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| Becky Nictakis |
The Alpine Group, a government affairs consulting firm, launches a comprehensive competitive funding practice. The practice will assist clients with strategic positioning, drafting and submission of compelling funding proposals and applications to win competitive funds. The firm is partnering on the practice with Capitol Funding Solutions, which has a strong track record of identifying competitive funding opportunities, consulting for grant-readiness on the organizational and project level, and writing applications, proposals and concept papers. Capitol Funding Solutions CEO Becky Nictakis joins Alpine as its competitive funding team leader. “By bringing together lobbying expertise with competitive funding, the Alpine Group will bring new opportunities in order to help clients achieve their goals,” said Alpine Group CEO Les Spivey.
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Matter Communications opens a Dallas office to further support the region’s global healthcare and high-tech presence, as well as recruit and retain diverse talent. Matter already works with companies in the Dallas area that include Catalyst Health Group, the creator of Texas’ largest clinically integrated network for primary care providers; software company symplr; Gainwell Technologies, a provider of tech solutions for health and human services programs; and LeadingReach, which helps care teams communicate more effectively. Matter has already hired six Texas-based professionals for full-time positions, with more than a dozen additional Dallas-based roles to be filled.
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LaVoieHealthScience announces that the U.S. Patent and Trade Office has recognized LHS’ ongoing professional use of two proprietary service offerings and granted continued registered service marks for each for the next four years. The two service offerings, core elements of the agency’s strategic consulting services, are LHS Immersion® and The LHS Fifteen-Slide Presentation®. “We developed both processes many years ago and have found them, without exception, to provide tremendous value to our clients,” said LHS president and CEO Donna L. LaVoie. “We are gratified that the USPTO continues to view them as unique offerings in our industry by renewing our proprietary registration marks.”




Brunner, a Pittsburgh-based integrated marketing agency, acquires AdSkate, an AI-powered creative analytics and marketing intelligence platform that helps brands and agencies optimize advertising performance... Augustine Agency launches Flavor Theory, a foodservice marketing practice aimed at helping restaurants, food manufacturers, distributors and institutional dining organizations grow their brands and businesses... The Acceleration Community of Companies releases a report finding that almost half (49 percent) of Gen Z sports fans say they have become interested in a new sport or athlete because of fan-created content or something entirely outside the sport.
VPE Communications, which helps organizations authentically connect with diverse audiences, celebrates 38 years in business and announces a new ownership structure... Praytell expands into the Asian market with the opening of a new office in Singapore... The International Public Relations Network unveils a new visual identity and redesigned website.
SourceCode Communications launches SourceCode Germany, establishing the agency's first office in continental Europe... Clario Group acquires Ted Miller Group, a Miami-founded agency focused on clients in the technology, travel & leisure and financial services sectors... Global Situation Room’s Global Risk Advisory Council is hosting a July 23 webinar that will go over the results of its new Reputation Risk Index.
Havas acquires MUT, a Barcelona-based firm focused on experiential marketing and sustainable events... IPREX lauches its AI Task Force...D S Simon Media, one of the first companies to produce a satellite media tour, celebrates its 40th anniversary... Washington Women in Public Relations is sponsoring an event that shows communications pros who work with associations how they can get their messages across clearly, credibly and courageously. “How Associations Lead with Strategic Storytelling,” at 6 p.m. on July 16.
TEAM LEWIS starts up its AI Practice... Thunderly launches a year-long storytelling campaign focused on how franchising can provide a pathway to business ownership... JIN, a European communications consulting group, introduces "AI Campaigning", a corporate offering designed to model and anticipate stakeholder behavior.



