Just a few weeks after adding another team member to their advocacy department in the Indianapolis office, RJL Solutions, an advocacy and strategic communications firm headquartered in Terre Haute, announces internal changes with more growth in Indianapolis as the driving goal. With one strategic communications team member elevating to an executive level role, another being promoted from within, another moving to lead an Indianapolis division for the department and yet another being elevated to lead community development initiatives, RJL Solutions has big plans that align these changes for the strategic growth of the company.
In just 3 short years, the RJL Solutions team has grown from 1 full-time employee and 1 part-time employee to 10 full-time employees and 3 part-time interns. As an Indiana certified woman-owned enterprise, RJL Solutions continues to grow not only in size, but in services and reach throughout the state of Indiana. Established in 2017, RJL Solutions began as a Terre Haute-based advocacy firm. Adding a strategic communications department was one of the company’s first major decisions after opening in order to provide advocacy clients with other needed services such as public relations, web design, brand strategy and social media marketing. The department quickly grew from one employee to five within 18 months’ time.
Now, with an additional office in Indianapolis and clients all across the state, the firm's services include advocacy, community development, grant writing and marketing. RJL Solutions quickly outgrew its first location on 7th Street in Terre Haute, and in October 2018, the team moved to the second floor at 1125 Wabash Ave. Recently, CEO Rachel Leslie purchased the building and expanded to the main level. In early 2020, RJL Solutions established its first Indianapolis office.
“We have grown quickly yet intentionally since opening three years ago. We have created a pattern of constant planning, implementing, and reevaluating to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve,” states Rachel Leslie, CEO. “We consistently think very deliberately about our services, desired markets, and most importantly, our employees and empowering them to lead and grow alongside RJL Solutions. These changes make sense for all of the above.”
The changes Leslie is referring to include:
Betsy Elliott, former Director of Strategic Communications, becomes Chief Financial Officer.
“We are taking the contemporary CFO approach. This position will not just be managing finances, but will contribute to the strategic growth of RJL Solutions as we expand to other markets across the state of Indiana - using data to make decisions. Betsy has the perfect balance of analytical and big picture thinking that we need in this position,” states Leslie.
As CFO, Elliott will be responsible for maintaining the financial well-being of RJL Solutions and driving sustainable growth of the company. This position will also provide leadership, management and vision in the areas of budgeting, quality control, information technology, project management, and strategic communications to ensure the proper financial performance and strength of RJL Solutions.
Elliott was Leslie’s first hire at the company. She has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University, a master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, and most recently completed the Master of Leadership Development program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Shelby Gifford, former Digital Marketing Manager, becomes Senior Director of Strategic Communications.
As Senior Director of Strategic Communications, Gifford will be responsible for leading the development of strategic communications programs and elevating the profile of RJL Solutions and its clients. She will also lead the expansion of the strategic communications department to other markets, starting with Indianapolis, overseeing headquarters and any satellite locations.
“Shelby is perfect for this position because she can think creatively yet also manage the operational aspect of the position,” states Elliott. “One strength of hers that I am excited to see her develop is the ability to connect the dots between projects and clients to create a full picture. She thinks strategically about collaborative opportunities and provides solutions for how to implement.”
Gifford studied marketing and journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and her previous work at Clabber Girl allowed her to explore her skills in design, analytics, photography and content creation.
Anna Madden, former Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, becomes Director of Strategic Communications - Indianapolis.
Originally from Indianapolis, Madden began her tenure at RJL Solutions as an intern while obtaining her bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in French from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She also recently completed the Master of Leadership Development program and is an active SMWC alumni board member.
“We knew we were ready for a full-time strategic communications employee in Indianapolis, and we knew Anna was personally ready to get back to that location,” states Elliott. “It is a mutually beneficial move and a shining example of how we have built the culture at RJL Solutions to promote employee growth and opportunity.”
Madden will be responsible for leading the development of the strategic communications presence at the already-established Indianapolis office, bringing the total number of Indianapolis employees to three.
McKenzi Kumpf, former Grants Coordinator, becomes Community Development Specialist.
As Community Development Specialist, Kumpf will be responsible for growing the community development services of RJL Solutions and leading initiatives in data collection and analysis, grants development, and strategic planning.
“Grants and community development is perhaps our fastest-growing service right now,” states Hannah Pruitt, Chief Operating Officer at RJL Solutions. “When we hired McKenzi, we knew we had found something special, and she has continued to reinforce that by growing our grant writing offerings exponentially. We know she’ll do the same for community development now that we’ve expanded her role to include these strategies. She is already thinking strategically in matching opportunities and potential partnerships for clients.”
Kumpf is a graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College where she received a degree in professional writing. Her course curriculum and internships strengthened her interest and skills in the grant writing industry, and her time spent at RJL Solutions since being hired in January have given her a newfound passion for community development.
“It’s a lot of change and a lot of growth when you put it on paper,” states Leslie. “But we don’t really know any different! We are always thinking of how we can evolve, and we have a culture that supports that. These internal changes will allow us to better serve our current and future clients as we expand to new markets. I’m excited for what our future holds. We aren’t planning on slowly down any time soon.”
