Select Case Studies
Current and Past Clients

California Association of Health Plans

The California Association of Health Plans (CAHP), a statewide trade association representing more than 37 full-service health care plans, chose Red Gate Communications in August 2007 to provide strategic counsel and help implement CAHP’s advocacy and communications goals.  RGC has been charged with advancing the understanding among media, policy elites and legislators of the value of health plans in improving health care affordability, quality and coverage.

Coalition to Protect California's Budget & Economy

Red Gate Communications served a critical role as part of the earned media team in the hard-fought campaign in support of Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97, the Indian gaming agreements on the California statewide ballot.  The highly publicized and closely watched campaign was one of the most expensive initiative campaign battles in the state’s history. Fiona Hutton played a key role serving as the campaign’s spokesperson for television and radio news outlets.  In addition, RGC wrote and placed dozens of opinion editorials in newspapers up and down California and ran an aggressive newspaper editorial board outreach program that resulted in the endorsement of major publications such as the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune.  The agreements were passed by California voters in February 2008.

City National Bank

City National Bank, one of the largest independent banks headquartered in California, sought out Red Gate Communications in 2007 to provide strategy and manage outreach efforts for City National Bank’s advocacy and communications goals.  Specifically, RGC was tasked with managing a public affairs campaign to help raise awareness among opinion leaders and key policymakers about the billions of dollars California has lost to the federal government and the need to get California its fair share of critical federal funds. 

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a consortium of 26 cities and water districts that provides drinking water to nearly 18 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. The mission of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is to provide its service area with adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Red Gate Communications has been retained by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to help it fulfill its mission by providing expert strategic counsel on issues including, water quality, supply and reliability issues.

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), a coalition of 450 public water agencies, retained Red Gate Communications in 2007 to manage and implement a multi-million dollar public education program.  The program, launched in September 2007, aims to educate Californians about critical challenges now confronting the state’s water supply and delivery system through television, radio and print advertising, as well as the Internet and community outreach.

Red Gate Communications has been hired by The Home Depot, one of the nation’s largest home improvement retailers, to provide strategic communications and media relations counsel in Southern California, as the company moves forward with the entitlement of new stores, management of ongoing operations and community partnerships.

Front Porch

Front Porch, California’s largest not-for-profit operator of senior living communities, sought out Red Gate Communications to help manage communications, coalition-building and community outreach for its latest project, Cypress Knolls. Cypress Knolls is a new 700+ unit housing community that will be constructed on a 186-acre site formerly occupied by Fort Ord on the Monterey Peninsula. As Cypress Knolls moves through its environmental review/entitlement process and obtains its water rights application, Red Gate Communications has been tasked with creating and implementing a program to educate community leaders and organizations about the benefits of the project, as well as recruit a solid foundation of project supporters (representing a broad spectrum of constituencies) to deploy during the approval process. In November of 2006, Cypress Knolls was unanimously approved by the City of Marina Planning Commission and Marina City Council.

Sterling Financial Corporation

In Spring 2007, Sterling Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SLFI), a diversified financial institution serving the Eastern seaboard, was hit with a major operational and public relations crisis, discovering a sophisticated loan scheme at one of its subsidiary companies.  Red Gate Communications was charged with developing a comprehensive communications program for the corporation that publicly disclosed the fraud scheme and its financial impacts to shareholder, employee and customer audiences, as well as national, statewide and regional news media. RGC continues to provide strategic counsel and message development for the corporation, which recently announced it will be acquired by PNC Financial Services in a $565 million merger.

Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), the non-profit organization formed to support the Los Angeles Zoo, sought out Red Gate Communications in 2007 to assist in the development and implementation of a comprehensive public affairs and media relations program to support initiatives undertaken by GLAZA to support the zoo. GLAZA has taken a primary role in funding zoo educational and conservation efforts, as well as the construction of new animal exhibits.

Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures ("MCLC") was formed in 2005 to support stem cell research, therapies and cures in the state of Missouri. In October 2005, MCLC sponsored Amendment 2, the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, which was passed by Missouri voters in November 2006, arguably one of the nation’s most controversial and closed watched ballot measure campaigns of the year.  Red Gate Communications was retained by MCLC to provide strategic, media relations, and coalition building counsel as the coalition worked to pass the statewide ballot initiative to protect the right of Missouri patients to have their diseases and injuries treated with any stem cell cures allowed by federal law and available to other Americans.

Prop 84 - Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond

The Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond, approved by voters in November 2006, will fund a $5.4 billion effort to make the investments needed to ensure that all Californians will have access to safe drinking water and reliable supplies of water, better protection from floods, and opportunities to enjoy our parks, forests, rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and coastline. Red Gate Communications was retained to provide strategic communications counsel, media relations and statewide coalition building efforts for the successful Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond, which was approved while placed on one of California’s most competitive and cluttered ballots. Reflecting Red Gate Communication’s unique capabilities and strengths in outreach strategies, Proposition 84 secured the largest coalition of supporters of any ballot measure on the November 2006 ballot, a key element in the Election Day victory.

