Yes & Holdings LLC, based in Alexandria, VA, has acquired the assets and clients of GreenSmith PR, LLC. According to a release, the acquisition results in “building a global integrated marketing organization with more than 80 people. Mike Smith, a Washington veteran with more than 35 years of experience at leading agencies like Burson-Marsteller, Edelman PR Worldwide and Havas Public Relations, joins Yes& as Senior Vice President and President of the GreenSmith PR Division of the Yes& firm. Smith, who has managed his own boutique firm for 20 years, will also serve on the Yes& Management Committee.”
“This is a really great fit for us and for our clients,” said Robert W. Sprague, President and CEO of Yes&. “Mike is a high-energy guy with a strong client base in the technology, clean energy, conservation and biotech arena. As we build our Paid, Earned, Search and Owned (PESO) Media offerings, Mike’s leadership in media relations and connections on Capitol Hill will be invaluable to our team.”
According to the release, “GreenSmith PR works with companies and organizations at the intersection of media and public policy. Clients have included companies like Volvo and Craig Newmark Charities as well as institutions like University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences and Virginia Tech’s Center for Entrepreneurs. Today, GreenSmith works on critical environmental business accounts; mitigating the opioid addiction crisis; supporting safety for families in online gaming; and helping to educate veterans.”
The release added that the deal was generated by Yes& Chairman Jeb Brown who said he was seeking a nimble and flexible PR practice that could integrate seamlessly with the existing stable of federal technology practice leads and senior PR professionals already in place at Yes&.
““I feel this new ownership deal is a kind of homecoming for Mike and his group,” he said. “We were aware of GreenSmith’s work and felt it was very synergistic,” said Brown who earlier in his career built the powerhouse Earle Palmer Brown Agency.
“The GreenSmith PR team includes: former GreenSmith VP and newspaper columnist Cheryl Vosburg as Editor and content creator; Caitlin Bowman, most recently with the UN Foundation and earlier serving as a Congressional Intern with Rep. Steny Hoyer as Account Coordinator; and Jennifer Muchnikoff, a George Mason student intern. GreenSmith will integrate with Yes& content team members.
“Mike Smith is a 25-year member of the National Press Club and serves on the Headliners Committee, providing speakers and event management. He has a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill school of journalism in Chicago.”
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