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Witeck Communications, Inc.

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

Witeck Communications, Inc.
Formerly
Witeck-Combs Communications (1993-2012)
Private
ISIN🆔
IndustryPublic relations, LGBTQ research
Founded 📆1993; 33 years ago (1993)
Founder 👔Bob Witeck, Wesley Combs
Headquarters 🏙️,
Washington, D.C.
Area served 🗺️
U.S.
Key people
Bob Witeck
(President and CEO)
Revenue🤑 $750,000+ (2020)[1]
Members
Number of employees
3-5
🌐 Websitewiteck.com
📇 Address
📞 telephone

Witeck Communications, Inc., known as Witeck-Combs Communications (WCC) until 2012, is a Washington, D.C.-based communications firm that provides strategic public relations and marketing communications services for corporate and non-profit clients.[2][3][4] Witeck Communications specializes in the LGBTQ consumer market; health, disability and social issues; and reaching the Washington, D.C. market.[3][5] The company frequently represents Fortune 500 companies that serve the multi-billion-dollar gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) market.[6][7][8][9] It is the first LGBTQ-owned business certified by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.[10]

Notable campaigns and clients include: Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation,[11] “American Airlines, Sears, Wachovia, and Ford Motor Company,”[3] Death with Dignity National Center,[12] Logo TV,[13] Marriott Hotels & Resorts,[14] Walmart,[15] Comcast/NBCUniversal,[10] Bristol-Myers Squibb,[10] National Geographic Channel,[10] MassMutual,[10] MTV Networks,[10] Volvo,[10] and Carnival Corporation.[10]

Through WCC’s work, companies have been taught to reach LGBTQ consumers, and evolve their workplace policies to provide equity for their LGBTQ employees;[16][17] this work is captured in Business Inside Out – Capturing Millions of Brand Loyal Consumers (2006).[15]

History

For years Bob Witeck and Wesley Combs volunteered and worked for LGBTQ civil rights causes and AIDS benefits.[18] They observed that these organizations often lacked the professional expertise, skills and business savvy to grow and prosper. They saw a disconnect between the gay community and the professional world and decided to co-found WCC as a bridge to connect these two worlds. They believed that LGBTQ market visibility also was key to meaningful political and social change. Witeck had worked for years in Washington D.C. in politics and media relations prior to opening WCC.[3] Combs came to WCC from working in marketing at IBM.[19] They opened for business in 1993, their projected 1999 billings totaled $600,000.[19]

In 2002 WCC was enlisted by U.S. Newswire to raise LGBTQ press involvement.[20] U.S. Newswire has produced a press release wire service for twenty years and with WCC added the LGBTQ niche service.[21]

In 2008 WCC partnered with National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) to launch OutNewsWire, to serve as a media outlet and press news service for LGBTQ journalists.[22] Within two years they had 350 contacts in the U.S. and Canada.[22]

In 2010 WCC partnered with International LGBTQ+ Travel Association and the NLGJA to launch TravelOutNewsWire, a service to support LGBTQ travelers with industry news.[23] The two goals are to allow journalists to connect with updated LGBTQ travel and hospitality news, and providing trusted access to reaching the LGBTQ community.[22]

In January 2012, Wes Combs announced he would be leaving to join Accenture, an Ireland-based global management consulting firm as a senior manager in their talent and organization practice; WCC would change the company’s name accordingly.[24]

National Coming Out Day

In 1993, Bob Witeck and Wesley Combs founded Witeck-Combs Communications and immediately began work on two projects that would shape their business.[16] The first was to shape and promote National Coming Out Day (NCOD) (October 11 in the U.S.) as an educational project of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).[15] WCC helped openly gay and lesbian actors Amanda Bearse and Dan Butler communicate honestly to celebrate and promote NCOD by serving as the first celebrity spokespersons for the Human Rights Campaign Fund, since renamed to HRC.[16] In all of the posters, publicity and public appearances they popularize the expression, "I'm not a straight person, but I play one on TV."[16][25]

American Airlines

The second client project that shaped Witeck-Combs Communications' reputation was their strategy in 1994 to withstand backlash and a possible LGBTQ consumer boycott of American Airlines and to help foster an airline employee education program that was sensitive to people living with HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ people.[19] In June 1993, many LGBTQ Americans traveled to the March on Washington. The controversy erupted when a member of an American Airlines' flight crew recommended that the pillows and blankets used by group of LGBTQ passengers be thrown away because of fears they were contaminated with HIV, the virus which causes AIDS.[19][26]

