About Us

StrateVantage Communications is a full-service corporate communications and public relations agency with the experience and resources to help virtually any organization position itself more effectively with its stakeholders, revive its brand or deal with a crisis. Based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA, we deliver results for clients at a local level, nationally and around the world.

Our contemporary business model is focused on ensuring that you pay only for the resources that you need. We do this by engaging a select team of independent consultants when, and only when, your work requires their specific skills and expertise. All of our consultants are highly skilled, with decades of experience and a passion for delivering results. You can rely on us to deliver your projects on time and on budget, every time.

StrateVantage was founded by Tracy Shilobrit, a senior communications executive with more than 20 years of experience working in both corporate and agency environments. When you hire StrateVantage, you can rely on Tracy to be your primary point of contact throughout your experience with us, ensuring that every aspect of your project is delivered with high quality, creativity and integrity. As president of the company, she serves as chief strategist for all client work, and delivers much of the work product personally, because that´s what makes this business fun.

Before opening the doors at StrateVantage, Shilobrit served as director of global communications for Manpower Inc., a $22 billion world leader in the employment services industry. In this role, she was responsible for all internal and external communications across 80 countries for the NYSE-listed Fortune 120 firm. Previously she was VP of Marketing & Client Services at a Milwaukee-based PR agency where she served a wide range of companies ranging from telecommunications and health care to manufacturing and tourism. Shilobrit has also led the communications functions for several global manufacturers and a hospital system.

Throughout her career, Shilobrit has built a strong reputation for creating innovative communications programs that consistently deliver exceptional results. Her work has garnered numerous awards from prestigious public relations, investor relations and communications organizations and publications. She is also renowned as a crisis communications expert.

Shilobrit holds a Master´s degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and has completed executive management training at IMD in Switzerland. She has served as a guest lecturer at Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Shilobrit is a member of the boards of directors/trustees for Lad Lake, the Milwaukee World Trade Association, the Public Policy Forum and the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Advisory Board. She also serves on the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Committee and is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and TEMPO Milwaukee.

 

Our Reputation

  • "Tracy Shilobrit, president of StrateVantage, was Director of Global Communications for Manpower Inc. for nine years before starting her company. In this role, she led and managed our PR and communications effort on a global basis, developing strategic communications tools and programs, and directing much of my CEO messaging. At all times, I found Tracy to be thoughtful, diligent, innovative and always focused on delivering high quality results."
    Jeff Joerres
    Chairman and CEO
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy is a thought leader, politically astute, and an exceptionally-talented writer, who never fails to over-deliver. She has a wonderful ability to inspire confidence while mentoring and building the talent of subordinates and colleagues. There are few people with both her competencies and polish. If you are considering hiring her as a consultant, I highly recommend her without reservation."
    Cathi Mohan
    VP-Marketing/Communications
    United Way of Greater Milwaukee
  • "Tracy Shilobrit, president of StrateVantage, was Director of Global Communications for Manpower Inc. for nine years before starting her company. In this role, she led and managed our PR and communications effort on a global basis, developing strategic communications tools and programs, and directing much of my CEO messaging. At all times, I found Tracy to be thoughtful, diligent, innovative and always focused on delivering high quality results."
    Jeff Joerres
    Chairman and CEO
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy always comes in on-time and on-budget with all of her projects, and I plan to hire her again when the need arises for strategic thinking and top-notch implementation. She is exceptionally well-organized and brings a great deal of creativity to the programs she manages-a very effective and welcome combination in a communications consultant."
    Lauren Herb Schudson
    Marketing Manager
    Foley & Lardner
  • "When our business faced a major crisis due to a service failure by one of our vendors that cut off our ability to serve our customers, we called on Tracy Shilobrit and StrateVantage Communications. My business partner and I were extremely impressed with the quality of the work they produced, the advice they provided to us, their PR skills and the speed of their response. Tracy helped us to stabilize the situation and implement damage control efforts that were very effective in rebuilding our credibility with our customers and restoring our revenue streams. I highly recommend StrateVantage to any company that needs help with crisis communications or public relations."
    Steve Liermann
    President
    Niks Auto Parts, Inc.
  • "Tracy Shilobrit, president of StrateVantage, was Director of Global Communications for Manpower Inc. for nine years before starting her company. In this role, she led and managed our PR and communications effort on a global basis, developing strategic communications tools and programs, and directing much of my CEO messaging. At all times, I found Tracy to be thoughtful, diligent, innovative and always focused on delivering high quality results."
    Jeff Joerres
    Chairman and CEO
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy always comes in on-time and on-budget with all of her projects, and I plan to hire her again when the need arises for strategic thinking and top-notch implementation. She is exceptionally well-organized and brings a great deal of creativity to the programs she manages-a very effective and welcome combination in a communications consultant."
    Lauren Herb Schudson
    Marketing Manager
    Foley & Lardner
  • Our crisis communications services have been recognized with PRSA Paragon Excellence Awards for various clients over the years, and one of our crisis communication plans was featured as a best practice for Global 500 companies by the Corporate Executive Board. StrateVantage president Tracy Shilobrit has also conducted speeches and been interviewed as an expert regarding crisis communications during the 9/11 tragedy and the
    Asian tsunami.

