A Bit About What We Do

The Waite Company is an award-winning, results-driven, strategic communications firm specializing in all aspects of “free” and paid media messaging, public outreach and education, and corporate branding and design. Our specialty lies in finding and recommending the best way for our clients to deliver their messages, and then working with them to achieve measurable results.

Our process is tied to strategic planning, and no method of communication, whether traditional or cutting-edge, is beyond our ability to produce. If your organization is struggling to develop creative, relevant, and timely content, or if you want to pursue a communications strategy that is more flexible, measurable, and perfectly-adaptable to your unique needs and audience, then we may be the right communications firm, for you.

Our folks can consult and then get out of the way, or we can run your multi- million dollar, public education campaign, from top to bottom. More specifically? If you want your online presence, media talking points, press releases, fundraising pitches, website blog items, billboards, brochures, government affairs communications, and short videos on Facebook to all jive with one another and consistently promote your brand, then give us a call. We’re here to help.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE LIKE

What industries and projects do we love the most? Pretty much anything that lets us feel like our work will make a positive impact in someone’s life. We like being a seamless part of our client teams, integrated at a level where we can anticipate problems before they occur, and make recommendations to avoid them altogether. Our clients vary between corporate, non-profit, and government, and hail mostly from the healthcare, tourism, and water & natural resources industries. We also work with mid-size businesses across many sectors to improve their B2B and direct-to-consumer operations. Many of our clients have been with us since we launched the firm six years ago, and still others have become our very good friends along the way.

We’re national in scope, with offices located in New Mexico and Florida, and we offer our clients strong professional networks in Colorado, Texas, Ohio and New York.

AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS, MEMBERSHIPS

The Waite Company has been ranked a top ten public relations firm in New Mexico since 2014, including two years at the top of the list, and is currently ranked the #2 advertising and public relations agency in New Mexico. Since its launch in 2012, The Waite Company has received 25 industry “Cumbre” awards for various campaigns and tactics from the New Mexico Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Waite Company is a self-certified, woman-owned small business with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is SAM-registered. The Company is also a registered vendor with the State of New Mexico, Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque, the City of Santa Fe, the Town of Taos, the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), the State of Florida, Brevard County, Monroe County, the City of Daytona, the City of Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, and other government offices.

TWC employs a large team of top-notch public relations professionals, most of whom retain membership with the NM PRSA and the PRSA. TWC Account Executive Marissa Le has served on the Board of Directors of the NM PRSA since 2016.

The Waite Company is a proud member of the Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI), the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, the Taos Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Hospitality Association, the American Water Works Association, the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce. Company President Whitney Waite also serves on the Board of Directors of the Uptown Progress Team, an organization of business owners and executives who continue to work toward a world-class development plan for the Uptown business area of Albuquerque.

Cumbre Awards

2015

UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center – Campaign – Community Relations
beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Campaign – Public Service
Augustin Plains Ranch – Tactic – Feature Story
beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Tactic – Audio Program
Seeker Aircraft – Tactic – Brochure
NM Department of Workforce Solutions – Tactic – Publication

2016

beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Campaign – Multicultural Public Relations
beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Campaign – Public Service
New Mexico Oil and Gas Association – Campaign – Events and Observances
Sandia Paddle and Film Festival – Tactic – Media Relations
NM True Summer Reading Challenge – Tactic – Brochure

2017

Visit Taos – Tactic – Social Media (Best in Show – Tactics)
beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Campaign – Public Service
New Mexico Heroin on Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative – Campaign – Public Service
New Mexico Oil & Gas Association – Campaign – Events & Observances
beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Tactic – Direct Mail
Visit Taos – Tactic – Media Relations
CSI Aviation – Tactic – Feature Story

2018

Visit Taos – Tactic – Social Media (Best in Show – Tactics)
New Mexico Department of Information Technology – Campaign – Integrated Communications
Visit Taos – Campaign – Integrated Communications
beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange – Campaign – Community Relations
Mother’s Day Whitewater Races – Campaign – Events and Observances
Seeker Aircraft – Tactic – Media Relations

RECENT NEWS

The Waite Company Rebrands – Download Press Release

Our Agency Specializes In

Strategic Communications

Strategic Planning
Message Consulting
Budget Development
Brand Effectiveness Assessment
Message and Brand Delivery Options
Visual and Written Content Review and Alignment
Fundraising Strategies and Grant and Proposal Development
Stakeholder Communications
Inter-Agency Message and Process Alignment
Political and Government Affairs Consulting
Policy Research and Positioning Recommendations
Crisis Aversion Strategies

Public Relations

Grassroots and Grasstops Public Education and Mobilization Campaigns
Coalition Development
News Media Relations and Media Training
Press Events, Ribbon-Cuttings, Open Houses
Content Development – Visual and Written
Promoting Experts as Media Sources and Event Speakers
Feature Story Drafting, Pitching and Placement
Crisis Management
Community Event Staffing and Community Presence
Guerilla Marketing
Social Media Influencer Campaigns and Tactics
Public Opinion Surveys

