Send a text

We dig into what makes PR agencies grow without losing their edge, from acquisitions and integration to talent, culture, and the real role of AI. We share concrete ways to keep client trust, avoid burnout, and build teams that win.

• relationships as the core of acquisitions and integration
• communicating change to clients before headlines
• independence versus integration and preserving the secret sauce
• AI as a tool for higher value, not a replacement
• the barbell talent model and demand for SMEs
• gaps in business skills and project management training
• culture that reduces burnout and attracts top talent
• practical advice for agency owners on reinvention and fit

If you enjoyed today's conversation, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Give us your feedback, ideas, guest suggestions, or just let us know what you're thinking anytime. The email address is [email protected]. Make sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode

Guests:

Ray Day, APR Ray is a recognized voice and leader in communications and public relations. He joined Stagwell Global in February 2020, bringing more than three decades of experience as a chief communications officer leading global communications teams, brands, and agencies.

Kimberly Hoyle Kimberly is a senior growth executive with 20 years of experience shaping multi-year growth strategies and corporate transformation plans. As a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, she drives alignment between operations, business development, and talent strategy to create scalable, sustainable growth.

Peter Van Dyke Peter is CEO and co-founder of VVK PR + Creative, a Detroit-based integrated communications agency. Under his leadership, VVK has grown from 3 to 29 employees and from $1.8M to $4.1M in revenue over 3.5 years, serving mission-driven organizations throughout Metro Detroit and beyond.

Send a text

Detroit's Eastern Market is more than its famous Saturday crowds. CEO Katie Trudeau reveals how this 120-year-old food district serves as an economic engine for Southeast Michigan, transacting over $200,000 annually in SNAP benefits while pioneering food access programs like Double Up Food Bucks.

Unlike tourist-focused markets elsewhere, Eastern Market maintains authenticity through its working food district—produce houses, meatpackers, and processors operating alongside weekend vendors. The new Shed 7 wholesale distribution center will support midsize Michigan farmers and urban growers while serving the region's diverse grocery ecosystem.

Through the "Authentic Eastern Market" campaign (nearly $15.5 million raised), the nonprofit guides neighborhood development to complement rather than displace the district's food-centered identity. With events like Murals in the Market and Eastern Market After Dark, plus emerging restaurants and breweries, the market evolves while preserving its essential role in Detroit's food landscape.

As Trudeau says: "People who don't love this place are people who don't know about it." Discover how this institution balances preservation with growth while creating food-based opportunities for the next generation.

Send a text

Four directors from the Gilbert Family Foundation reveal how half a billion dollars is revitalizing Detroit through interconnected investments in parks, arts, small business, and housing. JJ Velez explains how community-designed public spaces become neighborhood anchors. Akua Hill shares how cultural initiatives preserve Detroit's authentic identity while creating economic opportunities. Linda Nozegbe discusses connecting residents with growing sectors and providing small business capital. Andrea Benson tackles housing stability through innovative, affordable solutions like factory-built homes.

Together, they demonstrate how comprehensive urban transformation works when community voices lead the way, addressing gentrification concerns while ensuring longtime residents benefit from improvements. A fascinating look inside one of Detroit's most significant neighborhood investment initiatives.

Send a text

Hosts: Jamie Kaye Walters, VVK CMO & Craig Fahle, Media Relations Director

Guests: Peter Van Dyke, VVK CEO & Ned Ward, SVP National PR  

What happens when a growing three-year-old Detroit PR agency acquires the PR division of a 40-year-old New Jersey firm? This VVK podcast episode uncovers the strategy behind VVK's acquisition of Stern Strategy Group's PR division and examines why executive visibility is essential for brands that want to stand out.

CEO Peter Van Dyke discusses how client demands for national visibility drove VVK to expand its capabilities, culminating in the acquisition. This move brought five seasoned pros to the team, including SVP of National PR Ned Ward, who highlights how amplifying executives creates trust and gives brands a personality in competitive markets.

The podcast tackles key PR trends like executive thought leadership and navigating executives’ reluctance to step into the spotlight. Both leaders share tips on leveraging social platforms strategically and adapting to a fast-changing industry.  

Tips for career growth and organizational visibility include saying yes to opportunities, leaning into discomfort, and making personal connections in a digital-first world.  

Discover how executive visibility can take your organization to the next level. Visit vvkagency.com to learn more.

Send a text

At a time when public trust in media continues its precipitous decline, what does it take to build a news organization that truly serves its community? In this revealing conversation, Craig Fahle sits down with Laurén Abdel-Razzaq, Executive Director of Bridge Detroit, to explore how hyperlocal journalism can reconnect citizens with the information they need most. The conversation delves into the profound challenges facing journalism today: shrinking attention spans, the proliferation of misinformation, and the fundamental question of how to earn community trust. "Trust is very easy to lose and extremely difficult to get," Abdel-Razzaq explains, outlining how Bridge Detroit builds relationships before they need to rely on them, particularly in communities traditionally underserved by mainstream media. Whether you're concerned about the state of media, interested in community-centered approaches to information, or simply curious about innovative models for rebuilding trust, this conversation offers valuable insights into how we might reimagine journalism for a fractured age.

Send a text

Host Craig Fahle speaks with Andrew Stein, President and CEO of The Children's Foundation about their innovative approach to philanthropy, and how they work to make sure their contributions in support of children's initiatives have maximum impact. Then, Craig is joined by fellow VVK team members Justin Skotarczyk and Kyle Fields about the newest ad VVK and it's legal video arm Watermark Law + Creative made for this year's "Big Game."  Here is the completed Team Schwartz commercial https://vimeo.com/1055427379.

Send a text

In this episode of the VVK Podcast, host Craig Fahle speaks with Rachel Alternative of the Alternative Foundation about her work in support of neighborhood improvement projects in Detroit.  Then, Devon O'Reilly of the Detroit Regional Chamber discusses the upcoming Mackinac Policy Conference, and his work as the director of the influential "Leadership Detroit" program at the Chamber.   

Send a text

Most of us don’t really think about our garbage, as long as it’s picked up on time at the curb each week…but the industry itself is actually pretty fascinating. Many cities used to have in house garbage service, but more an more communities have outsourced waste collection…and there are some very large companies that control a big slice of that business in metro Detroit and across our state…so what does it take for a small company to break in?  What kinds of innovations are happening in the industry?  We’ll talk to two people that can give us some insight into the business of garbage.  Matt Allen and Michael French of Priority Waste will be our guests. 

Send a text

In this special Valentine’s Day episode, we’re talking all about love. Host Evann Webb sat down with VVK’s VP of Creative Production John Heiple and his wife Angie, VVK’s Senior Executive Consultant Annmarie Erickson and her husband Paul, VVK friends Marc and Sharon Berke, and her own boyfriend, Robert Thomas, to discuss dating, marriage, and all those warm & fuzzy feelings.

Send a text

Today's guest on the program is New York Times bestselling author Dan Charnas, author of  Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm.  Detroit native J Dilla was a record producer, drummer, rapper and songwriter who died of a rare blood disease at the age of 32.  Despite his short life, his impact on hip hop and popular music in general is finally receiving the attention it deserves.