    "When our business faced a major crisis due to a service failure by one of our vendors that cut off our ability to serve our customers, we called on Tracy Shilobrit and StrateVantage Communications. My business partner and I were extremely impressed with the quality of the work they produced, the advice they provided to us, their PR skills and the speed of their response. Tracy helped us to stabilize the situation and implement damage control efforts that were very effective in rebuilding our credibility with our customers and restoring our revenue streams. I highly recommend StrateVantage to any company that needs help with crisis communications or public relations."
    Steve Liermann
    President
    Niks Auto Parts, Inc.
  • Our work in CSR and community involvement has won numerous awards and recognition over the years, including PRSA national Bronze Anvil, Paragon Excellence and Best of Show awards, as well as helping our clients to receive recognition in the FTSE400 and the WorldÕs Most Ethical Companies list.

    "Tracy is a thought leader, politically astute, and an exceptionally-talented writer, who never fails to over-deliver. She has a wonderful ability to inspire confidence while mentoring and building the talent of subordinates and colleagues. There are few people with both her competencies and polish. If you are considering hiring her as a consultant, I highly recommend her without reservation."
    Cathi Mohan
    VP-Marketing/Communications
    United Way of Greater Milwaukee
  • Tracy always comes in on-time and on-budget with all of her projects, and I plan to hire her again when the need arises for strategic thinking and top-notch implementation. She is exceptionally well-organized and brings a great deal of creativity to the programs she managesÑa very effective and welcome combination in a communications consultant."
    Lauren Herb Schudson
    Marketing Manager
    Foley & Lardner
  • "I have worked with Tracy in various different roles that I have held during my time with Manpower, and most closely during the last five-year period. Tracy has shown herself during this time to be professional, highly dedicated and responsive. She and her team have created clear and engaging external communications programs that have created a very real interest from our clients, as well as our internal staff, and helped tremendously in creating respect for Manpower in the market as a thought leader in our industry."
    Catherine Lo-Giacco
    Sales and Marketing Director
    Manpower Asia
  • Our award winning PR campaigns have been recognized by PR Week and PRSA on an annual basis, winning Excellence Awards, Best of Show and Global Campaign of the Year awards for numerous clients.

    "In the past decade, I have implemented the thought leadership and PR strategies that Tracy Shilobrit has developed with her team. She has developed a strong vision, complemented by a clear messaging platform and powerful PR and thought leadership tools such as the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey and white paper campaigns. Using these tools, Manpower Belgium became an expert reference in the media in Belgium, even though we are number 5 in sales in our market. We have always appreciated the professionalism of Tracy and the quality of the materials she developed. She elevated the level of expertise across our network and increased awareness of the importance of PR across the whole organization. We wish her a lot of success in her consulting business."
    Marc Vandeleene
    PR and Communications Manager
    Manpower Belgium
  • Tracy always comes in on-time and on-budget with all of her projects, and I plan to hire her again when the need arises for strategic thinking and top-notch implementation. She is exceptionally well-organized and brings a great deal of creativity to the programs she manages-a very effective and welcome combination in a communications consultant.
    Lauren Herb Schudson
    Marketing Manager
    Foley & Lardner
  • We have been honored with PR Week and PRSA Paragon Excellence awards for our thought leadership programs.