Woodside Natural Gas

Woodside Natural Gas (a subsidiary of Woodside Petroleum) approached Red Gate Communications to aid in strategic planning, communications, and media relations as the company prepared to commence the entitlement and environmental review process for its OceanWay natural gas project in California. Working closely with a team of governmental affairs, legal, community outreach and technical professionals, Red Gate Communications has been tasked with formulating external messaging, producing collateral materials and managing media relations throughout the approval process.

The State Water Contractors, representing 27 public water agencies throughout Northern, Central and Southern California, has retained Red Gate Communications to provide ongoing strategic counsel as well as a comprehensive communications, media relations and outreach planning to advocate for public policy, regulatory and legislative efforts that involve statewide water supply, water quality and environmental restoration issues.

City of Santa Clarita, CA

The City of Santa Clarita, located in Northern Los Angeles County, has retained Red Gate Communications to provide strategic counsel and communications guidance as the city seeks to limit the size of a massive concrete mega-mine, owned and operated by a multinational corporation, that is proposed to be located within just one mile of local schools, homes and businesses. After deployment of a multi-faceted public affairs campaign, a groundbreaking compromise was struck between both interests in early 2007. The Los Angeles Daily News has heralded that effort, noting “the victory of Santa Clarita residents over a planned gravel-mining pit Tuesday is an object lesson in the value of community leadership and organization.”

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPBC), the parent company of National Penn Bank and Investors Trust Company, retained Red Gate Communications in 2005 to provide communications and crisis management strategies. In January 2005, National Penn Bank found that approximately $6.7 million in bank funds had been stolen by an internal employee in a sophisticated pyramid-style fraud scheme. National Penn Bank retained Red Gate Communications in the midst of this crisis to handle message development and media relations strategy, as well as investor, community and internal relations communications.

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

Red Gate Communications has been retained to manage statewide coalition-building as the Morongo Band of Mission Indians seeks passage of Assembly Bill 266 (Calderon) in the California State Legislature in 2007. AB 266 would specifically ratify the tribal gaming compact recently negotiated between the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, an agreement which would bring millions of dollars annually to the state’s general fund. Red Gate Communications established an extensive outreach program to garner the support of statewide business, public health, medical, environmental and seniors’ organizations for AB 266.

Proposition 71 - California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative

Overwhelmingly approved by California voters by an 18% margin in November 2004, Proposition 71 will provide $3 billion to fund stem cell research at California-based research institutions. The initiative will provide California the necessary financing to develop breakthrough cures and treatments for debilitating diseases and injuries, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s, osteoporosis and spinal cord injuries. Red Gate Communications was an instrumental member of the strategic consulting team, specifically managing all national and statewide communications, earned media and coalition-building efforts for this intensely watched, high-profile and controversial statewide ballot measure. Red Gate Communications successfully managed an aggressive earned media campaign for Proposition 71 that included the Today Show, 20/20, NBC Nightly News, CNN’s Paula Zahn Now/Prime Time Politics and Headline News, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, ABC World News Tonight, Entertainment Tonight, and Fox News among more than a thousand additional news stories. In addition, Red Gate Communications built and managed one of the largest coalitions, including disease and patient advocates, business groups, elected officials, medical associations and other community-based organizations, ever generated for a statewide healthcare initiative.

Los Angeles Dodgers

In spring 2004, the fabled Los Angeles Dodgers were sold by News Corporation to private owners, Frank and Jamie McCourt, after unanimous approval of the $430 million transaction by Major League Baseball. New to the Los Angeles region, the McCourt family retained Red Gate Communications to manage initial messaging and all communications surrounding the actual ownership vote, its accompanying national news conference, announcement of new key executive management, and the 2004 season’s Opening Day.

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Red Gate Communications continued its highly regarded work in the stem cell research advocacy community spearheading communications for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ("the Institute"). The Institute was established in 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was overwhelmingly approved by California voters, and called for the establishment of a new state agency to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities and other vital research opportunities in California.

PacifiCorp

PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, providing more than 1.5 million customers with reliable, efficient energy. As the owner/manager of five hydroelectric dams along the much-publicized Klamath River in Oregon and Northern California, PacifiCorp, a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded ScottishPower, faces a lengthy and controversial relicensing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Native American tribes, environmental organizations and local farming interests along the river system have asserted opposition to PacifiCorp’s hydroelectric projects, actively calling for the removal of the dams. To promote public involvement and manage surrounding media relations, PacifiCorp chose Red Gate Communications to provide communications, outreach and coalition-building strategies for their California operations.

