 Jon Bloom |
McGrath/Power has formed a team devoted to working with its growing number of clients in the cannabis industry. Agency CEO Jon Bloom, who has overseen each of M/P’s cannabis programs, will be leading the team. The firm entered the weed space in 2015, during the “medicinal cannabis” era in California, with its first client, Constance Therapeutics. Two pot clients have recently come on board: The Handpicked Company, a flower and cannabis derivatives supplier, and C4 Distro, a distribution company based in Southern California.
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The BMF Media Group has acquired LFB Media Group. LFB’s founder and principal, Ashley Chejade-Bloom, joins BMF Media’s leadership team as executive VP, dedicated to sales strategy and innovation. Selmin Arat, LFB's president, will handle day-to-day management, including client services, strategy, and talent. The acquisition results in new shared headquarters in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, and an expanded offerings in Los Angeles, Miami, Austin and London.
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Philadelphia-based SPRYTE Communications recently completed a volunteer judging assignment to help choose winners of the 2018 College & University Public Relations and Associated Professionals CUPPIE Awards. The SPRYTE team reviewed nearly 100 brochures and postcards designed by colleges and universities and other agencies that partner with them. The pieces were created to promote enrollment, awards and recognitions, or special university programs. The awards will be presented March 15 at the Marriott Penn Square in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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AMPERAGE Marketing & Fundraising has acquired Creative Communication & Design, an agency with offices in Wausau and Madison, WI. Creative will be re-branded as AMPERAGE. The combined company will incorporate Creative owners Chris Liedtkem who will be AMPERAGE’s director of Wisconsin operations, and Cindy Baumann will be AMPERAGE’s creator of opportunities. A 40-person agency with offices in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities and Des Moines, IA. AMPERAGE works in the healthcare, education, financial and nonprofit sectors.
4media group completes its acquisition of Family Features Editorial Syndicate... Illumination PR, which represents lifestyle brands, influencers and celebrities, launches DR Media Group... EAG Advertising and Marketing acquires pay-for-performance firm INK inc. Public Relations. 
LLYC launches Signs of Pride, a campaign that revives the original protest banners of the first Pride marches... The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry forms the Public Relations and Digital Marketing Working Group... Circle of One Marketing, a Miami-based, minority-owned marketing agency, is named official agency of record for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. 
Vogel Group, a DC-headquartered government affairs and consulting firm, forms a strategic partnership with Montreal-based public affairs firm Boléro Stratégies... Matter Communications launches project-based offerings for B2C companies looking to increase brand awareness and visibility... Tucker/Hall, a Tampa-based PR and public affairs firm, opens a new office in Orlando. 
Why investing in public relations is ultimately about building bridges in a connected world.
Edelman is laying off 330 people (5.3 percent of its workforce) to cope with an anticipated eight percent shortfall in 2024 US revenues, and client demand for one-stop shopping for speciality services.
