Case Studies

Discretion is something many of BergDavis Public Affairs' clients require. That is why you won't read about all of our clients or what we do for them. It's simple really - many of our clients hire us to achieve results without publicity or self-promotion. Still, there are numerous success stories we're happy to share. Below is a partial list of projects we have worked on.

ACS (Alaska Communications Systems)
BDPA acted as strategic communications and labor relations counselor to one of Alaska's preeminent telecommunications company's when its outdated labor contracts were set to expire. BergDavis composed a comprehensive action plan designed to anticipate various actions and reactions, all intended to protect the company's reputation with enterprise customers, thought leaders, policy makers, employees and the press.

A.F. Evans Company, Inc.
BergDavis partnered with this well-respected developer to secure support and approvals for a proposed expansion at Stonestown Mall. The firm spent 2 years generating community and political support for a major overhaul of the mall and working to support the environmental review process.

The Art Institute of California (TAIC)
BDPA worked with this higher education institution to provide community relations support for its expansion and Master Plan approval in San Francisco's mid-Market neighborhood.

AT&T
BDPA provides this market leader in telecommunications with on-going Community Relations and Government Relations support for its operations in San Francisco.

Babcock & Brown
BDPA partnered with this global investment firm to pursue the approval and construction of the Transbay Cable Project, a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line that is 55-miles long and will run under the Bay from the City of Pittsburg to San Francisco. The project, which involved multiple jurisdictions and approvals from state and local agencies, is designed to help San Francisco bring more power to the City using existing electricity generated outside the City.

BRIDGE Housing Corporation
BDPA successfully steered this non-profit developer through a series of hurdles at the state and city level for a housing project in the City's Castro district. BDPA coordinated the placement of positive opinion editorials as well as the endorsements of environmental organizations, urban planners, historic preservationists and transit activists to win approval for a new low-income housing development in San Francisco. BDPA has also assisted BRIDGE with projects in Oakland.

Catellus/ProLogis
This national leader in mixed-use and retail development retained BergDavis as their Northern California public affairs representatives to provide government, community and media relations in support of a variety of development projects and to design a fresh and timely website.

City CarShare
BergDavis provided pro-bono public affairs services to this important nonprofit car sharing organization including helping them raise their visibility in Northern California with elected officials and the general public.

ConAgra/Gilroy Foods
One of the largest food producers in the country, ConAgra employed BDPA to provide ongoing reputation management and media relations work for the company's Gilroy Foods division and other West Coast operations.

Emerald Fund
BDPA has an on-going relationship with this San Francisco-based developer of residential and retail developments. BergDavis provided government relations and community outreach services that resulted in the successful approval and construction of hundreds of housing units. The firm's work has included securing approval for several multi-unit projects in San Francisco and currently includes managing media relations and public affairs for The Ellington, an upscale condominium tower in Oakland's popular Jack London Square.

Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is known around the world for its innovative and educational approach to science and learning. BDPA provided strategic communications services to the museum in support of its search for a new location.

Friends of the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL)
BDPA provides communications and government relations support to Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, a grassroots organization that provides support and advocacy for San Francisco's library system.

Home Depot
BDPA represents the popular do-it-yourself home improvement retailer in Northern California, providing government affairs and community relations support for new store locations and other activities. BergDavis successfully secured the approval of the proposed Bayview store, the first large scale retail project approved in San Francisco in many years.

Hotel Council
BergDavis assisted the Hotel Council of San Francisco, a non-profit organization representing over 65 hotels and 50 allied members, with various communications tasks including an update of its marketing and membership materials and a redesign and relaunch of its website.

Joie de Vivre Hospitality
BDPA partnered with this well-respected boutique hotelier to secure approval for a new hotel at Mission and Steuart Streets in San Francisco. Because this site was owned by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) and required approvals from numerous commissions, the team worked hard to develop a comprehensive network of support from nearby businesses, environmental organizations, transit organizations and neighbors.

Live Nation/Masonic Auditorium
BDPA is proud to assist Live Nation with its efforts to upgrade and manage San Francisco's historic Masonic Auditorium on Nob Hill.  One of the best known concert and special event promoters in the world, Live Nation has plans to update the 50-year old auditorium with more modern finishes, new sound and lighting systems as well as a new catering kitchen.  

Martin Building Company
BDPA provided community and government relations support for this innovative SF-based developer. Projects included Mint Plaza, a new public plaza near Fifth and Market.

Miramar Sheraton
A four-star hotel property of Starwood Resorts, Miramar Sheraton Hotel in Santa Monica retained BDPA for government, community and media relations support in the midst of a high profile labor dispute.

Mission Housing Development Corporation (MHDC)
BergDavis provided public affairs and media relations support for one of San Francisco's oldest and most respected non-profit housing developers. Additionally the firm oversaw the ground-breaking ceremony celebrating the Valencia Gardens re-opening.

Neiman Marcus
BDPA teamed up with this high-end retailer to secure permits for the expansion of its prominent Union Square store in downtown San Francisco. Obstacles included challenges from preservation organizations and landmarks activists.

Republic Urban Properties
This national full-service investment, development and management enterprise retained BergDavis to conduct community engagement and government relations in support of multiple residential, mixed-use and hotel projects in California and Nevada.

San Francisco Public Library
BDPA provides as-needed pro-bono service to the San Francisco Public Library system, including public relations, community outreach and strategic planning assistance.

Sears Point Raceway
Located in Sonoma County, this motorsports racetrack hired the firm to assist in its pursuit of a much needed raceway modernization. BDPA created a "Friends of Sears Point" network designed to rally support for the project and counter efforts by those opposed to the modernization.

SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories
In April 1999, BDPA was enlisted by SmithKline to assist with crisis communications strategy and outreach related to charges that a Palo Alto-based employee had re-used needles to draw blood. BDPA managed all media relations and crisis communications. As a result, SmithKline was able to react and respond swiftly and professionally to members of the press, the community and health officials.

Somers Building Maintenance (SBM)
For several years BDPA has provided communications strategy and labor relations support throughout the west coast to one of the country's largest site services management companies including media, labor, government and community relations services. SBM Site Services provides janitorial, cleanroom and laboratory sanitizing, general building maintenance, recycling and environmental awareness programs, to customers both in the United States and internationally.  

SummerHill Homes
BDPA assisted SummerHill Homes with outreach and advocacy services for a development project in San Francisco. The mixed-use project proposed to add 195 much-needed housing units and retail to a currently underutilized plot of land adjacent to the Park Merced neighborhood and 19th Avenue transit corridor.

UC Hastings College of the Law
BergDavis successfully assisted Hastings College of the Law with its efforts to secure approval for upgrades to its Tenderloin campus, which included a hotly contested parking garage. The firm worked closely with neighbors, students and community leaders alike to activate support for the school. The firm continues to provide high level public affairs and media relations services to Hastings on an as-needed basis.

Walmart, Inc.
BDPA works with Walmart throughout Northern California assisting the retailer with its expansion plans, providing government affairs, reputation management and community relations support. The firm prides itself on working with community leaders, decision-makers and media to ensure that Walmart is judged fairly and given the opportunity to open stores in new markets based on the merits of the project.

Whole Foods Market, San Francisco, California
BDPA provided media, community and labor relations counsel to this high end grocery chain in the face of a boycott by the United Farm Workers. BDPA successfully set up community service programs and introduced Whole Foods into new communities to help the grocer maintain strong employee and customer relations.

WinCo Foods, Inc.
A fast-growing grocery retailer with locations in the California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, WinCo retained BDPA to assist with labor relations, project approval, and community relations issues, and to develop a comprehensive crisis communications plan.