MINNEAPOLIS, March 15—Fleishman-Hillard has acquired the Twin Cities public affairs consulting firm Neerland & Oyaas. The firm’s two principals, Chuck Neerland and Mark Oyaas will lead Fleishman Hillard’s regional public affairs practice and will report to Frank Parisi, who was named general manager of the F-H Minneapolis office last year.
 
The acquisition is the second in the public affairs arena for Fleishman-Hillard this year, following the addition of Dallas public affairs firm Allyn & Company in January. F-H ranked third in public affairs revenues in 2000, and has since expanded its holdings through the integration of international public affairs firm GPC International.
 
In addition to Washington, D.C., the firm now has strong public affairs capabilities in Sacramento, Dallas, and Minneapolis.
 
Neerland has more than 30 years experience in development, finance and communications and has held management positions at three of the area’s premier financial institutions including IDS, Norwest Banks and Piper Jaffray. He also served as deputy mayor in Minneapolis and has held numerous civic posts. At F-H, he will be a consultant and senior vice president.
 
Oyaas launched his public affairs career in the government affairs department at Northwestern National Bank and served as aide to the Minneapolis City Council majority leader for two years. He will be vice president, public affairs.
 
Current Neerland & Oyaas clients include: HDR Engineering, HGA architects, Metro Cable Network, US Bank Piper Jaffray, Centex Corporation and Walker Art Center.