Cleveland – Dix & Eaton announced today that securities analyst Brian Rayle has joined the firm as a vice president specializing in investor relations.

Rayle, a Chartered Financial Analyst, has been a regular guest host and contributor to CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Transportation Topics, Industry Week and The New York Times. He most recently was managing director of Northcoast Research, where he provided ongoing sell-side equity coverage of the machinery/industrial equipment sector.  Rayle earned a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University and an undergraduate degree in economics and finance from Miami University and previously held positions with FTN Midwest Securities and Keybanc Capital Markets.

“Brian’s broad experience in sell-side equities, modeling, research and financial communications offers a complementary addition to Dix & Eaton’s long-established investor relations skill set,” said Chas Withers, president and chief operating officer.  “He provides even greater breadth and depth to an IR practice that already includes former corporate IROs, CFAs, CPAs, research specialists and speechwriters.”

Investor relations has been a primary component of Dix & Eaton’s service offerings for more than 40 years.  The firm has a strong national reputation and currently serves more than 30 public companies.

“In today’s environment, there are tremendous pressures on public companies and their management teams and boards,” said Senior Managing Director Lisa Rose, who heads the investor relations practice.  “As a result, we’re seeing growing demand for a broad range of specialized expertise and experience.”

D&E provides a broad-ranging portfolio of investor relations services and capabilities that includes shareholder communications, corporate governance counsel, investor targeting, proxy contests and shareholder activism, M&A/IPO communications, bankruptcy communications, IR websites and digital strategies, annual reports, corporate sustainability reports, employee education, and IR program assessment and measurement.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications and customer communications.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

Follow Dix & Eaton on Twitter at twitter.com/DixandEaton, also on Facebook and at LinkedIn.

CLEVELAND – Dix & Eaton announced today that Chas Withers, president of the firm and a member of its board of directors, has assumed additional responsibilities as chief operating officer.

Withers, 47, has been with Dix & Eaton a total of 15 years and was twice a client of the firm.  In his broadened role, he will be responsible for day-to-day operations, client service, staff management and development, practice development and marketing.

“The steady expansion of Chas’ leadership responsibilities reflects the vital role he plays in the continued success of Dix & Eaton,” said Scott Chaikin, chairman and chief executive officer.  “He’s a talented professional and great leader, and he and I enjoy a strong partnership and complement one another extremely well.”

In addition to his firm leadership responsibilities, Withers provides strategic consulting, external relations, crisis communications, marketing and branding counsel to public companies, private and non-profit organizations and start-up entities in industry sectors including manufacturing, consumer products, advanced materials, bioscience, professional services, financial services and information technology, among others.

“I am extremely energized by the momentum of opportunities we have to do what we do best – deliver outstanding service to our clients, especially in high-impact, high-stakes situations,” said Withers.  “In doing so, we are continually building on legacy and example that John Dix and Henry Eaton established more than 60 years ago.”

Before returning to Dix & Eaton in 2000, Withers was managing director for strategic marketing and communications for Answerthink Inc., a Miami-based international consulting firm specializing in front-to-back best-practice solutions for Fortune 1000 firms. In various roles at Answerthink Inc., he supported the company’s initial public offering and oversaw the strategic communications initiatives of several operating divisions and more than 1,500 employees.

Withers was a senior account executive in Dix & Eaton’s media relations practice between 1995 and 1997. He also served as director of media relations at Case Western Reserve University and held corporate communications positions with Malone Public Relations and Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron.

A graduate of Kent State University, Withers holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and he has twice been a member of teams selected as recipients of the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America. He serves as a board member or advisor to The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority (OTTA), OneCommunity, The Great Lakes Science Center, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) and The Lakewood Community Services Center.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications and customer communications.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

Follow Dix & Eaton on Twitter at twitter.com/DixandEaton, also on Facebook and at LinkedIn.

“Lisa’s deep investor relations experience, her personal skill in managing many of our largest client relationships and her strong connection with colleagues make her a natural to lead a practice where Dix & Eaton has earned a strong national reputation for more than 40 years,” said Scott Chaikin, D&E chairman and chief executive officer.

