Acumen works with chief executives and senior management teams
at businesses
in transition. We provide them with the authoritative insight
needed
to create communications strategies that are essential components
of their
business success.
We focus on business communications assessment, planning and execution
in partnership with C-level executives so that they may achieve, regain or maintain
industry leadership during periods of marketplace change, management realignment
or corporate refocusing.
We are strategic communications experts, who have assisted Fortune 500 and
smaller companies, and have a history of overcoming internal and external obstacles
to attain
the business goals that boards of directors and investors demand in today’s unrelentingly competitive world.
The Team
John R. Kessling
| managing partner
John's expertise embraces all facets of the communications 
process including
research, message development,program creation and implementation, media
relations strategies and evaluation. Over more than 20 years, he has
provided corporate communications and strategic planning counsel to
numerous national and international corporations and professional services
firms in a wide range of industries from banking and financial
institutions to hi-tech and telecommunications firms.
Richard M.
Miles
| managing partner
Richard's broad experience among small and large public 
corporations gives him
the unique ability to analyze
and integrate disparate communications needs into cohesive, efficient and
effective messaging strategies. He focuses on developing communications
programs that align the unique interests of diverse
stakeholder groups with the needs and business objectives of the
corporation. Richard's decades of experience also include investor and
crisis communications, marketing communications and media relations.
Susan R.
Suss
| media relations
Susan is “the ultimate golden Rolodex®”
of media relations. She has successfully delivered print and broadcast
media results for corporations and CEOs at blue-chip firms in a variety of
industries, including financial services, business consulting, legal,
technology, telecommunications companies and retail. Susan has in-depth
knowledge of the editorial focus, columns, beats and special sections at
top-tier financial and business media.
Eric M. Seidel
| media strategies & coaching
Eric has worked with hundreds of executives to help them achieve 
their business objectives by improving their persuasive communications skills and ability to deliver messages. Eric and his colleagues at The Media Trainers® create customized, highly interactive workshops that prepare clients for communications opportunities with employees, the media, customers, Wall Street and other strategic audiences. The Media Trainers provide expertise in the full range of communications techniques, including presentation style, message development, role-playing and guided interview preparation.
David G.
Tildsley, CFA
| investor relations
David
has many years of experience in the U.S. and Canada working as an
institutional account executive, investment analyst and portfolio manager.
He is the founder of an investor relations firm whose sole activity is to
execute investor outreach programs for client companies. David
concentrates on introducing clients to appropriate sell-side analysts,
institutional value investors and high-net-worth account managers in 22
U.S. and six Canadian cities.
C. Michael
Twentyman
| information
technology
Mike
improves organizational communication through the strategic use of
information technology. His experience as both a chief technology officer and a web developer
gives him extensive knowledge of information architectures, network
protocols, project management, and a wide array of technologies from AJAX to XML.
With additional skills in corporate communications, Mike understands
client problems and their precise solutions.
