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| Rick French |
French|West|Vaughan chairman & CEO Rick French is elected chair of PBS North Carolina’s board of trustees, effective July 1. The board serves in an advisory role to the statewide public media organization and is its most vital link to the public. French, a national trustee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, is also a film and television producer, with four films slated for release later this year. Serving alongside French as vice chair will be Seth Bennett of Hornets Sports & Entertainment. Both were elected to two-year terms. “We will continue to produce and distribute programming that enlightens and entertains the citizens of NC and beyond,” said French. PBS North Carolina includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel.
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Hawke Media acquires PRP Group, which specializes in education sector public relations, marketing intelligence and strategic communications. Initially focusing on Pre-K-12 education, PRP has expanded internationally over the last five years to include the higher education, workforce development, and home education sectors. The deal is intended to strengthen both parties' capabilities, ensuring elevated services and innovative solutions for clients from pre-K through workforce development. PRP’s staff of 12 will be retained, and its core values and commitment to clients will remain unchanged. “It’s truly a significant moment for Hawke Media as we venture into providing PR services for the first time ever,” said Hawke Media CEO and founder Erik Huberman, CEO and Founder, Hawke Media. “We are excited to support PRP Group’s continued growth and success within the Hawke Media framework.”
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The Florida Public Relations Association has announced the keynote and speaker lineup for its Aug. 4-7 PR & Comms Summit. Walt Disney World Resort VP of communications Jacquee Wahler, will serve as the event’s Dillin Keynote Speaker, sharing insights on the integrated communications strategy behind the Oxford Economics study that found Disney generated $40 billion in economic impact across the state and more than a quarter of a million jobs in fiscal year 2022. Speakers will include Paramount/MTV Entertainment Studios director of communications Lauren Woulard and Microsoft chief storyteller Miri Rodriguez. The FPRA is the oldest public relations association in the United States, representing over 1,000 members statewide.
Matter relaunches its local marketing services, which will focus on providing approachable, agency-caliber marketing programs to help smaller-scale businesses grow in the age of AI... Publicis Sports, the sport and culture marketing arm of Publicis Group, is collaborating with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and 3 Arts Sports on the launch of TEKTA, a Name, Image and Likeness consulting and activation offering... The 23rd Annual International Business Awards announces its Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners for 2026.
The Pollack Group launches its Brand Visibility Index, a research series that examines how brands are represented, ranked and cited by generative AI platforms... PARC Solutions, a New York- and London-based advisory firm, forms a strategic collaboration with Guillot Consulting, a provider of lobbying, government relations, political advocacy, and business development services... SalterMitchell PR, a Tallahassee, FL-based firm, wins two 2026 Florida Public Relations Association Golden Image Awards.
Page launches the Polansky Future Leaders Fund, which was established through a gift from 2025 Page Hall of Fame inductee and former Weber Shandwick Global CEO Andy Polansky... Ruder Finn reintroduces its website, ruderfinn.com, which will now feature a large language model (LLM) as its primary user interface... Higher Plane Media is launched by former Sloane & Company CEO Darren Brandt.
Champion, which specializes in restaurant, franchise and consumer brands, opens a Miami office, adding to its operations in Dallas and Los Angeles... Violet PR, a Montclair, NJ-based firm that focuses on economic development, commercial real estate and place branding, opens a second office on Park Avenue South in New York... Inflection Point, a founder-led, senior growth systems partner for startups and growth-stage businesses, launches... PRSA announces the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Honorees honorees were recognized during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.
FleishmanHillard is shuttering its 20-member Dublin office as Omnicom Public Relations reorganizes its global operations... Vested acquires Watermark, a D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm.... Matter earns two Pinnacle Awards 2026 Marketing & Communications honors for its clients.
