Fenton has acquired PR & Co. to bolster its position in the education, philanthropy and ed-tech sectors in the San Francisco Bay market.

Ben WyskidaBen Wyskida

Pat Reilly, one-time press secretary to San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, founded PR&C 20 years ago. She also served as crisis counselor at PBN Co, communications director at Net Channel Internet-enabled TV outfit acquired by AOL, and co-founder of Charge Across Town.

PR&Company will fold as a result of the acquisition, with all clients and work now wholly part of Fenton. The agency’s physical office will close, and Reilly now assumes a senior strategic consultant post at Fenton. No other staff changes will occur.

Reilly is also co-founder of political polling and public opinion research operation Change Research, which now becomes an exclusive communications partner with Fenton.

“What PR&Co brings to Fenton are great clients working in education, philanthropy and ed tech,” Fenton CEO Ben Wyskida told O’Dwyer’s. “Education and philanthropy are two areas of real expertise and passion for Fenton, so this is a move that expands our footprint in sectors where we have a strong team and a growing practice. It also expands our reach in the Bay Area, where we’ve just added a terrific new managing director.”

PR & Co works for Stuart Foundation, EdSource, WikiEducaton, Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, Teachers Pay Teachers and Kaufmann Fellows.