Proposer or in which the Proposer has been judged guilty or liable within the last five years. If there is nothing to disclose, Proposer must state such in writing. S360 has no alleged significant prior or ongoing contract failures, civil or criminal litigation or investigation pending, which involves S360 or in which S360 has been judged guilty or liable within the last 5 years. GUARANTEE OF WORK PRODUCT (E) E. Description of Proposer's warranty/guarantee of work product. Strategies 360 aims to provide excellent client services and will work closely with the client to ensure that all work is performed in accordance with client expectations. Within each workplan, Strategies 360 will provide an outline of the creative process including timelines, rounds of review and client approvals prior to execution. Any technical or web engineering work will be conducted in the same manner with additional 30-day period included for addressing bugs. SUBCONTRACTORS (F) F. Subcontracting any portion(s) of the Scope of Services is allowed; however, Proposer shall provide details on the role of any subcontractor that will be used. Strategies 360 does not plan to subcontract any of the work included in this proposal. INSURANCE (G) - G. A statement that, if selected, a Proposer will provide the minimum insurance coverage and indemnification noted in Attachment 1. Strategies 360 affirms that it will provide the minimum insurance coverage noted in Attachment 1. 28 APPROACH Getting results. At Strategies 360 our work is rooted in a strategic approach to brand, creative, and communications work. Our integrated approach unites project teams around a common objective so that every element of a brand or communication tactic feels harmonious and impactful. We think of our work in four broad phases. Each phase helps us bring stakeholders into alignment around key decision points and informs the phase to follow. 29 APPROACH Discover We start with you. We become partners, companions, confidantes. You’re at the table with us every step of the way—making decisions, settling differences, building alignment, and moving the strategy forward. We establish relationships with every client—one anchored in mutual trust and respect, and built upon straight talk, listening, and understanding. We will discuss any larger context surrounding the city and it’s objectives – we dive deep, getting to know you, your challenges and strengths, and inventory all of the available assets at your disposal. This can include brand strategy, visual and verbal brand guidelines, communication pieces and existing marketing and advertising collateral, existing research, and future focused city plans. This phase may involve full team discussion and conversations as well as small group or individual interviews so that we can take time to understand the context and history of key issues. This phase is collaborative with any other partner agency – we incorporate considerations for upcoming marketing, event, or other key milestones and plans. Define We define the overarching approach and strategic plan after the discover phase. During the define phase we determine what our deliverables should be and incorporate time for review, discussion, and revision. Critical at this stage is taking the time to articulate not just what we should deliver, but why each deliverable is necessary and how it supports the main goals of S360’s advocacy on your behalf. This phase could include the development of a master timeline and workplan in conjunction with other ongoing efforts like marketing or advertising plans, events, or other key milestones and presented to you for your review and input. Once we have alignment around the workplan, we are off and running. Develop The develop phase begins with any necessary brand work identified in the Define phase. This could include the development of communication and public relations plans, key brand strategy components, revisions or expansion of your verbal or visual identity, or the development of key brand or audience messaging. This comprehensive brand foundation serves as the strategic North Star for any and all creative work that follows. It ensures that your photography, video, website, newsletters, and digital efforts all align with your strategic objectives and feel authentic to you. This strategic brand-forward approach is what elevates and differentiates La Quinta from your competitors, and helps you connect with your audiences. 