Case Studies

2013 – Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network)

SkinnerBenoit contracted with Family Promise to manage operations during a time when the organization was experiencing a name change and a change in personnel. Family Promise plays a significant role in helping homeless families achieve and sustain independence in Billings and the surrounding area. The nonprofit organization brings shelter, meals, and support services to families without homes through a network of 24 local congregations and more than 1,400 volunteers. Since 2005, Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley has helped nearly 60% of network families successfully move into their own homes.

2013 – Alberta Bair Theater for the Performing Arts

SkinnerBenoit contracted with ABT to manage the theater’s marketing, public relations and development activities during a transition period in which the theater did not have a marketing director or development director. Responsibilities included media placement and media relations; writing and distribution of news releases; direct mail campaigns; newsletter design and content development; grant prospect research, preparation, and management; ABT Playbill design, insert preparation and ad sales, special events coordination, and development activities.

2013 – Rocky Mountain Bank

SkinnerBenoit handles the public relations for the bank’s ten branches, located in Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, Bigfork, Stevensville, Plains, Plentywood and Whitehall. Rocky Mountain Bank’s parent company is Heartland Financial USA is Inc. – a $5.7 billion diversified financial services company providing financial services to individuals and businesses. The company currently has 78 banking locations in 56 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri.

2013 – Venture Theatre

SkinnerBenoit provided intensive crisis management for 30 days following the firing of the theatre’s executive director. SkinnerBenoit created a crisis management plan; consulted with both board and staff; helped craft a uniform message that best represented the theatre’s interests; coordinated media interviews; assisted the theatre in successfully raising $130,000 to pay back debtors.

2012 – Little Horn State Bank

SkinnerBenoit created a highly visible local campaign promoting Little Horn State Bank’s move from central Billings to the city’s West End.  Activities included direct mail pieces to existing bank clients and to prospective clients in the new location;  article placement highlighting the new bank building; a community open house; newspaper and television features; front page articles in the Billings Gazette business section and Western Business magazine, an eight-page insert in the Billings Gazette promoting the new bank building; VIP Sneak Peek Cocktail Party for the new facility; and coordination and execution of grand opening activities for four full days.

2011 – Central Montana Resources, LLC Annual Board Retreat

Central Montana Resources (CMR) is a privately held company that holds substantial oil and gas leasehold interests situated in the Central Montana Uplift, northeast of Billings. The Company operations are based in Billings and its corporate and business offices are in San Antonio, Texas. For several years, CMR executives, board members, investors and shareholders from all over the United States and parts of Europe gathered in Billings for the company’s annual board retreat. SkinnerBenoit provided full planning and coordination for the event including transportation arrangements to nearby attractions (such as guided fishing excursions on the Big Horn River), transportation coordination for tours of the Central Montana Uplift, and catered meals and entertainment in historical venues in Billings and the surrounding area.

2011 – Charles M. Bair Family Museum Grand Opening

SkinnerBenoit coordinated all marketing and public relations statewide campaign to promote the grand opening of the newly constructed art museum located in Martinsdale, Montana. Activities included writing all website content and artwork cutlines, feature article placement in regional and state magazines, feature story placement in newspapers throughout Montana, editing of museum catalogue, and reporting to executive director/curator and Bair Trust board of directors.

2010 – Underriner Honda Relocation Campaign

SkinnerBenoit created a highly visible local campaign promoting Underriner Honda’s move from downtown Billings to the West End. Activities included brochure development and article placement highlighting the new dealership’s green building practices, website contest to win a new Honda Hybrid, newspaper and television feature stories, front page articles in Billings Gazette business section and Western Business, Parade of Cars event, VIP Sneak Peek Cocktail Party for the new facility, grand opening activities for two full days, Chamber Business After Hours at new facility.

2009 – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grant Applications (ARRA)

SkinnerBenoit researched, wrote and submitted six ARRA grants for area nonprofits. SkinnerBenoit also researched and developed a capacity building through information technology plan for the Alberta Bair Theater.

2008 – CM Bair Family Museum

Successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive public relations strategy that increased awareness of the historic home museum, resulting in a 27% increase in annual visitors.

2008 – Judith Gap Centennial Committee

SkinnerBenoit assisted the Judith Gap Centennial Committee in promoting the community’s 100-year anniversary, Services include notifying former Judith Gap residents of the celebration, enhancing visibility the Judith Gap community through story placement in newspapers throughout Montana, and coordinating the establishment and content of an interactive Judith Gap website.

2007 – Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch

Created and worked with YBGR staff to promote and implement year-long series of regional lectures, special events, and publicity celebrating the Ranch’s 50^th anniversary.

2006 – Billings Cultural Partners

SkinnerBenoit developed and coordinated an information technology initiative entitled Bring IT On, to secure funds and launch website construction of a user-friendly and accessible website for the 28 members of Cultural Partners.  The website, www.billingsevents.com, allows each partner to update information from the cultural organization he or she represents as well as jointly promoting all Billings’ arts and cultural events.

2006 – YMCA of the USA

Researched and wrote manuals for YMCA of USA Arts Starter Kit, YMCA Arts-Friendly Facility Guide, Event Planner for YMCA Arts Week 2006, YMCA Arts DVD.

2006 – University of Oklahoma Press

6-month contract for press and public relations campaign and tour coordination for authors John Lubetkin and Willard Wyman.

2005 – St. Vincent Healthcare

Hope for the Holidays six-week public awareness  campaign to promote cancer wellness facilities and events during the holidays.

2005 – Alberta Bair Theater for the Performing Arts

SkinnerBenoit contracted with ABT to manage the theater’s marketing, public relations and development. Responsibilities included media placement and media relations; writing and distribution of news releases; direct mail campaigns; newsletter design and content development; grant prospect research, preparation, and management; ABT Playbill design, insert preparation and ad sales, and; special events coordination.