Gould+Partners, a PR and marketing communication agency M&A advisory firm, appointed Robert Udowitz of Washington, D.C., left in photo, and Don Bates of New York City and D.C., right in photo, as lead senior counselors for the national capital area.

Rick Gould, CPA, J.D., and founder and managing partner of G+P, said, “We’ve seen a lot of growth in the District and surrounding states, especially among digitally oriented firms, so we’re expanding our outreach. We’re taking greater advantage of Robert and Don’s extensive D.C. knowledge and contacts to assist more of these firms to manage, grow and partner for greater rewards and increased opportunities.”

Gould said G+P has several buyers seeking firms of all sizes in exchange for significant cash and high-level management involvement.  “When we represent sellers, our main goal is to get them the best quality firm at the highest valuation.” He added, “We also assist strategic buyers in identifying quality sellers and facilitating M&A transactions. We never represent both buyer and seller in the same transaction.”

Gould said Udowitz and Bates will contact D.C.-area PR and marketing firms regularly with agency management advice. They will also provide counsel on valuation and succession planning as needed, in collaboration with G+P’s home office in NYC.

In Washington since the mid-1990s, Udowitz has practiced at several of the city’s top public affairs, public relations and crisis communication firms.  He has also held senior positions at trade associations and publicly traded corporations.  His private practice includes consulting as well as an agency search firm, RFP Associates, which he created to improve the new business proposal process for organizations seeking PR and marketing assistance. He has been an officer of the PRSA-National Capital Chapter for more than 10 years.

Bates, a long-time marketing and PR executive, trainer and consultant, has worked with G+P for several years. He also teaches at New York University and is the founding director of George Washington’s University’s graduate public relations degree program. For 12 years, he owned The Bates Company, the New York City- and D.C-based PR and marketing firm. He is an accredited member and Fellow of the Public Relations Society of America and an honorary trustee of the Institute for Public Relations. He belongs to PRSA’s New York and D.C. chapters.