The message behind the math
Numbers decide what a company is worth. People decide whether to believe them. For most of my career, I worked on that second half: reporting on companies as a business journalist, then running communications inside them. It’s the “message” in Message & Math, and it’s why lenders, buyers and employees hear one clear, consistent story from my clients.
Inside companies
UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Health · Senior Director of Corporate Communications, 2007–2009
Built and led the team handling internal and external communications for five CEOs and four divisions of a newly formed $5 billion, 11,000-employee business. Defused more than 10 significant crises with a fast-response team, giving reporters straight answers instead of “no comment.” Earned more than 150 media interviews and 1,250 placements, including the Wall Street Journal, and raised already-high employee trust in leadership by 3 points.
Lawson Software · Employee Communications Manager, 2004–2007
Led communications for 4,500 newly merged employees in 24 countries before, during and after the merger that took Lawson global, and advised its HR, legal, compliance and finance leaders on what to say and when.
Covering companies
As editor in chief of Twin Cities Business from 2010 to 2018, I led Minnesota’s largest business publication, whose team earned more than 70 state and national journalism awards, and hosted more than 50 live business events. I was a weekly business commentator on WCCO Radio and KARE 11. Before that, I reported and edited for The Business Journal in Minneapolis and Milwaukee and Business Ethics magazine, contributed to BusinessWeek, Reuters and Dow Jones, and founded Profits Journal, a financial research publication for private equity and investment banking.
Where it shows up in the numbers
The message is never the end goal. What people believe shows up in the financials: the terms a lender offers, the price a buyer pays, the customers and employees who stay.
A CEO and his company were attacked publicly and in court. Restoring their reputation protected the customer and business relationships their revenue depended on.
Crisis & Reputation →An iron mining company’s reputation with key media outlets had slipped, in an industry where public perception affects permits, financing and community support. We repaired and improved it.
Crisis & Reputation →A sale is coming. When employees, customers and family hear it from you first, key people and customers stay, and so does the price.
Buying or Selling a Business →Cash is tight. A lender who trusts the plan keeps the credit line open and the terms workable while you fix the problem.
Cash Flow & Turnarounds →A city council planned to vote no on a multi-tenant commercial development. The right case to the council turned it into a yes, and the project moved forward.
Municipal Approvals →
When the numbers and the message both have to be right, let’s talk.