Lincoln Churchill Advisors and StreetSmart Strategies Join Forces

CHICAGO, Feb. 01, 2017 -- Chicago-area communications firms Lincoln Churchill Advisors and StreetSmart Strategies announced today the two firms have joined forces to create a leading full-service investor relations (IR), and corporate and crisis communications firm. Lincoln Churchill Advisors, led by Nathan Elwell and Chris Kettmann, provides unparalleled strategic counsel and exceptional program execution in the areas of investor relations and corporate, event-driven and internal communications.  The firm helps clients protect and strengthen their reputation and valuation through strategic and innovative communications programs, while also achieving successful outcomes to critical corporate events.

Prior to co-founding Lincoln Churchill Advisors, Kettmann and Elwell had more than 35 years of combined communications consulting experience to more than 100 public and private companies across a variety of industries.  Elwell was previously a Managing Director at FTI Consulting, General Manager at Financial Dynamics and Senior Vice President at Ashton Partners. Kettmann was previously a Founding Partner at Clermont Partners, Managing Director at FTI Consulting and Senior Vice President at Ashton Partners.

StreetSmart Strategies (www.streetsmartstrategies.com), incorporated in 2003 by Founder & President Tim Gerdeman, provides publicly-traded corporations with C-suite level outsourced investor relations services to significantly supplement each client’s internal IR activities.  StreetSmart Strategies has helped numerous corporations achieve significantly higher equity valuations, broader sell-side equity research coverage, and larger, more stable institutional investor shareholder bases. 

Before founding StreetSmart Strategies 14 years ago, Gerdeman was a Managing Director and Institutional Investor magazine ranked U.S. Equity Research Analyst at Lehman Brothers.  Prior to Lehman Brothers, Gerdeman held similar sell-side Equity Research positions at Citigroup, Salomon Brothers and Kemper Securities, covering the Specialty Chemicals & Materials sector.  Earlier in his career Gerdeman was a Senior Consultant at the leading global chemical industry management consulting firm Kline & Company, Director of National Accounts at environmental remediation firm OHM Corporation, and he began his career as a Territory Manager at paint & coatings producer Valspar Corporation. 

Commenting on the announcement, Gerdeman stated, “I am very excited to join forces with such a talented group of communications experts. The combined team will have a broader service offering and professional capabilities that will significantly benefit our C-suite clientele.”

Kettmann and Elwell added, “Combining Tim’s 30 years of Wall Street, investor relations and management consulting credentials with Lincoln Churchill’s extensive capabilities will provide significant benefits to our current and future clients alike. Our combined firm will maintain a Midwestern work ethic and value system while continuing to provide best-in-class services to our clients around the world.” 

The firm will operate under the Lincoln Churchill Advisors name and will remain headquartered in Evanston, Illinois.  Elwell, Kettmann and Gerdeman will co-manage the combined entity going forward and expect to continue expanding their team in 2017 and beyond.  To learn more about Lincoln Churchill Advisors’ capabilities, please visit www.lincolnchurchilladvisors.com.

Contacts:
Nathan Elwell
[email protected]
Chris Kettmann
[email protected]
Tim Gerdeman
[email protected]