Author: ally

Alpine Group Strengthens Defense and National Security Team with Abbey Overland

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Top Washington Lobbying Firm Makes Strategic Hires, Bolsters its Teams Ahead of Crucial First Year of a New Administration and New Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – Alpine Group announced this week that Abbey Overland, an accomplished expert in defense and national security policy in the legislative and executive branches of government, has joined the company as a Vice President.

Most recently, Overland was an in-house lobbyist at Palantir Technologies and Ursa Major, leading their national security efforts on Capitol Hill. Prior to her work in the private sector, Overland served as the Military Legislative Assistant (MLA) to Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where she handled her defense, veterans’ affairs and foreign affairs portfolio. She then transitioned to the Pentagon where she served as the primary congressional advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the entity driving the Department’s science and technology strategy.

Alpine also announced the promotions of Hannah Schmidt from Director, Public Policy to Senior Director, Public Policy and Travis Fruhling from Staff Assistant to Director, Public Policy. It also announced its plans to hire Madison Gordon as a Staff Assistant from her previous role as an intern.

“Few in our industry have as much wide-ranging and relevant experience in defense and national security policy while also having the relationships to get things done as Abbey,” said Keenan Austin Reed, CEO and Managing Principal of The Alpine Group. “Her deep understanding of defense policy and inter-agency collaboration, coupled with her commitment to bipartisanship, will be instrumental in helping our clients navigate complex challenges and seize opportunities in the defense sector. We’re excited to have Abbey on board as we continue to strengthen our team and provide exceptional strategic guidance. We are also thrilled for Hannah, Travis and Madison who are playing critical roles on our team of experts.”

See the full press release from Alpine.

LPA’s Daisy Castellón elected to Sacramento Press Club’s Board of Directors

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Congratulations to LPA’s Daisy Castellón, a newly elected member of the Sacramento Press Club’s board.

The Sacramento Press Club (SPC) is a nonprofit educational organization established in 1961 with the goal of uniting journalists, public relations professionals, press secretaries, political consultants, legislative staff, and members of the public interested in media and politics. Dedicated to investing in the next generation of journalists, SPC awards over $50,000 in scholarships each year.

See the full list of newly elected SPC board members and other California updates from Politico’s California Playbook.

Partner Kelly Devers-Franklin Joins Seven Letter Corporate Communications Practice, Expansion Result of Rapid Growth

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Firm’s three additional hires increase the digital and strategic communications expertise

WASHINGTON, DC – Seven Letter today announced the addition of Kelly Devers-Franklin as a Partner to its growing team of communicators. The firm also announced three new hires in D.C. and Boston.

Devers-Franklin has served as a trusted advisor to public and private companies, top-tier academic institutions on corporate and crisis communications, media relations and executive positioning. She joins Seven Letter’s Boston office, located within the cradle of higher education, at a time when university leaders are under historic scrutiny from students, funders, and the public. She will play a significant role in the firm’s corporate communications practice.

“Seven Letter has seen exponential growth in our corporate communications practice, year over year. Adding Kelly to the team will allow us to continue to expand that offering,” said Founding Partner & CEO Erik Smith. “Kelly’s depth of experience in both corporate communications and higher education, paired with her roots in the public sector will make her a vital partner to all of our clients.”

Also joining the firm are Kayla Boswell as a Manager, and Danny Jackson and Jody Gallinger as Content Specialists.

Kayla Boswell is an accomplished marketing and communications professional with extensive experience in driving impactful results across the digital landscape.

Danny Jackson and Jody Gallinger both join the firm after having completed the Seven Letter Fellowship Program.

See the full press release from Seven Letter.

PRNews Names Forbes Tate Partners & Seven Letter to 2025 Agency Elite Top 120 List

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PPHC firms Forbes Tate and Seven Letter have both been named to PRNews’ Agency Elite Top 120 List for 2025. Each year, PRNews creates it’s Agency Elite Top 120 List as a comprehensive guide to the most innovative PR & communications firms in the industry.

This is the third year in a row that the two PPHC firms have been awarded this distinguished honor.

See the full 2025 Agency Elite Top 120 list from PRNews.

Seven Letter named one of PRWeek’s “Best Places to Work 2024”

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PRWeek has once again recognized PPHC firm Seven Letter for their professional-development offerings and collaborative atmosphere:

Collaboration, creativity and collegiality are at the core of Seven Letter. Employees describe the firm as “a diverse set of people from different industries with unique skill sets.” Those professionals work hard to ensure that junior staff receive the help they need to develop strong industry skills. 

