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| 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.
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| 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.
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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.
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.
