Build the communications foundation to lead with credibility from day one.
For new businesses, consultants and nonprofit programs ready to launch — and make your first impression count.
Who I work with
New small businesses You have a launch deadline, a vision and a lot to build. The one thing that can't wait is knowing what you're saying and how to consistently say it across all communications.
New independent consultants You are the brand — and your website, your LinkedIn, your pitch all need to reflect that consistently. Before any of it gets built, you need to know exactly what you're saying and who you’re saying it to.
New nonprofit or academic programs You have funding, stakeholders and a mission that matters. What you need is a communications foundation that makes all three visible to your audiences, your funders and the communities you serve.
Established businesses and consultants You've launched, but something isn't landing. Your messaging has drifted, your positioning is unclear or your communications don't reflect where you are now. Before you rebuild anything, you need to know what's actually not working and why.
Lay the groundwork first. Always.
Most people balk at paying for strategy — it's not tangible, you can't hold it in your hand. So they jump straight to building the website, designing the perfect logo or posting on social media. It feels like movement.
But when it's not tied to a strategy, it shows. Your messaging feels disjointed. Your audience can't figure out who you are or what you do. And fixing it later is a costly lesson — in both time and money.
Measure twice, cut once. The strategy work comes first so everything that follows is built on something solid.
About Kate
I'm Kate Lino, and I help new businesses, organizations and programs build the communications infrastructure they need to launch with credibility.
I bring more than 20 years of communications experience to that process. I’ve built the MarComm function for UNT Health's startup nursing college from the ground up in four months. And I’ve worked with a nearly $6M NIH-funded research study developing messaging, establishing cohesive branding and building audience toolkits across a complex, multi-stakeholder initiative with high funder visibility.
Before that, I spent nearly a decade at the American Heart Association's national headquarters where I collaborated with development teams to build communications strategy and budget recommendations into funding proposals from the start, including early planning for the Hands-Only CPR ($4.6M) and Know Diabetes by Heart ($26M) campaigns.
I know what it takes to build communications that set you up for success.
Your communications foundation starts here
Every engagement is different, but they all begin in the same place: figuring out what you need to say, who you're saying it to and how to say it consistently.
-
Already launched but something isn't landing? Start here. A focused review of your existing messaging, positioning and communications — so you know exactly what to fix before you rebuild anything.
-
Positioning, voice, audience mapping and the messaging foundation that makes everything else work. This is where every engagement for new programs or businesses starts.
-
Website copy, key collateral and the materials your organization needs to show up credibly. Executed against your strategy, not in place of it.
-
Already working with a PR firm, designer or ad agency? I guide the strategy and can project manage the work to ensure alignment across external vendors.
Case studies
A startup nursing college needed to launch as a credible institution. Built the entire MarComm function from scratch in four months — messaging, website, collateral and vendor oversight — in time for their fall semester application launch.
UNT Health College of Nursing
A nearly $6 million multi-year, multi-stakeholder research initiative with high funder visibility needed cohesive communications across multiple audiences. Developed messaging, established branding and built audience toolkits.
NIH-funded research study
Developed messaging and a communications framework for a new strategic plan launch, translating organizational priorities for three distinct audiences — staff, members and sponsors — in time for the annual meeting rollout.
National Recreation & Park Association
In their words
Kate is the person I call when a project needs to get off the ground fast or get back on track — and she always delivers. She's overhauled our website, repositioned my leadership platform and even helped us land a presentation at SXSW EDU. When it matters most, she's the one I can count on to get it done. From the moment I hand a project over to her, my stress level goes down.
— Audrey Rowland, CEO Green Space LearningWhen we launched the Texas Coalition of Forensic Nurses, we needed to show up credibly from day one — and Kate made that possible. She built our website from the ground up and made sure I understood how to manage it. As a volunteer-led organization with a small budget, we didn't want to be dependent on someone else to keep it running. Kate really listened to our needs, delivered exactly what we envisioned and made sure we were empowered to move forward on our own.
— Jenny Black, Founding President, Texas Coalition of Forensic NursesI worked with Kate about getting my brand messaging just right. I was struggling to relate and communicate what I helped clients do best. She helped pull the most beautiful stories from me to create my selling differentiators as well as the unique areas in which I'm awesome/different from other coaches. She's marvelous and SO clear in her approach - uber helpful for me in upping my game!
— Christi Nix Bloomer, PCCKate has a rare ability to take complex, data-heavy content and shape it to communications that actually resonate with audiences. We brought her in as a consultant to develop the framework for a series of impact materials for program funders across our global regions and issues. She managed input from internal SMEs while collaborating seamlessly with our external designer. She understood the problem, knew who she was writing for and delivered work that was immediately ready to use.
— Kelly G., Former client with national nonprofit organizationReady to get started?
Whether you're launching something new or fixing what isn't working, let's figure out where to begin.
