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Avoq
1201 New York Ave., N.W., Suite 900,
Washington,
DC
20005
202/544-8400
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teamavoq
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeamAvoq
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/teamavoq
Latest Avoq News & Updates: teamavoq.com/views-news
Contact: www.teamavoq.com/contact/
Avoq is a full-service firm that helps clients with the highest level of problem-solving, strategic counsel, and insights-powered solutions. We work with our clients to shape narratives and influence conversations.
Employees: 210.
Agency Statement:
Avoq helps companies, organizations and industries elevate ideas, build brands, and tackle reputation or policy challenges. We combine communications and advocacy to creatively shape narratives, manage reputations, influence debates, and engage the audiences you need to reach.
We embrace an ethos of creative advocacy — informed thinking, fresh perspectives, and unique solutions — to drive outcomes with the right audiences at the right time. We don't start with an idea; we start with a hypothesis. But instead of relying on intuition, our network of more than 200 professionals expertly meets today's complex communications and policy challenges with a thoughtful, evidence-based approach that blends data, insights, and creativity.
Paul Frick, Eric Sedler, Dan Sallick, Steve Elmendorf, Jimmy Ryan, Managing Partners & Co-Founders; Molly Scherrman, COO; Kevin Richards, Chief Creative Officer; Andrea Hagelgans, Sophie McCarthy, Heads of Reputation Management; Jeff Smokler, Head of Public Affairs; Yoni Gedan, Head of Audience Intelligence & Performance; Whit Askew, Cedric Grant, Heads of Government Relations
Other office locations: Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Pennsylvania
Avoq in the news with O'Dwyer's:
| • | Avoq Adds Netflix WorkFri., Jan. 16, 2026...
Netflix has hired Avoq for DC representation regarding matters concerning the media and telecommunications sectors.
The streamer has announced... |
| • | H&K CEO Parsons Takes Helm at AvoqTue., Jan. 13, 2026...
Kelli Parsons
Kelli Parsons, CEO of Hill & Knowlton, will take the helm of Avoq on February 1.
She became CEO of H&K in July 1, 2024 and succeeded AnnaMaria... |
| • | Former Imre President Smokler Joins AvoqFri., Dec. 12, 2025...Smokler
Jeff Smokler, who has more than 20 years of healthcare communications experience, has joined Avoq as public affairs lead.
He spent 10 years at imre, where he served as president... |
| • | Clarifying Purpose in Public Health CommunicationsThu., Oct. 23, 2025...turbulence, stay true to their values and remain trusted voices for public health. At Avoq , here’s how we’re helping clients do exactly that.
Silence speaks louder than you think
This isn’t... |
| • | PPHC Readies NASDAQ OfferingTue., Oct. 14, 2025...and FGS, and smaller, more boutique firms such as Penta, Precision, Firehouse Strategies and Avoq as US competitors.
Across Europe, PPHC views Brunswick and Teneo as top competitors, along with... |
| • | CNN Vet Thomas Joins AvoqMon., Oct. 6, 2025...
Megan Thomas
Avoq has added Megan Thomas, who spent 21 years in two stints at CNN, as... |
| • | Tax Pro Levey Joins AvoqThu., Sep. 4, 2025...Levey
Jeff Levey, who was executive director at Ernst & Young’s Washington Council, has joined Avoq as a senior advisor on its government relations team.
He has advised companies on federal... |
| • | GOP Vet Dowling Takes Avoq PostThu., Aug. 28, 2025...
Valerie Dowling
Valerie Dowling, a nearly 10-year veteran of the International Republican Institute, has joined Avoq as senior VP.
The IRI is a non-profit that works to advance freedom and democracy... |
| • | Avoq CEO Cornish to Exit Tue., Jul. 8, 2025...
Nicole Cornish
Nicole Cornish plans to step down from the helm of Avoq by the end of the year to pursue new opportunities.
She will remain on the... |
| • | LinkedIn Lures DC Policy InsidersThu., May 1, 2025...thing that they seem to agree on: the power of LinkedIn.
That’s the conclusion of Avoq ’s 2025 Policy Insiders’ Media Habits Report, which looks at the sharp divides in how... |
| • | PR Firms Post 1.5% Dip in '24 IncomeThu., Apr. 10, 2025...(+14 percent to $41.3M) followed.
Three Top 25 firms dropped out of the rankings.
