PUBLIC
COMMUNITY
MARKETING
FIRM PROFILE
VMA is a full-service, multilingual, and multicultural communications firm that provides high-quality and creative communications that enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve. Since 1996, our award-winning, in-house team has partnered with public agencies across California to turn complex initiatives into clear, compelling stories that engage the public and elevate organizational visibility for clients such as LA Metro, Pasadena Unified School District, Whittier Union High School District, California High-Speed Rail, Delta Conveyance Authority, and many more.
Certified as DBE, SB (Micro), SBE, SMBE/SWBE, WBE, CBE, and LSBE.
OUR TOOLS AND TACTICS
PUBLIC RELATIONS
y Key Message Development
y Social Media & Digital Advertising
y Print & Digital Materials
y Issue / Crisis Management
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
y Meeting Facilitation
y Community Events & Open Houses
y Surveys & Digital Engagement Tools
y Government Relations
CREATIVE SERVICES
y Websites & Microsites
y Photography & Video Production
y Drone Footage & Animation
y Translation Services
MEDIA RELATIONS
y Media Training
y Media Outreach & Management
y Press Events
y Media Buys
EFFECTIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is building an 800-mile system connecting California’s major population centers through one of the largest infrastructure projects in U.S. history. With a $65 billion budget and construction extending through agricultural, suburban, and urban communities, effective communication has been essential to maintaining public understanding and support.
VMA Communications has led large-scale outreach and engagement efforts from Shafter to San Diego, spearheading CEQA/NEPA public involvement, Title VI compliance, political coordination, and government affairs strategy. Our team organized and facilitated hundreds of public meetings,
workshops, and briefings to educate residents, engage local leaders, and resolve technical concerns. We directed outreach for the Bakersfieldto-Palmdale and Burbank-to-Los Angeles project sections, both of which achieved CEQA/ NEPA clearance in 2020 and 2021, marking the first Southern California segments to reach that milestone.
Earlier, VMA played a pivotal role in building statewide momentum for the system’s launch by managing political outreach and campaign communications that contributed to the passage of Proposition 1A, the $9.95 billion HSR bond initiative.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LEGISLATURE
KARMA AUTOMOTIVE
In 2023, Karma Automotive entered a new chapter focused on innovation, sustainability, and workforce development. To elevate its profile and connect with the community, Karma partnered with VMA Communications to highlight the company’s role in clean transportation and local economic growth.
VMA built partnerships with colleges, trade schools, and civic leaders, coordinating tours of the Karma Innovation and Customization Center in Moreno Valley and the Irvine Design Studio for educators and elected officials. The firm also produced
branded videos, fact sheets, and collateral that showcased Karma’s advanced technology, job training initiatives, and regional impact.
In 2024, VMA organized Karma Day at the State Capitol, where the Karma Revero was displayed and policymakers, including Congressman Mark Takano, experienced the company’s commitment to innovation firsthand. These efforts expanded Karma’s visibility, strengthened local partnerships, and positioned the company as a leader in California’s evolving clean-energy economy.
VMA elevates client priorities with public officials through events like “Karma Day.”
BRANDING, STRATEGIC OUTREACH, AND INFRASTRUCTURE STORYTELLING
METROLINK
Metrolink’s $10-billion Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program advances the agency’s vision of a zero-emissions future while improving reliability, safety, and access ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. To support this effort, Metrolink engaged VMA Communications to increase awareness, build community support, and strengthen brand consistency.
VMA developed a comprehensive branding strategy and messaging framework that unified SCORE materials such as fact sheets, flyers, and social media graphics across all communications. VMA
STATE OF GOOD REPAIR
continues to provide strategic outreach and event support to reinforce Metrolink’s role as a trusted mobility provider.
In 2024, VMA produced Metrolink: State of Good Repair, a short documentary capturing behind-thescenes inspections, technology, and maintenance efforts that keep trains safe and sustainable. Through compelling storytelling and visuals, the video helped riders and stakeholders better understand the agency’s commitment to reliability and environmental stewardship.
FOOTHILL BOULEVARD
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom
Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/foothill-blvd-atp2 Passcode: 174322
This meeting will be held in English. If you
materials in another language, please email us at slai@pw.lacounty.gov.
RSVP/Questions: Shirley Lai Project Manager slai@pw.lacounty.gov (626) 300-2619
Join us to learn more about the Plan and how you can get involved!
SERVICES AND TARGETED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Sign-Ups Open
From e-waste to SB 1383 compliance, VMA helps communities get waste rules right.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS CREATIVE
Since 2019, VMA Communications has served on the Los Angeles County Public Works Communications Bench, providing strategic outreach, design, and multimedia services across multiple divisions.
VMA has produced drone videography showcasing major construction programs in East Los Angeles, Calabasas, and Ladera Park; delivered highquality graphic design for fact sheets, brochures, and digital media; and supported community outreach for projects such as the Huntington Drive reconstruction.
For LA County Waterworks, VMA developed a refreshed brand identity and conservation
messaging for bill inserts and social media, along with a fifth-grade curriculum to promote water stewardship.
The team also planned and executed the County’s Organic Waste Management Summit, crafting bilingual messaging and outreach materials to advance public understanding of Senate Bill 1383.
Through creativity, responsiveness, and technical expertise, VMA has become a trusted partner helping Public Works engage residents, visualize progress, and communicate complex infrastructure programs clearly and effectively.
CASE STUDY
KERN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
When the Kern Council of Governments (COG) initiated a study to identify new transit opportunities for rural communities in 2018, VMA Communications was selected to lead public engagement. The challenge was to reach dispersed populations across a large county and gather meaningful feedback on mobility needs.
VMA created a multilingual outreach plan that included stakeholder briefings, pop-up information tables, public open houses, and presentations at local events. Materials such as fact sheets,
FAQs, comment cards, and display graphics were developed in both English and Spanish. The team coordinated ad placements in regional and community media outlets and collaborated with local organizations to share meeting notices.
This inclusive, accessible outreach model successfully increased participation and produced actionable community input, resulting in stronger engagement outcomes than previous efforts and ensuring that residents’ voices directly informed the study’s recommendations.
MEETING FACILITATION
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (AB 617)
Since 2018, VMA Communications has supported the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) AB 617 Community Steering Committees, grassroots groups that shape air-quality and healthimprovement plans for environmental justice communities across Southern California.
VMA has worked closely with communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley, Wilmington/Carson/West Long Beach, and East Los Angeles/Boyle Heights/ West Commerce, providing bilingual facilitation and outreach support tailored to each region’s needs. The firm has managed both in-person and virtual meetings, coordinated logistics, and ensured
inclusive participation by residents, community leaders, and technical experts. VMA currently serves as the lead facilitator for the Eastern Coachella Valley, continuing to guide engagement efforts and strengthen community-driven collaboration.
Drawing on deep cultural and regional expertise, VMA helps translate complex air-quality information into accessible and actionable dialogue. The team’s facilitation and consensus-building skills have been instrumental in developing air-monitoring and emissions-reduction plans that reflect genuine community priorities and drive measurable environmental progress.
VMA INSTANTLY ‘GOT US.’
Their insights, expertise, and strategic input in community outreach, special events management, government affairs, and public relations have been invaluable. Importantly, they worked with all our stakeholders, educating and encouraging residents and business leaders to participate in the process as well as strengthening relationships with local and state politicians.
— Tom Bakaly, Beach Cities Health District, Chief Executive Officer
