April 2026 Newsletter
Laura Gallagher
President and Founder of The Creative Company
Dear Friend,
In the world of marketing, we often talk about “brand authority,” but the conversation has shifted toward something much more fundamental: Trust.
As you’ll see in the article below, the rules of engagement for online reviews are changing. The FTC is cracking down on “review gating,” signaling a new era where transparency isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a regulatory requirement. In an AI-driven world, your reputation isn’t built by what you hide, but by the “velocity” and authenticity of the feedback you earn.
Additionally, according to the experts at Muck Rack, earned media has never been more valuable. 89% of AI-generated content comes from earned media.
Earning trust is also at the heart of the two personal milestones I’m sharing with you this month.
First, I am deeply humbled to have received the Avenues of Service Award from the Rotary Club of Madison. “Service Above Self” is a principle that guides our work at The Creative Company every day, and it was an honor to be recognized by a group of leaders I so deeply admire.
The PR team and branding teams have been extra busy this spring with a press conference and strategic plan announcement from Centro, along with a $3 million tech hub gift from client partner Ascendium. On the branding side, a new restaurant will be opening in Madison soon! You’ll be able to taste and see the brand through every touch point. We’ll share more soon, but they just finished the process to help them make sure all their dots connect. Why? Because everything communicates!
I’m off to Atlanta, Georgia, next week for the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Conference and Awards, too. There are so many fantastic opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.
Finally, A Legacy Built is officially available! Writing the story of Gary Gorman and his 40-year journey from a ten-speed bicycle to a national leader in affordable housing has been one of the great privileges of my career. It is a real-world blueprint for anyone who believes that mission-driven growth is the only kind that lasts.
Whether you are navigating new technology or looking for the inspiration to build your own legacy, I hope this month’s insights help you move your important work forward.
Onward,
Laura Gallagher
2021 Governor’s Business Plan Winner, 2019 SBA Women in Business Champion of the Year, Wisconsin Trailblazer, Author, Speaker
A Legacy Built is Now Available
The Centro Tech Hub
We’re proud to partner with these two nonprofits to amplify their message through strategy and media relations.
Atlanta Bound
The IC100 Awards Ceremony
In just a few days, Laura will be joining fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders in Atlanta for a high-octane economic forecast and the IC100 Awards Ceremony with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.
The Creative Company, Inc. will also be recognized as an IC100 Award Recipient! IC100 winners are catalysts of opportunity, optimism, and transformation in the communities where they are located.
She was part of the 2016 Cohort in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where we spent 40 hours learning from the nation’s top business professors. Harvard Business School’s Michael Porter joined the entrepreneurial group to kick off the training. This led Laura to apply to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, where she flew to Babson College for more intensive executive education in early 2017.
“Taking on executive education helped in so many ways. It pushed us to move past ‘just getting it done’ and start building the systems to do it better,” Laura explained.
The value lies in the outcome, as we’re one of 100 firms to be recognized next week in Atlanta. Nearly 18,000 business owners have gone through the program.
Being recognized as an IC100 winner is a significant milestone for us. It’s a moment to celebrate our resilience and the transformational results we deliver for our clients. It’s also about the value of an education.
We hope you’ll follow along next week on social media as she shares takeaways on everything from branding for results to neighborhood revitalization. ✨
Laura Gallagher Receives the Rotary Club of Madison Avenues of Service Award
A Note from Our Team
True leadership extends far beyond the office walls. This month, we are incredibly proud to share that our President, Laura Gallagher, was honored by the Rotary Club of Madison with the 2026 Avenues of Service Award.
As one of the ten largest Rotary Clubs in the world, the Madison chapter presents this award to individuals who share their professional talents to uplift the community and the organization. For Laura, “Service Above Self” isn’t just a motto—it’s a business philosophy she has championed since founding this agency in 1989.
The committee highlighted several of Laura’s recent contributions, including:
- Crisis Communications Planning
- Strategic Communication
- Digital Evolution/Updated Guidelines
- Mentorship: Mentorship of Rotary Scholar Dylan Rogers by providing an internship at The Creative Company, and featuring their illustrations in “Home Again – A Restoration Story,” which is helping shape the next generation of talent, values, and leadership.
While Laura insists she is simply “bringing her gifts to the table,” we know that her care, integrity, and commitment to excellence are what set her and our agency apart.
“I’m honestly walking among giants in this club. I feel like I was just doing my part, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to use my 37 years in PR and marketing to strengthen an organization that does so much good locally and globally.”
— Laura Gallagher
Please join us in congratulating Laura on this well-deserved recognition!
A Legacy Built is Now Available
Last month, I teased that a very special project was nearing the finish line. Today, I am thrilled to announce that A Legacy Built is officially available!
Writing this book was a journey into the American dream. In 1984, Gary Gorman listed his ten-speed bicycle as an asset to secure his first loan. From those humble beginnings, Gorman & Company grew into a national leader in affordable housing, creating thousands of homes and transforming neighborhoods across the U.S.
Through four decades of bold risk and reinvention, I’ve had the privilege of uncovering the leadership principles and human spirit that made this impact possible. As Tom Klein, former competitor and board member, recently shared:
“Gary Gorman has built more than a company; he has built a legacy of impact… ‘A Legacy Built’ is an essential read for anyone committed to meaningful, mission-driven growth.“
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a community builder, or someone who believes in the power of perseverance, this book offers a real-world blueprint for success grounded in humility.
Through Gary’s story, readers will discover the practical fundamentals that drive meaningful success: grit, courage, and the willingness to keep building even when the odds are steep.
Get your copy today:
- Order on Amazon
- Direct from the Author: Reply to this email to get a signed copy directly from us! We have a limited amount of special edition copies. $45 (Venmo, Check).
Perfect for entrepreneurs, innovators, and community-builders who believe that possibility becomes progress when passion meets perseverance.
