Welcome to The Concept Works

I've always been fascinated by the vision of an idea factory.  An environment so conducive to creativity that it just pumps out great ideas. A fun place. A smart place. A productive, results-oriented place that turns ideas into action. A one-of -a-kind place. The Concept Works.

But this company's name also springs forth from its purpose – the singular sense that clients need effective public, media and government relations counsel. There are already too many cute, unrealistic and costly strategies and tactics in the marketplace that don't get the job done. Clients who are investing their resources need to know that the concept works.

That's us. The Concept Works.  A name with two meanings; a company with a single purpose.

The Concept Works. We help clients accomplish their communications goals by connecting them with the right people in the public, media and government every day.”

Eric Woolson
President

Eric Woolson, President/Chief Executive Officer

Eric Woolson founded The Concept Works in 2002 when he saw that Iowans and out-of-state entities doing business in the Hawkeye State needed a single company capable of delivering quality, integrated services in the realms of public, media and government relations and crisis management.

Today, The Concept Works team served the interests of more than 25 corporate, nonprofit and political clients and is fast becoming recognized as the communications firm that gets the job done in Iowa.

Eric Woolson has been a leader in the fields of journalism, politics and public relations in Iowa for almost three decades. He was an adviser and Iowa communications director to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign after serving in the same roles for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad during his final term in office.

As a member of the Iowa press corps during 20 years before embarking on a public relations career, he continues to enjoy a strong reputation for honesty, hard work and goodwill among the state’s print and electronic reporters. He is known for bringing enthusiasm, exemplary problem-solving skills and a can-do spirit to his work, particularly under deadline pressure.

Joel Smits, Account Executive

Joel Smits is an account executive and focuses his considerable enthusiasm to lead successful grassroots and mass media campaigns on behalf of several corporate and political clients. In the fall of 2005, he managed winning campaigns in seven of seven nonpartisan municipal referendums where voters were asked to create government-run telecom utilities. He currently devotes significant time to the Republican Party of Iowa and public and government relations activities on behalf of the Iowa Safe Surfacing Initiative, which installs safer playgrounds in Iowa schools and daycare centers. Joel spent most of his life in Orange City and credits his strong work ethic and conservative views to his Dutch upbringing. He earned a degree in public relations and communications from the University of Northern Iowa.