This incident was compounded by a separate episode in 1993, when a passenger living with AIDS was removed insensitively from an American Airlines flight because the flight crew deemed the passenger much too ill to travel.[27] WCC was hired to address frustration and critical news coverage from the LGBTQ community.[19] WCC began by advising on employee training programs to ensure that each employee would be appropriately sensitive to LGBTQ customers and those living with HIV and AIDS, and to distinguish health issues from sexual orientation. In addition, WCC counseled American Airlines on its communications strategy combined with its policies and practices to ensure they are respectful of people living HIV/AIDS as well as LGBTQ passengers and employees.[16] American Airlines was among the first airlines to include sexual orientation and transgender identity nondiscrimination protections into its workplace policies.[16] American Airlines was the first airline to implement equal partnership benefits for same-sex partners as are provided to married spouses.[28] WCC continues to work with American Airlines to reach out to the LGBTQ market.[16]

Research

WCC has teamed with Harris Interactive and Marketresearch.com to understand the preferences, demographics, and purchasing power of LGBTQ individuals through authentic and original market research.[3] As of 2006, WCC estimates 6.8% of the population is lesbian or gay, about 15.3 million people.[29][30] Research has also shown that as of 2006: 78% of LGBTQ consumers are extremely likely or very likely to consider brands that are known to provide equal workplace benefits for all their employees, including LGBTQ workers, that is, they support brands that support LGBTQ equality in practice;[31][32] and 91% of LGBTQ workers choose to work for a company that offers domestic partner benefits.[33] As of 2019 Witeck felt that companies need to simply be inclusive to LGBTQ people as younger generations see LGBTQ marriages as ordinary and a brand loyal to companies that do not discriminate.[34]

The 2006 buying power of the LGBTQ community was $660 billion, up from $450 billion in 2004; the figure rose to $690 billion in 2007, and $712 billion in 2008.[35][36] As of 2010 LGBTQ buying power was $743 billion, which rose to $800 billion in 2011, $830 billion in 2013, $884 billion in 2014, $917 billion in 2015, and a trillion in 2019.[2][37][38][39] WCC shares its research, including sending it to media groups, and interested agencies unsure how to reach the LGBTQ demographic.[3] According to WCC, areas where LGBTQ consumers “‘over index,’ or exceed average expenditures, compared to the general population” is consistently on travel, financial services, hospitality, and consumer electronics.[30]

In 2003, American Demographics Magazine picked Witeck and Combs as two of twenty-five people in America over the past 25 years who have done the most to shape the trends, knowledge and demographics of all Americans for their work on LGBTQ marketing and media relations.[10]

After thirteen years of growing LGBTQ market expertise, the two principals were approached in 2006 by Kaplan Publishing to co-author the first business book on LGBTQ marketing, Business Inside Out: Capturing Millions of Brand Loyal Gay Consumers. Their friend and mentor, Allan Gilmour, former CFO for Ford Motor Company and an openly gay former business executive, wrote the books' foreword.

In 2009 WCC in cooperation with Harris Interactive found that LGBTQ people were more likely to be engaged with social media and blogs than their straight counterparts.[40] In 2013 they reported that 42% of heterosexuals would be less likely to support brands that advertise alongside anti-LGBTQ content; while 73% of LGBTQ consumers felt the same way.[41][42] In 2019 the company noted that some of the discrimination LGBTQ consumers feel can be psychological and due to employees’ treatment of them; for instance ignoring them, or given them the side-eye.[43]