See the full list of Best Places to Work 2024: Midsize Agencies from PRWeek.

Alpine Group Names Keenan Austin Reed New CEO

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Reed Succeeds Les Spivey Who Takes New Role as Alpine’s President

Washington, D.C. – The Alpine Group, a premier bipartisan, bicameral government affairs firm, announced today that Keenan Austin Reed will be the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Effective January 1, 2025, Reed will succeed Les Spivey, who has served as CEO and Managing Principal for over five years and will transition to a new role as President, focusing on business development and strengthening relationships with existing clients.

The transition aligns with the Alpine Group’s commitment to fostering leadership that reflects the dynamic and diverse nature of the policy landscape. With Reed at the forefront, the firm is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, innovation, and impact in government affairs. Reed brings a wealth of experience and a track record of transformational leadership. As a top congressional and campaign veteran, seasoned lobbyist, and civic leader, she has proven to be a tenacious advocate in service to the Alpine Group’s clients and has made her mark by rapidly expanding its roster since joining the Group in 2021. Her innovative approach and strategic mindset have earned her recognition as one of the most influential voices in Washington by multiple industry groups.

Spivey expressed his confidence in Reed’s leadership, stating:

“Keenan is a dynamic and visionary leader who understands the intricacies of policymaking and the importance of building relationships on both sides of the aisle. I am thrilled to see her take the helm and lead the Alpine Group toward new horizons.”

Stewart Hall, CEO of Alpine’s parent company, PPHC, added:

“Keenan’s appointment as CEO marks a pivotal moment for the Alpine Group and PPHC. She has deep expertise, unerring strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to client service. I am confident that under her leadership, the Alpine Group will continue to excel and deliver impactful results for its clients.”

Spivey joined the Alpine Group eighteen years ago after having served on staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee for three different Chairmen. Under Spivey’s stewardship, the Alpine Group has developed into one of the largest and most influential lobbying firms in Washington.


“I am deeply honored to take on this new role and build upon the strong foundation that Les has established here at Alpine,” said Reed. “I look forward to leading Alpine into its next chapter, advancing our mission to provide unparalleled service and advocacy for our clients. We will meet these goals while also continuing to foster an inclusive environment that reflects the full diversity of the communities we serve.“

READ: Forbes Tate Partner Doug Usher’s op-ed featured in The Hill

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2024 has been an ‘unprecedented’ election, but the polls are telling us another story

The campaign sprint to Election Day has begun, and as always, an inordinate amount of attention is on public polling. Those polls are telling us the real story of the campaign so far — but are we willing to listen? 

Read the full article in The Hill.

PRWeek: Three agencies on PRWeek UK’s radar this week

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PRWeek spotlights agencies with a story to tell from the past seven days that we think are worth keeping an eye on.

Pagefield

Pagefield feels like an agency to watch these days. Fresh from its acquisition this summer by PPHC, the US government relations and public affairs holding company, the London firm last week announced a trio of senior appointments.

Read the full story from PRWeek.

PPHC Announces Interim Results for the First Half of 2024

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Strategic execution delivers positive financial and operational progress; full year expectations affirmed

Public Policy Holding Company, Inc., the leading government relations and public affairs group of companies providing a comprehensive range of advisory services, today announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024 (“H1 2024” or the “Period”).

Financial Highlights

  • H1 revenue increased 8% to $71.1m (H1 2023: $65.7m), with organic growth contributing 1.2% and the balance driven by two earnings accretive acquisitions completed in the Period.
  • Underlying EBITDA of $17.4m, up 3%, was achieved at a 24.5% margin. This margin performance was achieved after the Group invested $1.8m into M&A advisory costs and further incremental investment in Concordant.
  • Underlying Profit after Tax of $13.2m is up 4% (H1 2023: $12.7m) with an increase in finance costs offset by a more favourable effective tax rate.
  • EPS of $0.113 was down 1%, primarily as a result of the average share count increasing by 5% (or 6% on a fully diluted basis).
  • The Group’s balance sheet remains robust with strong free cashflow of $6.0m (H1 2023: $1.8m), enabling strategic progress via organic investment and earnings enhancing M&A.
  • Net Debt of $28.3m (H1 2023: $9.1m) reflects a prudent leverage ratio and the deployment of $23.7m to fund the H1 acquisitions.
  • The Board retains strong confidence in the Group’s outlook and has declared an Interim Dividend of $0.047 per Common Outstanding Share, up 2% from last year’s $0.046.
H1 2024H1 2023Change
Group Revenue$71.1m$65.7m+8%
Underlying EBITDA$17.4m$16.9m+3%
Underlying EBITDA margin24.5%25.8%-1.3pt
Underlying Profit after Tax$13.2m$12.7m+4%
Underlying EPS basic11.30c11.40c-1%
Underlying EPS fully diluted10.81c11.06c-2%
Interim Dividend4.70c4.60c+2%
Net Debt / (Cash) at period-end$28.3m$9.1m $19.2m

