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| Barbara Bates |
Hotwire launches its Ignite Possibility Program, an initiative that will commit up to $1 million in services to support tech and tech-enabled organizations led by or supporting minority communities. Any tech or tech-enabled organization that is either minority-led or providing a product or service benefitting minority communities in a country with a Hotwire office may qualify. Hotwire will work with local community tech leaders to reach organizations who can benefit from brand, marketing or PR pro bono services. Applications are open for organizations in the US, UK and Germany until March 15. An announcement of selected organizations in those countries will be made in April. Applications for Australia open later in 2021, and Hotwire may reopen applications in other regions throughout the year. “We have been providing pro bono services to impactful organizations for years, but now, with the Hotwire Ignite Possibility Program, we can do more to advance social justice through our services,” said Hotwire CEO Barbara Bates.
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ROKK Solutions and research firm Engagious are joining forces to offer a combination of communications and research capabilities aimed at helping organizations win their public policy campaigns. The strategic partnership will allow the two firms to co-market each other’s communications and message testing services and present an expanded suite of capabilities to current and potential clients. “This joint venture will further add to our arsenal of communications services that will now include the best research and insights in the marketplace,” said ROKK Solutions co-founder and partner Ron Bonjean.
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| Brett Marcy |
McNees Wallace & Nurick, a Harrisburg, PA law firm, has launched Apollo Communications, which specializes in building and enhancing brands and reputations, crisis and issue management, media relations and content marketing. The new agency, which serves clients across Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland, is led by Brett Marcy, who was most recently senior director of public relations and communications for WellSpan Health. He has also served as communications director for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, an associate vice president at Tierney Communications, and a reporter for several news organizations in Pennsylvania, including the Patriot-News. In addition to Apollo Communications, McNees Wallace & Nurick owns lobbying firm Capital Associates, nonprofit consulting firm Helix Strategies and Keystone Municipal Solutions, a company that provides municipalities with interim management and professional consulting services.
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The Public Relations Student Society of America has joined with Finn Partners to create a dedicated mentorship program for PRSSA members from historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions. “Partners for Diversity: The Internship Preview” pairs 50 students of diverse backgrounds with professional mentors that can provide guidance as they start their careers. Participating students will also have the opportunity to apply for future internship opportunities. Open to college juniors and seniors; this program will also let participants participate in a client meeting and take part in an open panel discussion with young professionals of color from Finn Partners and its clients. The selected students will be introduced to their mentors during the first week of March, with the formal program beginning on March 10. A resume, brief cover letter and PRSSA adviser reference are required as part of the application process. Students will be selected by a panel of Finn Partners’ professionals. For more information, click here.
Public Inc., a social impact agency based in Toronto and New York, acquires Rocket Social Impact, an advisory firm that works with nonprofit and corporate social impact organizations... Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden... Crowe PR joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
PSC (Princeton Strategic Communications) acquires Nonprofit Partners... CG Life launches 24/364, a cultural brand platform intended to drive awareness, connection and action aimed at keeping rare disease at the forefront of the health and social conversation... Interluxe Group, which focuses on brand experiences and in-person activations; Quinn, a strategic communications agency; and media and digital agency North & Warren are uniting under the Interluxe Group banner.
KITH, which provides corporate reputation and crisis preparation services, is now owned by CEO Stephanie Craig, who has been with the firm since 2021... The Marketing Cloud, a part of Stagwell, introduces several expansions to Agent Cloud, the platform it launched in October 2025 to simplify access to its AI tools and marketing assistants.... Notified launches its AI Press Release Optimizer.
