San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Selects Gable-Cook-Schmid and New West for Three Year Public Relations Program
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has selected the team of Gable-Cook-Schmid Public Relations (GCS) of San Diego and New West Public Relations of Louisville, KY, for a public outreach and education program. The program will support the Authority’s efforts to plan for and meet the projected demands of the region’s air transportation needs. The Airport Authority’s recommendations on siting a new airport will be presented to San Diego County voters in November 2006.
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2004 -- The San Diego County Regional
Airport Authority has selected the team of Gable-Cook-Schmid Public Relations
(GCS) of San Diego and New West Public Relations of Louisville, KY, for a public
outreach and education program. The program will support the Authority’s efforts
to plan for and meet the projected demands of the region’s air transportation
needs. The Airport Authority’s recommendations on siting a new airport will be
presented to San Diego County voters in November 2006.
The GCS/New West
team was selected for the $2.25 million contract after a lengthy review process
that started with the Airport Authority issuing 70 requests for proposals to
regional and national agencies, then narrowing the field to eight, five, two and
then the final choice. In its report to the Airport Authority board, Authority
staff said the GCS/New West team was selected because it presented “a
comprehensive, structured, well-thought out and strategic approach to public
outreach and education.” The staff also cited the team for relevant experience
in complex communications programs for public agencies, including the San Diego
Trolley for Gable-Cook-Schmid and the Louisville Regional Airport for New West;
depth of project management; access to diverse business interests in the region
and emphasis on outreach to diverse and minority communities. The GCS/New West
team also includes Winstead & Co. and CIC Research, two disadvantaged
business enterprises.
Thella F. Bowens, president/CEO, said the Airport
Authority undertook this rigorous selection process because of the expected
controversial and complex nature of evaluating and siting a new airport by the
time San Diego International Airport reaches capacity constraints in 2015 to
2022. Once voters select a site, it will take 10 to 15 years to plan, entitle
and build a new airport.
“Gable-Cook-Schmid has both local roots going
back 25 years and extensive mass transit and infrastructure experience,
including work for the largest transportation project in San Diego County in
many years, the extension of the San Diego Trolley from Mission Valley to La
Mesa,” said Bowens. “New West successfully managed the communications and
outreach for the $1 billion expansion of the Louisville Airport. Both firms had
examples of innovative programs to reach out to the community at every level.
Their dedication to open communications and inclusionary programs lines up with
the philosophy of the Authority. We look forward to initiating a landmark
communications program to support one of the most critical decisions to be made
by San Diego voters in this century or any other.”
In Phase I of the site
selection program, seven potential sites for a new airport were identified: a
desert site in Imperial County; March Air Reserve Base, Riverside County; Marine
Corp Air Station, Miramar; Miramar East; Marine Corps Base Camp, Pendleton;
Naval Air Station, North Island and San Diego International Airport. Two
additional sites recently were added in rural areas near Campo and Borrego
Springs.
Rick Cook, GCS partner, will manage the Airport Authority
program and a team of specialists in media relations, public affairs, community
relations and issues management, plus the other partner firms. Becky Simpson
will oversee the New West team, which includes political campaigns, full-service
graphic design and marketing capabilities.
“Our team is honored to have
been selected for a communications program of this importance and magnitude,”
said Cook. “We look forward to working with Airport Authority staff to achieve
unprecedented levels of community awareness about the site options, resulting in
an informed decision by a record turnout of voters in November
2006.”
About Gable-Cook-Schmid Public Relations (GCS)
GCS specializes
in complex public relations and reputation management programs for innovative
companies and organizations. Whether for a start-up or a Fortune 100 client, the
partners personally manage each program, leading teams with the relevant
experience and expertise to ensure success in even the most challenging
programs. It is the only firm in the West with two Pulitzer Prize nominees on
staff. Its senior team members boast an average of 20 years experience and hold
more than 100 of the profession’s highest awards amongst them, including four
Silver Anvils, the highest honor in the public relations profession. Additional
information is available at www.gcs-pr.com
About New West
Founded in 1971 as the
Wenz-Neely Public Relations firm, New West has grown into a full service
marketing communications company. It stresses the ability to develop and execute
innovative programs that use any or all forms of communication to help its
clients succeed, including advertising, public relations and marketing. Its
clients include a range of major consumer products, institutional, health care
and civic and charitable clients throughout the Southeast and Atlantic coast.
Additional information is available at www.newwestagency.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb152258.htm