BY

Taking a Look Back at 10 Years of TR

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Truscott Rossman. It’s hard to believe this great firm has already spent a decade providing top-level public relations and communications services statewide and nationally. The road to where we are today hasn’t always been an easy one, but this past decade has been filled with incredible moments and successes leading us to be the best damn PR firm in the state.

To celebrate 10 years of TR I’d like to count down 10 of some of our most memorable moments. Narrowing this list wasn’t easy, but these moments represent some of TR’s proudest achievements.

10. From Two to One

On January 11, 2011, my dear friend, competitor and at the time soon-to-be-colleague, Kelly Rossman-McKinney and I reached across the aisle and merged our two great PR firms. Her being the top communications pro among the Democrats and myself among the Republicans, we created the state’s leading public affairs firm. With the flip of a coin determining the naming order, we now have Truscott Rossman today as we know it.

Lobby guide cover photo

 

9. The Number One Guide to the Michigan Capitol

You’d be hard pressed to find a desk in the Michigan Capitol Building that didn’t have a Truscott Rossman lobby guide sitting on it. Known as “the bible” under the Capitol dome, our award-winning guide is every legislator’s go to place for Capitol area reporters.

 

 

8. Paczkis Are On Us

Our annual Paczki Party has been a Capitol staple since 1999. The signature event hosts legislators, civic leaders, business leaders, media and community members from across the state. Guests devour mounds of Paczkis and gallons of coffee. In our book, there’s no better way to spend Fat Tuesday.

 

7. Hello, Detroit!

In 2013, as our team, client list and expertise grew we knew expanding our reach to the city of Detroit was essential. We set up shop in a 31st floor office in the GM Renaissance Center and got to work serving leading clients in the state’s largest media market.

 

6. Expanding to Grand Rapids

We’d been told the West side is the best side, so we had to find out ourselves. And you know what? TR loves GR! With clients in West Michigan and our relationships taking off, we opened up our Grand Rapids office in May 2011 not long after the opening of the Lansing office. TR’s reach now stretches from shore to shore of Michigan’s two peninsulas.

 

5. Making our National Reach Official

Back in January of 2019, we proudly opened our fourth office setting up shop in the nation’s Capital. We’ve always had a connection to Washington D.C. and this official office allows us to live out our Michigan roots and national reach while servicing worldwide clients.

 

4. Silver Anvil Award

In 2018, we were awarded the PRSA Silver Anvil Award for our work on the Good Jobs for Michigan legislation, a public affairs campaign we crafted and executed that received bipartisan approval. We’ve added this to our trophy case.

3. Survey says, “Most Effective”

We pride ourselves on getting the job done and delivering for our clients. It’s work that won a little hardware, being named the 2019 Most Effective Public Relations Firm by the MIRS/EPIC-MRA Insider Survey. And did we mention we captured this biennial award in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017?

2. In the Hall

Our co-founder Kelly Rossman-McKinney joined the ranks of Michigan’s PR best when she was enshrined in the PRSA Detroit Hall of Fame in 2020. A tireless worker and fighter for all those in her court, Kelly’s spirit is a major inspiration to all of us at TR.

1. New HQ Reach

As the world goes, so goes TR. In our efforts to expand our reach and that of our clients, we moved our headquarters from Lansing to Detroit, signaling our support of the City of Detroit as one of the primary drivers of growth in Michigan and the nation. Our Detroit headquarters located in the heart of Eastern Market – in a vibrant commercial and cultural hub poised for future growth – will help connect us and our clients on a national scale. (Besides, you can’t spell DeTRoit without TR.)