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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSlate Communications [EXTERNAL]City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation RFQFrom:John Litel To:Bozeman Procurement Cc:Karen Snortland; Katherine Canter Subject:[EXTERNAL]City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation RFQ Date:Thursday, August 27, 2026 1:44:50 PM Attachments:Bozeman_ParksRec_RFQ_Slate_2026.pdf 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. To Whom It May Concern, We're pleased to submit our Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for designing the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department's Activity Guide. Slate Communications works exclusively with local governments, bringing decades of combined experience in government communications, strategic design, and publication development. We're excited about the opportunity to help Bozeman Parks and Recreation tell its story through a fresh, engaging, and effective publication. Please let us know if you need any additional information to complete your review. Thank you for considering Slate Communications for this project. Sincerely, John Litel photo John LitelVice President, Slate Communications 970.219.8028 | john@slatecommunications.com www.slatecommunications.com www.govco.info We’re publishers, communicators, and storytellers, and, honestly, we’re kinda nerdy when it comes to local government communications. City of Bozeman REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PARS AND RECREATION Some challenges require perspective from those who have been there before. That’s us. STRATEGY Digital or print, publications consume a lot of staff time and sanity. Let’s take it off your plate.. PUBLICATIONS Every community, every decision, every service has a story behind it. We help you tell it. STORYTELLING 2 HELLO Thank you for the opportunity to submit this RFQ for the design of City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Activity Guide. We understand how vital this publication is. The Activity Guide serves as a powerful communication and engagement tool for Bozeman Parks and Recreation, giving community members clear, accurate information about available resources, programs, and services. Telling that story well matters to both the City and the community it serves. Slate Communications will conduct the research and conversations needed to deliver a fresh design and a strategic communication and distribution plan tailored to Bozeman. ABOUT SLATE Slate Communications is a strategy, design, and communications firm that works exclusively with local governments. Individually, our team members bring decades of experience in government communications; collectively, we've produced countless magazines, guides, reports, and other publications for municipalities across the country. OUR TEAM'S EXPERIENCE This proposal includes examples of our work, showcasing the quality, creativity, and storytelling that define our publications. Our background in local government gives us firsthand understanding of the challenges, pitfalls, and rewards of producing high- quality publications that serve an entire community, expertise that has allowed us to create engaging, effective publications for communities nationwide. Thank you again for considering our proposal. Most Sincerely, John Litel Vice President 4709 Overhill Dr. Fort Collins, CO 80526 T: 970-219-8028 Slatecommunications.com john@slatecommunications.com Website Slatecommunications.com LinkedIn Slate Communications 3 OUR PARTNERS That’s right, partners, not clients. We’re in this together. We’re proud to support this growing list of collaborators. 4 EXPECT SOMETHING DIFFERENT Not all communication firms are local government communication firms. Many firms don’t know how to balance best practices and community expectations – we do. Since 2013, Slate has been helping communities across the country communicate more effectively. We work exclusively with local governments and public entities to build understanding and engagement. WE’VE DONE THIS FOR WHY SLATE? We believe that informed and engaged people make better communities. Slate is a full-service communications firm with a staff of 12 employees. In-house services include: | messaging and branding strategy | graphic design | | photography | videography | marketing | distribution strategy | community engagement | publications | and more! INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE We’ve been helping local governments connect with their communities for a combined 60+ years. PARTNERSHIP- DRIVEN We are collaborative and passionate about your success. HOW WE DO IT Our proven EPIC process results in improved education, awareness, and support. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED We’re honored to have won awards from organizations across the country. Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S 5 A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP PROJECT MANAGEMENT A P P R O A C H WORKING TOGETHER MEASURING SUCCESS It’s our job to keep things moving and keep you up-to-date. We’ll send you an email that outlines pending activities and deadlines. We’ll schedule regular update meetings and quarterly strategic check-ins. We know that communications is your priority, but we also know you have a lot on your plate. We’ll work together to determine the right strategies and implementation pace to be effective and realistic. Once a quarter, we’ll meet to check in on strategy and results. We’ll also consider the general feedback we gather from social media, City staff, and Boards. 