SourceCode’s Rebecca Honeyman Named PRWeek Woman of Distinction
This month has been filled with amazing honors for the SourceCode team, but today’s announcement is extra special. Our fearless, creative, and inspiring leader, the one and only Rebecca Honeyman, has been named PRWeek’s Women of Distinction for 2022.
This Hall of Femme includes only the most illustrious and extemporary women leaders in the PR industry, both adjectives that fit Becky to a tee. Nominated by their peers and colleagues, Becky will be featured alongside many other leaders that set the standard for what being a PR professional should mean.
Her intelligence, hard work, and kind nature are just the tip of the iceberg behind what makes her beloved at SourceCode and what has helped the agency grow over the past four years. We’re incredibly proud of Becky and can’t wait to celebrate this honor in person with her at the event on June 9th!
SourceCode Communications Ranks No. 60 on Inc. Magazine’s List of the Northeast Region’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Inc. magazine today revealed that SourceCode Communications is No. 60 on its third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Northeast list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies based in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Northeast region economy’s most dynamic segment– its independent small businesses.
Greg Mondshein, Co-founder and managing partner of SourceCode, was honored by the recognition stating, "the past few years have been challenging for all of us. To have been able to maintain our growth trajectory during these times is a true testament to the people we work with, the clients we support and the culture we've built. We're so grateful for this recognition."
The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Northeast region. Between 2018 and 2020, these 124 private companies had an average growth rate of 208% percent and, in 2020 alone, they added 5,010 jobs and nearly $2.7 billion to the Northeast region’s economy. Companies based in the New York City and Boston areas had the highest growth rate overall.
Read the full press release here or to read more about Inc. 5000 please visit https://www.inc.com/inc5000/.
To learn more about what SourceCode Communications is doing please drop us a line at hello@sourcecodecomms.com, we’d love to hear from you.
SourceCode Communications Supports Nonprofit Organization, United Help Ukraine
We want to acknowledge the atrocities that are unfolding in Ukraine. We are deeply saddened by the events and our hearts go out to all those who are being affected. In an effort to show our support, SourceCode and our team has made a collective donation of $2,200 to United Help Ukraine, a nonprofit organization that receives and distributes donations, food and medical supplies to displaced Ukrainians affected by Russia’s invasion. Along with raising awareness of the crisis in Ukraine with the international community, the charity’s fundraising activities help wounded Ukrainian soldiers and their families. We encourage you to join us in our efforts to support, raise awareness and #STANDWITHUKRAINE.
To learn more about United Help Ukraine or to donate to the cause visit: https://unitedhelpukraine.org/
SourceCode’s Human Resources Lead, Jeanne Hernandez, Featured in SHRM Article About The Future of Work
We’re thrilled to share that SourceCode’s very own Jeanne Hernandez was included in an article in SHRM for a piece about the future of work. As the agency’s first Human Resource Lead, Jeanne has been instrumental in establishing and communicating SourceCode’s hybrid work policy for our employees.
When given the opportunity to present her insight with the SHRM editorial staff, Jeanne jumped at the chance given the outlet’s premier status amongst HR news websites. Her commentary discusses how companies can navigate their return-to-work policies, especially in light of President Biden’s recent encouragement for employees to return to the office. While highlighting SourceCode’s policy, she shares how it’s important to, of course, follow the state and local guidelines, as well as the opinions of your employers. One key example came from a junior staff member at the agency, where Jeanne shared:
"They were the first individual to reach out to our managing partner and say, 'I'm really struggling. I have roommates at home, and I'm being distracted by them. I'm also distracted by the day-to-day worry. I can see that my work is not as good as I would like. What can I do?' The response was, 'Let's reopen the office for you.' We told them they were more than welcome to go to the office, and they did."
We’re so incredibly proud and excited for Jeanne to have had this opportunity and look forward to more chances where she can spread her wealth of knowledge!
