Ripley PR announced that founder and CEO Heather Ripley will speak at PHCC CONNECT 2025. 

The event will take place Oct. 27-30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, bringing contractors, leaders and vendors together for four days of education, collaboration and networking.

In keeping with this year’s theme of “Growth Through Collaboration,” Ripley will present a session titled “Rise Above the Noise: Harness PR to Strengthen Your Community Connection” from 2-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The session will be held in Overlook D.

“Public relations is sometimes thought of as something that’s strictly reactive, but nothing could be further from the truth,” said Ripley. “When managed proactively and strategically, PR can be a powerful tool for connecting with a local audience and for building real brand distinction. And, because so many competitors overlook it, PR, when leveraged correctly, can be exactly what helps you stand out.”

Ripley’s presentation will equip home service business owners with actionable steps to earn trust within their communities, position themselves as local authorities and ultimately establish long-term success. Drawing from real-world experience elevating home service brands, Ripley will share PR frameworks that can be put into place immediately. Additionally, she will provide strategies for home service companies to optimize their online presence for AI searches, ensuring they show up where their customers are actively seeking information.

In addition, Ripley will appear on a panel discussion titled “Crisis Control: Effective Communication, Coordination, Prevention and Preparation,” to be held 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., also on Oct. 29. At the panel, to be held in Overlook B, Ripley and other experts will offer proven strategies for contractors to defend their reputation and respond to unexpected challenges.

“Every home service contractor is just one headline, one review or one misstep away from a significant reputational threat,” Ripley said. “My goal is to help business owners walk away with a clear plan to protect the business they’ve worked so hard to build, both through proactive PR and through crisis readiness.”

Since 2013, Ripley PR has been in public relations for the home service, manufacturing, franchising and B2B technology industries. The agency has been recognized by the Merit Awards as Best Communications/PR Agency (2025) and was chosen by Newsweek as one of America’s Top PR Agencies (2024).

Over the span of her career, Ripley has helped hundreds of contractors elevate their visibility and reputation. She has earned numerous accolades, including the PRNews Top Women Award (2024) and recognition by ACHR News as one of the Top Women in HVAC (2024). She is also the author of “NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for your Home Service Business,” which is available on Amazon.

More information about PHCC Connect 2025 is available at https://phccconnect2025.eventscribe.net.