6 (E)XPLORE (P)OSITION (I)MPLEMENT (C)REATE We take pride in understanding the communities we serve. That means conversations with stakeholders, staff, and residents. It’s digging into plans and communication materials. Above all, it’s listening more than talking. At the end of the day, you have something to share. Smart positioning helps break through the clutter. In this phase we create messaging and develop visual concepts that resonate. Smart positioning is only effective if we share it. In this implementation phase, we’ll outline specific strategies and tactics to bring your messaging to life. Here comes the fun part, creating solutions through a tangible user experience. We get to take all those great ideas and develop deliverables to support your goals. IT’S EPIC People ask, “What is your process?” It starts with a proven framework, but it’s never a one-size-fits-all model. Each process is customized to fit the partner and the community. A P P R O A C H 7 1. EDITORIAL PLANNING 2. CONTENT CREATION •The timeline will guide us through the process, including start/end dates. •We’ll work with you to plan the publication’s content, page by page. •We’ll create a flat plan to tell us what goes where. GETTING IT DONE It all starts with defining our goals and establishing a timeline. Once we have the foundation, we can begin the creative process and content development phase. Slate will lead the development of your newsletter by using this process. P U B L I C A T I O N P R O C E S S 3. DESIGN 4. FINAL AND REVIEW •We’ll build out the content and start coordinating information as needed. •We’ll also be pulling information on programs and services. •This step includes collecting images and other visuals like infographics. •We will also proofread all the content that we’ve collected and created. •This is the fun part. Our incredibly talented design team will begin the layout and design of your publication. •There are typically 2-3 reviews this round to ensure we get everything right, from cover to cover. •All our content must be finalized before this step. It allows us to create a more accurate and efficient design. •We’ll also include ADA accessible design requirements at this point. •Once you approve the final, we’ll prepare the print-ready file for your printer. This includes checking all images, color-correcting photos, and packaging the file exactly how the printer needs it. •We will review the entire process once the publication is printed and delivered. This will allow us to evaluate the process and make improvements or efficiencies where needed. CITY OF BAYTOWN (TX) PROJECT: Community Publication CONTACT: Thomas Reeves, Director of Public Affairs, Thomas.Reeves@baytown.org BOULDER COUNTY (CO) PROJECT: Annual Community Publication and Resource Guide CONTACT: Alison Ecklund, Community Relations Manager aecklund@bouldercounty.gov TOWN OF SUPERIOR (CO) PROJECT: Recreation Guide CONTACT: Bryan Meyer, Recreation Manager bryanm@superiorcolorado.gov LA PLATA COUNTY PROJECT: Resource Guide CONTACT: Jasmine Beaubien, Media Specialist JBeaubien@lpcgov.org CITY OF VALDEZ PROJECT: Recreation Guide CONTACT: Bridget Rich, Parks and Recreation Director BRich@ValdezAK.Gov R E F E R E N C E S 8 A Texas community that felt the need to communicate with residents while increasing pride in the community. Services Provided ▪Publication naming ▪Logo and brand development ▪Graphic Design ▪Project Management ▪Editing ▪Marketing Support ▪Map Design ▪English/Spanish Publication RESULTS: Multiple national and regional awards for best publication LINK BAYTOWN VOICE C O M M U N I T Y P U B L I C A T I O N Boulder County required an comprehensive magazine and resource guide to keep residents informed while also wanting to do a better job telling their story. Services Provided ▪Publication branding ▪Graphic Design ▪Project Management ▪Editing ▪Marketing Support ▪ADA accessible ▪English/Spanish translation ▪Map Design RESULTS: Boulder County staff continuously receives positive feedback from community members and elected officials. LINK BOULDER COUNTY COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS C O M M U N I T Y P U B L I C A T I O N C O M M U N I T Y P U B L I C A T I O N HELLO, SUPERIOR A new publication for the Town of Superior. Direct mailed to all households. Services Provided: ▪Name development ▪Brand creation ▪Creative Direction ▪Graphic Design ▪Content Development ▪Marketing Support ▪Editing Results: Expanded production of publication from two times a year to four times a year. Received positive feedback from community members and elected officials. This publication is only available in print and not available online. Sample Attached C O M M U N I T Y P U B L I C A T I O N VALDEZ COMPASS A new publication that provided the residents of Valdez, AK, important information on Parks, Recreation, and Trails. Services Provided: ▪Name development ▪Brand creation ▪Creative direction ▪Graphic design ▪Content development ▪Marketing support ▪Editing Results: Community engagement increased. Recreation programs are supported through increased marketing and exposure. Due to budget constraints, this publication was paused for 2026. Sample