NBA Playoffs
COVID-19 has forced everyone to innovate. It’s even present on the small screen as I’ve watched my Miami Heat defy all the odds and make it to the NBA Finals. For the NBA, thinking outside the box meant thinking inside the bubble — and they’re stronger than ever for it.
For those of you who don’t follow sports: NBA players, staff, coaches, and family have been living “in the bubble” at Walt Disney World hotels since July, as have some sports writers, announcers and production crews. Three courts at the Wide World of Sports complex have been requisitioned for games, while others have been given over to practice and training.
Games without a live audience or a home-team advantage might sound depressing, but the league has kept its fans engaged and impressed. Camaraderie between fans and players is key to the basketball experience, and so the NBA designed virtual bleacher stands. Players at the empty arenas see real fans’ faces and hear their cheers as they play; fans can enjoy the virtual presence of fellow supporters. The NBA has inspired its viewers, encouraged its players, and future-proofed its business. In my opinion, the league has truly set the standard for operating creatively, responsibly, and effectively during the pandemic. You can also see how easily this approach can be utilized once we return back to normal to open up the in-person fan experience globally
Of course COVID isn’t the only crisis to rock the world this year, and the NBA has done a better job than most addressing Black Lives Matter and today’s movements for justice. Players can go on the court wearing jerseys with social justice messages; and hundreds of players have appeared with messages like “Say Their Names,” “Justice Now,” and “Black Lives Matter.” When the Milwaukee Bucks, shocked and angry at the violence against in protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, decided not to play Game 5 in a series, the NBA supported them. Few organizations have done a better job responding to today’s moral imperatives.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the NBA, the changes made, and other model innovators. Are there any other businesses or organizations that have impressed you with their agility in this strange year?
Business learnings from three years in
They say that time flies when you’re having fun, and I can report that’s true. At SourceCode, we’re so pleased to have recently celebrated our three year anniversary.
Though the journey’s been fun, it hasn’t always been easy. I never planned to be an entrepreneur, and learning by doing is scary when your livelihood is at stake. More than once, I had to remind myself of what a great mentor told me. Whenever she was nervous or intimidated, she took comfort and a renewed resolve in the fact that “stupider people have done this” and succeeded. Sometimes you need a good joke to get down to serious business.
When Becky and I founded SourceCode, we committed to marketing to people, not to industries or to titles. We're not an industrial-scale content mill, sending the same emails to every person or running templated communications programs. The secret of our success? We tell stories, make connections, and build bridges. Not to mention an insatiable desire for growth and to prove the doubters wrong.
Some of the proudest moments of my life have come through my work SourceCode. We received PRWeek’s Outstanding Boutique Agency of the Year award this summer, and last month I was humbled to make the same publication’s 40 Under 40 list. Thinking back to the start of all this, I’m often amazing at what’s transpired and always humbled by the success and recognition. A sincere thank you to all of you who’ve helped me get here - you know who you are
I could ramble on, about my cofounder Becky and the rest of my incredible colleagues, about my family’s support, about late nights and early mornings helping clients, about the businesses we’ve helped build and the clients who have become friends. Truth be told, I often do. After COVID, I’d be happy to tell you about some of them in person. I honestly can’t wait for that. As for now, I’m not dwelling on the past. I’m looking forward to continuing to build the premier technology PR agency in North America. #LFG.
Purpose as a business strategy
We all have a duty to improve the world.
Like most of us, I’ve been thinking a lot this year about America’s desperate need for justice and equity.
Recently, SourceCode and three other firms announced the Diversity Marketing Consortium, which will work with Harlem Capital Partners to offer diverse startups free marketing and PR services over the next few years. The Consortium has committed to provide $1.5 million of services to selected ventures.
For the companies in our small group, $1.5 million is a huge sum. SourceCode and its partners in the Diversity Marketing Consortium don’t have the resources of Bank of America or the National Basketball Association or Walmart or Twitter. And that’s really the point of this post. As individual small businesses, we’re unlikely to be discussed on CNN or make the front page of the New York Times, but we’re still playing a key role in fixing our society.
