Testimonials
Public Relations
"Mary made us realize the value of a professional public relations program and has helped us with everything from A to Z: quarterly earning news releases, publicity opportunities with our CIO, trade show publicity, media training for our executive staff and message point development."
-Jim McKeone, former Invester Relations HON INDUSTRIES Inc.
“Mary's professionalism, commitment and knowledge of what is 'press worthy' has made a substantial contribution to Center for Women's Business Research mission to gain national visibility for its ground breaking research. She is client service oriented, making it a pleasure to work with her.”
-Sharon Hadary, Executive Director, Center for Women's Business Research"I have known Mary Schnack for several years through her reputation and her work workshops. I recently hired her to provide an "overhaul" to my business's written and visual communications, to produce and distribute News Releases, to consult on our web site and produce a newsletter. She has done all of these things with great creativity, timeliness, and with a thoroughly professional approach. Mary is a very personable, committed person of high integrity. I trust her professional and personal instincts implicitly!"
-Gayle Waldron, President, The Management Edge"During my term as President, Mary Schnack put NAWBO-LA on the map. Previously, we had no identity with the public or media."
-Tana Davis, former President Nat'l Association of Women Business Owners, Los Angeles and California
Crisis Communications
"I found your briefing in our Ministry very interesting. I learned several important things from it. With respect to crisis communication, I think we could learn from you."
- Auður Edda Jökulsdóttir, Head of Cultural Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland"Your advice has been very helpful in guiding us onto the right track and a crisis plan is definitely an issue we need to look into."
- Urður Gunnarsdóttir, Press Officer, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland"We want to say a warm thank you for your expert input and feedback on how to deal with the media. Thanks for being there with and for us. You may not fully realize what you have meant to us in this challenging period. Besides the actual work, we have highly appreciated for you to give us heartfelt comfort and true support in this process. You were there to advise us with each step. An angel on our path, as we feel it."
- Michael and Amayra Hamilton, owners Angel Valley Sedona"We hired Mary Schnack to media train our top officials and manage the media during the Waco cult crisis. Her work was so effective and professional that we have continued to utilize her training and media skills."
-Ray Dabrowski, Communication Director
Seventh-day Adventist Church, World Headquarters"Mary's presentation skills and ability to work with a group, but give individualized training depending on the staff person's situation, was as impressive as her credentials."
-Dee Tucker, Director Office of Child Development, Culver City Unified School District
Client Contact Programs
"The client contact program they developed for us was so successful that we could barely manage the response. Plus, it was much less expensive and more personal than advertising."
-Amy Andrews, Owner, ServiceMaster
Promotional and Journalistic Writing
"The press releases and op-eds that Mary Schnack writes are always exactly what my clients are looking for. She reacts quickly, produces extremely well written, newsworthy copy, and gives expert advice on how to handle follow-up."
-Barbara Frantz, Esq."Mary wrote template marketing and press materials for the CancerFit programs opening throughout the country, adding tremendous value to the start-up package and giving my clients a great head start with their local outreach."
-Diane Doster, founder, CancerFit
Media Relations
"They left no stone unturned or angle forgotten in representing us to the media, public and specific trade industries. For a relatively small company, the level of major media coverage they have generated for us is nothing short of astonishing."
-Matt Walton, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategy, Illusion Inc."Mary's professionalism, commitment and knowledge of what is 'press worthy' has made a substantial contribution to Center for Women's Business Research mission to gain national visibility for its ground breaking research. She is client service oriented, making it a pleasure to work with her. "
-Sharon Hadary, Executive Director, Center for Women's Business Research
Newsletters and Collateral Materials
"My newsletter, Gut Instincts, helped establish me in a new practice. From its name, to the design, to determining content and writing the articles, to having it posted on my web site, Mary keeps the project on track. Patients call and comment on the articles' content, often seeking more information and appointments."
-Donald Henderson, M.D.
Media Training
Thanks for the interesting and valuable training. I really enjoyed it and feel like it will help me do a better job dealing with media related issues. I appreciate your professional perspective and the energy and knowledge you brought to the class!
-Jayson Coil, Battalion Chief, Sedona Fire District“Mary’s media training has changed the way we do business at DMJM+Harris. We now integrate communication strategies and message points with every project and virtually every meeting. This has helped us not only in communications with clients and community members, but also work together more cohesively as a team.”
-John McNamara, AIA, AICP Associate Vice President, DMJM+HARRIS Planning (now AECOMM)"Most of my staff didn't believe we could control media interviews, especially since we have such a controversial topic. After their professional media training, every single staff member felt not only confident about handling media interviews, but was convinced that we needed to do more proactive media outreach."
-Peter Kerndt, M.D., Medical Director HIV / Epidemiology, Department of Health, County of Los Angeles"She has a wide breadth of experience from which to draw her lecture material. Her hand-outs were readable and well designed for this situation. We were able to immediately put to use what was provided. Mary used actual experiences for illustration and suggestions for immediate situations."
