ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the ubiquity of corporate and political crises continues to make itself apparent (think AshleyMadison, Target, Hillary Clinton's email scandal, Subway's Jared Fogle, or the EPA and the Animas River spill to name just a very few), the necessity for what can only be called 'corporate mindfulness' when it comes to planning for a crisis comes to a fever pitch. Similarly, in an age when individual voters, interests, and groups of people continue to strive for a voice in the political goings-on of the day, the utilization of people and resources that work to amplify those voices reveals itself to be a critical and considerable strategic move.
Enter Leverage Point, Inc. Leverage Point is located in Albuquerque, NM and is an advocacy and public affairs firm that specializes in Governmental and Public Affairs and partners with clients in developing and implementing proactive strategies (which include issues management, crisis communications, and brand & reputation management) that empower them to mobilize grassroots efforts and galvanize positive public sentiments, specifically tailored to their individual legislative and business goals. Leverage Point was launched and conceived as a "lobbying-meets-public affairs" firm that would serve a wide range of business sectors in New Mexico, and across the U.S.. Leverage Point CEO and President, Juan Fernandez Ceballos, notes that "[m]any organizations have, for a long time, needed someone they could turn to in order to get their issues in front of the public while they are debated in the legislature, and we can now meet this need".
Fernandez Ceballos has served as a New Mexico based lobbyist at the state and federal level for the last eight years and has helped build some of the largest PACs in New Mexico, as well as some of the strongest grassroots campaigns at the Round House in Santa Fe, NM. Taking the reins on the public affairs side, Michael Barrio serves as public affairs director and is working relentlessly to "get a pulse" for the city. "We recognize a very distinct cultural and business community in Albuquerque, and New Mexico at large, and know how important it is to really understand the way people interact, form relationships and conduct business here. Part of executing from that perspective includes really getting involved with the many diverse communities in the state and working to understand the issues that drive and matter to them," Barrio states. Barrio has previously served as Legislative Analyst for Kuper, Smith & Associates and the New Mexico State University Office of Governmental Affairs, as well as advocating for Southern New Mexico education and political initiatives. He spent several years in Los Angeles, Calif., and gained extensive expertise in corporate human resources, organizational development and alignment, and media relations during his tenure at The Walt Disney Company and Yahoo!, Inc. Barrio is a native of Las Cruces, NM.
In a business and economic environment synonymous with continual flux, the advantages of utilizing professionals that focus on your organizations' specific and targeted interests and needs make a strong case for building an advocacy and public affairs strategy that helps build and maintain a competitive edge. "An organization's public affairs team is the defensive and offensive line you didn't know you needed until you really, really need it. We're the professionals that are developing and streamlining issues, crisis, and reputation management processes and strategy to keep an organization's engine operating at full capacity. Without it, the consequences can be crippling," says Barrio.
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