Consociate Media has been named one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in Virginia by Virginia Business magazine and Best Companies Group, earning the highest ranking of small businesses in the Hampton Roads region.
This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state’s economy, workforce and businesses. The 2022 Best Places to Work in Virginia list is made up of 100 companies.
Consociate Media, a Gloucester-based full-service public relations, media management and communication consulting firm, celebrated its 10th anniversary in business in 2021.
The firm was founded by managing partner Stephanie Heinatz, who initially worked from her dining room table when the company started in 2011. Today Consociate Media is a multi-million company with a staff of 15.
“It’s been said time and time again that culture eats strategy for breakfast,” said Heinatz, a graduate of Christopher Newport University who spent five years as a journalist for the Daily Press. “That’s among the many reasons this recognition is so rewarding. We are incredibly proud of the work we do, but even prouder of the team we have created and the culture that makes working here so special. We call it a family – our internal team, the clients we support, each other – because it is.”
To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- -Be a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government entity;
- -Be a publicly or privately held business;
- -Have a facility in Virginia;
- -Have at least 15 employees working in Virginia; and
- -Be in business a minimum of one year.
Consociate Media was recognized among Small Employers in the Best Places to Work list, reserved for businesses with up to 99 employees. The company received credit for having an employee retirement plan, providing paid leave for community service, offering telecommuting options, following sustainable practices, and including fun activities to relieve stress.
“So much of our time is spent at work. We wanted to make this a good place to be, with the right people and the right culture,” Heinatz said. “Relationships are important at Consociate Media, and we take pride in both our relationships with each other and those we have been able to build and nurture with our clients.”
In recognition of Consociate Media’s 10th anniversary, the company is supporting its longtime client Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg by spearheading the fundraising for the House that Small Business Built. It takes $100,000 to build a Habitat house that will be sold to a qualifying family and that amount is typically too steep for one small business to fund. Consociate Media is asking the community — fellow small businesses, individuals and more — to give what they can. Phillips Energy and the Williamsburg Winery are among those that have held fundraisers for the project and The Local Scoop Magazine has contributed. Consociate Media seeded the House that Small Business Built with a $10,0000 donation.
“Giving back to the community that has given so much to us is part of the core of what we are about at Consociate Media,” Heinatz said.
Companies from across the state entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in Virginia. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Virginia and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final ranking.
Consociate Media’s services include strategic communications, media relations, copywriting, website design, graphic design, social media management, marketing strategy development, corporate photography, videography, streaming live video events, and training and consultation.
For more information on the Best Places to Work in Virginia program, visit BestPlacesToWorkVA.com.