LaVERDAD Founder Helping Veterans
LaVERDAD in the Spotlight
We give a big GRACIAS to our friends at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce for showcasing our firm in this member pot light video.
LaVERDAD Helps Downtown Detroit Improve by Capturing the Voice of the People
LaVERDAD was recently selected by the Downtown Detroit Partnership to conduct a comprehensive survey to capture the opinions of Detroit residents.
Downtown Detroit received rave reviews in a recent survey of people who live, work and play here, according to a survey by Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP). While these findings were overwhelmingly positive, the survey also shows that we have a few things to work on such as better parking and transit options.
The survey, taken by 4,685 people, focused on seven key areas: safety, cleanliness, parking, walkability and biking, transit, and living downtown. DDP will be conducting this survey annually and it will serve as a benchmark to measure progress going forward and shape the strategic direction for our city.
Among the findings:
96 percent of the participants say Detroit has a lot of potential and is important to the region
91 percent agree downtown is improving each year
94 percent of Downtown Detroit residents say they would recommend living downtown
92 percent say Detroit is a place they like to bring visitors. The top three favorite downtown destinations included Campus Martius, Comerica Park and Detroit RiverWalk
MINORITY FIRMS WORK TOGETHER TO HELP GROW EACH OTHER’S BUSINESSES
Cincinnati, OH, Lucy May WCPO – Karen Cooper remembers the exact day she decided she wanted Mike Robinson to help market her business. The two entrepreneurs were attending the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council gala on Nov. 16, 2012, and the hundreds of people at the event all seemed to know Robinson by name. “I thought, ‘This guy knows everyone. I need to know everyone, too,’” Cooper said. Within a few weeks, Cooper had hired Robinson’s Montgomery-based LaVERDAD Marketing to help build the profile of her Smart IT Staffing business, which has corporate offices in Indianapolis and Sycamore Township. She couldn’t be more pleased.
LaVERDAD President appointed by Governor as Commissioner of Ohio Latino Affairs Commission
Columbus, OH – Emanuel Torres (Franklin County) and Mike Robinson (Clermont County) have been appointed to the Board of the Office of Latino Affairs for the State of Ohio. The new commissioners will be welcomed and introduced to the community during the Board’s meeting on December 10th, 2013 and will join our recently appointed commissioner Iris Martinez– Juergens (Montgomery County).
The new commissioners will serve a period of three years and may be reappointed to serve additional terms. Mr. Torres, Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Martinez Juergens will be part of a body of eleven members who hold the statutory responsibility and authority of the agency. In this role, they will help determine the policies, annual budget plan, direction and initiatives of the Commission. “Our board and staff are thrilled to welcome our new commissioners, who bring strengths and experience of particular importance to our agency at this time. Their input will be vital as we continue building initiatives centered around empowerment and focusing on workforce, economic development, education and decreasing health disparities,” stated Michael Florez, Chairman of the board.
Building Better, Together: TriVersity Construction Company, LLC Names LaVERDAD Marketing and Media as Agency of Record
Solidifying an enduring alliance and re-emphasizing their commitment to small business development, TriVersity Construction has designated LaVERDAD Marketing and Media as their marketing and public relations agency of record.
This partnership marks more than simply two companies choosing to mutually expand their business interests. The union of LaVERDAD and TriVersity Construction illustrates the potency and potential of Cincinnati’s expanding minority business community.
“Our corporate identity is founded in the belief that diversity is not only advantageous, but essential to the development of the business community and our region as a whole,” said Mike Robinson, president of LaVERDAD. “TriVersity embodies this spirit of economic inclusion and demonstrates the strength of their ideals. We are honored to be a part of their mission to change the face of the construction industry and build a stronger, more vibrant community.”
Both LaVERDAD and TriVersity remain steadfast in their commitment to reduce economic disparity in the local business arena and stimulate economic growth for historically-marginalized demographics. By working together, the companies exemplify how minority businesses can leverage their talents and gain equity in the business world through strategic collaboration and relationship building.
“Forming a partnership with LaVERDAD as our agency of record was a natural evolution of our marketing strategy,” said TriVersity president and CEO, Mel Gravely. “Our shared values and vision will enable us to further disseminate our message of economic inclusion and result in more opportunities for both of our businesses, as well as for other suppliers and the community as a whole.”
Among the services that LaVERDAD will provide as TriVersity’s agency of record are branding consultation, graphic design, marketing communications, collateral, integrated media planning, public relations strategy and digital content development.
Report helps bolster the case for diversity
December 13, 2012 Cincinnati Enquirer, Josh Pichler
Bill Keating Jr. tells a great story about his successful attempt to sell out the 2007 women’s Crosstown Shootout basketball game between UC and Xavier.
The Keating Muething & Klekamp partner was looking for a major sponsor and approached Fifth Third Bancorp. His theory was the bank would benefit from publicity generated by signs around town saying, “Sell out Fifth Third Arena.”
Keating says the bank initially agreed to be a sponsor because it was the right thing to do for the community. The next day, the bank called Keating back with an amended answer: It wasn’t just the right thing to do for the community;
Visiting Nurse Association names four new board members
The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky elected four new members to serve on their board of trustees at their recent board meeting: Nancy L. Graeter, Thomas Lindeman, Mike Robinson and Erick D. Schmidt.
Mike Robinson is president of LaVERDAD Marketing & Media. He is the founding president of LaVERDAD and is a targeted marketing and public relations expert, well known for his innovation and strategic results as a global manager with Procter & Gamble, General Research Corporation and Global Strategic Solutions. A former army officer and Green Beret, he has received numerous recognitions including the 2007 US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year. Post 9/11, he was selected to serve on the Expert Advisory Board for Middle Eastern Affairs. He serves on the board of directors for United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Area chapter of the American Red Cross as well as on the marketing committee of the Bethesda Foundation.
Nancy L. Graeter is national account director – commercial managed care, at Boehringer Ingelheim. Graeter has more than 22 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, previously working for Centocor, a division of Johnson & Johnson and Parke-Davis, a division of Warner Lambert before joining Boehringer in 2003. She holds positions on the board of directors for the Taft Museum of Art and the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Cincinnati chapter.
Thomas Lindeman is a partner – advisory practice at Ernst & Young downtown. Lindeman has more than 25 years in helping companies achieve significant transformation and complex implementation in finance, supply chain and human resources applications. For the last 10 years he has been dedicated to the health care industry, serving as the engagement partner on large-scale transformations for clients such as The Christ Hospital, Ascension Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. He is a member of the YMCA board of trustees.
Erick D. Schmidt is vice president and managing principal at McGohan Brabender. With 22 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Schmidt possesses a wealth of knowledge concerning employee benefits, trends in healthcare and issues impacting rising healthcare costs. He has held positions with Community Mutual Insurance Company, Rush Prudential Health Plans and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. He joined McGohan Brabender in 2001 and became a shareholder in 2006. He has served on the board of governors for the UC Alumi Association and has held board positions with the Dayton Area Diabetes Association and the American Diabetes Association in Cincinnati.