Antenna Group establishes presence in nation’s capital with former U.S. DOE Director of Public Affairs and veteran strategic communications executive Andy Beck at the helm.
WASHINGTON, November 10, 2021 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Antenna Group, an integrated marketing, public relations and strategic communications firm with a national presence, today announced the launch of its public affairs practice in Washington, D.C. as part of an ongoing effort to better serve clients’ policy advocacy, policymaker engagement and issues management needs.
Antenna Group Public Affairs will be headed by Executive Vice President Andy Beck, who has more than 25 years’ of experience spearheading public relations and public affairs campaigns for companies and organizations in the energy, transportation, finance, defense and technology sectors. The former head of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy and senior communications advisor at U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be instrumental in building and integrating Antenna Group’s public affairs capabilities with the company’s existing client service offering.
“With today’s historic confluence of a pro-environmental reform executive and legislative branch with the widespread ESG commitments of the private sector, Antenna Group is returning to its roots and launching its public affairs practice in our nation’s capital. Antenna Group Public Affairs will help clients establish themselves in the public dialogue on climate and sustainability and advance their positions on the policies and issues that affect their organizations and their stakeholders,” said Antenna Group CEO Keith Zakheim. “With Antenna Group Public Affairs, we are expanding our capacity to represent organizations seeking to build a more sustainable economy and, in turn, support a healthier environment and more stable future climate.”
The Antenna Group Public Affairs roster boasts more than 50 years’ combined experience navigating the policy process at the federal, state and local levels. And the team possesses demonstrated expertise in helping clients across the energy, climate, extractives, transportation, infrastructure, defense, technology and financial industries articulate and build consensus around their policy positions, develop compelling narratives for their preferred solutions and constructively engage policymakers and influencers with their recommendations.
“Sustainability, in all its forms, is quickly becoming the key differentiator for the private sector as investors, civil society, consumers and other stakeholders demand more accountability from the companies and institutions they engage with,” said Antenna Group Public Affairs EVP Andy Beck. “And with legislators and regulators at all levels taking responsive action to both reward and mandate improved sustainability performance, it’s increasingly clear that companies, regardless their industry or sustainability credentials, deploy strategic public affairs campaigns to ensure the policy landscape facilitates their efforts to build a more sustainable enterprise and economy.”
In addition to Beck, Antenna Group Public Affairs includes Senior Vice President Hardy Spire, a former senior television news producer and strategic communications consultant specializing in message development, media relations and campaign management; Vice President Neal Urwitz, an experienced U.S. presidential campaign senior advisor, former non-profit external communications director and seasoned communications consultant specializing in policy analysis, political messaging and opinion media; Account Director Caleigh Bourgeois, an Emmy Award-winning broadcast news journalist and experienced public relations consultant specializing in message development and media relations; Account Supervisor Bennett Artman, a public affairs and crisis communications professional specializing in opinion media and energy, climate and sustainable finance policy analysis and communication; and Senior Account Executive Caroline King, a public relations professional with experience in energy, technology and transportation industries specializing in strategic planning, project management and digital communications.