Attached 12 The Slate team built a strong and personal campaign to recruit local applicants. They tailored messaging for different demographics. Not only has this campaign brought in more applications, but it has boosted internal employee morale knowing that we support our own drivers and their unique interests. We loved working with Slate so much and LOVE our new brand! Slate’s experience working with the government sector was extremely valuable during our process. Jamie Tatsuno Communications Manager Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Connie Odom Director, Communications & Media Relations County of Williamson, TX Slate has been an excellent partner. Their team is experienced, professional, and responsive. I appreciate that they handle the tasks of the day, but they also anticipate future needs and bring ideas back to our organization. The variety of services and skills they provide are the perfect fit for us. Aaron Adams Town ManagerTown of Timnath, CO Slate Communications excels in communication and has shown the ability to work seamlessly with cross-functional teams, including municipal leaders and elected officials. In addition to technical skills, Slate is highly reliable and always meets deadlines. Lorelei Nelson Community Engagement DirectorTown of Mead, CO I have entrusted Slate with my brand for over five years, and through many different products and projects, from community magazines and annual reports to strategy creation and consensus-building. That trust has been built with a group of people who just get it, and on a genuine understanding of what it is like to work for and with public agencies. Thomas Reeves Director of Public Affairs City of Baytown, TX With their assistance, the City has been able to increase transparency efforts and community engagement through projects such as the design of a new city logo and branding campaign as well as two comprehensive strategic communications plans. Lee Ann Bunselmeyer Director of Finance & Strategic ServicesCity of Corinth, TX DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY KRISTEN KNOLLRYANBURKE KIM NEWCOMER CEO PUBLICATIONS PARKS & RECREATION JOHN LITEL 14 SLATE COMMUNICATIONS Slate Communications was founded by two former City of Fort Collins, CO employees who believe that every community deserves high-quality communications. Since 2013, Slate has helped local governments across the country better connect with residents, businesses, and visitors. CREATIVE DIRECTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEAD MARKETING STRATEGY LACEY MAYS CREATIVE TEAM MIKE GREENWALD SHANNON CHAFFEE KYRA MCKINLEY PM TEAM BRANDI ALLEN TIFFANY SATTLER STRATEGY SUPPORT ANGELA THOMPSON DESIGN PETER SCHOLZ JOHN LITEL Vice President EXPERIENCE: John has lived in the local government world for over 19 years. He has provided communications and marketing support for communities across the country. John’s publication work has been recognized by several communications and local government associations, including 3CMA (City-County Communications and Marketing Association), CPRA (Colorado Parks and Recreation Association), NRPA (National Recreation and Parks Association), and TAMI (Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers) ROLE: John will serve as your contact regarding your contract with Slate. With over 19 years of experience in local government communications, you’ll be in great hands. John will also be available to support the team as needed and be your contact if you need more support or want to tell us we’re doing great! EMAIL: john@slatecommunications.com PHONE: 970-219-8028 PETER SCHOLZ Senior Designer EXPERIENCE: With over two decades of experience in graphic design and publications, Peter has the skills and expertise to make your publication shine. Peter’s work spans the globe as he has worked on highly technical journals, catalogs, magazines, and activity guides. Peter also has a keen eye and is always willing to make suggestions to improve your reader’s experience. ROLE: Peter will be your Senior Designer, and he will be responsible for applying his many years of design expertise to your publication. Peter will work with John and the rest of the Slate team to help deliver your project on time, and it’ll look amazing. EMAIL: peter@slatecommunications.com Y O U R C O R E T E A M 15 Let’s take it off your plate. 16 WORKLOAD CLAIMS Slate has the staff, resources, and expertise to manage this project's full workload within the anticipated schedule. Our team of 12 professionals with local government communications expertise provides the depth needed to dedicate qualified personnel without impacting other commitments. Your project manager and graphic designer are confirmed available for the project's full duration, and our bench strength ensures continuity if staffing needs shift. Our current workload leaves sufficient capacity to take on this publication alongside existing and future projects. Slate has a strong track record of on-time, on-budget delivery, including Recreation Guides. We use proven processes to proactively manage schedule and cost risk. Combined, our staffing depth, capacity, and proven performance give us confidence in meeting this project’s goals. A D D I T I O N A L I N F O R M A T I O M N Slate has never been been assessed or had to pay liquidated damages after completion of a project under contract with a public owner.