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| Kat Wawner |
Wawner Strategies, which was founded by former APCO director/VP Kat Wawner in 2022, relaunches as The Category, a public relations firm. The rebrand includes a new name and visual identity, as well as a new home at thecategory.com. Since its founding, the firm has secured national placements for clients in outlets including Forbes, Vogue, CNN, People, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, and Travel + Leisure, and has produced brand launches and events in the Charleston, SC area. The firm was named 2025 Innovator of the Year by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and PR Agency of the Year at the Small Business Awards. "Our clients were never meant to compete for attention in a crowded market. They were meant to be the reason people walk in," said Wawner. "For four years we have held client brands to that standard. The new name holds us to it too."
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Metro Transportation Management & Design, a Washington, DC-based transportation planning and operations management services firm, and Relentless Awareness, a communications and creative strategy firm, form a strategic alliance aimed at expanding the capabilities, geographic reach, and specialized expertise available to their clients. Through the alliance, MetroTranspo and Relentless will jointly pursue and support selected projects requiring both transportation expertise and effective public communication. Potential assignments include transit and mobility planning, transportation operations, stakeholder outreach, community engagement, public affairs, and communications for complex transportation initiatives. “Our firms bring distinct but highly complementary skills.,” said Relentless Awareness managing partner and co-founder Joe Bonilla. “For organizations managing public transportation initiatives, private transportation logistics, or other complex mobility projects, our collaboration offers a coordinated team capable of addressing both operational and communications needs."
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Luna PR, a Dubai-based communications and marketing agency that specializes in emerging and disruptive technologies, expands its U.S. footprint. More than 50 percent of Luna PR’s current client portfolio is now based in the United States, driving the agency to expand its team and senior leadership presence across the market. As part of the expansion, Luna PR chief strategy officer Harmesh Johal will move to Houston, where he will support the agency’s U.S. growth and business development. The move comes as Luna PR broadens its work beyond its roots in digital assets into artificial intelligence, robotics, energy, infrastructure, fintech and capital. "We’ve spent years building relationships with U.S. companies, journalists, investors and technology leaders. Now we’re putting more of our people closer to the clients and industries we work with every day,” said Luna PR founder and CEO Nikita Sachdev.
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. 
The People Platform, part of Stagwell's The Marketing Cloud, rebrands as Numetrix... Zapwater Communications has earned 17 finalist honors across two PR competitions: eight at the 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards, presented by the Publicity Club of Chicago, and nine at the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards.. The Florida Public Relations Association presented 122 awards to individuals and teams from across the state at its 69th annual Golden Image and 3rd Annual Pinnacle Awards gala.
The Motion Agency acquires Vehr Communications, a Cincinnati-based strategic communications firm, effective Oct. 1... Lyceus Group, which specializes in financial services, is named a finalist for Public Relations Campaign at the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards... IPSY, a curated beauty membership platform, launches IPSY Marketing Solutions, a full-funnel marketing and sales acceleration engine. 
Fire on the Hill, which has offices in London, Manchester, New York and Paris, is providing pro bono communications support to the Intergenerational Foundation, the UK's leading authority on intergenerational fairness... The PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards Gala on Sept. 17 will have Gio Benitez, co-anchor of the weekend edition of “Good Morning America” and ABC News transportation correspondent, serving as emcee... CasePR, a boutique litigation communications firm, launches in Portland, OR.
inFocus, which works with entertainment, media and innovation brands in the US Hispanic market and Latin America, expands into Mexico... Modern Currency Public Relations, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2027, launches an AI visibility & generative engine optimization practice... Adfactors PR, India’s largest reputation and critical issues advisory, acquires Australian communication consultancy SenateSHJ.
