Communications strategy that drives business results

Our Services

Crafting Winning Narratives

Led by Katie Merx, a Cicero-winning speechwriter, Pulitzer Prize-awarded journalist and trusted executive adviser, Merx Communications is a results-driven agency that crafts creative, clear and effective messaging to deliver business results.

We know what it takes to develop and sell your story. We help businesses design effective strategies, brands, messaging and outreach focused on achieving your goals.

Areas of specialty:

Financial Communications and Investor Relations
Global Media Relations Strategy and Outreach
Executive Communications and Speechwriting
Sustainability and ESG Strategy, Communications and Reporting
Crisis Communications and Issues Management
Writing, Editing and Research

Whether it's developing your story to pitch to top national reporters, crafting a keynote speech, or designing and deploying your sustainable communications strategy, you'll benefit from our experience in the newsroom and the boardroom.

Let us transform your messaging to convert audiences into new business.

Communications Strategy

Communications Strategy is the bedrock of converting your great business idea into results. We'll lead you through the process of identifying your key messages and then translate those ideas into the language your audiences need to hear to take the action you propose.

We'll work with you to:

Determine relevant audiences and prioritize them
Define desired audience actions
Determine the company's key messages
Translate key messages into key motivators for your audiences
Identify most effective vehicles and outlets
Establish frequency of planned communications by audience and communications method

Media Relations

Media relations is all about building trust and relationships. In more than 20 years working in and with the media, we've developed a strong network of media contacts. While each company, industry and story demands its own approach, we know the ropes and can chart a path that helps your organization achieve its goals.

Media strategy
Message preparation and refinement
Executive and expert media training
Media outreach
Issues tracking and management
Media inquiry management

Financial Communications and Investor Relations

We've crafted financial communications strategies and delivered communications results for publicly traded major multinationals and technology start-ups in a variety of industries, including automotive, energy, renewable fuels, advanced mobility, intelligent transportation, building materials and higher education.

IPOs, NYSE listings, bell-ringing ceremonies
Cross-border mergers & acquisitions, leadership transitions, global analyst days, product launches
Quarterly earnings (document production, process management, call execution, call scripts, talking points, Q&As, fielding media calls)
Corporate reports (CEO-signed memos, annual reports, sustainability reports, major corporate announcements, board meeting preparation)
CEO, CFO and Investor Relations support
Board deck preparation and presentation coaching
Activist investor strategy
Investor relations, Treasury, IT and Financial Reporting coordination
Analyst communications
Process management

Sustainability and ESG Communications

Everything your company does is measured in sustainability. More and more of your stakeholders care about what you're doing and how you're talking about it. We can help you sort it all out, tie it to leading sustainability standards and tell that narrative in a way that is meaningful to your constituents, big and small.

Sustainability report planning and writing
Survey completion and editing
Sustainability communications strategy
Sustainability thought leadership execution

Executive Communications

Today's executives are under great pressure not only to deliver results, but to lead in thought and deed. Your workforce, investors, customers, partners, communities and society-at-large believe what you publicly say and do makes a difference. All that "saying" and "doing" takes time. Trust us to help you carefully sort and present your thoughts and actions in a way that is positive and meaningful for you, your organization and those you serve.

Speech writing
Letters to the editor and guest columns
Executive-signed letters
Thought leadership strategy planning
White papers
LinkedIn columns and other social posts
Town hall planning, script writing and execution

Crisis Management

Whether you need immediate surge support, or an enduring advisory relationship, Merx Communications can help you prepare for, endure and recover from a crisis.

Customized crisis communications plans
Crisis response management
Statement preparation
Issues forecasting and preparation
Media training and appearance preparation

Knowledge & experience

Katie Merx, CEO

A Pulitzer- and Loeb-awarded journalist, Katie Merx has led corporate financial communications, media relations and crisis communications for a variety of large publicly traded companies and a major research university. She's helped launch multiple IPOs, new CEOs, new corporate names, new businesses, corporate websites and cross-border M&A transactions.

She’s been a key strategic consultant with activist investor issues, national labor negotiations, legal proceedings, global vehicle recalls and legislative hearing appearances.

Her experience includes serving as global media spokeswoman for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Owens Corning; writing speeches for Fortune 50 CEOs; and managing IR communications from investor decks to earnings calls.

Through this work, she has earned placements for companies and executives in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, the Detroit Free Press and The Los Angeles Times. She has also negotiated appearances on CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg and in many major markets.

With more than 25 years working in and with top-tier global, national, local and trade media, she has extensive media experience, insights and relationships.

Our Collaborators

Kathleen Bilitzke

Kathleen is an accomplished, results-driven communications professional able to align strategies and tactics with business goals while positioning, promoting and protecting organizational brand equity. She has more than 25 years success in agency, corporate, non-profit and small business settings in automotive, health care, manufacturing

EXPERTISE
Public relations management
Communications strategies
Issues discovery and management
Messaging platform development
Crisis communications
Storytelling / writing / speeches / executive communications
Brand and identity building
Special event planning and management
Social media / content creation

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Jeremiah Ruffin

Kathleen Bilitzke

Jeremiah is a social media specialist, videographer, photographer and frontend developer. He has nearly a decade of experience designing using a multitude of programs within the ADOBE CREATIVE Suite.

Jeremiah is active in efforts to raise financial literacy among high-school students.

Tony Boylan

Alayna Sarver

Tony is a veteran in media, communications, public relations and public affairs with national and international communications and public relations experience. He has more than 25 years experience in newsrooms, on campaign trails and managing financial transactions and public listings.

He has promoted the concept of democracy in the Thi

He has promoted the concept of democracy in the Third World, worked on major political campaigns, helped clients launch new businesses, and supported social causes.

Tony has worked in the areas of public policy and public affairs, banking, real estate, financial / professional services, start-up and tech businesses, the hospitality industry, and entertainment.

EXPERTISE

Financial services and financial media, investor relations, issues of government, public policy and public affairs, real estate, urban development, startup business, hospitality, and the arts including theater, film and more.

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Alayna Sarver

Alayna brings a fresh view to our client activities and programs. She manages the Merx Communications news and social media listening programs, manages our news clipping services and mines the media industry for changes in focus, new opportunities and potential partnerships.

Alayna serves on the advisory board of The Avalon Foundation to help children with rare diseases.

Communications strategy that drives business results

You want results. We deliver.

Our Services

Crafting Winning Narratives

Communications Strategy

Media Relations

Financial Communications and Investor Relations

Sustainability and ESG Communications

Executive Communications

Crisis Management

Knowledge & experience

Katie Merx, CEO

Our Collaborators

Kathleen Bilitzke

Kathleen Bilitzke

Kathleen Bilitzke

Jeremiah Ruffin

Kathleen Bilitzke

Kathleen Bilitzke

Tony Boylan

Alayna Sarver

Alayna Sarver

Alayna Sarver

Alayna Sarver

Alayna Sarver

Reviews

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