Rose, a member of the IR practice for most of her 16 years with the firm, advises clients on a full range of strategic communications matters.   Earlier this year, she received the YWCA Greater Cleveland’s Women of Achievement Award, which celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of women in Northeast Ohio.

“Client CEOs and other executives value Lisa’s thoughtful counsel and insight, which draw upon her broad experience and expertise in investor relations, internal communications, corporate communications, and accounting and finance,” Chaikin added.  “Indeed, she has counseled many of them through periods of extraordinary challenge and change, from major restructurings to management transitions to crises and proxy fights.”

Rose takes responsibility for the delivery and continued enhancement of a broad-ranging portfolio of services and capabilities that includes shareholder communications, corporate governance counsel, investor targeting, proxy contests and shareholder activism, M&A/IPO communications, bankruptcy communications, IR websites and digital strategies, annual reports, corporate sustainability reports, employee education, and IR program assessment and measurement.

“I’m very honored to be selected to marshal the efforts of the tremendously diverse and talented IR professionals within our firm,” said Rose.  “We continually challenge and learn from one another as we seek the best possible outcomes for our clients.”

Among the members of D&E’s investor relations team is Vice Chairman Keith Mabee, a recognized national authority on investor relations, strategic communications and corporate governance who has held key national positions within the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI).

Before joining Dix & Eaton, Rose was with Associated Estates Realty Corporation, where she served as manager of investor relations and was responsible for the design and implementation of the investor relations program for the newly public real estate investment trust.

Earlier, she was part of the investor relations team  at Reliance Electric Company, where her responsibilities included extensive participation in taking the company public by producing and participating in the initial road show presentations and developing financial models used to determine the appropriate capital structure for the company.

Rose is a certified public accountant and a member of NIRI and the American Institute of CPAs, and serves on the Executive Committee of PRSA’s national employee communications section. She is also a board member of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Presidents’ Council Foundation, College Now and Saint Joseph Academy; former president of the board for Towards Employment; and a member of Leadership Cleveland Class of 2009.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications and customer communications.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  

Follow Dix & Eaton on Twitter at twitter.com/DixandEaton, also on Facebook and at LinkedIn.

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, Dix & Eaton will contribute 60 hours of professional communication services to help a not-for-profit organization, small business or start-up in Northeast Ohio achieve its mission.  The winner of the pro bono “60 for 60” program will be chosen through social media voting.

“To us, communication matters,” said Scott Chaikin, chairman and chief executive officer.  “And when it comes to communication, we do a lot of things.  So what we do for the winner will depend on what that organization needs.”

Possibilities include a social media audit and recommendations, graphic design services, corporate identity development, brand messaging, media training, or event planning and promotion.

Information about 60 for 60 is available at www.dix-eaton.com/60for60, at www.facebook.com/DixandEaton or on Twitter (@DixandEaton). Applications must be received by October 26.  Five finalists will be announced November 5, and the winner will be chosen through social media voting on Facebook continuing through November 16.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications, marketing communications and reputation valuation.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

Dix & Eaton is celebrating its 60th anniversary in a spirit that honors its namesake founders – by giving back to the community.

“John Dix and Henry Eaton were passionate not only about serving their clients but also about serving the community that provided the foundation for their business,” said Scott Chaikin, chairman and chief executive officer.  “Out of appreciation for the outstanding example they provided, we have made community service the central focus of our anniversary commemoration.”

Reflecting that commitment, D&E recently fielded a team and was a corporate sponsor of the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, and it will staff the phone bank for this week’s kickoff of the WCPN Membership Drive.  More significantly, the firm is launching “60 for 60,” a pro bono program through which it will contribute 60 hours of professional services to a single organization.

“Through 60 for 60, our goal is to help a not-for-profit organization, small business or start-up in Northeast Ohio by providing communication counsel or services that enable it to achieve its mission,” said Chaikin.  “We believe doing so is in keeping with the community-minded example that our co-founders set for us and that we strive to follow.  Collectively, D&E employees serve on nearly 50 boards and commissions and volunteer countless hours with civic, charitable and educational organizations where they have an interest and where their involvement can have a positive impact.  Altogether, we expect to provide approximately $400,000 in pro bono time to such organizations this year alone.”

