Linhart Public Relations.

• Author: Taylor, Mike
• Position: MEDIA/ADVERTISING

FEW INDUSTRIES HAVE HAD TO EVOLVE MORE IN RECENT YEARS than public relations. Social media, mobile-phone messaging and video streaming on the Internet are all part of the mix now Gone are the days when a PR firm's sole job was to get a client's story into a newspaper.

"Social media, digital media, has really revolutionized our business," says Sharon Linhart, founder and managing partner of Denver-based Linhart Public Relations. "Our clients have increasingly adopted or accepted that that is the way of the future, and that is the way communications are going."

Linhart Public Relations has remained cutting-edge and turned a profit every year since its founding 15 years ago while building a client list that includes Chipotle Mexican Grill, Crocs, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Tiffany & Co. and Southwest Airlines.

At different times Linhart Public Relations may be called on to build a brand, increase sales, stem a crisis or change behaviors. Sharon Linhart attributes the firm's steady growth to a company culture that has enabled it to attract and retain what she calls "some of the best and brightest in the industry." The 27-employee firm has had zero turnover in the last two years while adding nine employees during that time.

Part of the firm's culture that founder Linhart says is appealing to employees is an open-book philosophy of management. "Everyone in the firm knows exactly where we are on a monthly basis, what our financial position is, how we're doing," Linhart says. "I think that helps people feel assured and confident about what's going on."

She describes the company as a "work hard, play hard1" environment "where people are comfortable and feel motivated and excited about doing their career-best work. And that has allowed us to retain really great people."

It doesn't hurl in the motivation department that the firm also pays quarterly bonuses - to everyone but the partners - based on the firm's...