About Us

Our Values:

Strategic Marketing Group, LLC was founded in 2003 to offer clients an innovative approach to fundraising, branding and public relations. Our values are simple. We pride ourselves on honesty, integrity and providing our clients with more than they expect. SMG has worked with several non-profits, trade associations, state government officials, private businesses, elected officials and schools to help them shape their public relations, fundraising or branding strategy.

SMG President

Heath Hall

Heath Hall serves as president and chief executive officer of Strategic Marketing Group, LLC, a full-service public relations firm specializing in general public relations, crisis management, media maximization, social media, government affairs, fundraising, and political campaigns (49:9 win/loss ratio). He served in this capacity for almost ten years prior to accepting his appointment to the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Heath served as deputy administrator/acting administrator of FRA in Washington, D.C. from 2017-2018. The mission of FRA is to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods through America’s rail system. FRA accomplishes its mission through more than 900 employees, a $1.5 billion budget and eight regional offices.

During his term, Mississippi received more than $17 million to help improve railroads, Heath streamlined procedures and helped ease regulations on rail companies, without compromising safety. In addition, he established a merit-based fine system on railroads versus the then 78 percent quota system. Heath also managed the agency through two major hurricanes where FRA granted emergency waivers in a matter of hours versus days by increasing efficiency in government. He was appointed by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation to serve on several railroad-related boards and commissions.

Prior to starting SMG, Heath served almost nine years as vice president of External Affairs and Development at the Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA), where he was responsible for fundraising, marketing, and public relations.

In addition, while at MTA, Heath and his team started Pointe Innovation Magazine, an award-winning quarterly publication devoted to the culture of technology and innovation in Mississippi. As publisher, he was responsible for generating revenue for the magazine, coordinating the staff, and managing the editorial and financial budgets. Pointe Innovation Magazine made a financial profit every issue while Heath served as publisher.

He also helped start the Communication Information Technology organization of Mississippi (CIT.ms) to promote the value of IT professionals, to strengthen the industry throughout the state and to provide invaluable networking opportunities through monthly meetings and annual conferences.

Heath has written and published more than 20 columns about the importance of innovation-based economic development and the importance it has on creating jobs in the Southeast.

Heath served as senior vice president of External Affairs and Development at the Mississippi Economic Council, the State Chamber of Commerce, where he managed the marketing, fundraising, and public affairs departments. He met or surpassed all financial goals by recruiting new members, upgrading current memberships, special issue fundraising and major sponsorships. Heath also implemented a sophisticated interactive grassroots communications system, providing business leaders with an instantaneous voice at the State Capitol.

Heath also served as Governor Kirk Fordice's director of public affairs, where his duties included serving as the national and state spokesperson for the governor, writing speeches, coordinating media relations, and managing the Public Affairs department.

Prior to being named Governor Fordice's director of Public Affairs, Heath served as the Governor's deputy press secretary. He also worked on Governor Fordice's reelection campaign as the deputy director of communications.

Heath began his public relations career with the Federal Railroad Administration in Washington, D.C., later moving into the deputy secretary's office in the United States Department of Transportation. He also served as an intern in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the George H. W. Bush Administration.

Following his position at the White House, Heath became a staff assistant to the director of the Peace Corps of the United States in Washington, D.C. Upon returning to Mississippi in 1993, he moved into the role of public relations/financial development specialist for the American Red Cross of Mississippi.

During his years with the American Red Cross, Heath managed the major gifts fundraising campaign, which raised money to help Mississippians prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters. He also served as the official media spokesperson during Mississippi-based disasters.

Heath is currently a member of the Magazine Publishers of America, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the USA Triathlon organization of America.

He served as Chairperson of the American Cancer Society’s Health Initiative Action Team and was previously on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives and the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Heath graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Art degree in political science in 1992.

Heath lives in Madison, Mississippi.