Avoq

07/09/2026

We're excited to welcome Jillian Goger as Senior Vice President, Group Creative Director, and Owen Lang as VP, Group Creative Director, Video, to Avoq's award-winning creative team.

Jillian brings experience from TBWA\Chiat\Day, Droga5 and McCann New York, where she helped shape iconic work for brands including Peloton, Hilton and the U.S. Army. Owen joins as we continue expanding our in-house production and post-production capabilities, helping us deliver integrated creative work with even greater speed and impact.

Their arrival comes during an exciting chapter for our creative practice. From a national Gold ADDY Award for our work with PBS to PRovoke SABRE and Communicator Awards recognition for our work with PBS and Booz Allen, our team continues to create campaigns that connect with audiences and drive meaningful results.

As we continue to grow, we're investing in the people and capabilities that help our clients tell stories that matter.

Learn more:

Agency adds Jillian Goger and Owen Lang to strengthen creative leadership and production capabilities as award-winning campaigns continue to gain national recognition

06/26/2026

Congratulations to Amanda Finney on being named a winner at the 2026 Washington Women in Public Relations Emerging Leaders Awards!

Amanda's strategic leadership, dedication to clients and commitment to mentoring colleagues make her an invaluable part of Avoq.

We're thrilled to see her recognized with this well-deserved honor alongside this year's exceptional class of emerging leaders.

06/25/2026

Sure, Washingtonian named Cedric Grant one of D.C.'s 500 Most Influential People. But awards and lists tell one story. Colleagues tell another.

As a Partner and Government Relations Co-Lead, Cedric specializes in connecting corporate clients with House Democratic Leadership and the Congressional Black Caucus, helping them navigate complex policy issues and build meaningful relationships in Washington.

Here's what the people who know him best had to say.

06/18/2026

We're excited to celebrate three Avoq colleagues who were named to Insider NJ’s 2026 Rising Generations list: Vin Ciniello and Erin Howard from our Public Affairs team and Jonathan Scharff from our Insights team.

Their recognition reflects the expertise, leadership and strategic thinking they bring to clients every day. From uncovering insights and shaping narratives to building partnerships and driving meaningful engagement. Congratulations, Vin, Erin and Jonathan, on this well-deserved honor!

06/09/2026

Nonprofits are now being asked to do more, defend more and prove more with fewer resources and less margin for error.

In a new piece for PRovoke Media, Senior Director Josh Rosenfeld argues that mission and impact alone are no longer enough. The organizations that will endure will be the ones that build and wield influence—evolving from service providers into agenda-setters that shape conversations and policy, and drive lasting change for the communities they serve.

A timely read on why communications and influence can no longer be treated as a supporting function for nonprofits, but as a core strategic imperative instead. https://teamavoq.com/views/why-nonprofits-must-build-influence/

06/08/2026

Congratulations to Partner and Public Affairs Lead Jeff Smokler on being featured in PRWeek's 2026 Pride in PR series!

In his profile, Jeff reflects on coming out later in life, the importance of visibility in leadership and what Pride means to him today.

Thanks to PRWeek for highlighting his story alongside other LGBTQ+ leaders across the communications industry. Check it out:

Pride in PR: Jeff Smokler. From PR Week

06/05/2026

From the D.C. award show to the national stage.

We’re excited to share that PBS and Avoq have been recognized at the American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards for our Viewers Like Me campaign. The campaign was built to elevate the voices of PBS viewers and celebrate the essential role public media plays in communities across the country.

Winning at the national level is an incredible honor and a testament to the power of strong partnerships and storytelling that puts audiences at the center.

Congratulations to our team and our partners at PBS for bringing this work to life. Watch the campaign here: https://bit.ly/4uSgQmL

06/03/2026

In her recent conversation with Capitol Communicator, CEO Kelli Parsons shared perspectives that reflect both her leadership journey and the forces shaping our industry today.

A few that stood out:

• Leadership starts with people. As Kelli puts it, "My job is to inspire our people to do their best work" and create the conditions for teams to succeed together on behalf of clients.

• Engagement matters. Especially when we disagree. Progress requires listening before asserting, respecting differences and finding common ground where possible.

• Communications is evolving from a talent business into a talent-and-technology business. As AI reshapes our industry, firms have an opportunity—and responsibility—to rethink how they create value for clients.

Kelli's ultimate advice is simple: be empathetic, be measured and be decisive.

Read the full interview: https://bit.ly/4o2zCoJ

06/02/2026

"Rebuilding trust is a sustained investment in inclusive workplaces, meaningful community partnerships and leadership that recognizes inclusion not as a trend, but as a long-term commitment tied to culture, credibility and business performance."

In a new City & State New York op-ed, Vice President Matthew Di Taranto explores how companies can rebuild trust with LGBTQ+ communities through authentic engagement and consistent action.

Read the full article:

As companies pull back from public LGBTQ+ engagement, rebuilding trust will require consistent action, authentic allyship and long-term commitment.