TORONTO and WASHINGTON, DC—Signal Leadership Communication, the Canadian firm led by Bob Pickard (pictured), and crisis and public affairs specialist Levick Strategic Communications of Washington, DC, have affiliated to cooperate in the areas of digital public relations and leadership communication. Signal is also partnered with Nanos Research, one of North America’s premier market and public opinion research organizations.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Sharp Communications, a full-service marketing communications agency based in New York City, is opening its first regional office in West Palm Beach, Florida. The agency currently employs 40 people with dedicated teams focusing on media relations, social media, advertising and special events. Nicole Janok, a Florida native and former Palm Beach Post reporter, will lead the new office. Janok worked at Sharp as an account director in New York, and she is re-joining the firm to lead and build the business in Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, FL—SalterMitchell, a public relations and behavior change agency headquartered in Tallahassee with offices in Orlando and Virginia, has become a partner in the global communication network IPREX. The firm’s clients include Bank of America, Compassion & Choices, the Horizon Foundation, the International Rhino Foundation, Nestlé Waters, No Kid Hungry, Oral Health America and Verizon.

LOS ANGELES—Ad agency Grupo Gallegos has acquired New York-based digital agency Canvas and Los Angeles public relations firm RL Public Relations + Marketing. Together with the acquisitions, Grupo Gallegos is launching integrated a communications group United Collective and changing its name to Gallegos United. Boutique investment bank Palazzo advised on the deal.

NEW YORK—Los Angeles-based boutique public relations agency Press Kitchen is expanding to the East Coast with the opening of a New York office under the leadership of vice president Jenna Wigman, who relocates to New York after six years with the firm.

GAINESVILLE, FL—The Institute for Public Relations measurement commission has elected Mark Weiner, CEO of Prime Research Americas, as its director for 2017-2018. Weiner is a founding member of the measurement commission, established in 1997 and dedicated to elevating the profession’s understanding and application of communication measurement and evaluation.