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UpSpring, a women-owned PR, digital marketing and creative agency, names the winners of its first annual UpSpring Launch:HER Awards. The awards provide pro bono PR and marketing services to women leaders in nonprofit organizations. This year’s winners are The Adventure Project, Project Petals and Engender Health. The Adventure Project, which will receive $250,000 in services for one year, focuses on ending extreme poverty by creating jobs that empower communities to address urgent global issues. Project Petals, also the recipient of $250,000 in services over the next year, works to connect communities with resources to help them develop sustainable green spaces, as well as equipping youth with leadership skills to advocate for their neighborhoods. EngenderHealth, which works to expand access to contraceptive care, in addition to addressing gender-based violence, is getting $100,000 in services. “The winners of this year’s Launch:HER Awards exemplify the incredible potential of women leaders to drive meaningful change,” said UpSpring CEO Tiffany Rafii.
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Madden Media is expanding Voyage, its data analytics offering for destination marketing organizations, through the addition of several specialized intelligence service lines. Voyage GPS will break down visitor trends, economic impact and lodging data. Voyage Atlas will leverage visitor preferences and behaviors to discover clients’ true audiences and what drives their travel decisions. Voyage Beacon will use marketing campaign insights to drive metrics for digital and non-digital campaigns. Voyage Flare is a dedicated tool for clear, real-time visibility into a destination’s PR and earned media performance. Voyage Waypoint examines cross-channel content to measure the effectiveness of tactics from SEO performance to email engagement. “Each dedicated Voyage service line will support DMOs by pulling out insights across tourism, audience, paid media, and owned media data,” said Madden Media senior director of strategic insights Heather Molina.
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Civilian, a San Diego-based marketing agency focusing on social impact, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Starting out as a small agency focused on traditional advertising, Civilian (a certified B-Corporation since 2015) has supported such initiatives as championing mental health and heading up public health efforts across the state. The agency also helped establish B Local San Diego, which unites area businesses to promote sustainability and social impact, further cementing the city’s reputation as a center for ethical and impactful business practices. “The next chapter for Civilian is about expanding our impact, deepening our partnerships, and remaining steadfast in our commitment to improving lives and strengthening communities,” said Civilian CEO Stacey Nelson Smith.
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.
Karsh Hagan and Madden Media join forces as KHM... Endeavor Communications opens an office in the Harbor Point neighborhood of Stamford, CT... Big Red Oak, a Toronto-based communications firm, and D.C. area-based PA firm New Hill Consulting have launched a joint service exclusively for companies in the nuclear energy sector... The Pollack Group has partnered with Brandi AI, a platform for enterprise brand intelligence, AI visibility and Generative Engine Optimization.
Real Chemistry acquires Spurwing Communications, which advises pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations—as well as clients across a broader range of industries—throughout APAC... 5W AI Communications (5WPR) is moving its headquarters from New York to Florida (Miami, Tampa)... Valence Communications, which will focus on biopharmaceutical companies, launches under Matt Middleman, who was founder and CEO at LifeSci Communications.
Moburst, which specializes in digital marketing and AI-powered solutions, acquires Amazon marketing agency Hyperzon... The Public Relations Global Network launches its Health Practice Group, which brings together more than 20 independent agencies across four continents to support health care, life sciences and pharma organizations... ICR’s newly released Q2 2026 SPAC Market Update & Outlook shows a healthy environment for IPOs... Red Banyan, a senior-level crisis management, litigation PR, and reputation management firm, makes its first appearance in the Chambers and Partners listings.
Deerfield Group, a marketing, communications and media firm focused on the healthcare and life sciences sectors, receives a strategic majority investment from Martis Capital, a private equity firm... Bospar and market research firm Propeller Insights release the results of a study that shows public understanding of AI and the role it plays in brand discoverability is lagging behind the progress of the technology itself... Highwire launches AcroIntelligence, a proprietary Large Media Model designed to help companies identify emerging narratives, understand competitive shifts, and make faster, more informed decisions.
