ATLANTA, GA., Dec. 16, 2002, (PR Newswire) --- Business executives Guy C. Griswold and Craig S. Lesser announced the formation of their new public affairs firm, Griswold●Lesser. Initially targeting regulated businesses operating in Georgia, the firm offers legislative, regulatory and media strategic planning. The firm’s strategic consulting services enable senior executives to maximize their company’s success in the regulatory, legislative and media arenas.

When introducing the new firm, co-founder Craig Lesser said "we offer relationship development and management to corporations understanding that their bottom line is directly influenced by regulatory and legislative decisions made on the state, regional and national levels. Our mission is to help our clients achieve better results from regulatory and legislative decisions or minimize the impact of negative ones."

Co-founder Guy C. Griswold emphasized that the firm’s approach to relationship management capitalizes on synergies gained from building relationships with three primary dimensions that influence business. "Developing and building relationships with regulators, legislators and the media is analogous to a three-legged stool. Focusing on any one of these relationships to the detriment of the others creates instability. We develop strategies that enable our clients to create and maintain a balance in these dynamic and vitally important relationships."

Lesser believes that the firm is somewhat unique in the marketplace because it offers an effective one-stop shop solution. "Griswold●Lesser clients are able to focus on their core business instead of orchestrating the activities of an army of individual specialists. They experience accelerated results and realize cost savings and time efficiencies."

"Our 48 years of experience in the regulated, legislative and free market arenas richly supplement the experience of our clients’ in-house staff," said Griswold. "Craig and I draw from our own senior level executive experience to develop an encompassing external view that looks at key business issues from macro and micro perspectives."

Working with senior management, Griswold●Lesser identifies and prioritizes the client’s issues and the appropriate forums to develop timing strategies for introducing the issues. "Our clients are able to develop longer and deeper working relationships with regulators, legislators, the media, business analysts and the investment community after implementing our strategies," said Griswold.

Guy C. Griswold brings a wealth of experience gained from working with large industrial customers including Procter & Gamble and representing industry in economic development and governmental matters. Guy brings a proven ability to establish long-term relationships with government, regulatory and community leaders in many domestic and international locations.

Craig S. Lesser’s experience includes senior level positions at Southern Company and its subsidiaries where he directed the company’s relationships with Congress, the state legislature, the Public Service Commission and numerous state and federal agencies. His experience gives Griswold●Lesser the vision to see a client’s needs, to design a plan and to develop an organization capable of carrying out a successful tactical campaign.

Griswold●Lesser is an Atlanta, Georgia based consultancy offering relationship development and management to corporations influenced by regulatory and legislative decisions made on the state, regional and national levels. The firm’s strategic consulting services enable senior executives to maximize their company’s success in the regulatory, legislative and media arenas. For more information, please visit the firm’s website at www.griswoldlesser.com.