# Platform Communications

> Platform Communications is a Madison-founded strategic communications consultancy that combines public affairs, public relations, marketing, digital campaigns, message development and public-opinion research. Its distinctive advantage is not a proprietary product but a concentration of experience from newsrooms, government, political campaigns and corporate communications, applied to clients ranging from local development projects and nonprofits to industry associations and Fortune 500 companies.

- **Founded:** 2017
- **Headquarters:** Madison, United States
- **Founders:** Keith Gilkes (Founder and Executive Chairman)
- **Team size:** Approximately 27 employees in the supplied company record; LinkedIn lists the company in the 11-50 employee range.
- **Products:** Public relations, Public affairs, Marketing and digital, Message development, Badger Battleground Poll
- **Notable:** Supported coalition building, advocacy and communications for Wisconsin's Marsy's Law campaign; the constitutional amendment was approved by 76% of voters in April 2020., Helped launch and lead the statewide Stop the COVID Spread coalition and produced public-service announcements featuring Wisconsin sports and government figures., Supported communications around Foxconn's Wisconsin negotiations across the administrations of two governors from different parties.

## Products & services

- **Public relations** — Media relations, public-image strategy, crisis communications, rollout planning and media training.
- **Public affairs** — Issue advocacy, coalition building, stakeholder management, grassroots programs, government-facing communications and policy strategy.
- **Marketing and digital** — Digital strategy, social programs, branding, creative, advertising and paid advocacy campaigns; formalized as a dedicated division in 2021.
- **Message development** — Messaging strategy, high-level copywriting, executive communications, speeches, thought leadership, books and media preparation.
- **Badger Battleground Poll** — Bipartisan Wisconsin public-opinion research offering clients private questions within a broader statewide poll; advertised in 2025 at $4,500 for the first question and $3,500 for the second, with volume pricing discussed separately.

## Achievements

- Supported coalition building, advocacy and communications for Wisconsin's Marsy's Law campaign; the constitutional amendment was approved by 76% of voters in April 2020.
- Helped launch and lead the statewide Stop the COVID Spread coalition and produced public-service announcements featuring Wisconsin sports and government figures.
- Supported communications around Foxconn's Wisconsin negotiations across the administrations of two governors from different parties.
- Won a 2025 Silver Pollie for work on the MKE 2024 Host Committee volunteer campaign.
- Expanded from its original public-affairs base into dedicated Marketing and Digital, Public Affairs and Message Development offerings.
- Built the Badger Battleground Poll, whose 2025 results received coverage from national and Wisconsin news outlets.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Platform announced Elizabeth Evenson as Vice President of Executive Affairs, named Alec Zimmerman Vice President of Public Affairs and promoted several colleagues in its marketing, digital and public-affairs operations.
- **2025-11** — The firm published results from its bipartisan Badger Battleground Poll ahead of Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial race.
- **2025-10** — Platform marked its eighth anniversary with staff reflections on collaboration, integrated earned and paid media, trust and continuous learning.
- **2025-08** — CEO Brian Reisinger's Land Rich, Cash Poor received the Farm Foundation's inaugural Book of the Year award, which Platform used to illustrate its executive and long-form message-development practice.
- **2025-03** — Platform formally expanded its message-development services to include strategy, high-level copywriting, executive communications, polling, focus groups and message testing.
- **2024-09** — Brian Reisinger became CEO and Senior Writer; founder Keith Gilkes moved to Executive Chairman.

## Links

- Website: https://www.platform-communications.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platform-communications-usa
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PlatformWI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatformWI

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/platform-communications
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-19