PBN 2020 Leaders & Achievers Awards
Nancy Thomas | Owner and president, Tapestry Communications
NANCY THOMAS, owner and president of Cranston-based Tapestry Communications, loves the facets of good public-relations writing: Researching stories and connecting people, for example. She has spent decades building and maintaining her reputation with the media.
“I never lie. I get them what they need,” she said. “My clients need to sound good on radio or I don’t put them on, or be good on TV or I don’t put them on. I spend a lot of time getting to know what media wants, what kind of story they need.”
Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket and the American Heart Association Southern New England chapter in Providence are among the entities Thomas has managed communications for.
Thomas has always been interested in crisis communications. She has a psychology degree from Providence College that she feels applies to her work managing clients’ messaging during difficult times.
Her biggest such client was West Valley Inn in West Warwick, when the banquet hall closed due to financial issues in 2016. After 40 years of operation, “the business collapsed within seven days. Brides were calling who had had weddings scheduled,” Thomas said.
When the story broke, Thomas remembers calming the establishment’s family ownership. The media headed over – many of whom had their own memories there. Thomas said a plan was needed.
“I told the owners our plan was to open the door and show [reporters] the kitchen. I said, ‘Show them the love you have for this place,’ ” urging the inn’s chef to don his chef’s coat in place of a T-shirt.
Her latest venture is RINewsToday.com, a free digital news platform, with Thomas describing its contributors as “some who just love to write.” Thomas has found it fascinating to see what news items get the most clicks, whether it’s a COVID-19 pandemic update or a golf course review.
The graphics side of Tapestry Communications has been busy with companies sprucing up logos and websites during the COVID-19 slowdown, she said. “It’s going to be competitive out there.”
