HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ. Strout - Fw_ Recommendation for Study Communication Communications StrategistFrom:Jan Strout
To:Mike Maas
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fw: Recommendation for Study Communication Communications Strategist
Date:Monday, July 28, 2025 12:05:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Please include in the Communications Strategist folder.
Thank you.
In sisterhood and solidarity,
Jan
Jan Strout
pronouns: she/ella
Bozeman, Montana
206.251.0880
"If you are free, free somebody else. If you have some power, your job is to empower
somebody else." - Toni Morrison
----- Forwarded Message -----From: Jan Strout <janchangethatworks@yahoo.com>To: Becky Franks <bfranks@bozeman.net>; Deanna Campbell <dlcampbell@bozeman.net>Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 10:15:40 PM MDTSubject: Recommendation for Study Communication Communications Strategist
Dear Colleagues,
I have carefully read and reviewed the Communications Strategist RFP criteria as
well as studied the 2 RFP submissions from Applicants Working Ventures andAndrew Thomas. Plus engaged with the interview presentations.
As a result, I recommend the one clear choice for our SC Communications Specialist
- Working Ventures Team. This is based on the RPF criteria that was developed bythe 2 Study Commissioners who lead the hiring process. Becky and Deanna used
this clear criteria throughout to evaluate all of the 4 submissions, rank them, and
ensure the questions we were allowed to ask of the 2 Finalists only reflected their
criteria.
Working Ventures has my vote because:
WV brings a multifaceted Professional Team with extensive, direct and relevant
experience in Project Management - combined over 30 years with a solid range
of Municipalities, State governments and non-profit organizations - using
forward thinking, community-driven methods.
Shared their expertise and examples in action-based Survey research, problem
solving, and facilitating stakeholders to find common ground to move forward
complex issues facing our City and community.
Presented concrete, in-depth plans and examples of their work with media and
other strategic communications, creative and inclusive community engagement
activities as well as survey design and interpretation experience more than
meeting the required RFP criteria.
Modeled an exceptionally well-prepared interview presentation in a thoughtful,
engaging, respectful way to: 1) anticipate needs and questions we may have; 2)
examples of how they partner together with a variety of large and smaller
workforce, healthcare and economic development Projects, strategic planning,
outreach to cross-sector stakeholders and communities, and 3) multiple ways to
include members of our community who are sometimes invisible or under-represented.
Crafted a strong RFP Proposal with plans for a specific, detailed Timeline and
Budget. They engaged with our Engagement and Communications Plans, as
well as our Study Plan and website and did due diligence that I expect in a
substantive firm we would contract to assist the Study Commission in our
critical work.
WV also guaranteed they would not go over Budget and come in on Deadlines
with reference evidence from other professional examples they shared.
Andrew Thomas, despite a number of other attributes, did not meet most of the
Communications Strategist criteria required by our RFP:
I gained from his RFP Proposal and interview that Mr. Thomas is an Attorney,
and currently an Assistant Professor who has been working in mostly academic
settings. His teaching background in seated and online classrooms also
demonstrates a number of academic presentations plus some varied Survey
research engaging Real Estate professionals as well as Social Services andCriminal justice areas.
I could not discover many direct, experiences with communications and media
strategies, community engagement activities, nor overall project administration
experience with Municipal governments or other related work.
Mr. Thomas' RPF proposal did not include a Timeline, nor a detailed Budget or
awareness of our Communication and Engagement Plans or our Study
Commission website. His additional information still needed more specificity in
these key areas of project management.
The RFP criteria didn't require an Attorney nor someone who resides in
Montana.
Thanks for all the dedication and hard work to reach this place of hiring a
Communications Strategist.
Sincerely,
Jan
Jan Strout
pronouns: she/ella
Study Commissioner, City of Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana206.251.0880