Celebrating 14 Years
Truscott Rossman’s Growth, Innovation and Legacy
January 11, 2011: The new firm of Truscott Rossman was born.
Hard to believe it’s been 14 years. It seems like it has flown by, and at the same time, it seems like we’ve been around forever. What a ride it has been so far, and the change has been staggering.
When Kelly Rossman-McKinney and I combined our firms to have more reach and impact statewide, everything we did was intentional. As the largest bipartisan public affairs firm in Michigan, we not only bolstered our reputation but also reached far beyond our traditional work. We landed corporate projects, big non-profit work, and continued to grow our public affairs base of work. Our reputation in the business for decades has helped open doors and expand our traditional business.
So much has changed and evolved since then.
Kelly would be amazed at where the firm is today (more on that in a minute). When Kelly retired in 2018 to run for the Michigan Senate, we continued our close friendship, despite coming from opposite sides of the aisle. I admired Kelley’s tenacity in the face of an uphill battle. She was one-of-a-kind and nothing was going to get in her way. Most importantly, she was my dear friend.
Then came her next career in the AG’s office and the devastating diagnosis of cancer. She fought like nobody else could, but eventually lost that battle. It left a huge hole in our hearts.
As we move forward, some of Kelly’s traditions are being revived.
After suffering through Covid lockdowns and later Covid outbreaks, the Kelly-inspired Paczki party is back! In typical Kelly fashion, it’s just an opportunity to bring good people together for conversation, friendship, and calorie-laden sweets. This Fat Tuesday morning tradition is meant to help renew or create relationships, especially made difficult in a hybrid work climate.
And the famous Lobby Guide. It was getting so thick, and, frankly, it was time to bring it up-to-date in terms of how people use documents. A few years ago, we created an app that still includes all the relevant information, keeping the important information it at your fingertips. A major announcement regarding the Lobby Guide is forthcoming.
As I look back, it’s essential to acknowledge the significant changes in the public affairs and public relations industry.
People don’t consume information in the same way they did in 2011. The public has a healthy distrust of institutions they once believed in. The media landscape is fractured and, in many cases, fading away.
As a result, Truscott Rossman has evolved in tandem with the environment, and in many cases, we’re ahead of the curve. We’re leading the way in the digital presentation of issues and informing the public in a way that was not even possible just a few short years ago. We’ve added an incredible creative team that is helping us present information in a way that grabs attention. Our “secret sauce” remains at the forefront, but there are now numerous ways to utilize it.
“I smile when I think of how Kelly would respond to where we are today as a firm.”
It’s an exciting yet challenging time in the business.
Truscott Rossman is 24 people strong, and we’re located across the state. We’ve added staff to push the boundaries of how we've traditionally communicated, and we've the results to show for it.
I smile when I think of how Kelly would respond to where we are today as a firm. I can imagine her saying in her way, “Well shit, look what we’ve built.” Yes, Kelly, on your foundation, we’ve built a heck of a team and an incredible firm. And we’re ready for whatever the future throws at us.