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| 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.
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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.”
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| 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.
CashmanKatz launches CK Health, a healthcare marketing specialty... Mission North introduces its Physical Industries practice, which will focus on physical AI applications across four verticals: commerce, manufacturing, mobility, and aerospace and defense... Muck Rack, an AI communications platform, announces a new feature designed to help communications leaders identify timely opportunities to shape relevant news conversations while they are still developing.
FINN Partners opens an office in Minneapolis, its fifth location in the Midwest and its 39th worldwide... AMP3 PR hosts its annual Gifting Suite and Media Lounge in conjunction with New York Fashion Week... Curious Plot, which works with clients in the agriculture, food and companion animal industries, is accepting applications for its 2026 Seed to Succeed pro bono program.
IPREX names Big Picture PR in San Francisco, Precision Strategies in Washington, D.C., and Tiny Mighty Communications in Nashville as its first Americas Partner Cohort... Highwire launches AcroAnswers, a proprietary AI visibility platform... Big Red Oak and Naer Communications, a Calgary-based firm, form a partnership providing integrated communications and marketing services to clean energy companies and organizations across Canada.
Matter launches its Review Visibility Management service to address a shift in how companies across verticals earn trust online... A Queens school is putting out the message about Sept. 12, 2001 when people came together to help, comfort, rebuild and unite... Directive expands its Directive Communications division, which will bring PR, organic social, influencer marketing and paid social together under one integrated organization.
Praytell expands its Influence Department—which unites media, creators and social under one team... LRJ PR & Communications and Canopy Brand Group form an alliance that the firms say will bridge the operational divide between high-end brand design and strategic public relations... Twin Minds Media, Hispanic market specialist, increases the scope of its services in an effort to help brands build deeper connections with audiences through culture, storytelling, media and experiences. 
