Our Work

Over the past seven years we've helped America's leading autism advocacy organization remake federal health policy. The outcomes have led to order of magnitude gains in awareness of the signs, treatments and success stories related to this condition. From presidential recognition to acts of Congress to changes in state laws, the world of autism has been transformed into a major national priority for everyone involved in our system of health care; and we are all better for it.

The importance of conserving our natural landscapes and resources goes light years beyond the narrow world of environmental activism. Working with a major western advocacy group, we have helped redefine the way conservation is perceived in the eyes of policy makers on all sides in Washington, DC and engaged whole new segments of the population in true grass roots action. Our work centers on breaking down barriers and misperceptions through creative communication and intensive activation. The result is healthier and more productive conservation policies that benefit us all.

Oftentimes federal policy conflicts with common sense. Coram’s in-home infusion treatment therapies irrefutably lower costs and improve patient outcomes. Yet for those who arguably need these benefits the most – those covered under Medicare – coverage is not available. At a time when every penny of savings and every shred of efficiency is vital to our health care system we are engaged in helping Coram get the attention of DC policy that this issue deserves. And with luck, we’re on the road the making the change in law our seniors need.

Colorado invariably ranks as the first or second largest brewing state in the nation. Over the last several years, the CBDA leadership has undertaken major efforts to ensure the beer industry’s policy presence matches its economic contributions. Engaged with the Association, IKON has worked to help CBDA redefine the worlds of alcohol beverage policy, regulation and oversight in Colorado. Along the way the Association has continued strengthening its community involvement. Safer, better and more competitive alcohol beverage state laws have resulted in a constantly improving experience for the Colorado consumer and greater awareness of responsible drinking.

Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense. In other words, act proactively. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights took this strategy to heart in proactively working to keep off the ballot in Arizona pernicious anti-civil rights measure. LCCR engaged our Arizona office to lead the messaging, communications and public relations effort to head this ballot measure off at the pass, and keep it from seeing the light of day. Working with a cadre of volunteers, legal help and community leaders, the strategy worked.

Working closely with the solar energy industry in Nevada, we created what we hope is a more engaging ad to thank Representative Dina Titus for supporting American Energy Independence Act, and to educate Nevadans on green energy policy.

The Roan Plateau is one of Colorado’s environmental gems. We produced a series of ads urging Congressional members to support responsible stewardship of the Roan.

Referendum I was the lead ballot measure among a convoluted web of issue campaigns surrounding civil unions for gays in Colorado. Ref I proposed granting gay’s civil unions and the opportunity to enjoy the basic rights straight Coloradans take for granted. As part of the lead strategy team, IKON wrestled for a year with how to communicate around this monstrously complicated issue. And as with many forward looking civil rights proposals, Ref I was rejected by the voters. But it set the stage for historic gains for gays in the state in the past few years courtesy of brilliant politics and courageous public officials. As an ongoing participant in this evolving public policy debate, we will continue working toward the day when all Americans receive fair and equal treatment under the law.

For over a year, a tireless band of volunteers worked completely under the radar laying the ground work to oppose Amendment 46. This poisonous ballot measure was the Colorado version of what passed in 12 other states wiping out 30 years of equal opportunity. But in Colorado, the tables were turned. The “Connerly Amendment” in the form of Amendment 46 was defeated for the first time America. We were privileged to assist the Anti-46 team with strategy and communications in protecting equal opportunity for all Coloradans.

The Colorado TABOR Amendment (constitutional limits on state spending and taxes) strangles the ability of state government to manage Colorado’s budget in a rational way. A number of other state constitutional budget mandates compound the problem many times over. The Amendment 59/SAFE campaign put before the voters the most comprehensive, sensible and acceptable solution to untangling the Gordian knot that is Colorado fiscal law. IKON was asked to serve as part of the lead strategy team, in addition to placing all media for the campaign. Supported by just about every community, business and political group imaginable, SAFE drowned in a sea of over 30 other ballot measures confronting voters. The stage is set, however, for meaningful fiscal reform, based in significant part on the work of the SAFE campaign.