DorobekINSIDER: ConnellyWorks the basis of a new government PR team

Editor’s note: Updated at 12:50p to add full press release…

ConnellyWorks, the public relations, marketing communications and events services, is merging with Yes&, a newly formed marketing agency, the DorobekINSIDER has learned.

The formal announcement will come later today.

Yes& is building a new firm that will focus on both public and private sector markets. Yes& was created by the merger of three established communications companies – PCI Communications, LeapFrog Solutions and Carousel30. ConnellyWorks becomes the latest addition to that group.

As part of the agreement, ConnellyWorks will continue to maintain its office in Arlington, VA. Furthermore, Joanne Connelly, who founded ConnellyWorks, will continue to serve as president of ConnellyWorks and will be part of the Yes& executive team

I will add the formal announcement to this post when it is released.

ConnellyWorks, founded some 15 years ago by Joanne Connelly, a former editor of Federal Computer Week, has been one of the cornerstones of the government IT market with business lines including public relations, events, and events management.

UPDATE: The full press release after the break:

The full press release:

ConnellyWorks Merges with New Yes& Agency

Arlington, VA – February 28, 2018 – ConnellyWorks, Inc. today announced it has merged with Yes&, a newly-formed performance driven marketing agency that combines the strengths and capabilities of four communications firms into an innovative full-service agency offering clients across the government and commercial marketplace a single source for their PR, marketing, digital strategy and events needs.

With this merger, ConnellyWorks significantly increases its available resources, providing clients and prospects an enhanced portfolio of offerings, to include digital marketing, video, social media and event production services. In addition, this move maintains ConnellyWorks’ breadth, depth and expertise within the government space, while expanding its reach to the commercial market and other key vertical segments.

“This merger comes on the heels of the launch of Yes& and fills a void in the mid-Atlantic area – an agency large enough to provide end-to-end capabilities, but small enough to be flexible and agile,” said Joanne Connelly, President & CEO of ConnellyWorks, Inc. “From a ConnellyWorks perspective, this provides our clients the best of both worlds – the same exceptional service and knowledgeable staff that they have come to expect, but with the ability to offer more comprehensive capabilities and a deeper bench of relentlessly creative top-notch talent.”

Announced earlier this year, Yes& was created by the merger of three established communications companies – PCI Communications, LeapFrog Solutions and Carousel30. ConnellyWorks becomes the latest addition to the fold, adding 15-years of experience providing PR, marketing and events services. Under the agreement, ConnellyWorks will maintain its Arlington, Va. office and current operational structure with Joanne Connelly continuing in the role of President and becoming part of the Yes& executive team.

“We are very pleased that ConnellyWorks has chosen to join our new agency,” said Robert W. Sprague, President and CEO of Yes&. “Adding their top-notch PR, creative and event delivery resources means that we can offer our clients even more finely tuned solutions across today’s media spectrum.”

About ConnellyWorks

ConnellyWorks, Inc., a Yes& company, offers public relations, marketing communications and events services, blending digital strategies with traditional approaches. We help clients find and unleash their inner brand beasts, creating messaging that resonates and differentiates, crafting content that elevates and defines and building integrated campaigns that break through the noise and connect our customers with theirs. Our clients include some of the most successful companies and organizations in the technology, government, healthcare and higher education markets. For additional information, please visit: connellyworks.com

About Yes&

Created through the merger of several successful small agencies, Yes& is designed to provide the depth, capacity, experience and expertise of a large communications firm, while retaining the agility, creativity, independence and spirit of a small business. With specific expertise in healthcare, financial services, energy, transportation, real estate and homeland security, Yes& serves corporate, association and government clients with branding, digital, event production, marketing and public relations, and creative services.

For more information, visit yesandagency.com.