MXP Ventures, a global agency accelerator and venture fund, has launched its first agency in the US, Better Together, whose goal is helping organizations reach underserved communities. Better Together will be led by D.C.-based founder Catharine Montgomery as CEO.  According to PRovoke Media, Montgomery, above, has been in the PR business for roughly 15 years, most recently serving as COO of 617MediaGroup. Earlier in her career, she held roles at Cruise Lines International Association, Burson-Marsteller and Porter Novelli.  In announcing the launch, Better Together described itself as “an agency that changes behaviors by creating research-based narratives that ensure organizations not only talk about their desired impact, but put that talk into action.”  The agency supports advocacy organizations in furthering gender equity, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, an end to systemic racism, reproductive freedom, solutions to food insecurity, criminal and civil justice reform, quality education, climate justice, and drug decriminalization.

D.C.-based Firehouse Strategies has acquired Scarlet Oak Strategies, a public affairs firm founded by former Democratic Governors Association (DGA) political director Raymond Glendening. Scarlet Oak’s proprietary network of more than 1,200 political operatives will immediately strengthen Firehouse’s bipartisan capabilities in every state capitol and Congressional district.  In addition to gaining access to Scarlet Oak’s capabilities, as part of this acquisition, two of Scarlet Oak’s senior leaders will be joining the Firehouse team: Glendening will become a partner at Firehouse Strategies. Prior to founding and running Scarlet Oak,he worked on several Democratic presidential and gubernatorial campaigns and served as the political director of the Democratic Governors Association. Brian Doory will join Firehouse as a managing director. Currently a managing director at Scarlet Oak, Doory has advised campaigns internationally, across the U.S., and in Maryland at every level. Among many others, he has worked for Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD), and Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-IL). In 2022,  Firehouse Strategies secured a major investment from Semper Fi Partners, Aldine Capital and Wintrust Bank The investment, stated one report, was designed to help Firehouse broaden its national footprint, increase its 35-strong headcount and expand.

NJI, a global creative agency that specializes in design that influences public policy audiences, announced the promotion of Lara Kline to company president. She succeeds Josh Shultz, agency co-founder, who will assume the role of co-CEO alongside Nathan Imperiale, his fellow founder. Since 2019, Lara has served as the agency’s first Chief Strategy Officer and led NJI’s expansion to London and Singapore. In her new role, she will oversee the agency’s client portfolio and creative service offerings and guide the company’s growth as the preeminent creative firm for top talent seeking to flourish in their careers and organizations seeking to shape public policy. Kline, states a release, has spent over 20 years leading visual, data-driven campaigns on behalf of clients across diverse sectors in the Washington, D.C., region and beyond. Before joining NJI, she founded Little Tomato Marketing, where she provided strategic counsel to organizations ranging from The Kennedy Center to Motion Picture Association of America. She also served as the first Vice President for Marketing and Communications for the White House Historical Association, where she led a wide range of initiatives to support the public’s understanding and appreciation of the White House.