Following more than ten years of strong business growth and continued financial success, Syracuse-based Strategic Communications, LLC is selling the majority of its assets to two current employees of the company, according to Michael Meath, the firm’s founder and former president.
Crystal (Smith) DeStefano – the firm’s former Director of Integrated Media for Public Relations – has acquired SCLLC’s public relations, media monitoring, reporting, and media response practice areas, which will remain based in Syracuse, NY.
Smith, an accredited public relations professional, has been with Strategic Communications, LLC since 2009 and has been leading much of the company’s public relations practice from the Syracuse headquarters. The company serves energy, education, healthcare, financial services and human services agencies throughout Central New York. Some of the company’s clients have operations throughout the Northeast, and even nationwide.
The Syracuse-based public relations practice will continue operations as Strategic Communications, LLC.
Frank Caliva III – the company’s former Director of Public Affairs & Strategy Development – has acquired the firm’s public affairs, government relations, and strategic planning practice areas, which will be based in Strategic Communications, LLC’s Washington, DC offices. Caliva will be launching a new firm, P.R. Quinlan, based on these practice areas. More information can be found at www.prquinlan.com.
Caliva, who worked with the U.S. Department of Commerce before joining Strategic Communications, LLC, has been managing the company’s government relations practice from Washington, DC since 2011. The company has a growing base of clients from across the United States. While based in the company’s Washington, DC office, Caliva is a native of Central New York with strong ties to the area. P.R. Quinlan will continue to provide government relations, policy analysis, and advocacy services for Central New York organizations looking for support in Washington and multiple state capitals.
Michael Meath will remain integrally involved in the ongoing businesses, working closely with both Smith and Caliva and their clients throughout the transition. In addition, Meath will continue to work with select high profile clients around the United States during crises or other sensitive matters that pose potential threats to their reputation through a new entity, Fallingbrook Associates, LLC, and continue teaching at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Communications.
The business transactions closed on June 30, 2014.