Information about 60 for 60 is available at www.dix-eaton.com/60for60, at www.facebook.com/DixandEaton or on Twitter (@DixandEaton). Applications must be received by October 26.  Five finalists will be announced November 5, and the winner will be chosen through social media voting on Facebook continuing through November16.

As Dix & Eaton celebrates its 60th anniversary, it has become an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications and marketing communications, serving a core group of about 65 client organizations throughout the United States.

Over the years, the firm has played a key strategic role in major announcements and corporate events, including high-profile corporate takeovers, mergers and other transactions, airline and mining accidents, and more.  Building upon its longstanding strength in global communications, earlier this year the firm became a member of Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s leading partnership of global public relations firms.  With more offices in more cities and countries than any multinational firm, the new relationship gives D&E more than 100 global partners in more than 50 countries around the world.

The firm was established in 1952 when Dix and Eaton – co-workers at Industrial Publishing Company – invested $1,500 each to form their own industrial advertising agency.  It gained its first two public-company clients – White Consolidated Industries and Van Dorn – in the late 1950s, and with the addition of Scott & Fetzer in 1970 reached a critical mass of public-company clients to build upon.  As the firm’s business emphasis shifted to corporate communications, its creative origins as an ad agency made annual reports a natural fit, a strength that remains today.

Dix retired in 1982, which would make Eaton the sole owner by 1987.  Expansion of ownership began in the mid-1990s, and by the end of the decade employees owned a combined total of 83 percent of the firm, with the four Eaton children retaining the remainder; today, their holdings are approximately 12 percent.

Chaikin was named chief executive officer in 1998 and, following Eaton’s retirement at the end of 1999, became chairman and CEO.  Eaton died in 2003 at age 77, and Dix in 2006 at age 89.

For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

Dix & Eaton announced today the promotion of Steve Hart to art director.  Hart works with clients to develop their corporate identity and bring their business initiatives and messages to life through a variety of electronic and traditional media.

Before joining Dix & Eaton full-time as a graphic designer in 2009, he served an internship with the firm.  Previously, he was a digital media director for a non-profit organization in Cleveland.  Hart earned a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in graphic design from Cleveland State University.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications, customer communications and reputation valuation.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

Follow Dix & Eaton on Twitter at twitter.com/DixandEaton, also on Facebook and at LinkedIn.

Kevin A. Ziegler, a communications, marketing and media relations strategist who has served organizations in a variety of industries and has specialized expertise in hospitals and health care, has joined Dix & Eaton as a senior account executive.

Ziegler previously worked at Cleveland Clinic, where he provided communications and media relations services to high-priority medical specialties. During his tenure, the urology and kidney disorder specialties he represented ascended to #1 rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list.  Earlier, Ziegler worked at the integrated marketing agency Thundertech, where he served clients in multiple industries with communication services that included media relations, publication management and video production.

Ziegler is a board member of the Greater Cleveland chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He established and incorporated Cleveland Water Polo Club, a nonprofit sport club dedicated to expanding water polo programs in Northeast Ohio. He also serves on the Cleveland Heights Citizens’ Advisory Committee, an appointed 22-member committee that advises on local allocation of $1.5 million in funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.  He graduated cum laude from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, where he was a Presidential Scholar.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications, customer communications and reputation valuation.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

• IR Web Intelligence^SM system allows companies to monitor online investor conversations, measure impact on daily trading volume, stock price, corporate reputation
• Combines state-of-the-art data capture with real-time analysis and senior IR counsel
• Offers greater visibility into previously hard-to-see market influencers
• Provides critical extension to company’s, board’s risk management capabilities

With the proliferation of smartphones and social media channels, every company is exposed to the dramatic effects of ongoing online conversations by investors and market influencers about its business, its industry and its investment merits.  Now, with Dix & Eaton’s new IR Web Intelligence^SM system, management teams and their boards of directors can efficiently monitor these ongoing conversations and quantify their impact on a variety of factors – including market valuation, trading volume and corporate reputation.

