Williams Environmental, the Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) contractor handling environmental cleanup of a canal that ran through more than 90 residences and businesses in Waycross, Ga., hired Duffey to lead community relations efforts. The goal of the program was to minimize negative media coverage of the effort, curtail fears, complaints and interruptions by the community, and portray AGLC as a responsible corporate neighbor.

Duffey took a proactive approach to the program, conducting town hall meetings, opening a community information office, providing progress reports to community leaders, distributing newsletters and fliers/creating signage throughout the project, conducting pre- and post-cleanup visits with affected property-owners, serving as media spokespersons and conducting media tours of completed work areas.

Due to the community relations efforts, media coverage of the cleanup turned extremely positive; there was not one significant complaint about the cleanup.