RIck French
Rick French

French|West|Vaughan CEO Rick French, along with Melissa Etheridge, is being honored at Rockers On Broadway, an annual music event that raises money for charities including pre-professional training and scholarships in the performing arts. The Oct. 16 event, which marks its 30th anniversary, is presented by The Schoch Foundation and The PATH Fund, a leading nonprofit dedicated to performing arts education. This year’s concert, which will feature such performers as Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris, benefits a consortium of charities that includes Broadway Bound Kids, Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, The Felix Organization, Teen Cancer America, and The PATH Fund. French is chairman of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation as well as a member of the board of trustees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum in Cleveland. “Every year the Broadway community comes together on this special night to honor individuals who uplift and contribute to the performing arts, and having Melissa and Rick as this year’s honorees is something I’m very excited about,” said PATH Fund founder Donnie Kehr.

CLYDE

CLYDE, a Washington, DC-based communications firm, is recognizing National Poll Worker Recruitment Day (August 23) by committing to give any employees who register to be poll workers on Election Day a paid day off. An initiative of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an independent, bipartisan commission whose mission is to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process, National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is an effort to address the critical shortage of poll workers. “In line with CLYDE's mission of making a difference and impacting outcomes, coupled with the missions of our clients, we felt it was important to incentivize our employees to participate in the democratic process first-hand by becoming poll workers across the country,” said Clyde senior VP Lilia Dashevsky. “Our actions create trickle down effects to our clients who can do the same as they look ahead to the difference they can be making in 2024.”

Shine
Abbey Bako,
Coco Schiffer

Shine Talent Group, an influencer talent management agency, opens a new hub in New York City. The agency currently has hubs in Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Senior director Coco Schiffer and head of talent Abbey Bako will be leading the New York operation. “Shine has longstanding relationships with New York brands and agencies. Having two of our senior team members based locally will allow us to further these relationships and become even more integrated, operating as an extension of their marketing teams," said agency co-founder Jess Hunichen. Hunichen and fellow co-founder Emily Ward also recently announced the launch of Shine Ventures, an angel investment fund focusing on early-stage startups with strong digital engagement.