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PAN Communications adds North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central (both of which are Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and Elon University to The PAN Portal Network, an academic mentorship initiative that aims to bolster career development and diversify employment opportunities in the communications profession. The network began in 2016 at Syracuse University, where PAN president & CEO Philip A. Nardone Jr. serves as an adjunct professor. In the program, PAN team members work with schools to help graduating seniors in their communications programs review post-graduate opportunities and put together a portfolio of relevant professional materials. The PAN Network Portal will mentor more than 150 students this fall semester, with additional students participating this spring. “PAN Communications has been my partner for years in creating job opportunities for communications students,” said dean of the communications school at Elon University Rochelle Ford, who helped launch the network.
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The Worldcom Public Relations Group brings on Litzky Public Relations into its partnership. Hoboken, NJ-based LPR works with consumer brands in the pop culture, family, lifestyle and licensing space. Its client roster includes firms in such sectors as toys and games, children’s furniture, baby gear, educational materials, books and products that provide play and companionship for older adults along with non-profits and trade associations. “Litzky Public Relations is an outstanding agency, and an important addition to our partnership,” said Monty Hagler, president and CEO, RLF Communications, and Worldcom’s Americas Region Chair. “They are a highly respected agency with deep experience in consumer brands that focus on family and children and will contribute greatly to our partnership.”
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PROI Worldwide, an organization that consists of communications agencies with partners in 50 countries, launches a new brand identity in celebration of its 50th anniversary. “Our new logo reflects the power of integrating diverse perspectives with a common goal and mindset,” said PROI global chair Ciro Dias Reis, president of Brazil-based Imagem Corporativa. “Even more importantly, we’re building our future around a modernized view of the communications industry and a shared mission of accelerating agency development for the benefit of our partners, their employees and their clients.” Collectively, the PROI partners represent almost $1 billion in revenue and employ more than 7,300 people.
This year, the O’Dwyer’s rankings for top PR firms took a jump from 133 to 140 entries—a number that includes 21 firms that were not in the rankings last year.
ICR releases a report that says the SPAC IPO market has been trending upward—and is likely to stay on that track... Washington Women in PR is sponsoring an April 15 event that looks at how women can change the dynamics that often keep them in lower-visibility positions through strategic self-advocacy and organizational awareness... Life Science Cares Boston, an organization supported by LaVoieHeathScience, will convene leaders, employees and partners from across the life sciences industry for its annual Impact Breakfast on April 13 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR, London-based firms that focus on legal market and litigation PR, are merging. The combined firm will operate as Bell Yard Kysen Communications... FINN Partners launches Travel with Tastemakers, a global report that looks at more than 25 destinations through the eyes of the creatives who shape them... Baker Public Relations, a woman-owned agency based in Albany with offices in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Petersburg, FL, rebrands as The Baker Agency. 
ChangeMakers, an independent shop with 400 professionals across Canada and the U.S., is merging with The Creative Dept., which advises innovative and culture-shaping companies on brand strategy and creative direction... Full Court Press Communications, a Bay Area-based strategic communications firm, celebrates its 25th anniversary... R&J Strategic Communications marks its 40th anniversary by launching its Moments That Made a Difference campaign.