“Drawing on our combination of investor relations and social media expertise, we can provide business leaders with unique clarity and insight on this otherwise hard-to-see contributing market dynamic, which can be a powerful tool to help them implement their growth strategies and manage global risk,” said Scott Chaikin, chairman and chief executive officer. 

The IR Web Intelligence system monitors the content and tone of conversations among investors and market influencers, as well as where and when they take place.  This monitoring can be done on an ongoing basis or during specific times of heightened attention, such as an activist investor campaign, leadership transition, class-action lawsuit, acquisition or other significant corporate activity.

In addition, the system provides insight on the level and breadth of the impact of these conversations.  Qualitative analysis of the discussion content, channels used and the participants’ range of influence is combined with quantitative analysis of concurrent effects on such things as spikes in trading volume and share price movement.

“Over the past few years, the overwhelming focus of the investor relations community with regard to technology has been to what extent it should ‘talk’ online,” said Chaikin. “We believe this focus is greatly misplaced as there is no singular, universal answer to this debate. On the other hand, there is no question that all companies need to ‘listen’ to – and understand – these online discussions. Our IR Web Intelligence system delivers a deep level of insight into investor sentiment and trading activity, including both positive and negative exposure, in a user-friendly manner.  Our team is well-versed in analyzing this data, identifying trends and providing strategic counsel on what actions to take under the particular circumstances.”

Chaikin added, “For example, activist investors are increasingly utilizing the Web to rally support for their particular agenda, as Carl Icahn did in his recent proxy fight with Lionsgate. We can now help boards of directors and management teams understand not only what’s being said and the impact it is having, but also their options on how to deal with the online activity effectively. In fact, we can also help them identify the early warning signs of potential activism.”    

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications, customer communications and reputation valuation.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com.

For more information on Dix & Eaton’s IR Web Intelligence system, contact Rob Berick at rberick@dix-eaton.com, or visit www.dix-eaton.com.

Follow Dix & Eaton on Twitter at twitter.com/DixandEaton, also on Facebookand at LinkedIn. Follow Rob Berick on Twitter at twitter.com/robberick and Scott Chaikin at twitter.com/scottchaikin.

CLEVELAND – July 24, 2012 – A new analysis of the reputations of leading retailers shows that Target is tops for reputation but Wal-Mart wins for overall satisfaction.

Using compiled published data, the Dix & Eaton analysis identified eight critical value drivers and ranked the top 10 U.S. general merchandising retailers, based on revenue and sales data from 2010 to 2012.  It indicates that while there is a cluster of retailers that rise to the top, no single merchandiser is “top” for every one of the significant drivers.  The top five drivers in terms of their impact on reputation are overall satisfaction, quality of goods and services, price/value, trust and problem resolution.  Others studied were sustainability efforts, convenience and variety.

“Overall satisfaction and the quality of goods and service certainly are greater components in terms of establishing a loyal customer base, and it is no surprise, particularly given the present economy that ‘price/value’ would be extremely critical to consumers,” said Pamela Cohen, Ph.D., the D&E behavioral economist who led the analysis.

“The trust component, which speaks to customers’ feelings regarding the reciprocal, sometimes unwritten agreement between the establishment and the consumer, is a sign of the times in that in it is the expectation and hope that a favored retailer can be counted upon to deliver goods and services, but also to be there for them in terms of returns, service-related issues, as well as carrying goods that they want and can also trust.”

Cohen added, “While problem resolution has long appeared in lists of top drivers for consumer satisfaction, again the need for enhanced service and trust in a remarkably competitive and yet depressed environment is another reason for it to be particularly critical for consumers right now.”

The latest analysis drew upon approximately 15 data sources, including satisfaction study ratings and rankings both online and in major publications and blogs, financial statistics and newspapers.  It then utilized the proprietary D&E Impact Index™, a proven methodology that combines behavioral economics and statistical modeling to provide a comprehensive, quantified analysis of intangible assets and then links those assets to desired outcomes for an organization or industry.

