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Edelman releases a study that finds employers are dropping the ball when it comes to fully integrating veterans into the workforce. The agency’s 2024 Veterans Well-Being Survey asked over 5,000 people across the country—including veterans, military spouses, civilians and employers/HR professionals—for their takes on perceptions of veterans’ job skills, education and employment. More than half of the employers surveyed (52 percent) said that they are actively hiring veterans, with 30 percent calling it a top priority, and 22 percent saying they have found very difficult to do so. About a third of the employers surveyed (33 percent) said that they while they want to hire more veterans, doing so is not one of their top priorities. Thirteen percent said they are not actively trying to hire veterans now, and have not done so in the past. Veterans showed a strong interest in taking advantage of opportunities to gain new skills and pursue internships or apprenticeships. More than eight in 10 of the veterans surveyed (82 percent) expressed interest in training programs, and 84 percent said that veteran-focused training programs would benefit companies.
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Unified Strategies Public Relations Network (USPR), a group of independent member firms, is acquired by Chris Kuban, founder of St. Louis-based Chemistry PR & Multimedia. It will be rebranded as United States Public Relations Network. The rebranded network is targeted at agencies in the Top 50 U.S. markets that generate between $1 million and $10 million in annual revenue. Kuban purchased the firm from Bob & Cora Schiers, two of its three founders. USPR provides fractional C-Suite support in areas including strategic growth, operations, change management, employee engagement, strategic agency tools and succession planning. “Together, USPR Network members offer strategic access to all traditional and emerging platforms to help clients launch, manage and amplify the messages that matter to them,” said Kuban.
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Crowd Digital Marketing, a Denver-based shop, acquires Noble, a software development firm based in San Francisco. The acquisition expands Crowd's ability to offer enhanced services to nonprofits and small businesses previously served by Noble. The transition, effective November 14, will include a seamless handover of website management and maintenance for existing clients. Crowd Digital Marketing acquired web consulting firm The Pottle Group in 2022. “This partnership not only aligns with our mission of supporting nonprofits but also opens new opportunities to enhance the digital presence of each organization we serve,” said Crowd Digital Marketing founder Alex Schupp.
53Six, a Dublin- and London-based sports marketing agency, is acquired by Irish experience and entertainment group FUEL... Blue Highway Advisory releases a report that looks at how the shift from CEO to AI has changed the way in which consumers access information, and offers advice on how to handle the new landscape... Get Engaged, whose services include campaign ideation, social media management, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media, joins SAMY, a social-first agency headquartered in Madrid. 
The Hoffman Agency, a Silicon Valley-based firm with offices in Europe, Asia and the U.S., teams up with United Partners Network, a global community of independent communications agencies... ChangeMakers acquires R&G Strategic, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based firm with a practice that spans ESG and sustainability strategy and reporting; stakeholder engagement; climate and GHG consulting; sustainability campaigns; branding; communications; and marketing... AltaVista Strategic Partners, a Baltimore-based firm, opens an second office in Tampa, effective Oct. 15.
Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management rebrands as Biplane focused specifically on helping nonprofits build visibility, reputation and trust to advance their philanthropy... SKDK launches a payer negotiation practice that is designed to support health systems as they navigate increasingly complex negotiations with insurers... ChangeMakers, a strategy and communications firm with over 400 professionals across North America, launches RepScore.
Prosek Partners opens in San Francisco under the leadership of partner Nadia Damouni... Caliber Corporate Advisers, which works with clients in the fintech and financial services sectors, introduces the Caliber Authority Index (Caliber AI), a proprietary measurement platform... Herbie Thiele Consulting, a public affairs firm blending lobbying and communications, is launched by the longtime Sachs Media partner.
Bospar expands its Audit*E tool for small- and medium-sized businesses, which provides comprehensive visibility scoring, competitive analysis and platform-specific improvement recommendations, giving users actionable intelligence to help with brand positioning.... 5W is increasing its presence in Tampa and the Florida market....PR Consultants Group, a nationwide network of senior-level public relations, strategic communications and marketing specialists in more than 50 U.S. markets, has brought on 13 independently owned public relations firms across 13 markets and 12 states so far in 2026.