    "I have worked with Tracy in various different roles that I have held during my time with Manpower, and most closely during the last five-year period. Tracy has shown herself during this time to be professional, highly dedicated and responsive. She and her team have created clear and engaging external communications programs that have created a very real interest from our clients, as well as our internal staff, and helped tremendously in creating respect for Manpower in the market as a thought leader in our industry."
    Catherine Lo-Giacco
    Sales and Marketing Director
    Manpower Asia
  • "Tracy is a highly professional communications executive. She is creative, a strong problem solver, highly skilled writer and develops her programs to ensure engagement and support from peers and colleagues. Tracy is numerate a good business manager, ensuring her project budgets are met with excellent project management skills. She left a strong legacy of brand positioning with the global PR and thought leadership programs she created at Manpower."
    Varina Nissen
    Senior Vice President - Global
    Marketing and Communications
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy is a thought leader, politically astute, and an exceptionally-talented writer, who never fails to over-deliver. She has a wonderful ability to inspire confidence while mentoring and building the talent of subordinates and colleagues. There are few people with both her competencies and polish. If you are considering hiring her as a consultant, I highly recommend her without reservation."
    Cathi Mohan
    VP-Marketing/Communications
    United Way of Greater Milwaukee
  • "Tracy Shilobrit, president of StrateVantage, was Director of Global Communications for Manpower Inc. for nine years before starting her company. In this role, she led and managed our PR and communications effort on a global basis, developing strategic communications tools and programs, and directing much of my CEO messaging. At all times, I found Tracy to be thoughtful, diligent, innovative and always focused on delivering high quality results."
    Jeff Joerres
    Chairman and CEO
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy is a thought leader, politically astute, and an exceptionally-talented writer, who never fails to over-deliver. She has a wonderful ability to inspire confidence while mentoring and building the talent of subordinates and colleagues. There are few people with both her competencies and polish. If you are considering hiring her as a consultant, I highly recommend her without reservation."
    Cathi Mohan
    VP-Marketing/Communications
    United Way of Greater Milwaukee
  • "Tracy Shilobrit, president of StrateVantage, was Director of Global Communications for Manpower Inc. for nine years before starting her company. In this role, she led and managed our PR and communications effort on a global basis, developing strategic communications tools and programs, and directing much of my CEO messaging. At all times, I found Tracy to be thoughtful, diligent, innovative and always focused on delivering high quality results."
    Jeff Joerres
    Chairman and CEO
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy always comes in on-time and on-budget with all of her projects, and I plan to hire her again when the need arises for strategic thinking and top-notch implementation. She is exceptionally well-organized and brings a great deal of creativity to the programs she manages-a very effective and welcome combination in a communications consultant."
    Lauren Herb Schudson
    Marketing Manager
    Foley & Lardner
  • "When our business faced a major crisis due to a service failure by one of our vendors that cut off our ability to serve our customers, we called on Tracy Shilobrit and StrateVantage Communications. My business partner and I were extremely impressed with the quality of the work they produced, the advice they provided to us, their PR skills and the speed of their response. Tracy helped us to stabilize the situation and implement damage control efforts that were very effective in rebuilding our credibility with our customers and restoring our revenue streams. I highly recommend StrateVantage to any company that needs help with crisis communications or public relations."
    Steve Liermann
    President
    Niks Auto Parts, Inc.
  • "Tracy Shilobrit, president of StrateVantage, was Director of Global Communications for Manpower Inc. for nine years before starting her company. In this role, she led and managed our PR and communications effort on a global basis, developing strategic communications tools and programs, and directing much of my CEO messaging. At all times, I found Tracy to be thoughtful, diligent, innovative and always focused on delivering high quality results."
    Jeff Joerres
    Chairman and CEO
    Manpower Inc.
  • "Tracy always comes in on-time and on-budget with all of her projects, and I plan to hire her again when the need arises for strategic thinking and top-notch implementation. She is exceptionally well-organized and brings a great deal of creativity to the programs she manages-a very effective and welcome combination in a communications consultant."
    Lauren Herb Schudson
    Marketing Manager
    Foley & Lardner