The retailers in the analysis and their rankings in selected categories are as follows:

Overall Ranking

1. Target
2. Wal-Mart Stores
3. Nordstrom
4. J.C. Penney
5. Macy’s
6. Kohl’s
7. Dillard’s
8. Sears Holdings
9. Family Dollar Stores
10. Dollar General
     

Overall Satisfaction

1. Wal-Mart Stores
2.  Target
3. Nordstrom
4. Macy’s
5. Kohl’s
6. J.C. Penney
7. Sears Holdings
8. Dillard’s
9. Family Dollar Stores
10. Dollar General

Quality of Goods and Services

1. Nordstrom
2. Target
3. Dillard’s
4. Wal-Mart Stores
5. Macy’s
6. J.C. Penney
7. Kohl’s
8. Sears Holdings
9. Dollar General
10. Family Dollar Stores

Price/Value

1. Wal-Mart Stores
2. Target
3. Sears Holdings
4. J.C. Penney
5. Macy’s
6. Nordstrom
7. Kohl’s
8. Dillard’s
9. Family Dollar Stores
10. Dollar General

Trust

1. Target
2. Nordstrom
3. Wal-Mart Stores
4. J.C. Penney
5. Sears Holdings
6. Kohl’s
7. Dillard’s
8. Macy’s
9. Family Dollar Stores
10. Dollar General

Problem Resolution

1. Nordstrom
2. Targe
3. J.C. Penney
4. Macy’s
5.  Dillard’s
6. Wal-Mart Stores
7. Sears Holdings
8. Kohl’s
9. Family Dollar Stores
10. Dollar General

The D&E Impact Index is customized for every organization, using readily available data from multiple sources, including social media.  Cohen has fine-tuned the methodology over the past 15 years, having first created it when she led the Ernst & Young Center for Business Innovation’s intangible valuation group.  Her analysis has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, CIO and CFO magazines, among others, and she has applied it on behalf of major companies in more than a dozen industries, helping them increase their value by optimizing the performance of their intangible assets. These important drivers include brand, leadership, sustainability, strategy execution, communications, alliances, human capital, innovation and technology adaptation, as well as other nonfinancial components that bring value to a company.

In addition to her role at Dix & Eaton, Cohen is on the Sustainability Certificate Program Board of the University of Chicago’s Graham School, working on the development of a certificate program in Leadership in Sustainability Management.  As part of that program she designed and teaches a course on environmental economics and behavioral finance, and works with the University’s Sustainability Office in developing a university-wide integrated sustainability system.  She is also a researcher for the Erikson Institute’s Graduate School of Education, applying her expertise to the arena of childhood development and optimal well-being outcomes.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications, customer communications and reputation valuation.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com or contact pcohen@dix-eaton.com.

CLEVELAND – July 17, 2012 – The solid pillars of trust that traditionally symbolized banking relationships are once again emerging as key components of financial services institutions’ reputation, according to a new analysis of compiled published data.

The Dix & Eaton analysis identified nine critical value drivers and ranked the nation’s 10 largest bank holding companies in terms of each.  It indicates that while there is a cluster of institutions that rise to the top, no single institution is “top” for every one of the significant drivers.  The top five drivers in terms of their impact on reputation are return on shareholder investment (ROI), corporate social responsibility, transparency, sustainability and image.

“While it is no surprise that ROI shows up among the top drivers of financial institution reputation, more telling is that corporate social responsibility is the number-two driver, and sustainability number four,” said Pamela Cohen, Ph.D., the D&E behavioral economist who led the analysis.  “This, of course, highlights our culture’s return to grass roots despite – or perhaps because of – the downturn in the economy.  Values are viewed as being critical to organizational success and acceptance.”

Cohen added, “Particularly interesting is that ‘image,’ which contains a strong element of trust – and something that was taken as a given prior to 2008 – has risen to being a top driver of reputation in a way that it has not been since the early 2000s.  Again, this has likely occurred not because it was never considered to be unimportant, but rather because trust and the overall image of the financial institution as a safe haven has been lost in recent years.

