Communications Innovation for Infrastructure & Urban Development
SAY/DO Strategies
Expertise in Communicating Complexities.
SAY/DO is a boutique communications, engagement & government relations firm, serving the unique needs of clients in Utilities, Development, Energy, Transportation & more. We specialize in connecting your major projects to the people who will live with them.
SAY/DO Can Add Value to Your Operation.
Our services are agile & adaptable.
Through a depth of experience in working closely with designers, CFOs, engineers and other specialized professionals, SAY/DO has a powerful ability to convey their complex needs and challenges to key stakeholders and successfully meet critical business outcomes. From influencing legislation and policy, to improving community outreach and preserving project timelines, SAY/DO delivers.
Internal Stakeholder Engagement & Consensus Building
Get Everyone on the Same Page, to Keep Your Projects Moving & Effective.
Whether it's helping decision-makers understand the need for project costs, showing investors how your capital projects uphold ESG principles, or making the case to elected officials for why construction needs to start now, SAY/DO is your partner for high-stakes messaging. As master professional communicators who 'speak Engineer,' we understand how to make complex messages widely accessible, for successful rate cases, fare/fee increases, strategic and master plans, and other vital projects requiring critical stakeholder buy-in.
We can can effectively describe and explain your work and vision, in ways that compel the support, cooperation and collaboration that keep projects moving and make them optimally successful.
Government Relations
Connect With Your Regulators to Build Rapport & Make Informed Decisions.
We're seasoned local government affairs professionals with the knowledge, networks and savvy, to expertly support your reputation and relationship management needs in the legislature.
SAY/DO's is unmatched in legislation tracking, impacts assessment, & coordinating ordinance introduction/passage, to help you remain effective in the current political climate, and get your operational needs met, to protect your bottom line.
Development & Construction Communications
Keep Your Stakeholders Informed to Drive Customer & Partner Satisfaction.
Our deep utilities experience gives us exceptional understanding of the wide range of audiences and impacts connected to every major, high-dollar project. SAY/DO can design or improve your project communications and engagement processes, to drive stakeholder buy-in and customer satisfaction.
SAY/DO can readily meet your needs in:
Construction Expediting
Utilities Management Services
Developer / Owner's Rep Services
Worksite Signage & Communications
Outreach - Customers/ Community
Sustainable Event Planning
Network & Grow Your Prospects, at Memorable Occasions that Respect the Environment.
We help you put on unique professional networking events, that feature an emphasis on using supplies you already have at home, and touches that we sustainably source, like recycled or upcycled items, thrift or consignment shop finds, borrowed materials, found materials (e.g., side-of-the road items, etc.) and natural materials (e.g., lawn/tree clippings, etc.) to deliver gorgeous, personalized experiences for your guests, that tell the story of who you are and what you care most about, both personally & professionally.
Still Winning...
WILLIAM R. BOGGESS AWARD
SAY/DO Principal Melody Wright was recognized with the William R. Boggess Award, for the best paper published in the 2020 Journal of the American Water Resources Association. The paper, titled An Experiment In Making Water Affordable, was co-authored by Melody and a small team of other past and current leaders in Philadelphia water utilities and water revenue management. It discusses how this leadership team developed and launched the Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) in Philadelphia, a first-of-its-kind billing assistance program for the city's low-income customers.
TAP has since become a national model in the utilities industry.
Want to experience the expertise of SAY/DO Strategies for yourself? Reach out today and let’s discuss what we can do for you.
SAY/DO Does TED Talks
SAY/DO's Principal discusses the story behind our mission to bring previously unheard voices to the table, when big institutions like corporations and governments make major decisions on high-impact policies and projects, in cities around the country. Check out the talk here.
Communicating w/ the Community
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SAY/DO was recently invited to join Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, to present at a panel discussion, on how getting to the HUMAN part of storytelling connects causes and communities to essentials like water -- all to advance equity in infrastructure and sustainability, in the age of the pandemic.
