Core
Ash Wright (left) and
Chasen Bullock

The Core Strategic Group (formerly FSB Core Strategies) has added office locations and staff in Austin, TX and Washington, D.C. Senior vice president Ash Wright will head up operations in Austin, while vice president Chasen Bullock will lead CSG’s Washington, D.C. office. Both join the new offices from existing independent practices. The Austin and D.C. operations will primarily support CSG companies providing public affairs and election campaign services, while also marketing the full range of CSG company offerings to clients in their regions. The Core Strategic Group of companies includes BadFish Media, c3Public Strategies, Chariot Campaigns, The Core Management Company and FSB Public Affairs.

Waters

Waters Agency, a virtual technology public relations firm for B2B and B2C technology companies, has unveiled its new branding, global expansion and executive appointments. The rebranding from Waters Communications to Waters Agency includes a new logo and website, and is intended to highlight the firm’s ability to deliver strategic communications campaigns that combine public relations with analyst relations, content creation, social media, IPOs, executive communications and influencer marketing. To support its expansion, the agency has also added new leaders including Lauren Curley, based out of the Boston HQ, to the newly created position of chief operating officer and Ryan Waters as senior vice president for EMEA, based out of London.

Woodruff, a Kansas City, MO-based marketing and communications firm, has expanded its digital capabilities to offer progressive web application (PWA). A PWA is essentially an application that works in any web browser but offers the functionality normally associated with native applications, such as a home screen icon, fast load times, access to content when offline, push notifications, GPS locations and other device hardware access. Woodruff digital director Jenny Jones says PWAs help companies “to ensure their digital properties are easy to access and as user-friendly as possible.” The company has also used the technology to develop a web-based application for Compass Minerals that the company’s sales team could use in the field, giving them access to up-to-date information on any device, even in locations without Wi-Fi.

News Direct

News Direct, a content and news distribution platform that allows users to release standalone multimedia, has launched. The platform features a self-directed, collaborative workspace powered by AI-assisted advanced automation software. “How news and information is disseminated and consumed today requires public relations professionals and journalists to create and deliver impactful multi-sensory stories. And this is what News Direct provides,” said founder and CEO Gregg Castano. In addition to its multimedia capabilities, News Direct assists users with reimagining their workflow, bolstering security and producing actionable analytics. The company also operates using a flat-rate pricing model.