Telecommunications Case Story

APCO International

Managing Change, Strengthening Identity and Designing a Response to Homeland Security Challenges

With more than 15,000 members worldwide, APCO International is the largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. Following the events of September 11, 2001, public awareness surrounding the urgent need for improved public safety communications was at an all-time high. APCO International recognized the need to increase its visibility in Washington in order to adequately represent the concerns of its membership.

MDB was approached in early 2002 to assist APCO in its efforts to raise the organization’s visibility in Washington. Our goal was to ensure the inclusion of public safety communications in the broader Homeland security dialogue, to increase the size and involvement of its membership, and to help create and publicize a public safety foundation dedicated to support and expedite the implementation of E-911 throughout the United States. MDB designed a marketing, communications, and education and outreach plan that integrated all of APCO’s programmatic work into one cohesive message and story, which was disseminated to a wide audience base.

A significant amount of MDB’s efforts with APCO focused on the creation of a non-profit arm of the Association, “The Public Safety Foundation of America”, which was created to offer grants to communities who needed additional resources to expand there public safety communications infrastructure.

MDB helped APCO develop a lean, responsive organization, with a vision for the future. This work will ensure its membership continues to offer state-of-the art public safety services to its local communities. With the help of MDB staff, a complex and integrated strategy has been developed that will guide the organization for several years.