Welcome to KBC – Kevin Brown Communications
Specializing in communications, public relations, facilitation, and strategic planning. Click here to learn more about KBC services.
2023 marks a special year for me and my company, Kevin Brown Communications (KBC). KBC celebrates its 20th anniversary on January 31, 2023 and this Spring marks 40 years for me in media and public relations (PR). I can truly say the last 20 years of PR consulting have been the most rewarding of my work-life. I’ve truly enjoyed the opportunities to work with communities, companies and organizations and get to know some of the finest people in the process.
In the past five years I have really enjoyed working with several Indigenous communities as they reassert ownership over their unceded territories and play a greater role in the economy. Most Indigenous communities have come to realize that effective PR and Communications is critical to achieving their goals and objectives. In my case, I get to share my advice, skills, and experiences while they share their history, language, culture, and practices. It is like going to school each day for me and I truly appreciate these relationships.
Kevin Brown, APR, FCPRS has delivered communications and public relations results for over 25 years. Prior to starting his communications & PR career he spent a decade searching out important stories as a radio journalist and learned how to tell them effectively. Kevin brought those skills with him to his communications and public relations career. He has been helping companies and organizations tell effective stories and develop meaningful public relations ever since. He is a proven performer in crisis situations. He’s a focused facilitator who can lead you through community engagement and public participation processes. He can lead your organization in development of its Strategic Plan.
If you have a communications or public relations challenge, let Kevin help turn that into an opportunity.
Located in Prince George and serving all of British Columbia.
This year I celebrate 40 years this year in media and PR/Communications. During the past 20 years I have helped clients through some of their worst days such as crisis situations that required round-the-clock emergency response and effective communication throughout. I have also worked with clients on some of their best projects. Those are always fun.
I can now claim that I have worked on not one but two ‘World’s Largest’ projects. Just after starting KBC in 2003, I began working with Slocan Forest Products. Slocan teamed up with US based Louisiana-Pacific to construct the world’s largest OSB (Oriented Strand Board) Plant in Fort St. John. Construction started in 2004 and the plant officially opened in 2006. And then last Fall, I worked with Hydra Energy to ‘break ground’ to build the world’s largest hydrogen refueling station in Prince George.
Big projects or small. Good days and not-so-good days, my job is to support my clients in every way possible. And I am confident that most clients would say that they were happy I was around when they needed me.
KBC offers a wide range of business services…
I am often asked, ‘So Kevin what exactly do you do?’ Apparently, there is still a little mystery about exactly how we PR folks fill our workdays. Here is my answer for 2023.
Every community, company and organization have audiences they need to connect with and inform. I am there to help my clients figure out who they need to connect with, why they need to connect with them and then we determine what information and stories they should share. We also discuss when the information and stories should be shared and how best to share the information and stories.
After 20 years of KBC, I can state without hesitation that at the end of the day, one of the most important indicators of success for every client is the state of their relationships. Whether it is the relationship with employees and contractors (internal) or the relationships with key audiences or stakeholders (external), each is important for success. I’ve spoken dozens of times with communities, companies, and organizations about the ‘next best Great Idea’. When I ask them, what work they have done to develop excellent working relationships upon which to pursue this ‘next best Great Idea’ they often look at me with a blank stare and ask me to explain what I am talking about. I’m always happy to do so of course and I always quote the leader of a successful mega-project in BC who often states, “We built relationships before we started building the project”. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
While some communities, companies and organizations get anxious at the thought of having to engage with the media, I always say ‘Embrace the opportunity to share your stories and enjoy the moment!’ I worked in radio news for 10.5 years and nine years of that with CBC Radio News. Journalists play a very important role in society and I continue to respect and support them whenever possible. Excellent working relationships with the media are as important to most communities, companies and organizations as relationship are with other stakeholders. And, just like life itself, there are good media days and then some you wish you could do over. My advice for the past 20 years has been ‘Call for help when it comes to working proactively with the media!’ And, in most cases my clients have been glad they did.
I have said repeatedly for the past 20 years, ‘No Plan, No Progress’. I get that today’s world turns in real-time and that things can happen quickly. But the need to respond quickly and pivot fast in response to a PR or Communications challenge does not discount the value of having a strategic PR & Communications Plan or a MarComms (Marketing & Communications) Plan to guide your community, company, or organization for the year. In fact, I would argue that in today’s world, the ROI (Return on Investment) of a good PR/Comms or MarComms Plan has increased in value. Why?
Because it is so easy to get caught up what’s ‘trending now’ and lose sight of your PR, comms and marketing goals and objectives for the year. What’s ‘trending now’ will often change in 15 minutes. Yes, there are the examples such as the Covid-19 pandemic that changed our world remarkedly for 2+ years. We all had to learn how to do things differently. But for the most part, headlines come, and headlines go. What stays the course and continues to provide excellent value is a strategic, well-designed, cost effective PR, comms and marketing plan that describes the work to be done over a one-year period and what value and benefits that work with bring to the community, company, or organization.
And, when it come to my clients needing marketing, digital, design, video, photographic, livestream and online services, I work with several talented friends who excel in delivery of these services.
P: 250.962.5005
E: kevin(at)kbcommunications(dot)ca
To learn more about KBC services or to have Kevin Brown contact you directly, please fill out the form below or send him a direct email.