“Gaining back the trust and admiration of stakeholders will be a long process given the extreme fall in reputation of financial institutions over the past several years.  Transparency, the number-three driver in the most recent list, is going to be the key to regaining trust as financial services institutions strive to make reparations that will allow them to grow in our recovering economy.”

The latest analysis drew upon 30 data sources, including industry rankings, surveys and government statistical information.  It then utilized the proprietary D&E Impact Index™, a proven methodology that combines behavioral economics and statistical modeling to provide a comprehensive, quantified analysis of intangible assets and then links those assets to desired outcomes for an organization or industry.

The institutions in the analysis – the largest bank holding companies based on assets, as of March 31, 2012 – and their rankings in selected categories are as follows:

Overall Ranking

1. Bank of America Corporation
2. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
3. Citigroup Inc.
4. Wells Fargo & Company
5. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 
6. Metlife, Inc.
7. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
8. Morgan Stanley
9. U.S. Bancorp
10. HSBC North America Holdings Inc.
     

Return on Investment

1. Citigroup Inc.
2. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
3. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
4. Bank of America Corporation
5. Wells Fargo & Company
6. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
7. Morgan Stanley
8. HSBC North America Holdings Inc.
9. U.S. Bancorp
10. Metlife, Inc.

Corporate Social Responsibility

1. Bank of America Corporation
2. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
3. Wells Fargo & Company
4. Citigroup Inc.
5. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
6. Morgan Stanley
7. HSBC North America Holdings Inc.
8. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
9. Metlife, Inc.
10. U.S. Bancorp
     

Transparency

1.  Citigroup Inc..
2. Bank of America Corporation
3. Wells Fargo & Company
4. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
5. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
6. Metlife, Inc.
7. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
8. U.S. Bancorp
9. Morgan Stanley
10. HSBC North America Holdings Inc.

Sustainability

1. Bank of America Corporation
2. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
3. Wells Fargo & Company
4. Citigroup Inc.
5. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
6. HSBC North America Holdings Inc.
7. Metlife, Inc.
8. U.S. Bancorp
9. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
10. Morgan Stanley

Image

1. Citigroup Inc.
2. Bank of America Corporation
3. Wells Fargo & Company
4. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
5. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
6. HSBC North America Holdings Inc.
7. U.S. Bancor
8. Morgan Stanley
9. Metlife, Inc.
10. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation

“While it is interesting to look at an overall ranking,” said Cohen, “most important to view is where they ranked among the top-ranked drivers, for a focus on these areas will yield them the largest return on their investments given proper focus and direction within their competitive industry.”

The D&E Impact Index is customized for every organization, using readily available data from multiple sources, including social media.  Cohen has fine-tuned the methodology over the past 15 years, having first created it when she led the Ernst & Young Center for Business Innovation’s intangible valuation group.  Her analysis has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, CIO and CFO magazines, among others, and she has applied it on behalf of major companies in more than a dozen industries, helping them increase their value by optimizing the performance of their intangible assets. These important drivers include brand, leadership, sustainability, strategy execution, communications, alliances, human capital, innovation and technology adaptation, as well as other nonfinancial components that bring value to a company.

In addition to her role at Dix & Eaton, Cohen is on the Sustainability Certificate Program Board of the University of Chicago’s Graham School, working on the development of a certificate program in Leadership in Sustainability Management.  As part of that program she designed and teaches a course on environmental economics and behavioral finance, and works with the University’s Sustainability Office in developing a university-wide integrated sustainability system.  She is also a researcher for the Erikson Institute’s Graduate School of Education, applying her expertise to the arena of childhood development and optimal well-being outcomes.

Dix & Eaton is an integrated communications consultancy specializing in public relations, investor relations, crisis communications, customer communications and reputation valuation.  Working as partners, we bring deep experience, foresight and creativity to every relationship and help clients realize the full power of communication to drive results.  Founded in 1952, Dix & Eaton has twice been named the nation’s best midsized firm.  For more information, visit www.dix-eaton.com of contact Pam Cohen at pcohen@dix-eaton.com.