Meet Debbie Fitzgerald and Regan Petersen | Public Relations, Co-Owners, Fitzgerald Petersen Communications

We had the good fortune of connecting with Debbie Fitzgerald and Regan Petersen and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Debbie Fitzgerald and Regan Petersen, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Really, it’s simple. Being honest, ethical people that our clients view as a true extension of their team. When a client hires Fitzgerald Petersen Communications (FPC) they’ve come to know – through word of mouth and referrals – that we do the very best job possible without ever going over budget. Our clients trust that we are going to do what we say, to the best of our abilities. When we started FPC 17 years ago, we brainstormed all kinds of creative names for our company. When it came down to it, we know that with our ‘name on the door’ our clients know how much we truly care about them, our business and ensuring that our teams’ implementation of campaigns are always executed at the very highest level. We surround ourselves with the best talent possible, we treat our team well and that always pays off in the end.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When we started Fitzgerald Petersen Communications (FPC), we were Vice Presidents at Ogilvy PR Worldwide. The big agency experience we gained over the years contributed greatly to knowing that we wanted to have our own agency, structured on our own terms, with our own philosophies on how we wanted to run our business. First, we knew that surrounding ourselves with the best minds in the business would help us be successful, but beyond that, we wanted to work for clients who treated us with respect, trust in our public relations experience and grow with us throughout the years. As a matter of fact, McDonald’s has been a client since the day we started our company 17 years ago and we have retained other clients for over a decade. FPC clients grow to deeply trust us through our work with them on many campaigns – from media relations and social media to huge VIP events and crisis situations. We’ve been so fortunate to have mentors every step of the way – from our parents to our strong, female supervisors, to client contacts who have become like family.
What sets FPC apart? Every client has one of the co-owners (us!) overseeing every account. Too often in big agency life, we would be a part of the big new business pitch, only to turn day-to-day work over to account coordinators. Time and time again, we would sense the frustration from clients who did not have the face time with senior level team members after the initial kick-off meeting. That never happens at FPC and our clients have voiced how important this factor has been to them in retaining FPC for the long haul.
We also believe wholeheartedly that if our team isn’t enjoying the work we do, it’s not going to be good for our company or clients in the long run. When we started our agency 17 years ago, our mantra was ‘we do not work for people who do not value us’ and that philosophy still holds true. Our clients value our expertise and opinions because of our deep experience in the industry, which makes for long, mutually respectful relationships. In turn, as founders of the agency, we are friends as well and the respect we have for each other supersedes everything else, Every five years we travel to a new destination to gain a fresh perspective to plan the next five years of our business.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver is in a renaissance. The last 10 years has brought a huge influx of people moving to the city, but with that means more arts and culture opportunities, high end restaurants, new entertainment options and what we’re famous for – an awesome offering of nonstop outdoor activities. Our little secret in Colorado, which is not so secret anymore, is that we get so much sunshine. There’s a saying here ‘If you don’t like the weather in Colorado, just wait a day!’
If a friend was visiting, we’d start by a breakfast at Snooze down at our refurbished Union Station, a hike at Red Rocks with a tour of the incredible concert venue, a lunch in historical downtown Golden, CO in the foothills, a visit to our newly built Meow Wolf (one of only two in the country) to see their latest art installation. Another day would have to include a stop by the Clyfford Still Museum, the only museum in the world showcasing his masterpieces, or check out the new building at the Denver Art Museum, with a dinner at a Larimer Square restaurant or a visit to Lower Downtown Denver (LODO) or River North (Rino). Yes, we love our acronyms! No visit would be complete without a visit to our mountains – Vail or Breckenridge would be the perfect ‘day trip’ to see why we love living in this state!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Fitzgerald Petersen Communications dedicates this Shoutout to our parents, who have supported their strong, confident, outgoing daughters with business advice, confidence building and unconditional love.
Website: www.fitzgeraldpetersen.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fitzgerald-petersen-communications
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitzgeraldpetersencomm
2 Comments
Congratulations for the shoutout to Fitzgerald-Petersen Communications team! You’re the best in providing excellent PR experiential expertise skills in Colorado.
Congratulations for the shoutout to Fitzgerald-Petersen Communications team! You’re the best in providing excellent PR expertise skills in Colorado.