Solid, seasoned professionals—that’s the distinctive Walls Communications advantage. The people who comprise Walls Communications are skilled problem-solvers, and by virtue of their education and professional experiences, thoroughly grounded in effective communications practices and principles. The experiences of Walls Communications’ professionals include print and broadcast journalism; policy, program and political analysis; and international relations. Based on our collective and diverse individual skills, clients consistently benefit from a rigorous and realistic approach that produces effective media relations, public relations and public affairs counsel and services. We get results through a perfect blend of expertise and flexibility.
Lon Walls, President & CEO
Lon Walls, president and CEO of Walls Communications, Inc., established the firm in 1993 after leaving his position as vice president and manager of the Washington, DC office of Hill & Flowers Public Relations, a Chicago-based public relations agency.
Walls Communications is an award-winning, full service public relations firm offering clients a full range of communications support, including strategic counsel, utilization of Social Media, production and distribution of audio news releases (ANRs) and production of video news releases (VNRs). The firm’s client list has included AT&T, ACE Cash Express, Bank of America, Burger King, Denny’s Restaurants, PEPCO, Miller and Long Construction, DuPont, Freddie Mac, the NAACP, the National Urban League, the Black Methodist Coalition, Pfizer, Shell Oil and the U.S. Army.
From January 2011 to June 2013, Lon temporarily stepped away from his firm to serve as the Communications Director of the District of Columbia’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services (F&EMS). In that position, he managed all media relations activities, community outreach efforts, internal communications and external marketing for that District Government’s emergency response agency. In addition, for seven months, he was detailed to the Office of Communications for District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray to provide the Mayor’s Office with strategic counsel, crisis communication support and speech writing services.
From 1990 to 1993, Lon served as the Director of Media Relations and Special Projects for the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in Washington. During his tenure at DOT, he managed and coordinated all media relations activities for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Transportation. In addition, Lon created and implemented a nationally distributed radio news actuality service and managed an extensive internal communications system for the Department’s 110,000 employees nationwide.
Before his Presidential appointment to DOT, he served as campaign communications director for District of Columbia mayoral candidate Maurice Turner. Preceding his foray into politics, Lon spent more than 10 years in the field of health care public affairs and public relations. From 1988 until 1990, he was the news bureau director for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, serving as chief spokesperson and manager of the media relations department for the 279-bed pediatric medical center.
Lon served as the media relations manager for several other Washington area health care facilities, including Fairfax Hospital and Greater Southeast Community Hospital. He began his health care career with the American Red Cross in 1979 as the public relations director of the organization’s Northwest Ohio Chapter. From 1979 until 1982, he was a media relations specialist for the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, DC.
Lon is a past president of the Capital Press Club, the nation’s oldest African-American press organization, and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. He received a Bachelor of Arts in history and English and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, both from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He is also a 4th Degree Black Belt in the Burmese martial art of Bando, having trained and fought in the art for more than 40 years.