Opportunity
Cookerly has worked with Colonial Pipeline as lead crisis communications agency since 2014. As owner and operator of the nation’s largest refined petroleum products pipeline system, Colonial charged our team with helping them build and train an alliance of public relations agencies along its 5,500-mile pipeline network to provide communications support for their respective regions in the event of an emergency.
Strategy | Execution
Over our 10+ year tenure, the Cookerly team has completed multiple crisis responses including:
- Assisted Colonial in identifying/training six partner agencies to serve as response teams
- Developed curriculum for ongoing crisis communications training and planning
- Conducted crisis drills and tabletop exercises with partner agencies, assuring all are positioned to respond quickly and execute their respective responsibilities effectively
Results | Impact
- The program’s infrastructure originally involved the Cookerly team only. As partner agencies joined the network, emergency responses transitioned to a combination of Cookerly and partner agencies, and now, into instances where local teams provide the sole rapid response and onsite support based on locations and breadth of issues.
- Activated multiple times, the efforts have enhanced responses to pipeline spills and associated issues and sharpened the combined Colonial Pipeline-partner agencies’ communications functions
- Colonial is better positioned to keep regulators, petroleum shippers, fuel retailers, transportation providers and other critical audiences informed in a timely manner about efforts to remediate problems, restore services and protect the environment
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations and reputation management. With a proven track record of securing high-profile placements in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, he excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Mike Touhill is vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, where he helps lead traditional, social and digital media programs for B2B and B2C clients in packaging, telecommunications and technology, among other industries. As a communication leader, he develops and executes public relations strategy, provides proactive and reactive counsel to C-level executives and secures earned media coverage for client initiatives and product.
Andrew Agan is a vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, overseeing the agency’s internship program and leading media relations, content strategy and social media initiatives. He provides counsel and executes campaigns for clients across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, automotive and many others. Andrew excels at crafting compelling stories and building media relationships, resulting in clients being featured in notable outlets such as CNBC, Associated Press, Business Insider, Fox Business, HBO, Inc. Magazine, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among others.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.