About the Calendarizers

Jonathan Lehrer, Principal

With more than 30 years as a professional communicator, I am a public relations consultant with special focus on Internet communications, including social media, Web sites and e-newsletters. I work with non-profit organizations, government agencies and small- to medium-sized business on strategy, staff support and project execution.

Following graduation from Northwestern University’s School of Communication with a major in Radio-TV-Film, I was an editor, reporter and news anchor for several Chicago and suburban radio stations. This led to an 18-year career at the AAA-Chicago Motor Club as vice president of public affairs, chief media spokesperson and editor of the 400,000-circulation membership magazine. In 1999, I left AAA to form Jonathan Lehrer Communications (clever name, eh?) focusing on member, constituent and customer communication for healthcare clients, non-profits, small businesses and Jewish organizations. I have worked on teams that provided public relations services and enewsletter communications for several multi-billion-dollar highway re-construction projects in Chicago.

I build Web sites in WordPress and my firm is a Chicago-based Constant Contact Solutions Provider. For various client assignments I use such content management systems as Convio, Blackbaud NetCommunity and SurveyMonkey.

I occasionally give presentations and workshop on new media, speaker training and communications planning. 

Formulating and delivering messages that drive action has been the focus of my 30-year career in communications.

From 2000 to mid-2013, that entailed working with some of the largest prescription-drug brands in the world at the medical-communications agency that I co-founded and helped lead as editorial director, chief strategy officer and, ultimately, chief operating officer. Prior to that, I served as the editor of medical journals, business magazines, and local newspapers, and as a public information officer for government agencies. Throughout those years, and today, my work on the board of several non-profit organizations has enabled me to help those groups tell their stories effectively.

Whether creating materials that a medical expert uses to educate her primary care colleagues about a new therapy, assisting a business owner with a social media campaign that provides ongoing customer engagement, or counseling a non-profit organization on how to expand its member base, I am a fervent believer in – and practitioner of – communications as catalyst.
I’m honored that my work has been recognized by a number of groups, including American Business Media, which presented me with its Jessie H. Neal Award for excellence in business journalism. But the recognition I value most is a client’s report that we have helped meet a challenge, realize an opportunity, and drive growth.

I would much rather discuss your story than mine, however, and invite you to contact us to learn more about how Jonathan and I can work with you to strategize, mobilize, and calendarize to further your goals.