Hawthorne Strategy Group

11/04/2026

Our client, the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC), recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of impact for women entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Co-founder Hedy Ratner spoke with Rachel Yoon of Inc. Magazine azine about her life’s work advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs, the donation of her personal archives to the University of Chicago and the WBDC’s lasting impact on small businesses across the Midwest.

We are proud to support the WBDC and celebrate leaders like Hedy, whose work and commitment will continue to shape the future for women business owners for years to come.

Read the full article here:

Four decades after co-founding the Women’s Business Development Center in Chicago, the 85-year-old says there's still work to be done.

11/03/2026

As PR professionals, we’re used to being the ones behind the scenes, helping our clients shine, so it means a lot to see our own leader recognized.

Congratulations to Hawthorne Strategy Group President and CEO Cynthia McCafferty on being named one of Crain's Chicago Business Notable Leaders in Communications!

Cynthia sets Hawthorne’s direction, oversees the agency’s operations and growth and, most importantly, is never too far removed from the work. She’s there helping clients navigate high-stakes crises, prepare for emerging reputational challenges, launch major initiatives and make sure leaders are ready when the spotlight is on them.

Her counsel has helped organizations turn difficult moments into opportunities to strengthen trust and tell a bigger story.

We’re proud to see her so rightfully recognized for her leadership, contributions and commitment to the communications industry.

Read more about the recognition: https://lnkd.in/gBn2ijcb

10/28/2026

Last week, the Hawthorne team celebrated the release of Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home)'s cookbook, "Recipes from Our Home," which supports their mission of ending gender violence, empowering survivors, and engaging communities.

The gathering recognized the strength of Apna Ghar's community and bonds built through cooking.

Thank you to Apna Ghar for recognizing Hawthorne as a contributor to the cookbook. We are honored to support the commitment to advancing human rights through this impactful effort.

All proceeds from the cookbook benefit Apna Ghar. You can purchase your copy at https://apnaghar.org/recipes/

10/23/2026

We were proud to support our client, C5 Artist Foundation at another unforgettable Dance Divas showcase! Held October 10 and 11 at The Rhapsody Theater, this year's theme "Everything Old Is New Again," brought together more than 40 of Chicago's top dancers to pay homage to classic dance performances. Proceeds benefited the Chicago Dance Health Fund, directly supporting the health and wellness of the city's dance community.

10/22/2026

Congratulations to our client, Women's Business Development Center on 40 years of supporting business owners! Last week's 40 & Forward anniversary event at Adler Planetarium honored the founders, business owners, partners, and leaders who shaped WBDC's first four decades. We were honored to be a part of the celebration.

10/20/2026

Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home) just released "Recipes from Our Home," a cookbook containing 29 recipes shared by survivors of gender-based violence. This collection was gathered through years of cooking programs hosted at Apna Ghar's emergency housing services.

Hawthorne is proud to support Apna Ghar's mission through this project, and we look forward to readers creating each dish for their own homes this holiday season.

You can learn more about "Recipes from Our Home" and the mission of Apna Ghar in this article from Block Club Chicago: https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/10/19/recipes-shared-by-domestic-violence-survivors-find-home-in-uptown-shelters-cookbook/

10/13/2026

Last week, the Hawthorne team attended the 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards hosted by the Publicity Club of Chicago. It was great to see our team's hard work recognized, and none of it would be possible without our amazing clients!

We're proud to have taken home the following awards for our work with Solar Powers Illinois, Organogenesis, Chicago Dental Society, Lasagna Love, and Hope Ignites:

Golden Trumpet - Media Relations - Solar Powers Illinois
Golden Trumpet - Public Affairs - Solar Power Illinois
Golden Trumpet - Special Events/Experiential - Organogenesis
Golden Trumpet - Influencer/Creator Campaigns - Chicago Dental Society
Silver Trumpet - Integrated Marketing Communications - Chicago Dental Society
Silver Trumpet - Association Communications - Chicago Dental Society
Silver Trumpet - Nonprofit Communications - Hope Ignites
Silver Trumpet - Nonprofit Communications - Lasagna Love

Thank you to our clients for your trust and collaboration, and to the Publicity Club of Chicago for hosting such a wonderful event!

09/30/2026

Welcome aboard to Hawthorne's newest intern, Mallory LaPlante! Mallory has already been hard at work in September alongside the Hawthorne team and we're very happy to have her with us for the Fall.

Learn more about Mallory on our website:
https://www.hawthornestrategy.com/mallory-laplante

09/28/2026

The Hawthorne team recently attended the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards to celebrate our incredible team, wonderful clients, and hard work!

We are honored to have taken home the following awards for our work supporting Chicago Dental Society and Solar Powers Illinois:

Skyline Award, Newsletters, Solar Powers Illinois
Award of Excellence, Media Relations - Nonprofit, Solar Powers Illinois
Award of Excellence, Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability, Solar Powers Illinois
Skyline Award, Influencer Marketing - Micro, Chicago Dental Society
Award of Excellence, Influencer Marketing - Macro, Chicago Dental Society
Skyline Award, Integrated Communications - Nonprofit, Chicago Dental Society

09/02/2026

Congratulations to our client, the Women's Business Development Center, for 40 years of supporting small business owners throughout its nine-state region of operation!

The WBDC's community is celebrating with regional events to connect, learn, and build the future of small businesses. The first regional event kicked off in Milwaukee last month, with another upcoming event in Minneapolis and the main event on Oct. 15 at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Check out the photos in BizTimes Milwaukee:

The Women's Business Development Center recently hosted the 2026 WBDC Small Business Social, drawing Wisconsin entrepreneurs, partners, staff and