Monogram Communications, a local communications agency, has been awarded Small Agency of the Year — Gold by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS).
Notably, Monogram received the award in just its fifth year of operation.
The agency is well known for offering services including business branding, website design, major advertising campaigns, community engagement, crisis management and a range of other communications-based work.
Alyson Gourley-Cramer, CEO and founder of Monogram, spoke with The Citizen about the honour.
“It was so nice to be there with some of my team. To me, that is what our company is all about,” said Gourley-Cramer. “It's really about our team and how we support each other, collaborate, and push ourselves to strive to do well.
“It was such an honour. It was exciting to get it from the Canadian Public Relations Society. I’ve been a member for maybe 20 years. A lot of the people I’ve admired at conferences were there to celebrate our team and our work.”
Monogram has earned its accolades with a 74 per cent return-client rate and a record of doubling its revenue year-over-year since its inception.
In that time, the company has also won five national and international awards.
Proudly based in Prince George, Monogram continues to work with local businesses and organizations to showcase a distinctly northern brand identity.
“In Prince George specifically, we’ve done a lot of work with a lot of different people,” said Gourley-Cramer. “We’ve done quite a bit of strategic planning with groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
“We’ve also done some pretty impactful projects with Carrier Sekani Family Services — jurisdiction work, recruitment campaigns, and a really emotional project to raise awareness about victims’ families who’ve lost loved ones along Highway 16. That one was especially meaningful.
“Right now, we’re also doing the rebranding for School District 57.”
Other recent local projects include planning and managing the 2025 Future Fuels Forum, as well as providing services to Canada Games, BC Housing, Telus and Kitselas First Nation.
Gourley-Cramer attributes the company’s success to its local focus and personalized approach to client relationships.
“We really do get to know our clients very well,” she said. “What we deliver and create for them is very personalized, like a monogram. That’s where the name came from.
“We’ve really stayed true to those values. We’re not looking to make it in the big city. We’re fortunate to work with communities, nations, industries and non-profits that are doing meaningful, community-based work in places like Vancouver Island, Vernon, Kamloops, Prince George and throughout Northern BC.
“That’s where we’ve found our fit. We’re not trying to compete with some of Canada’s national brands.”
Looking ahead, Gourley-Cramer said Monogram plans to expand its work in crisis and emergency business management. The agency is also partnering with Canada Games on a new government relations strategy.
She also extended thanks to the Northern Lights chapter of CPRS in Prince George, which she said has played a vital role in her personal and professional development.
“They’ve helped me grow my business and my confidence in the 20 years I’ve been a member,” she said.
