Dan CenceDan Cence

Boston-based agency Solomon McCown & Company today announced that it has launched a government relations practice. That newly unveiled operation will be headed by PR strategist and government relations veteran Daniel Cence, who will wear the title of senior vice president.

The agency said the newly minted government relations practice serves as a natural extension of its public affairs expertise.

“Our sweet spot as an agency is at the intersection of business and policy, so we have always had a depth of expertise in public affairs,” Solomon McCown president Ashley McCown told O'Dwyer's. “More and more clients and prospective clients are looking for government relations services, so now is the time to meet that demand.”

Cence will head Solomon McCown’s government relations practice, and will also supply strategic PR counsel for clients in the agency’s real estate, health care, corporate, education and mission-based sectors. He will contribute to Solomon McCown’s integrated digital social media and marketing services, and will also be a member of the agency’s crisis management team.

Cence previously founded and managed two political consulting and government affairs firms. He was principal of Cence Cincotti Strategies, which he founded in 2007, and was previously communications director at Newgrange Consulting. Before that he was director of intergovernmental affairs at the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, and served lawmakers such as Suffolk County DA Dan Conley and former city councilor Tom Keane. He was also part of the reelection team for former Boston mayor Tom Menino.

In a statement, Solomon McCown CEO Helene Solomon said the agency, which had previously worked with Cence "on a number of engagements over the years," would benefit from Cence’s ability to “help advance our clients’ business goals by ensuring their voices are heard in shaping public policy."

Cence called his addition to the agency “a great, natural fit that makes sense on so many levels.”

“We share the same philosophy of fiercely advocating for our clients with a keen eye for detail and a dogged determination to get the job done,” Cence said in a statement.

Boston-based Solomon McCown, which specializes in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs and crisis management, was founded in 2003 and holds an additional office in New York.