Hawthorne Strategy Group

09/02/2026

Congratulations to our client, the Women's Business Development Center, for 40 years of supporting small business owners throughout its nine-state region of operation!

The WBDC's community is celebrating with regional events to connect, learn, and build the future of small businesses. The first regional event kicked off in Milwaukee last month, with another upcoming event in Minneapolis and the main event on Oct. 15 at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Check out the photos in BizTimes Milwaukee:

The Women's Business Development Center recently hosted the 2026 WBDC Small Business Social, drawing Wisconsin entrepreneurs, partners, staff and

08/28/2026

As we approach the end of summer, Jade Walker and Griffin Owens took some time to reflect on their experiences at Hawthorne. From media training and event support to press releases and social copy, our interns became deeply familiar with the work of a communications agency.

Hear from Jade and Griffin in Hawthorne's latest blog post:

Our summer interns Jade and Griffin reflect on their time at Hawthorne Strategy Group

08/24/2026

Effective today, our client MPEA has appointed Chris Konecki as the general manager of McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America.

Konecki is a McCormick Place veteran, previously spending 16 years with the organization as an event manager. More recently, he served as the Chicago Automobile Trade Association's Executive Vice President and Director of Auto Show Relations, overseeing the show's production and familiarizing himself with the needs of organizers, exhibitors, and attendees. We are excited for our client to take this critical step in the next evolution of McCormick Place.

You can learn more about Chris Konecki and future plans for the convention center in this article from Trade Show Executive:

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority announced Chris Konecki has been appointed as the new General Manager of McCormick Place

08/19/2026

The 2026 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Skyline Awards are just a month away, and we are proud to represent our clients with award-winning results!

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - Chicago Chapter selected Hawthorne as a finalist in six different categories, showcasing our versatile and comprehensive capabilities. These awards not only recognize excellence in producing business results, but celebrate creativity and innovation in public relations.

Our work received recognition for the following categories and campaigns:

Newsletters, Solar Powers Illinois
Media Relations - Nonprofit, Solar Powers Illinois
Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability, Solar Powers Illinois
Influencer Marketing - Micro, Chicago Dental Society
Influencer Marketing - Macro, Chicago Dental Society
Integrated Communications - Nonprofit, Chicago Dental Society

We look forward to celebrating these campaigns and continuing to elevate our clients at the Skyline Awards Celebration Gala on September 17!

08/17/2026

When local businesses succeed, communities thrive.

That's the common belief that drives both our client, the Women's Business Development Center and Cook County Government's recent Pathways to Cook County Summit event.

As a keynote speaker, WBDC president and CEO Erica T. Kuhlmann shared the stage with Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle to share insights and inspiring success stories with attendees. The WBDC team was also onsite to put Erica's words into action. During the event, they met with interested business owners to discuss how the organization supports entrepreneurial journeys in Cook County and beyond.

08/14/2026

At Hawthorne, we always bring our best work to our clients, no matter the task. We are proud to be recognized in the 2026 Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Awards across 7 categories. These awards celebrate the year’s most outstanding campaigns, programs, content, and communications work, and we are honored to be counted among them.

We received recognition in the following categories:

Nonprofit Communications, We Are Lasagna Love
Nonprofit Communications, Hope Ignites
Influencer/Creator Campaigns, Chicago Dental Society
Association Communications, Chicago Dental Society
Integrated Marketing Communications, Chicago Dental Society
Special Events/Experiential, Organogenesis
Public Affairs, Solar Powers Illinois
Media Relations, Solar Powers Illinois

07/30/2026

"It's not just about media impressions or social media engagement, but how does that track back to your business or organizational goals"

Our President and CEO, Cynthia McCafferty, joined "Pitch Perfect: the PR Podcast" to share her perspective on the current landscape of communications, from news visibility to navigating a career path to the impact of AI on best practices. Cynthia's expertise is built on a foundation of nearly 30 years in the communications industry — providing a comprehensive understanding of what success looks like for a multitude of organizational structures and publicity scenarios. Today, Cynthia leads Hawthorne Strategy Group in elevating client reputations and solving modern business challenges.

You can listen to the full podcast episode now on your preferred platform:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Vds1hjtyVZ38ON3cDWjsW?si=9f05907f48624e8d&nd=1&dlsi=850014e227f74a2a
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/ep-16-cynthia-mccafferty-president-hawthorne-strategy/id1819858425?i=1000778206750

Thank you Patrick Van de Wille for the invitation and for being such a welcoming host!

07/23/2026

In honor of what would have been Emmett Till's 85th birthday on Saturday, July 25, our client, The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, will be hosting four performances of Anne & Emmett this weekend. The one-act play imagines a moving conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till—two young people whose lives were cut short by injustice.

In recognition of Till's enduring legacy, a special performance and reception will be held on July, 25 with additional performances on July 24 and 26.

Tickets are on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anne-and-emmett-a-one-act-play-by-janet-langhart-cohen-tickets-1993034272159?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/16/2026

While the Illinois Department of Early Childhood is working to make childcare options accessible to families, supporting childcare providers is the other side of the coin.

In a recently published Chicago Sun-Times letter, the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) Childcare Business team—Managing Director Aisha Ahrens and Director Yvonne Villalpando—break down how supporting the small-business owners can help close the gaps in childcare across Illinois.

Congratulations to our client, the WBDC, on a great feature and for continuing to champion issues that directly impact their clients.

Read the letter here:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood has the potential to benefit families and providers. Also, funding Chicago Public Schools and a response to an op-ed about "techno-peasants."

07/08/2026

We're honored our clients trust us with furthering their mission and goals — and we were proud to take home FOUR incredible awards from Bulldog Reporter recognizing the work we've produced for them. These awards celebrate the best and brightest in public relations, marking excellence in communications campaigns from beginning to end. Our team's accomplishments showcase Hawthorne's stand-out capabilities among global organizations at the highest level.

We received recognition in the following categories:
- Best Green/Environmental/Sustainability Campaign with Solar Powers Illinois
- Best Local/Hyperlocal Campaign with Organogenesis
- Best Integration of Traditional and New Media with Chicago Dental Society
- Best Public Affairs Campaign with Solar Powers Illinois