30 Deliver When it comes time to deliver, your entire S360 team engages. Communication and public engagement plans kick off, photo and video shoots build a library of brand assets to draw on, digital advertising is designed and deployed, newsletter templates begin to send, and websites are updated and expanded. S360 believes in an integrated and collaborative approach to our work – we have outlined below the sections of the RFP that we think we are uniquely and strongly qualified to deliver for La Quinta. We would welcome a collaborative partnership with any agency who was scoped to deliver any of the additional areas of work. Graphic Design S360’s multidisciplinary design team based on our Seattle headquarters supports client work throughout the firm in the development of brand identity, print collateral, digital and website design that helps connect our clients with their audiences and inspire them to action. All of our design work is guided by the brand strategy outlined in your brand guidelines – bringing consistency to your brand expression across any print or digital medium. Newsletter Development and Publication An eye-catching strategic digital newsletter is a critical tool for a public agency's communications toolbox. S360 will work with you to create and publish a digital monthly newsletter that mirrors your agency's goals, brand, and community. Our team of experienced and dedicated professionals will work closely with staff to develop the product that best fits your agency's needs. We have produced multilingual digital newsletters, understand the nuances of resident and economic development communications, and are ready to expand your newsletter’s reach and impact. Photography Services S360 would work with the client to build out a library of photography assets. These brand assets would be developed in line with your brand strategy and visual brand guidelines to create a cohesive set of assets that are instantly recognizable, evoking the feel and energy of La Quinta. Public Relations Our team comprises experienced communications professionals with extensive backgrounds in public agency communications. Our public relations services include press releases, media advisories, press conferences, media events, advertising, and local, mass, and multilingual media 31 engagement. We also specialize in public information officer services and provide the strategic counsel you need to navigate delicate challenges and concrete crises. Video Services With a full creative studio, copywriters, video & editing team, motion graphics and animation team in both Seattle and Jakarta, Strategies 360 can produce and deliver all aspects of a campaign. For broadcast campaigns, we work with our internal team or a local director if the selected concept warrants. Production support is available internally for all aspects of broadcast production—from pre- to post-production, as well as radio production. If the size of production warrants, we will hire an outside broadcast producer to manage casting, shoot, and post-production. Our animated video service offering is unique thanks to our Jakarta office. We have a diverse digital marketing project management team that can most effectively communicate with our animators in Jakarta to produce high-quality, cost-effective animated videos in house. With leadership and design direction from the Seattle office and execution in Jakarta, our videos have been especially helpful in supporting campaign efforts for our brands. Additionally, we develop motion graphics content regularly for our clients. A cost effective, quicker option using existing or stock footage and brand assets, we can accommodate varying timelines and budgets. Website Management Making change requires innovative technology solutions. For our clients to make change in today’s world, the proper use of technology is critical. Moving far beyond just providing website development services, S360 has a whole host of innovative and cutting-edge technology services to help our clients make a difference. Our Jakarta technical services team provides an unparalleled level of skills and value for our clients. Located in the Central Business District of Jakarta and consisting of 15 developers, project managers and quality assurance engineers, our team can be tapped for all manner of technical work from quick turnaround projects to multi-year software project engagements. Our Jakarta office is fully in service to S360 clients, ensuring that we can implement highly technical tactics and tools for making the change our clients want to see. Digital Services In a fast-moving, noisy, and digitally driven world, ad campaigns need arresting creative and targeted messaging to be recognized and remembered. And even the best creative can only do its job 32 if it’s seen by the right people at the right place and right time. S360’s digital marketing team can identify audience behaviors, interests, demographics, and even voting histories with precision, guaranteeing your campaign gets noticed and your audiences take action. Best of all, digital advertising is cost-effective and measurable, meaning you get the maximum value for your money. Brand Enhancement We believe that one of the best investments a client can make to engage their audiences – both internal and external, new and familiar – is a well-articulated brand. Your brand is the articulation of your essence and your story—in the way you look, the way you sound, and the way people experience you. It sits at the nexus of what makes you relevant to your audiences, unique among your peers, and authentic to who you are. Simply put, we believe branding is a call to define your story and inspire others to become a part of it. Because we believe brand is so powerful and valuable in these efforts, we have outlined our full brand development process here, but as noted above a part of our discovery process will be to determine what of your existing brand serves your strategic objectives and should stay, and what needs to be