Design

Branding
Websites
Electronic/Social Media Ads
Brochures/Rack Cards/Pamphlets
Event Tickets/T-shirts/Giveaway Items
Tradeshow Booths/Signage/Materials
Photography/Videography (Including Drone)

Traditional Advertising

Outdoor/Signage
Radio
TV
Newspaper/Magazine

Electronic Advertising

SEO Strategies and Implementation
Reputation Management
Pay Per Click/Impression Campaigns
Geofencing
Email Marketing and Advertising Retargeting
Mobile App Development
Social Media Advertising and Influencer Marketing
Social Media Account Growth and Content Development
E-Newsletters

Clients

Some of our 2012–2018 clients include:

New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange (beWellnm)
CSI Aviation Services
Seeker Aircraft
UNM Health Sciences Center (Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education Initiative)
The Town of Taos Tourism Department
UNM Medical Group
Augustin Plains Ranch Water Pipeline Project
Lyft, Inc.
New Mexico Society of Anesthesiologists
UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center
The Play Conservatory
New Mexico Kayak Instruction/Sandia Paddle and Film Festival
New Mexico Department of Health

Meet the Team

Whitney

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Whitney Waite, President of The Waite Company, brings nearly 20 years of strategic communications, media relations, and crisis management experience to her client’s campaigns. For nearly two decades, Waite managed political campaigns and communications for candidates and elected officials in New Mexico where her races included many at the local and district levels, as well as several for U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, Governor, and the U.S. Presidency. Her unique and lengthy career in all levels of New Mexico politics and government earned her a position as a weekly panelist on KNME’s current affairs television show, “New Mexico in Focus,” as well as other expert source opportunities with national print news organizations, and local TV and radio outlets. In 2010, Waite accepted the position of Marketing and PR Director for Florida Southern College and in 2012, opened the first Waite Company office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Under her leadership, The Waite Company experienced rapid growth and in 2015, was named the state’s number one PR firm by the Albuquerque Business First. She is currently spearheading Waite Company business development efforts in Florida. Waite graduated from the University of Miami (Florida) in 1993 with a B.A. in political science and international studies, is a member and past board member of the NM Public Relations Society of America, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Uptown Progress Team in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Matt

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Matt Kennicott joined The Waite Company in 2016 as Vice President of Communications, bringing his ten-plus years’ experience in policy, government, campaign development and crisis communications to the benefit of client campaigns. Prior to joining The Waite Company, he served as the Director of Communications for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, where he implemented innovative strategies for delivering clear and concise messages to both internal and external audiences. Matt also possesses an extensive background in health policy and health communications having served as the Chief of Staff for the New Mexico House of Representatives Republican Caucus, the Director of Policy for Governor Susana Martinez, and Director of External Affairs and Policy for the New Mexico Human Services Department. He holds several certifications and certificates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in crisis and emergency communications, training that he put to use most recently in serving as the Deputy Director of Joint Information for the Dog Head Fire near Chilili, NM in June 2016. Matt holds a BA in Political Science and US History from the University of New Mexico, and studies and teaches Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art.

Marissa

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Marissa Le is our Account Executive at The Waite Company and specializes in helping members of the media tell great stories about our clients. With grit, persistence, firm leadership and an impressive eye for detail, Marissa zeroes in on potential leads, while tending to any logistical details that might be necessary to execute flawless events, campaigns, or articles. A graduate of the University of New Mexico, she has interned with The Garrity Group Public Relations and ABQ Live, as well as The Waite Company. She has served as the leader for such client campaigns as UNM Health Sciences Center, UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, CSI Aviation, and BeWellNM.

Lauren

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Lauren Hyde joined the Waite Company in fall 2015, and her experience and expertise in the fields of fundraising, political campaigns and event organization have made her an invaluable addition to the team. As the Development Director for the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, Lauren wrote grants, created and implemented fundraising campaigns and fostered relationships with individual donors and corporations statewide. In addition, Lauren has managed mail and reported on finance for various legislative campaigns, and honed her skills on the ground floor as an assistant at the New Mexico State Legislature. Lauren’s professionalism, top-notch organizational skills and ability to multitask make her an asset not only to the Waite Company but to all clients who work with her.

Shamon

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Shamon Padilla is the Outreach Manager at The Waite Company and is our go-to guy for event scheduling and logistics coordination. Shamon’s extensive background in non-profit work and team management allows him to take on many operational roles at The Waite Co. When he is not working on behalf of clients like BeWellNM and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Shamon donates much of his time to important health awareness causes championed by groups like the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation and the New Mexico Alzheimer’s Association.