Knowaste LLC

Based in Toronto, Knowaste is a private company dedicated to the recycling of personal care products. Knowaste has spent the past decade developing and optimizing a unique, patented process for recycling disposable baby diapers, ultimately capturing wood pulp and plastics for reuse in many consumer products. The company currently operates a large-scale and very successful recycling facility in the Netherlands and, in 2004, Knowaste launched a multi-city diaper recycling program in Australia. Red Gate Communications was retained to manage public affairs, coalition-building and communications efforts for these launches, as well as to increase media awareness of diaper recycling in the United States, European Union and Asian markets.

In November 2002, Knowaste successfully launched the United States’ first diaper recycling program in Santa Clarita, California. Red Gate Communications was retained to manage public affairs, coalition-building and communications efforts for the launch of the Santa Clarita program. Through Red Gate Communications’ extensive media relationships, Knowaste and the City of Santa Clarita were able to garner significant regional, statewide, national and international media coverage of its launch, including the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union-Tribune, Oakland Tribune, The Economist, Associated Press, CNN, BBC, Discovery Channel and all major network affiliates.

Delta Wetlands Properties (a project of Zurich Life and Kemper Insurance companies)

To help address California’s spiraling water crisis, Zurich Life and Kemper Insurance companies have underwritten the development of one of the largest water storage projects in California, coined the Delta Wetlands Project. When the environmental review process for the innovative project neared completion, the project proponents faced limited public awareness and vocal local opposition. To counter that environment, Red Gate Communications was retained to implement a comprehensive statewide and regional communications and public outreach program to highlight the program’s benefits, build support among interest groups (environmental, water, agricultural, business, labor, etc) and ultimately position the project for potential purchase. Recognizing that the private sector’s role in statewide water policy and the emerging water market is often controversial, a communications program was necessary to support and leverage government affairs, lobbying and legal activities at the statewide and local level.

Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

The Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures ("KCLC") was formed in 2005 to ensure Kansas patients have access to future stem cell therapies and cures in the state. Red Gate Communications was retained by the KCLC to provide strategic media relations and coalition building counsel in the establishment and mobilization of an organization dedicated to fighting anti-stem cell research legislation in Kansas.

Proposition 50 – The Clean Water & Coastal Protection Bond of 2002

The November 2002 ballot included a massive $3.44 billion statewide bond measure that includes funding for clean drinking water programs, watershed, river and coastal water protection, water supply reliability and water security. Red Gate Communications was selected to manage all statewide communications and coalition-building efforts for the successful bond campaign, interfacing with such constituencies as water districts and organizations, environmental organizations, public health groups, business organizations, government officials, civic and community groups, agricultural organizations and educators. Proposition 50 represented a unique communications challenge, juxtaposing the overwhelming statewide need for assured supplies of clean water with a soaring budget deficit and recent bond measures that have already been passed by California voters.

The Nature Conservancy & Proposition 40

A consortium of conservation, land-use, business, agricultural, labor, civic and cultural interests came together in a historic collaboration to pass Proposition 40, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Coastal Protection and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Act, on the March 2002 ballot. With long-term relationships in the business, environmental, water and land-use communities, Red Gate Communications was retained by The Nature Conservancy, the single largest contributor to Proposition 40, to serve on and manage the campaign’s finance committee, developing and implementing goals and strategies for the $7 million fundraising effort.

21st Century Insurance Company

One of the largest automobile insurance providers in the state of California and the nation, 21st Century Insurance had recently undergone significant changes in management structure and core business focus. Seeking to increase its California and Western region presence, the company required a coordinated communications program across all platforms -- marketing/branding, media relations, government affairs and investor relations -- to enhance its image and ultimately increase its customer base. Furthermore, in the wake of the Northridge Earthquake, 21st Century exited homeowners and earthquake insurance and called upon Red Gate Communications to develop and implement a proactive communications and public affairs strategy to manage, support and leverage pending legal and public policy issues related to the quake.

Black & Veatch Corporation – Salton Sea Restoration

Black & Veatch Corporation, a global engineering firm, has designed a proposal to fix the ailing Salton Sea, the largest inland lake in California. Created by an accidental breach of a water canal, the Salton Sea is an important and critical estuary for wildlife. Accordingly, California stakeholders have sought for many years to identify opportunities to save the dying lake, its habitat and the wildlife that depend on it. Black & Veatch has designed a new proposal with significant environmental benefits and one that provides a significant supply of new water for California, treating a portion of agricultural run-off that currently feeds the Salton Sea. Red Gate Communications was retained to promote the proposal, increase public awareness of its benefits and ultimately seek state or federal funding for feasibility analyses of the proposed project.