Utilities Thought Leadership
SAY/DOs Principal, Melody Wright, was recently interviewed by the head of Arizona State University's Future H2O -- a team of researchers creating global water abundance through research and partnerships. She shared her insights on the challenges of urban water access, and affordability. Learn more
Key Conversations on Infrastructure
SAY/DO was invited to participate in the Aspen Institute's Aspen-Nicholas Water Forum virtual sessions. The sessions have explored what constitutes good water governance through the lenses of water affordability and equity, and they consider how water can be strategically positioned within the White House transition team’s upcoming priorities.
Industry Publication Features
SAY/DO was featured in a recent edition of Construction Today magazine -- a publication of the General Building Contractors' Association. We shared insights on our innovative approach to helping businesses pivot in the pandemic to develop safe, sustainable reopening plans. Learn more
We're Built On Deep Experience.
SAY/DO understands the value of the personal touch, in building successful communication strategy, to secure major wins for your business. Mastering this art & science has long been a passion of SAY/DO's principal, Melody N. Wright. She's gained deep experience, in a career that includes work as a staff writer for The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun & The Boston Globe, and most recently, as the executive leading government affairs and related communications, for the Philadelphia Water Department -- one of the nation's largest water utilities. In that role, Melody applied her invaluable skills, network & knowledge to make significant accomplishments for PWD, including:
Affordability, Equity & Access
Melody collaboratively led the ground-up development and implementation of the nation’s first-ever water billing assistance program, supporting more than 40,000 eligible customers of low-income in Philadelphia. The innovative program has been a highly sought-after model for large cities around the country, as well as several international cities.
Construction Outreach & Public Safety
Skilled in research and analysis, Melody was tapped to lead a nationwide study of Construction Communications best practices that benefitted water, wastewater and natural gas utilities across all regions of the US, including Denver, CO; Omaha, NE; Anchorage, AK & Cincinnati, OH.
Effective Lobbying & Advocacy
Melody led the government affairs strategy and execution that resulted in the successful introduction and passage of legislation allowing the 20-year contract for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) implementation in Philadelphia. This new system will allow customers to be alerted of leaks, track their water usage, and more quickly access repairs and customer services.
Workshops, Presentations & Publications
Melody was also a featured panel presenter at the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Annual Conference & Expo (ACE), an event attended by more than 12,000 global industry leaders.
She also recently co-authored an article featured in the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA), and speaks to diverse audiences about the safety and affordability of tap water. Watch her here.
That Means, SAY/DO Does...
Large-Scale Project Support
Connect dots, build concensus
Trauma-Informed Communications
Meet the HUMAN Needs of Your Stakeholders
Proposal Development Advisory
Present Stronger Bids
Initiatives Development
Get Structure Around Your Concept
Org Re-Envision/ Restructure
Succession Plans
Assistance Program Development
Improve Access & Equity for Customers
Think We May Be Able to Help?
What's In A Name?
The SAY/DO Ratio
In business, the SAY/DO RATIO is a concept that seeks to rate one’s reliability by comparing what they say they’ll do, to what they actually do.
The strength of the SAY/DO model is in maintaining balance, on all sides of our commitment to client success. In other words, SAY/DO means...
We'll Help You Understand How to Say It, So You Can Do It.
We help you articulate the vision for your project, business process or stakeholder requirement into a clearly, carefully crafted needs statement. This statement serves as the compass for the focused plan of action we develop with you, to transform your vision into accomplishment.
We'll Help You Say It, In A Way That Compels Them To Do It.
We work with you to build communications that drive your target audience to “get it,” so they’re compelled to respond to your call for them to act. Whether you want customers to sign up for assistance programs, a legislator to introduce a bill or employees to follow a new operational procedure, we’re here to help.
We'll Always Do What We Say We'll Do For You, No Exceptions.
We provide a customized, flexible service scope up-front, so that you’ll always know what to expect from us, when it comes to work products, timelines, outcomes and projected costs. We understand how unpredictably business needs can change, and adaptability is our strong suit. We combine effectiveness and efficiency with integrity, for a talented, innovative and committed business partner you can count on.
So Let's Get Some Work Done Together!
Contact us now for expert support to make things smooth on your next project, from the straightforward to the complex.