Change doesn’t happen because the Fortune 500 dictates it. Change happens when individuals around the country and around the world make small decisions that, together, constitute a major shift. A coffee shop can put up signs in its front window, an independent theater can program Black-directed films in its virtual cinema, a gallery owner can choose to display more diverse artists, and PR professionals can offer pro bono services to minority business founders. Any person, in any industry, in any capacity, has the power to help.
If you’re a fellow public relations or communications professional, I hope you’ll look at our Consortium and find some inspiration. If you’re in another industry, I hope you’ll consider what you can offer at this vital moment.
Data-driven marketing
In 2020, knowledge is power and data is king.
I know exactly what my clients pay, so it’s only fair that my clients know what they’re getting from us. At SourceCode, it’s standard practice to show clients precisely where our efforts paid off and their subsequent ROI. Clients learn where their people and their products have appeared, and how each portion of every campaign worked out.
If you’re making it to the C-suite now, it’s because you focus on numbers and analytics, not because you’re a creative quick with ideas for the whiteboard. A splashy ad that wins a design award is great to have in theory, but if it doesn’t put eyes on your organization and money in your wallet, what’s it really worth?
I’m not alone in thinking this way. These days, you can hardly spend a minute in business circles without hearing about new growth marketing and performance marketing initiatives.
Both types of marketing operate on the same principle: Data over guesses and practice over theory. For example, modern PR uses tools like CrowdTangle to measure Facebook and Instagram engagement and to quantify viewer sentiment. It uses Google Reach Planner to coordinate video campaigns and Sprout Social to follow Twitter and Pinterest activity.
For a professional communicator, there’s a lot to think about. Data-driven marketing means we shouldn’t take our successes for granted. In the past, if a piece of copy or a marketing story seemed to work, we’d be inclined to leave it alone. Today, we have tools that show us what messages work for which people, so we can tailor our content and iterate our approach. Sometimes, this may mean more work, but it also means better results. Once, a PR firm might win a bit of earned media and conclude the job well done. Now, we have to think differently. How can that earned media continue to help clients achieve their goals? Can it be leveraged into brand-building on LinkedIn, Twitter, or even Instagram? Can it be the foundation for ad creative? Web copy? Is it significant enough to warrant a special issue of a subscriber newsletter? We need to think in this integrated way to continuously improve our efficiency and most importantly, the value we provide CMOs.
While we adjust to an information-powered workflow, it’s important to remember that a data-driven approach to marketing doesn’t remove individual knowledge and expertise from the equation. The data gathered and returned may show where changes to messaging are needed, but deciding and implementing those changes remains the work of expert storytellers. Our jobs are changing, but the truth is they’ve never been more important.
I’m curious: What are your best practices for data-driven public relations? Do you anticipate further integration of advertising and marketing into PR? If your answer is ‘yes’, how? What tools do you use, and what advice would you offer to someone looking to deepen their expertise?
SourceCode Communications named a Top Place to Work in PR for third year in a row
We’re excited to share that we have been named as a Top Place to Work in PR this year by PRNEWS. Every year, PRNEWS honors organizations that represent what it means to be a great place to work by recognizing those that have great work-life balance, give back to the community and continue to advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry.
This year, we’re honored to be named for the third consecutive year, highlighting our parental leave policy, flexible work arrangement, 401k matching program and our efforts toward diversity and inclusion. In addition to being one of the founding agencies to sign PR Council’s diversity and inclusion pledge, we are thrilled to be mentioned for our work with The Diversity Marketing Consortium, our newest partnership with Harlem Capital Partners, that is working to offset systemic racial and gender-based inequality for diverse founders.
We’d like to congratulate all of the winners and thank PRNEWS for recognizing us this year for the work we are doing to make our agency a great place to work. You can browse the full list of agencies recognized here. Shoot us a note at hello@sourcecodecomms.com if you're interested in learning more about working with SourceCode Communications.
