Flowers Communications Group

Areas of Expertise

Integrated marketing communications, advertising, public relations, promotions, special events, media relations and crisis communications.

Organization Profile

Flowers Communications Group (FCG) was founded in Chicago by D. Michelle Flowers Welch in 1991. Over the years, the marketing firm has rapidly emerged to become one of the most sought-after players in the field, owing to its penchant for creating innovative, award-winning public relations campaigns and signature programs that “reach and respect” the African American consumer in the top 20 urban markets and nationwide.

Professional Background

During her more than 25 years in the business, Flowers’ career path has taken her from her native North Carolina beginnings as an internal and field communications specialist at an insurance company to several communications positions at the Chicago Urban League. She began her career in agency public relations at Golin/Harris Communications, one of the top PR firms in the country. Pursuing her desire to work in ethnic marketing, Flowers later joined Burrell Communications Group as assistant vice president and rose to senior vice president in three years. Having helped to grow Burrell’s public relations division into an award-winning shop, she left to open the “Flower Shop” in 1991, and the rest is history.

Education/Awards

Flowers holds a master’s degree in advertising from Northwestern University and is a magna cum laude graduate of Winston-Salem State University, where she majored in English. She has received more than 75 industry awards for communications excellence, including more than 15 Gold and Silver Trumpets and several Awards of Merit from the Publicity Club of Chicago, plus three Silver Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of America. She also holds more than 10 Spectra Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators and two CIPRA Awards from Inside PR magazine. She has been named one of Chicago’s “Top 100 Black Business and Professional Women,” one of the Chicago Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Citizens, is the recipient of the “Woman of the Year Award” given by the National Council of Negro Women, is a Chicago Urban League “Beautiful People” honoree, and was a charter inductee into Northwestern University’s Hall of Fame. Flowers served as guest lecturer in the business school at Miami University in Oxford, OH.

Business/Community Affiliations

Advisory Committee member, former Advisory Board Chair, Black Creativity; Advisory Committee member, ETA; member, Chicago Urban League, Public Relations Society of America, Publicity Club of Chicago, National Black Public Relations Society and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Clients Include

Altria Group Inc., American Honda Motor Co., Burris, Wright, Slaughter & Tom, LLC, Lawry’s Foods, Luster Products, McDonald’s, Miller Brewing Company, Philip Morris USA, Walgreen Co.

Certifications

City of Chicago / State of Illinois / MBE/WBE