Austin-based communications agency Crosswind Media & Public Relations has acquired ATX energy, oil and gas PR shop Carmichael Communications & Consulting.

The acquisition, the financial terms of which were not publicly disclosed, becomes official on December 31.

CC&C, which was founded in 2014, represents associations, non-governmental organizations and clients in energy exploration and development. Principal Katie Carmichael previously served as public affairs director to Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter. Earlier in her career she was stationed in the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism in the Texas House of Representatives.

Carmichael now becomes a vice president in Crosswind’s Austin headquarters. The Carmichael brand will cease operations on December 31 and all Carmichael staff will join Crosswind.

Katie CarmichaelKatie Carmichael

“We have a strong and vibrant energy practice, from nuclear energy, renewable energy and oil and gas, and of course Katie knows the oil and gas industry from well head to the burner tip and the regulatory process from the capitol to the agencies, so she’ll provide terrific expertise to our clients,” Crosswind president and CEO Thomas Graham told O’Dwyer’s.

“Crosswind has an impressive team and I’m proud to be joining them, and I’ll both learn from and work alongside some terrific people,” Katie Carmichael told O’Dwyer’s. “Crosswind’s extensive crisis communications and global media reach is a definite need for the industry as our nation’s energy production becomes the dominant force in the global economy.”

Crosswind, which was founded in 2008, maintains additional outposts in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and New York.