STRATEGY. PREPARATION. RESPONSE.
Clarity when it matters most.
Strategic communications and crisis counsel for public leaders and organizations navigating leadership transitions, consequential decisions and moments of scrutiny.
GOVERNMENT • PUBLIC LEADERS • ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE PUBLIC
Built for the moments that matter.
Leadership Transitions & First 100 Days
Communications planning and executive counsel for incoming leaders, transition teams and organizations changing leadership—from the first announcement through the first 100 days.
Crisis & Reputation Management
Trusted counsel and strategic communications support to navigate high-stakes issues, protect credibility, and maintain public trust.
Executive Communications & Counsel
Strategic advice and message development for leaders facing complex challenges, heightened scrutiny, or critical decisions.
Public Affairs & Policy Communications
Clear, credible communications that inform, build understanding, and advance key priorities with stakeholders and the public.
Training & Preparedness
Practical, scenario-based training and readiness planning to strengthen leadership, align teams, and be prepared for what’s ahead.
LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS
Prepare to lead. Communicate with purpose.
A leadership transition brings new priorities, heightened attention and questions from the people an organization serves.
Blacksmith Strategies helps incoming leaders and their teams establish clear messages, coordinate announcements, prepare for scrutiny and build a communications plan for the work ahead.
From transition planning to the first 100 days, we connect executive counsel with practical delivery across speeches, media, digital platforms and stakeholder communications.
- Before day oneMessages, stakeholders and the announcement sequence
- At the startRemarks, media and employee communications
- Through the first 100 daysA calendar built around leadership priorities
When leaders call us.
Every situation is different. These are some of the moments when steady, experienced counsel makes the biggest difference.
An incident is unfolding
Something has happened, the public is watching, and the first statements will shape everything that follows.
A difficult announcement is coming
Layoffs, service changes, budget decisions, or news that will be hard for people to hear.
Leadership is changing
An incoming administration, new executive, interim appointment or departure requires a clear message, a coordinated handoff and a plan for what comes next.
A policy is meeting resistance
A sound decision that residents, staff, or stakeholders don’t yet understand or support.
Scrutiny is growing
Media questions, public records requests, or critics who are setting the narrative.
The team has never practiced
A response plan on paper that hasn’t been tested with the people who would carry it out.
How we work.
Understand the landscape
Listen closely. Assess the risks. Identify what matters.
Build the strategy
Align decisions, messages, audiences, and responsibilities.
Put it into practice
Prepare teams, guide execution, and adapt as conditions change.
DIONNA SMITHFounder & Principal
Experienced counsel. Practical perspective.
Founded by Dionna Smith, a communications executive, crisis advisor, author, and educator with experience across government and corporate leadership.
Since 2008, Dionna has worked on the moments that test organizations: workforce transitions, corporate crisis response, executive messaging, public safety communications, and coordination across departments and agencies. She brings that experience to every engagement, translating complex challenges into practical strategies that leaders and teams can use.
- Since 2008Government and corporate communications
- Crisis advisorIncident response and public safety communications
- SpokespersonPress conferences, media briefings and breaking news
- AuthorOn the Record, a practical guide to crisis communication
- EducatorTraining for public leaders and communicators
FREE RESOURCE
How prepared is your organization for its next crisis?
Take a 10-minute readiness check to identify gaps in your response plan, clarify responsibilities and choose your next steps.