Carlos

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Carlos Ramirez joined The Waite Company as a Public Relations Assistant in 2017,
after a yearlong internship with the company. From composing social media plans to writing feature articles, Carlos specializes in getting our clients into the public eye by crafting tailored stories that identify and highlight the unique attributes that they each have to offer. With a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of New Mexico and former role as Social Media Coordinator at a local non-profit, Carlos is well equipped to tell any clients’ story in the way that works best for them, and has lent his skills to many TWC clients, including the Town of Taos and CSI Aviation.

Peter

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Feature Writer and Copy Editor Peter Rice has been working on Waite Company client campaigns since 2013, making sure written messages come across in a crisp, easy-to-understand, grammar-compliant fashion. A journalist and feature writer by trade, he worked as a beat reporter for newspapers in Colorado and Oregon before moving to New Mexico to cover city government for the now defunct Albuquerque Tribune. Rice is an avid outdoorsman and bicycle tourist, having peddled through 17 of New Mexico’s 33 counties, and 11 of the 50 states. He is the author of the how-to guide Spandex-Optional Bicycle Touring, and Bike Tour New Mexico, a trilogy of prime New Mexico touring routes. Rice is proficient in Spanish and adept at designing and delivering Spanish language presentations and materials when our client campaigns require it. Also possessing an extensive background in video and radio, Rice provides media and public speaking training as needed for Waite Company clients. He graduated from Colorado College in 2004, with a B.A. in political science.

Ileana

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As the Senior Outreach Director at The Waite Company, Ileana Jaramillo brings to the table her know-how in social media outreach, communications, and event planning. She currently works with Waite Company clients in the health care industries; coordinating community outreach events and implementing social media and earned media campaigns. Ileana recently graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communication. During her collegiate years, Ileana interned at Agenda Global and was a campus ambassador for HBO. A New Mexico native, Ileana strives to travel the world and boasts an impressive passport.

Jason

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Jason Marshall is our Program Director, bringing with him a strong background in retail management, direct sales, and marketing. Jason oversees the day-to-day operations of Waite Co client campaigns, assuring that each moving part is in sync with the next, and that our clients receive timely, accurate, and useful reports demonstrating their return on investment. Marshall holds a B.A. in strategic communications from the University of New Mexico.

Kyle

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Kyle Stake joined the Waite Company with a mandate to expand the firm’s graphic design department and improve upon its tradition of providing top-notch creative design services for its clients. Stake brings more than 10 years of website design, graphic design, art direction, photography, and production art experience to his position. Innovative, visionary, and bold, his knack for creating memorable imagery will greatly serve Waite Company clients who look to him for marketing and advertising services. A former production artist and junior designer with OneCreative, Inc., Stake most recently served as the art director and chief designer for Copper Pointe Church, where he produced digital media, developed and executed creative concepts and themes to reach as many congregants as possible, and designed church-branded apparel. He’s also produced original branding, art, and design for a diverse selection of companies including Red Door Brewing, Chick Fil-A, and Go Aviation Middle East.

Consulting Advisors

Dr. Thomas Waite

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Dr. Thomas D. Waite, Consulting Advisor, currently holds the position of University Research Professor of Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology. An internationally renowned environmental engineer with more than 40 years’ experience, Dr. Thomas D. Waite is at the forefront of new water and wastewater treatment technologies, including high-valence iron chemistries, and the use of high-energy electrons for environmental applications. His laboratories have led the research in these technologies, and he has designed and built full scale treatment systems. Dr. Waite brings a lifetime of experience as a researcher and practicing environmental engineer with a specialty in water quality control to this role. With advanced degrees from Northeastern and Harvard universities, he devoted himself to scholarship and research, rising to several positions at the University of Miami, including Professor of Civil Engineering, Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, and Director of the Laboratories for Pollution Control Technologies. In 2002 Dr. Waite was appointed Program Director of the Environmental Engineering Program at NSF. Between 2005 and 2011, he was Dean of the College of Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology. He is the author, co-author or editor of four books and more than 150 technical reports and research presentations.

Dr. Annmarie Waite

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Annmarie Waite is a registered nurse practitioner and nurse educator who also serves as President and CEO of the non-profit foundation, Girlfriends Guild, Inc. For twenty years, Annmarie has dedicated her professional life to improving the health and social status of women, children and families through hospital nursing as well as community initiatives to increase health awareness and promote preventative health care, nutrition, and fitness. Whether it’s taking care of babies born with AIDS or conducting examinations on children who were sexually assaulted, Annmarie administers care in the most challenging of situations for children and families. An expert in her field, she offers a highly-qualified, real world perspective on many issues surrounding Women’s Health care issues, children’s sexual assault, and pre and post- natal health. Through her vision and tireless commitment to women’s health issues, Girlfriends Guild, Inc. was established to provide financial resources, educational materials, and counseling support to women of all ages who are seeking assistance in improving their physical, emotional, and/or mental health. Annmarie Waite anticipates defending her doctoral thesis in nursing at Barry University in the fall of 2014.