Phelps Media Is Recalibrated, Recommitted And Ready To Take On The World Equestrian Experts
“Adapt or die” is a well-known business philosophy that transcends all industries. Companies must keep up with the times, and with the avenues of communication and advertising constantly changing, it is more important than ever to tap into the next big thing.
These principles hold true for the Wellington-based equestrian marketing and public relations firm Phelps Media Group (PMG), which underwent key changes in 2019. Primed to be better than ever, PMG’s leadership looks ahead with renewed passion.
Known for its team’s diverse marketing skills and unique networking abilities, PMG has long been one of the top marketing and public relations firms in equestrian sports. Under the leadership of founder and president Mason Phelps Jr., the majority-female team is breaking into the next decade with its eyes on the future.
After using 2019 to recalibrate and reconnect with its core values, PMG has reaffirmed its goal to revolutionize the way competitive equestrian sports are marketed in North America and is excited about the opportunity to represent the sport that launched the business in 2002 to more audiences than ever before.
One of the earliest changes in 2019 came in January when Lenore Phillips was appointed as vice president. Phillips, who joined the team in 2016 as a senior account executive, approached her new position with ideas for growth that were shaped by the years she had spent in the equestrian industry and the knowledge she gained at her position with the marketing and public relations company.
Armed with a team of experts that includes 10 female account executives, Phillips challenged her team to approach equestrian sports with a new lens, one that focused on passion and telling the stories that make horse sports so compelling to both participants and fans.
“When I realized that PMG needed to go in a new direction, I took real stock of what the company was built on and what our assets were,” Phelps explained. “Lenore stood out to me immediately as being a natural fit in a leadership position because of the work she had done with important PMG clients and because of her background in our sport. She has done it all and really understands what makes our community tick. From where the company stands today and the growth we have seen, it seems to have been a good decision.”
To this day, Phillips remains excited about the opportunities offered by her new position.
“Although I wasn’t expecting the opportunity to become vice president, when Mason presented it to me, I accepted without hesitation,” Phillips said. “I have been passionate about horses and equestrian sports my entire life, and I feel that I possess the vision and tenacity necessary to take PMG to the next level. I believe strongly in using new technology to advance our industry in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
Social media and the ever-growing power of the Internet is changing the way people learn, communicate and interact with the world around them. From designing elegant web sites to creating entertaining social media campaigns and implementing vital sponsorship initiatives, PMG prides itself on helping clients take advantage of all available avenues to reach their target audiences and communicate exciting stories.
“I feel there is so much opportunity for people to share in the passion that the relationship between horses and people inspire, and share in the excitement that our sport creates,” Phillips said. “More than anything, I want to be a part of a new era of horse sports in America, and I would love to help make more people aware of how exciting our industry is. I want to be a part of what the future looks like for all equestrian sports. To do that, we employ and investigate a number of ways in which to promote our clients, as well as increase the reach and engagement in our sport as a whole.”
The team at PMG is expanding, and thanks to the strong group of women at the helm, they are on the pulse of every new technology that becomes available. In addition to each staff member bringing relevant academic and professional business expertise to the table, they are all passionate hunter, jumper, equitation, polo and dressage riders.
“It is very meaningful and exciting that this is a business that, with the exception of Mason, is fueled entirely by women,” Phillips said. “I find one of the best things about equestrian sports is that businesswomen in our industry are not hindered by glass-ceiling problems that often plague other industries. The daily achievement of the women that make up PMG is incredibly empowering. Our group is collaborative, dynamic and achievement-driven. Many would be hard-pressed to find a more inspiring work environment.”
As the team focuses on the future, they welcome new clients, events and technologies to their roster, such as Bemer Veterinary, Barn Hero, Voltaire Design, Beacon Hill Show Stables and Mark Edward Partners. These new partnerships will merge with events and farms such as the National Horse Show, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and Leatherdale Farms, each of which are still continuing to grow and evolve every year. For more information, visit www.phelpsmediagroup.com.
