NEW YORK — The PR Council is offering one-year complimentary memberships to five small minority-owned PR firms to add new voices to the organization. The new opportunity is extended to firms with three or more practitioners that have been in operation for at least one year.  The offer is a reflection of PRC’s priority of attracting and retaining diverse talent to the industry.

NEW YORK — PRSA has named Gail Thornton, founder and chief communications officer at Worldview Communications, its 2018 Atlas Award for Lifetime Achievement in International Public Relations honoree.  Thornton (pictured) is a communications executive with global experience in pharmaceuticals with Merck & Co., Schering-Plough, Pfizer, Pharmacia and Bristol-Myers Squibb. She maintains a consulting practice, Worldview Communications, focusing on pharmaceuticals/health care and biotechnology.

WASHINGTON — SKDKnickerbocker has launched a new litigation, regulation and investigation practice. The practice delivers communications strategies that shape the narrative and present legal and policy positions in a digestible manner to key audiences. SKDK helps law firms and companies tell their stories, develop and execute communications plans, craft concise narratives, and provide public relations support through all phases of mergers and acquisitions.

CHICAGO — Mara Hedgecoth, APCO Worldwide’s senior director of global marketing and communication, has joined Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global’s board of directors.
Hedgecoth has more than 20 years of events, marketing, fundraising and consulting experience. The organization focuses on educating women business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide on how to expand their businesses globally.

MCLEAN, VA — W2 Communications has acquired the Northern Virginia agency Mesh Omnimedia  This acquisition transforms W2 Communications from a public relations and content creation firm into a full-service communications and branding organization that delivers creative design and digital marketing services, including video production, SEO and website development.