 |
| Craig Shirley |
Shirley & Banister Public Affairs organized a successful campaign on behalf of Citizens for Responsible Solar that resulted in German-based Cricket Solar withdrawing its application to erect a complex of solar panels on 1,600 acres of farmland and Civil War battlefields in Culpeper County, Virginia. The campaign was directed by SBPA chairman Craig Shirley, vice president Kevin McVicker and account executive Francesca Goerg. SBPA arranged for an opinion poll to be conducted, which revealed overwhelming community opposition to the proposed solar complex. The firm also circulated a petition which accumulated more than 1,500 signatures. In addition, the campaign included op-eds and letters from members of the community, press releases and social media outreach.
 |
| Kirsty Goodlett |
Ketner Group Communications, which serves clients in the U.S., Canada and U.K., has opened an office in Nashville, a move the firm says is intended to bolster its relationships with the area’s emerging business-to-business tech players. The Austin, TX-based firm also opened an office in New York City earlier this year. Ketner Group’s Nashville office is led by Kirsty Goodlett, who previously worked as account manager at the agency from 2014 to 2017. She will lead several key accounts while developing business relationships in Nashville’s tech scene. Ketner’s capabilities include media and analyst relations, content development, social media strategy and implementation, and digital content marketing.
 |
Richmond, VA-headquartered NDP has launched Neathawk360—a media solutions division that will provide such services as media planning and buying, analytics, measurement and reporting, as well as digital marketing and creative design. The division’s 17-member team, housed in its main office, includes media planners, analysts, scrum masters, project managers, developers and media buyers. The agency says the Neathawk360 name is a reflection of the “360” approach it intends to take toward the many forms of media that can impact consumer engagement with brands. NDP, which also has team members in Roanoke, Northern Virginia, Chattanooga, Boston and Los Angeles, has a client roster that includes the Virginia Lottery, University Health System of San Antonio, Universal Fibers and The Jefferson Hotel.
DJE Holdings, parent of Edelman and Zeno, launches RUTH as an independent shop named after Ruth Edelman, mental health advocate, wife and longtime business partner of Dan Edelman.
New York City PR firms make up the largest slice of O'Dwyer's 147 firm overall ranking with 33 of 40 in the New York/New Jersey area either calling Manhattan their home or having a presence there.
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 (NJ), Miami and Chicago.
While PR pros stationed at in-house comms. teams and those working for agencies share many of the same objectives, they also have markedly different top priorities, according to a recent report.
Edelman is cutting 240 employees or about four percent of its workforce to cope with the cooling down of the PR sector, according to a memo from CEO Richard Edelman.
Have a comment? Send it to 
No comments have been submitted for this story yet.