We have a 25-year history of creative growth.
Superior client service and the delivery of meaningful results have formed the mission of LCWA since our founding in 1985. We have many long-lasting relationships with our clients. In fact, we are proud that many of today's clients have been with us for more than a decade — and that our roster still includes our very first client.
PR and Research Unite
LCWA was founded by Louis C. Williams, Jr., a veteran of large, national agencies. His background combined research, training and public relations. Lou wanted to provide the strategic thinking and capabilities of a large agency and the personal approach and dedication of a smaller firm. He also strongly believed that research should be an integral part of the communications process. As a result, LCWA is one of the only mid-sized Chicago PR firms to balance PR and research with equal priority.
Decades of Growth
We have grown through smart acquisitions of three well-known Chicago PR firms. They include: William Arrott & Associates in 1989, Drucilla Handy Company in 1993 and DeFrancesco/Goodfriend in 2001. Each of these mergers brought specialty experience to LCWA. The Arrott firm was well known for business-to-business programs, while Drucilla Handy was strong in consumer marketing in the home furnishings arena. DeFrancesco/Goodfriend had home and hardware, as well as business-to-business specialties. The cultures of all of these Chicago PR firms matched our philosophy.
A Special Chicago PR Firm
The public relations landscape has changed due to many mergers and acquisitions within the past decade. LCWA is in a unique position because we remain independent and are owned by our employees. Our clients know that agency management is invested in the business. Under the leadership of Kim Blazek Dahlborn, president and CEO, the LCWA team gives clients a refreshingly easy and valuable agency experience. Today, LCWA continues to provide clients with the best of both worlds: big agency thinking and resources with the dedication typically found in a smaller firm.