Our new client, a technology commercialization nonprofit, planned to host a launch event in February 2017 with a month to plan in order to present medical technology start-ups to key investors, accelerators, Angels and others in the technology fundraising world.
Galvanized Strategies Announces U.S. Healthcare Leadership Appointment
Aaron Byzak to Lead Public Affairs, Executive Leadership Disciplines in California
SAN DIEGO (January 25, 2024) – Galvanized Strategies, a strategic communications consulting firm, today announced a new leadership appointment to advance its public affairs advisory ambition and unify its go-forward approach in key markets.
Aaron Byzak, who recently served on the executive leadership team for Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, Calif., has been appointed the Chief Strategist and Lead Consultant. Byzak’s background in healthcare external affairs and executive leadership, coupled with his experience in managing corporate crises, community engagement, and state and federal policy initiatives for Tri-City Medical Center and industry giants such as UC San Diego Health Sciences, as well as various healthcare, non-profit, and advocacy organizations, uniquely positions him to drive impact in this critical area.
In his new role, Byzak will lead Galvanized Strategies’ California operation and grow business units including strategic public affairs consulting, fractional executive leadership services, and public speaking, education, training, and coaching.
“As Chief Strategist and Lead Consultant for Galvanized Strategies, I am eager to provide organizations with strategic insights that drive success and innovation,” Byzak said. “Our firm is committed to delivering unparalleled expertise in strategic public affairs, fractional executive leadership, and transformative education and coaching for our clients.”
In a significant development, Byzak has already secured contracts to serve as a fractional executive for Mission Critical Protocols, a company that offers an innovative, cloud-based protocol and policy publishing software for emergency medical services (EMS) providers and hospitals, and as a strategic advancement consultant for Solutions for Change, a California non-profit dedicated to solving family homelessness. Byzak has also already been engaged by a diverse crop of strategic public affairs consulting and coaching clients.
Throughout his career, which includes tenures in the California State Senate, County of San Diego, and American Medical Response, Byzak has earned 60 Finest Awards from the Health Care Communicators of Southern California, including Best in Show twice and Communicator of the Year in 2017, as well as four Emmy Awards for writing and producing.
The San Diego Business Journal has recognized him among the 500 Most Influential People in San Diego each year from 2019 to the present, Leader of Influence in Advertising, PR, and Marketing, Outstanding Social Responsibility Executive of the Year within San Diego County, and most recently, as a Mentor of the Year for 2024.
“Aaron brings a seasoned perspective and a trusted approach that embodies Galvanized’s values of driving results,” said Founder Erica Holloway. “I am thrilled to have him lead our team in delivering best-in-class work and innovation for our clients.”
About Galvanized Strategies:
Established in 2010, Galvanized Strategies provides quality strategic public affairs and leadership services that move the needle on important projects. A collaboration of award-winning independent consultants with more than 90 years of combined experience, Galvanized Strategies empowers organizations to thrive in a dynamic business landscape by overcoming obstacles and producing results.
To learn more about Galvanized Strategies, visit www.galvanizedstrategies.com.
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Special District Facility Campaign
SITUATION
A special district planned to alert the public about operational realignments for a public facility that may require closure in order to support other facilities with full staffing and stretch district resources. Fearing public outcry over the potential closure of the building, Galvanized Strategies was contracted to devise a community outreach strategy to communicate the changes in the most accurate and timely manner possible.
With just three months of project time, the team was tasked with analyzing the district’s facilities and staffing data, establishing issue messaging, devising a direct mailing campaign, setting a monthly community meeting schedule and setting the media relations process.
STRATEGY
We established a highly-aggressive timeline with the internal team to make sure the client’s short-term and long-term goals were met.