-C. Elwyn Platner, Communications Director,
Pacific Union Conference, Seventh-day Adventist Church
Speaking
“SBO Training was looking to hold a seminar that would enlighten professionals involved in Public Relations and Communication. When I met Mary Schnack, I was impressed by her experience and invited her to facilitate a PR, Communications and Media Relations Seminar in Nairobi . I was really impressed by Mary’s facilitation style and in depth knowledge in the PR and media fields. She constantly kept the Kenyan business environment in mind giving information that was extremely suitable for PR and Communication professionals working in Kenya . Mary was professional, insightful, creative, interactive, and our participants had lots of praise for the new ideas and insights they gained. The seminar was excellent and we definitely would like to have Mary facilitate in Nairobi again!”
-Catherine Ngahu, Managing Director, SBO Training, Nairobi, Kenya“In Oct 2005, I attended the Pan African Women Invent & Innovate Conference in Ghana and one of the Workshops I attended was called "Communications in the Workplace" presented by May Schnack. It was a 2-hour workshop which blew me away. Mary's presentation was just full of fantastic ideas and tools for marketing one's business effectively. As soon as I got back from that trip, I started implementing some of her suggestions within our business and have seen very positive results.”
-Zoë Dean-Smith, Gone Rural, Swaziland, Africa
“The Icelandic Association of Women Entrepreneurs, FKA, had the pleasure to invite Mary Schnack as their keynote speaker during their celebration of the International Women Entrepreneurs Day in May 2008. Mary spoke about the importance to create your own communication plan. Her speech was a true eye opener and gave a real value for the participants who left the event with a structure of their own communication plan in mind. Mary did not only inspire the Icelandic Women Entrepreneurs. During her days in Iceland, Mary donated her time to give a special speech to the Icelandic Cancer Association, and held a hugely successful one day seminar in Reykjavik University with the topic Crisis management.”
-Runa Magnusdottir
Chair, FKA International Committee"This was absolutely the best educational PR seminar I have ever attended, and I've attended several. I've been the corporate communications & marketing director for three international corporations and was directly responsible for PR at each, so felt I had a good understanding of how to promote a company via public relations. But I had never seen a step-by-step, straightforward, immediately practical presentation I could begin using the next day at work, or that I could use to quickly train newer employees in my department. And I had never seen a seminar specifically geared to small businesses that gave business owners the tools to do their own PR."
- Christine Miller, Owner, Personality Films, Des Moines, IA
“I thoroughly enjoyed your contribution to the business session panel at the Office Depot Success Strategies conference. You hit the nail on the head with your information on public relations and crisis communications. Thank you.”
-Ibrey Woodall, CIW, PRSA Director of Marketing TEKgroup International, Inc.
“I appreciated the fact that the course empowered the people attending to make the most out of their life. Keep it up.”
-Eugene du-Pont, Swaziland“Thank you for your presentation. A lightbulb went on for me!”
-Mary Skipton, President, Energon, Inc.
“Her presentation to our chapter on Communicating During Life’s Crises was perhaps the best meeting we had during my year.”
-Vicki Arndt, former President, NAWBO-Ventura County“She has a wide breadth of experience from which to draw her lecture material. Her hand-outs were readable and well designed for this situation. We were able to immediately put to use what was provided. Mary used actual experiences for illustration and suggestions for immediate situations.”
-C. Elwyn Platner, Communications Director, Pacific Union Conference, Seventh-day Adventist Church Speaking /Seminars“Mary's presentation on 'Communicating During a Life's Crises' was helpful and interesting. She blends her own experiences and stories with strategies that even an amateur can duplicate. Her style is refreshing and entertaining, while the tips and suggestions she shares are top-notch. It was so refreshing to leave a workshop with real-world tools that I can use immediately.”
-Dana Burke, Owner. Mind Your Business, NAWBO-Wisconsin member
“Great workshop with relevant information and helpful tips.”
-Natasha Williamson, GM, Real Image Internet, Swaziland“I am delighted to have been part of this group that received such professional presentation from Mary. She was really great in all aspects since we all participated…So, communication is not just talking on the phone or someone across your desk.”
-Anonymous, Swaziland“This was a huge eye-opener for me on how to control the interview and drive your desired message regardless of the circumstances giving rise to the interview.”
-Ishmael Muchemenyi, Country Manager, DHL Swaziland“The course was excellent and an eye opener. Now I can confirm that communication, media relations and PR is to a very large extent everyone's business in our respective organizations not just those who are formally charged with those responsibilities.”
-Anthony Gichini, International Finance Corporation, World Bank, Kenya“Special thanks to Mary Schnack for the training sessions. For me, it was a worthwhile session and one that I wouldn't mind doing all over again.”
-Alfred Ng'ang'a, Account Manager, Ogilvy Public Relations, Nairobi, Kenya“I must say that the training was quite an eye opener, especially for a young professional like me! A big kudos to Mary Schnack for the great presentations.”
-Jerry Abuga KCD Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya“Our African women entrepreneurs continue to face problems bigger and more unique than their male counterparts. Mary’s creative and well-tailored communication workshops have been most beneficial in the development of African women businesses. Her workshops are an essential tool in the ongoing "struggle" for equal opportunities for African women entrepreneurs. We are fortunate for her contribution to our work.”
-Josephine C. Sefuke, Founder and President
“Your remarks on the panel (at the Office Depot Strategies for Success conference) were great – articulate, good points and meaningful for the audience. You are THE expert at using data to give visibility to women business owners.”
-Sharon G. Hadary, Executive Director, Center for Women's Business Research