Operational Highlights

  • The Period showcases the Group’s ability to successfully execute its stated growth strategy, with ten operating companies providing an enhanced complementary range of services to a now global client base:
    • Acquisition of London-based Pagefield, broadening the Group’s operational presence outside of the US for the first time and providing significant revenue opportunity via the referral to and from the pre-existing Group.
    • Acquisition of California-based Lucas Public Affairs (“LPA”), expanding the Group’s presence in a state that is characterised by a highly regulatory environment and would register as the world’s fifth largest economy.
    • Integration of LPA has completed and the integration of Pagefield is being delivered as expected, with both companies already benefitting from client referrals via the wider PPHC network.
  • Revenue diversification further enhanced with the top 10 Group clients representing 7.6% of revenue in H1 2024 versus 8.4% at the end of FY23 and 10.0% for FY22.
  • By segment:
    • Government Relations grew strongly at 8% (4% organically) while Public Affairs decreased by 6% (13% organically) as a consequence of a reduction in project-based work due to pending elections and economic concerns. Diversified Services (Research and Compliance) grew strongly at 97% (32% organically), albeit from a lower base.
    • The revenue share of Government Relations remained stable at 71% (H1 2023: 71%); Public Affairs decreased marginally to 22% (H1 2023: 25%); and Diversified Services grew to 7% (H1 2023: 4%).
  • A broadening client base of c.1,200 Group clients is supported by sustained high retention rates, with the Group directly representing almost half of the Fortune 100 and a quarter of the Fortune 500, in addition to many more via trade associations.
  • The quality of PPHC’s operating companies continues to be reflected in the 2024 Lobbying Disclosure Act rankings, with Group agencies, when aggregated, topping the rankings as the US market leader in both Q1 and Q2 2024, as well as for the previous 14 consecutive quarters.

Current Trading and Outlook

  • The performance delivered in H1 2024 has set the Group up well for the remainder of the year and it remains on track to meet full year market expectations, with Underlying EBITDA margin for H2 2024 expected to be at or slightly above the H1 2024 level.
  • The focus continues to be on driving client retention rates, new business generation following the outcomes of elections in the US and UK, and the continued cross-selling of services across the Group’s broad operating company base to support organic growth prospects.
  • The market for public affairs and professional lobbying services in key geographies remains fragmented and the Board continues to view the Group as a natural consolidator with favourable bipartisan positioning.
  • The pipeline of acquisition opportunities under development in the US, UK and Mainland Europe remains strong in an active market for the government relations and strategic communications sectors. The Group is actively seeking to expand its portfolio of operating companies internationally with strategically and financially attractive opportunities while adding complementary specialisations.
  • The Board remains confident in the ongoing prospects for the Group and reiterates its medium-term guidance to achieve:
    • organic revenue growth between 5% and 10%;
    • incremental growth from future M&A; and
    • Underlying EBITDA margin between 25% and 30%.

Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, commented:

“I am pleased with the progress we have achieved in the first six months of the year as we continued to acquire excellent businesses complementing our wider growth strategy. We began our international expansion through the acquisition of Pagefield, giving us a foothold in the UK, while all ten of our operating companies are well positioned to benefit from increasing demand for their services as new governments and administrations are formed around the world, this year and next. Our ability to deliver organic growth in a period of impending elections is testament to the diversity of our revenue base and our high client retention rates.

“We have an exciting and robust M&A pipeline, both in the US and internationally, and are confident in our ability to deploy more capital to further accelerate our growth trajectory. I look forward to updating shareholders on our continued progress in the months ahead.”