In three months, we successfully accomplished the following:
- Full data analysis around the facility challenges noting information gaps and potential messaging pitfalls
- Established key issue messaging that accurately depicted the effort as a study to spur public feedback
- Set a monthly schedule of community informational meetings at various district facilities for a more personalized community outreach
- Writing, designing and overseeing of a direct mailing of two separate meeting invitations
- Writing and distribution of monthly meeting notices and informational news releases about the district realignment
- Tracking of meeting attendees to begin the citizen’s oversight committee recruitment process
- Issue tracking and news media monitoring to manage the issue and reputational concerns
OUTCOME
With an aggressive and proactive community outreach approach, the special district achieved a high level of community engagement and raised the level of issue transparency from the outset. Though a few concerns were raised, the district leadership quickly and easily managed the issues with the messaging established. As a secondary positive outcome, the special district realized that many years had passed without inviting in the community to view facilities and that personalized community outreach led to much easier conversations about the challenges. The client expressed great satisfaction at the conclusion of our campaign saying, ” I couldn’t be more pleased with your counsel and assistance!”
Learn more about our community outreach campaign services by contacting Erica: erica@galvanizedstrategies.com
“Oxy Abuse Kills” Campaign
Two-time Emmy-Winning PR & Marketing Launch
Situation Analysis
In February 2009, the Office of San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price received an invitation from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration to partner in a newly-formed multi-agency law enforcement task force created to address issues related to the abuse of the brand name prescription drug, Oxycontin. “Oxy” costs between $50 and $80 per 80 milligram pill, with some San Diego addicts reporting a $750 a week habit. Addict informants reported violent, painful withdrawal symptoms and to avoid the pain, addicts admitted to robbing and stealing in order to pay for a constant supply. National studies showed parents to be unaware of the severity of prescription drug abuse and that youth tended to make up their minds during formative years about drug use and abuse. Those “on the fence” in pre-teen and teen years could be reached, but parental education was essential and thus became the principle target of the media/ education activities.
Solution
What came to be known as the Oxy Task Force of San Diego County, sought to address the problem on multiple fronts: law enforcement, health, government policy, and education. The Oxy Task Force directed the development of a comprehensive media and branding campaign which was intended to increase community awareness about the emerging problem of Oxy abuse in San Diego County and draw key stakeholder groups into the taskforce to expand the availability of prevention information and treatment services. The full-scale campaign included locally-produced public service announcements (TV) and campaign posters featuring San Diego middle-class teens (the constituencies affected) was aimed at parents. Along with traditional media communications streams, it was determined that social media integration was essential to target teens and young adults as well as their parents.
The Task Force aimed to dissolve the misinformation about illicit vs. prescription drugs by calling the campaign “Oxy Abuse Kills.” The slogan appeared on letterhead, posters, and as the final words on the screen of the PSAs. The campaign also included the development of an organizational logo for unified branding between various agencies, social media including Facebook and Twitter pages, and collateral materials including a tri-fold brochure. Furthermore, a campaign media launch press conference was planned, along with a call-to-action, a first of its kind, jointly sponsored by the County of San Diego and the Drug Enforcement Administration – a prescription drug Take Back Day. Additionally, multiple follow-up community events were planned beginning with an Oxy Task Force Policy & Legislative Summit to brainstorm legislative approaches to address the issue. Dozens of community educational events were planned for parents, students, educators and elected officials, law enforcement personnel, and medical professionals.
Results
The campaign launch on October 19, 2009, was a great success. It received coverage by every major print, online, TV, and wire services in the county. Significant media attention lead to tremendous community involvement with both of the subsequent Take Back Days, netting 321.7 lbs and 2,558.5 lbs of prescription drugs respectively. In November of 2009, the Oxy Task Force convened a Policy & Legislative Summit of local, state and federal elected officials to brainstorm policy approaches to reducing access to Oxycontin, promoting community education and increasing the availability of drug-specific treatment. Based on the results of that event, a policy was passed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Department, to permanently place prescription drug drop-boxes in sheriff substations throughout the county. By all accounts, the Oxy Task Force’s media campaign was a success as demonstrated in the Oxy Task Force of San Diego County 2009 annual report, the 2010 Drug Take Back Day Program, and media matrix of key stories.
The campaign won the 2010 Public Relations Society of America San Diego Chapter’s Silver Edward L. Bernays Award of Excellence in Public Service, five regional Emmy Awards in 2010 from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Pacific Southwest Chapter, and the San Diego Prevention Coalition’s 2010 Drug Prevention Program of the Year from the San Diego Red Ribbon Week Annual Luncheon.
Watch the campaign PSA videos:
Oxycontin “Loaded” »
Oxycontin “Flashes” »