What clients say

Over the past two years, I have come to rely on Mac Cordell as a trusted strategic advisor and thought partner. He is a thoughtful listener, an invaluable strategic partner, and someone who understands that effective communication is about much more than getting the right words out. When done well, communication is a tool that enables organizations to build and maintain trust. When not handled well, it has the opposite impact. Mac has an extraordinary ability to bring clarity to complex situations where there is no obvious path forward.

Last summer, a student in our community was wrongfully detained by ICE, and we found ourselves at the center of an incredibly complex and emotionally charged situation. There were legal considerations, student privacy concerns, intense media scrutiny, widespread community interest, and considerable uncertainty about how events would unfold. Every communication had the potential to affect not only public perception but also the well-being of a student and family we were committed to protecting.

Throughout that experience, Mac was indispensable.

He served as a trusted partner to our executive leadership team, helping us navigate competing priorities with remarkable judgment and composure. He anticipated questions before they were asked, helped us evaluate the risks of different communication approaches, coordinated messaging among stakeholders, and ensured that every public statement reflected both our legal responsibilities and our unwavering commitment to our students.

Above all else, Mac never lost sight of the human side of the situation. He consistently brought the conversation back to our school's values and the child at the center of the crisis. His guidance helped us communicate with compassion, credibility, and transparency while avoiding speculation and protecting the integrity of an evolving situation.

Mac is someone I want beside me when the stakes are highest. He asks insightful questions that sharpen executive decision-making, understands how legal, operational, political, and communications considerations intersect, and helps leaders navigate those intersections with confidence and clarity.

School leaders today are asked to respond to issues that move quickly, attract significant public attention, and almost never come with a playbook. Whether facing a crisis, managing a sensitive personnel issue, responding to community concerns, or navigating an unexpected challenge, having someone like Mac on your team is invaluable.

— Assistant Superintendent, school district in Georgia

I have served on our school board for nearly a decade, and in that time, few advisors have earned the trust Mac Cordell has. I have relied on Mac more than almost any other advisor outside my own board. Whether it is personnel matters, capital campaign messaging, or board compliance concerns, the situations he has helped us navigate are varied, but his approach is consistent.

He doesn't just address the immediate problem in front of us. He thinks about the collateral impact and asks how a decision made today will impact trust in our leadership months or years from now, as well as how to best communicate that decision to people who were not in the room when it was made.

Mac understands our district, its history, its culture, the particular pressures we operate under, in a way that few outside advisors ever do. When he offers counsel, it does not feel like generic guidance applied to any district. It feels like authentic advice from someone who knows us and is truly invested in the future and success of the students, the staff, and the entire district. And yet he holds the outside perspective that those of us inside a crisis often lose. He brings calm and clarity precisely because he is not caught up in the moment the way we are.

His familiarity with who we are, paired with the clarity of someone who is not emotionally entangled in the moment, is rare. I trust his judgment without reservation, and I recommend him without hesitation.

— Board of Education President, mid-sized school district in Central Ohio

I recommend Mac wholeheartedly to any organization seeking expertise in crisis planning and crisis communications.

I have known Mac for approximately fifteen years and have had the privilege of serving alongside him in several capacities, including as a trusted advisor to our organization, where I serve as Board President. Throughout those years, I have come to appreciate not only his exceptional communication skills, but also his unique ability to help organizations prepare for, navigate, and emerge stronger from difficult situations.

Mac possesses a rare gift that goes well beyond writing. He understands that in a crisis, what you say matters, but equally important is knowing when to speak, how to speak, and, sometimes, whether to speak at all. He has an incredible ability to help leaders slow down, evaluate the situation, anticipate how stakeholders will respond, and develop a thoughtful plan before emotions take over. His calm demeanor and strategic thinking bring confidence to situations that can otherwise feel overwhelming. Having someone like Mac at your side during those moments is invaluable.

Our organization already operated under a lot of scrutiny, but at one point, there was a direct threat to a similar organization at a neighboring school district, creating uncertainty and raising difficult questions about how our organization should respond. My first instinct was to react quickly, but instead, I turned to Mac. Rather than simply helping us write a statement, he helped us develop a communication strategy. He guided us through the possible outcomes, challenged me to think beyond the immediate issue, and ensured our response reflected our mission instead of our emotions. His steady counsel brought clarity during a very turbulent time, and his planning gave us confidence long before any words were ever published.

Even before working with him as board president of this board, I had the opportunity to work with Mac on another board navigating significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, where I witnessed the same steady leadership, strategic thinking, and sound judgment. His background as a journalist gives him an exceptional understanding of how messages are received. At the same time, his years in ministry have shaped his ability to lead people with empathy and wisdom.

Combined with his strategic mindset, Mac offers something every organization needs during challenging times: a trusted advisor who helps leaders think clearly, plan wisely, and communicate effectively. Sometimes the greatest value in a crisis isn't finding the perfect words, it's having someone like Mac beside you, providing calm, thoughtful guidance before those words ever need to be spoken.

— Board President, school-related nonprofit organization