revisited. Based on that discovery work, we will draft a recommended scope of work for Brand Enhancement. INSIGHT Stakeholder Interviews We interview individual stakeholders to provide us with a clear-eyed understanding of how the City of La Quinta is currently perceived and positioned—both from inside and out. These conversations help us identify and understand what is most important for La Quinta to communicate to audiences and to express as a brand. We’ll also uncover what makes you different or sets you apart and who your primary audiences are and what their unique needs are. Focus groups We can also conduct in-person or virtual focus groups of 6-8 people per session. Focus groups are intended to better understand the needs, values, and aspirations of your various audiences— businesses, residents, tourists—and how La Quinta can position itself to meet those needs and create a resonant and memorable brand story that not just captures the attention of your key audiences but gives them an authentic reason to buy or believe in your promise. Category (or Landscape) Audit We’ll look at the category landscape in which you operate—at comparable cities/regions and competitors—to understand how brands in your space are talking about themselves, to assess what they’re doing particularly well, and to see where there is room in the category landscape for La 33 Quinta to carve out a clear and unique space for your brand. We assess visual and verbal language, as well as primary brand expressions and touchpoints for five to eight brands in your category. Brand Workshop We’ll design a custom brand workshop to dig into the insights of the discovery process and align leadership around a common aspiration for the City. The insights gleaned in the discovery phase provide a picture that will expose any tensions between how you currently sees yourself and how others see you. A brand strategy closes these gaps by bringing together the authentic personality of your organization and the values and goals you are working to achieve. We’ll uncover possibilities, opportunities, challenges, and facilitate meaningful dialogue to get to the core of what makes you relevant to your audiences. BRAND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT Brand Essence We'll develop two to three brand essence territories based on our work in the Insights phase. Your brand essence answers what La Quinta stands for at its core—what is the single-minded idea that drives your brand story? Each brand essence territory will include a set of distinctive personality traits that define your character. The decision point at this moment is what do you want to lead with? This strategic decision is critical, because your essence becomes the north star for development of your brand foundation and, ultimately, both your visual and verbal brand identity. Brand Foundation Your brand foundation becomes the guiding strategy document that informs development of your visual and verbal identity—as well as all messaging, storytelling, and brand expression going forward. Your brand foundation includes the following strategy components: Brand Position: Brand position defines the unique space you want to occupy in the minds of your audiences. It states who you are, what you do, and who you do it for. Brand Traits: These are the differentiating character traits of your brand. They're a reflection of your brand culture and character. They’re defined in a way that is unique in the space you occupy, authentic to who you are, and relevant to your audiences. Brand Attributes: These are the major themes that define your brand story. Together, they capture and reinforce who you are and who you seek to become. Brand Story: This is the defining story at the core of your brand. It builds upon your brand essence to describe what CLIENT NAME stands for and what people become part 34 of when they join/experience/or interact with you. It also answers “why?”—Why do you do what we do? Why does it matter to your audiences and the world? IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT & CREATIVE TESTING Using the outcomes and insights of the brand strategy development as our compass, we’ll create two to three conceptual directions for visual and verbal identity development—expressed through visual mood boards or style tiles with sample headlines, taglines, and copy points. Each concept will elevate different traits, attributes, and themes of the strategic brand foundation, demonstrating different creative pathways the brand identity development might take. Then, using a focus group format or virtual testing platform, we’ll test the concepts with your target audiences to better understand what is resonating most, to identify confusing or weak concepts that should be let go, and to get a clear sense of the preferred direction in the minds of your audiences and customers. Testing illuminates which of the concepts attract interest and attention, which are best understood and most memorable, which are most motivating, inspiring, and resonant, and which are most personally relevant and culturally appropriate. Using the insights from these groups, we’ll move into final identity development, refining the chosen concept to build out a full and effective