Awards and recognition

References

  1. ↑ https://www.manta.com/d/mm5k6jk/witeck-communications-inc
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pledger, Marcia; Dealer, The Plain (2010-07-28). "Plexus, chamber of commerce for LGBT community, growing in Cleveland after five years". cleveland. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Calabro, Sara (March 15, 2004). "PROFILE: Witeck speaks volumes with professionalism, vision". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ Block, Jonathan (May 30, 2005). "Reaching the GLBT Audience: Tapping into a rich and underserved market". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  5. ↑ Quenqua, Douglas (September 2, 2002). "REGIONAL FOCUS Washington, DC: Capitol ventures". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ Lilienthal, Steve. "Conference ponders gay and lesbian PR challenges". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  7. ↑ France, Stephanie (July 7, 2000). "Focus - Niche Marketing: Why pink is the 'in' colour - Mainstream agencies have cottoned on to the fact that the gay and lesbian market has money to spare, is media-aware and socially influential, and are focusing their efforts accordingly". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  8. ↑ Moore, Thomas (June 4, 2019). "Is PR making the grade when it comes to LGBTQ acceptance?". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ Lilienthal, Steve (February 21, 2000). "Conference ponders gay and lesbian PR challenges". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 Matton, J. (2019-06-03). "Bob Witeck". U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Retrieved 2020-02-10. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  11. ↑ "40 Under 40: 2009". PR Week. August 1, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  12. ↑ Hand, Mark (September 23, 2005). "Death with Dignity enlists PR help over Oregon case". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  13. ↑ McKenna, Ted (July 12, 2007). "Logo boosts awareness with presidential forum". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ Stein, Lindsay (June 26, 2013). "Marriott to launch LGBT effort following DOMA ruling". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Business-Equality (June 10, 2019). "Wesley Combs". Business Equality Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 Wagner, Kurt (December 29, 2017). "Leading Boldly: Business Equality Pioneer Bob Witeck". Business Equality Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-10. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  17. ↑ Thrasher, Steven W. (2015-04-04). "Bob Witeck, Walmart's LGBT consultant, gets corporations on the workers' side". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  18. ↑ Green, Sherri Deatherage (January 5, 2004). "MARKET FOCUS: All for a good cause". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Lilienthal, Steve (August 16, 1999). "Witeck launches service for untapped gay market". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  20. ↑ Londner, Robin (February 4, 2002). "US Newswire gets WCC help to raise gay press access". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  21. ↑ Gulliver, Tanya (April 2006). "Press Pass Q, April 2006: Coffee, Tea, or Press Release?". Press Pass Q. Archived from the original on 2006-08-24. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Webb, David (June 2010). "Press Pass Q, June 2010: New service offers LGBT travel news to journalists". Press Pass Q. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  23. ↑ Maul, Kimberly (April 13, 2010). "Travel wire service for LGBT community launches". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  24. ↑ "Press Pass Q, January 2012: Transitions and Milestones". Press Pass Q. January 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  25. ↑ Witeck, Robert and Combs, Wesley. "Business Inside Out: Capturing Millions of Brand Loyal Consumers" Kaplan Publishing. 2006. Pages 10-13. [1] Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ "Marketers are courting gay consumers - Dec. 7, 2006". money.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2020-02-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  27. ↑ Witeck, Robert and Combs, Wesley. "Business Inside Out: Capturing Millions of Brand Loyal Consumers" Kaplan Publishing. 2006. Page 14.
  28. ↑ Witeck, Robert and Combs, Wesley. "Business Inside Out: Capturing Millions of Brand Loyal Consumers" Kaplan Publishing. 2006. Page 19.
  29. ↑ Kassenaar, Lisa (2006-11-30). "Gays no longer miss best jobs at Citigroup, Goldman, Merrill". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Colbert, Chuck (August 2008). "Press Pass Q, August 2008: Buying power in the billions: New study of gay consumer spending delivers opportunities for GLBT media". Press Pass Q. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  31. ↑ Witeck-Combs and HPOL data 2007, 2006
  32. ↑ Vanderhooft, JoSelle (October 2006). "Press Pass Q, October 2006: Not just "gay newspapers" Much ground covered at LGBT Media Summit in Miami". Press Pass Q. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  33. ↑ Out & Equal Workplace Advocates/Witeck-Combs/Harris Interactive (2000-2006).
  34. ↑ Alcorn, Chauncey (December 20, 2019). "How gay couples in TV commercials became a mainstream phenomenon". CNN. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  35. ↑ PRNewswire. "Buying Power of US Gays and Lesbians to Exceed $835 Billion by 2011." January 25th, 2007.
  36. ↑ LaMuraglia, Joe (October 16, 2008). "Pride and Prejudice: The Automotive Industry and 'The Gays'". Pride Source. Retrieved 2020-02-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  37. ↑ Hu, Elise (July 27, 2012). "Chick-Fil-A Gay Flap A 'Wakeup Call' For Companies". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  38. ↑ Jagannathan, Meera (December 18, 2019). "A lesson from the Hallmark debacle: Ignore LGBTQ consumers at your own peril". MarketWatch. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-10. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  39. ↑ Allen, Karma (October 9, 2019). "Meet the man hoping to battle LGBTQ bank discrimination with a new credit union". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-10. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  40. ↑ Maul, Kimberly (June 9, 2009). "LGBT community more active with social media". PR Week. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  41. ↑ Maccabee, Paul (October 30, 2013). "Protecting Your CEO's Brand: 7 Lessons Barilla Pasta's Crisis Teaches Communicators". Business 2 Community. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  42. ↑ Antunes, Anderson (July 6, 2013). "A Look At Brazil's Booming (Yet Closeted) Multi-Billion 'Pink Dollar' Gay Market". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  43. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :16
  44. ↑ "Press Pass Q, May 2006: Transitions". Press Pass Q. May 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-02-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Robinson, Charlotte (September 13, 2011). "Gay Activist Bob Witeck Speaks OUT". Out Takes. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved 2020-02-10. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  46. ↑ "'Amplifier' awards to honor fair, accurate portrayal of LGBT people in advertising". LGBTQ Nation. September 3, 2011. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  47. ↑ "Pride in the name of business". Bizjournals. August 17, 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-10. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

External links


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