They are Avoq , which ranked No. 10 on last year’s list with $89.3M in fees; 5W Public... |
| • | Acquisition Wave Washes Over PR in 2024Fri., Dec. 27, 2024...when trust in the news is already at an all-time low.
Subject Matter+Kivvit rebrands as Avoq , an integrated shop with more than 200 professionals in Washington, New York, Asbury Park... |
| • | FEMA's Rothenberg Heads to AvoqTue., Dec. 10, 2024...who was director of public affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has joined Avoq as senior VP in its New York office.
Most recently, she spearheaded FEMA’s messaging and... |
| • | Avoq Acquires SRA CommunicationsMon., Nov. 25, 2024...
Steve Aaron
Avoq has acquired SRA Communications, a Harrisburg-based PA shop focused on public health, banking, energy,... |
| • | Avoq’s Herman Moves to TeneoWed., Nov. 20, 2024...
Eric Herman
Eric Herman, who was a senior VP at Avoq , has joined Teneo in Chicago as managing director in its strategy & communications group.
At... |
| • | Avoq Works DC for Micron TechnologyTue., Nov. 19, 2024...
Micron Technology, the only American producer of memory chips, has signed Avoq for issues related to investment tax credits for semiconductors and US manufacturing competitiveness.
In April,... |
| • | On the Move: Rational 360 Recruits Laydon, KideraThu., Oct. 10, 2024...been VP, communications at Clyde Group and senior director, communications at Subject Matter (now Avoq ), in addition to having worked for 12 years as a journalist. “Courtney’s healthcare strategy... |
| • | News of Firms: Real Chemistry Partners with CoralThu., Oct. 3, 2024...for navigating the complex biotech landscape,” said Real Chemistry integrated commercial solutions officer Ericka McKenna.
Avoq makes a strategic investment in Sundogs, a creative performance company focused on helping companies develop AI-first,... |
| • | Lyle Assumes Avoq NYC GM SlotWed., Jun. 19, 2024...was head of business development for the Americas at Wachsman, comes on board at Avoq as general manager of the agency’s New York office.
At Wachsman, which specializes in blockchain,... |
| • | Zeno’s Calamese Turns to AvoqThu., Jun. 6, 2024...global head of innovation spot during a five-year stint at Zeno Group, has joined Avoq ’s New York office as chief strategy officer.
At Zeno, he drove cross functional innovation and... |
| • | Edelman Vet Hagelgans Joins AvoqWed., May 22, 2024...served as managing director of US social issues & engagement at Edelman, has joined Avoq ’s New York office as senior VP in its strategic communications group.
She will advise clients... |
| • | On the Move: Capital Impact Group Hires HaughtonThu., May 9, 2024...Phil Murphy’s administration, as director of public affairs. Haughton was most recently at Kivvit (now Avoq ) as a senior associate, devising and implementing campaigns for government agencies, nonprofits, labor unions... |
| • | Rush Street Rolls the Dice with AvoqFri., May 3, 2024...
Rush Street Gaming has hired Avoq to handle gaming and sports betting issues that come up in Washington.
Chicago-based Rush Street... |
| • | NYC PR Firms Largest Slice of O'Dwyer's RankingsTue., Apr. 9, 2024...of 12.
D.C. area's top dog is Edelman ($93.2M) followed by newcomer to the rankings Avoq ($89.3), Spectrum ($80M) and 14 more hailing from Alexandria and Arlington, VA across the... |
| • | Missing in ActionWed., Apr. 3, 2024...adding ten new Top 100 Firms, and another six shops beyond the No. 100 position.
Avoq , which was formed by the merger of formerly ranked Kivvit and unranked Subject Matter,... |
| • | PR Firms Post Mere 1.8% Growth in '23Mon., Apr. 1, 2024...a 1 percent dip in workers to 15,151.
They were boosted by the debut of Avoq at the No. 10 position. Formed by the merger of Kivvit and Subject Matter,... |
| • | Data Tells the Crisis StoryMon., Jan. 29, 2024...that the next time a crisis hits, everyone’s ready.
***
Maura Farrell is a Parter at Avoq . Patrick Kerley is Executive Vice President & Head of Insights & Planning at ... |
| • | Subject Matter+Kivvit Rebrands as AvoqWed., Jan. 10, 2024...
Subject Matter+Kivvit, which joined forces in May, has rebranded as Avoq , an integrated shop with more than 200 professionals in Washington, New York, Asbury Park... |
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