verbal and visual brand identity system. VERBAL IDENTITY We’ll develop a verbal identity system that helps anyone tasked with communicating about the brand tell the city’s story to each of your unique and specific audiences in a way that’s clear, concise, relevant, memorable, and emotionally resonant. Depending on your unique needs, the brand messaging toolkit may include the following: “About Us” This is sample copy that represents how you might describe the City on a website, in marketing collateral, in a press release, etc. It’s crafted in a way so it’s immediately useable and so it serves as a guidepost for how you can develop other marketing copy of your own. Brand Messaging Pillars These are the messaging points that define each of your brand attributes. Together, they provide a way to communicate about your brand at the highest level, to any of your audiences. This is messaging about La Quinta that is should feel true to and relevant to all of your audiences. Audience-specific Messaging While brand messaging pillars should be relevant to all audiences, audience-specific messaging is tailored to specific audience categories based on their unique needs and what they need to hear or understand about you. 35 Tone and Voice Voice and tone build upon your brand traits to define your unique style and manner of communicating—how you speak, write, and sound. Tone is consistent across all channels and audiences while your voice may shift depending on who you’re speaking to and the channel you’re using (for example, your social media voice may be more casual than, say, your voice in a white paper). VISUAL IDENTITY Based on your brand strategy and informed by focus group testing we can either develop a new logo and visual identity (your color palette, brand fonts, photography style, and design elements) or refine or add to your existing visual identity elements. In either case our process begins with mood boards and conceptual exploration which helps us work with you to identify a creative direction. Once we have that direction we will refine creative elements and finalize and update your brand standards and guidelines accordingly. 36 PROJECT WORKPLAN AND BUDGET How we deliver. Below are three potential work plans and budget scenarios. We believe in maximizing your investment. Because we have bid on only a portion of the full scope of work, each tier comes in below the allotted budget total provided in the RFP. We would expect to work with you and any other agency completing other sections of work to allocate the budget based on the agreed upon workplan that would be finalized in the define phase. 37 Creative Budget and Workplan Descriptions $500k This budget assumes that any brand work is supplementary to existing assets and brand strategy, and that no focus group research is conducted on the creative. This budget puts the focus on the development of a brand asset library and supporting digital and website updates. It assumes a digital advertising budget of $15-$20,000 per month for 6 months and includes ongoing creative updates and optimization to any digital efforts to support strong performance in the advertising. $750k This budget assumes the development of more brand strategy and visual brand elements, as well as creative testing via focus groups. It allocates more budget to the creation of a robust photography and video library (meaning more shooting days, locations, and tactics, as well as more final owned assets). This budget plans for more significant improvements and updates to the website and a broader digital support campaign that can include more channels, more impressions, and more creative testing and optimization with a budgeted spend of $20,000 - $30,000 per month. $900k This budget assumes the most in-depth brand strategy and visual and verbal brand identity development which could mean a complete rebranding from the ground up, as well as two rounds of research: creative testing during the brand work, and another round of public facing research after the digital campaign and other marketing efforts have concluded to evaluate the impact of the campaign. It includes robust brand asset library development and a $20-$30,000 per month digital campaign. Communications and Public Relations Budget and Workplan The budget allocation for communications and public relations work is the same under each of the three budget tiers. We recommend a monthly retainer of $5,000 to encompass the full scope of work including any coordination with Strategies 360 creative teams and external agencies for additional scopes of work. 38 PROJECT TIMELINE CREATIVE $550k J A S O N D J F M A M J $5,000 Discover $10,000 Define $20,000 - $30,000 Develop $80,000-$150,000 Deliver $115,000- $195,000 TOTAL $750k J A S O N D J F M A M J $5,000 Discover $10,000 Define $50,000-$75,000 Develop $120,000 - $220,000 Deliver $185,000- $310,000 TOTAL $900k J A S O N D J F M A M J $5,000 Discover $10,000 Define $150,000- $200,000 Develop $150,000- $250,000 Deliver $315,000- $465,000 TOTAL 39 Communications/Public Relations $550k J A S O N D J F M A M J $5,000 COMMS/PR 60,000 TOTAL $750k J A S O N D J F M A M J $5,000 COMMS/PR 60,000 TOTAL $900k J A S O N D J F M A M J $5,000 COMMS/PR 60,000 TOTAL