U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology
Case Study: ELPR’s Strategic Public Relations & Outreach Success at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Overview: ELPR has played an instrumental role in reshaping the public relations landscape for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information and Technology (OIT), driving the organization’s public image transformation from a traditional government office to a recognized leader in government communication. ELPR's efforts amplified the VA's visibility and credibility within primary media markets and positioned OIT as a pioneer in digital transformation.
Key Achievements:
Conducted over 300 interviews that reached over 2 billion readers year over year.
Secured prominent media coverage in major outlets such as Bloomberg, CNBC, Forbes, WIRED, LA Times, MSNBC, and more.
Consistently exceeded KPIs year over year in every tracked metric on our campaigns.
Comprehensive Public Relations & Media Strategy
Transforming VA OIT’s Perception: ELPR’s deep understanding of VA’s unique processes, coupled with strong relationships with VA leadership, allowed us to craft compelling and timely narratives that align with the department’s goals. Through targeted earned media pitches, ELPR secured significant press coverage, showcasing OIT’s digital transformation and achievements.
Crisis Management Expertise: Our rapid response functions ensured control of the narrative during times of crisis, protecting VA’s reputation and highlighting its mission to provide world-class benefits and services to Veterans.
Campaign Success:
"Work for Us" Campaign: ELPR led the "Work for Us" campaign, positioning VA OIT as a leading employer in the tech space. This effort resulted in top-tier media coverage, further bolstering the department’s reputation as an innovative government agency.
#DigitalVA Expo: ELPR co-led the development and execution of this large-scale event, which featured Secretary Denis McDonough and senior VA leadership. The event was live-streamed, drawing more than 25,000 views, with the event’s website receiving over 42,000 hits.
Building Strong Media and VA Partnerships
ELPR excels in fostering long-lasting relationships with media outlets and government stakeholders, including VA OIT, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA), and Veterans Service Organizations. This collaboration ensures alignment in messaging and allows ELPR to influence key narratives.
Scalable and Sustainable Media Presence:
ELPR established internal mechanisms to manage media inquiries and guide external messaging at VA OIT, helping to build a scalable and sustainable media presence.
National Recognition: Through ELPR’s strategic media efforts, VA OIT has gained a dominant voice in federal technology conversations, positioning it as a leader in areas such as IT modernization and cybersecurity.
Social Media Excellence:
ELPR’s expertise in digital communications extended VA OIT’s reach across various platforms. Our social media strategies are aligned with the latest industry trends, focusing on engagement, transparency, and creativity.
Award-Winning Leadership & Proven Results:
ELPR has established itself as a trusted communications partner for VA. Our strategic counsel, crisis management expertise, and innovative campaign strategies have not only won prestigious awards but also helped shape positive narratives for OIT in the federal IT space.
Conclusion:
ELPR’s proactive and highly effective public relations and outreach strategy has significantly transformed the visibility and perception of VA. Through a comprehensive, multi-channel approach, ELPR has delivered award-winning campaigns, established a trusted voice for VA, and positioned OIT as a leader in government digital transformation.
