Merritt Group Promotes Jared Adams and Michelle Schafer to Practice Director
Award-winning PR Agency Promotes Jared Adams and Michelle Schafer to Practice Director
RESTON, VA – June 22, 2009 – Merritt Group, Inc., a nationally recognized communications firm that helps move markets for forward-thinking companies in the government, healthcare and technology sectors, today announced the promotion of Jared Adams to Practice Director of the Government Practice Group and Michelle Schafer to Practice Director of the Security Practice Group. In their new roles, each will be responsible for delivering strategic direction, management, and leadership in their respective practice groups.
“With marketing departments becoming increasingly challenged with the need to demonstrate hard results from their budget spends, it’s more important than ever for us to help our clients leverage the right mix of both traditional and digital media components that send targeted, unique and impactful messages to the right audiences,” said Ben Merritt, CEO of Merritt Group. “Merritt Group’s dedicated practice group model allows us to harness our specialized industry expertise and successfully execute comprehensive communications campaigns. Both Jared and Michelle possess an unparalleled knowledge and depth of experience that has translated into high impact results for their clients over the years.”
Jared Adams, Practice Director, Government
Adams will be responsible for executing strategic communications plans for government customers as well as private companies targeting the public sector. He joined Merritt Group in 2007 and, under his leadership, the Government Practice Group’s 2008 revenues grew by 52 percent. Adams has over a decade of experience in technology-focused public relations and public affairs including previous positions with Edwards Lifesciences and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
Michelle Schafer, Practice Director, Security
In her new role, Schafer will lead Merritt Group’s Security Practice, providing oversight and direction for all client PR initiatives including media and analyst relations, product launches, and other multi-faceted campaigns. During her five and a half years with the firm, she has worked on a variety of clients spanning almost every security technology in the market including encryption, firewalls, application security, network forensics and analysis, and identity and vulnerability management. She has also worked with non-profit security coalitions and their member organizations to help influence public policy and key Hill decision makers. Under her leadership, Schafer has successfully built out Merritt’s base of security clients in both the Virginia and California offices and continues to play a major role in the business development of the firm. Schafer has 10 years of experience in technology marketing communications and public relations, holding previous positions with Current Analysis and telecom start-ups Advanced Switching Communications and 2nd Century Communications.
In addition to Security and Government, Merritt Group also has Enterprise Technology, Healthcare and Communications & Networking Practice Groups This dedicated market-specific practice approach offers clients a team of professionals with deep knowledge of the issues, competitors and peers, and influencers relevant to each sector. As a result, Merritt Group can leverage relationships on behalf of clients to quickly drive results with minimal ramp-up.
About Merritt Group
Since its founding in 1996, Merritt Group has helped companies drive awareness for their innovations through public relations, marketing and digital strategies. This includes a unique combination of market research, strategy, execution and measurement for established and emerging companies. Our expertise is focused in five practice areas - Enterprise Technology, Communications & Networking, Government IT, Security and Healthcare - each with a team dedicated to the issues, trends and influencers relevant to the industry segment. Merritt Group's offices are located in Reston, Virginia and San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.merrittgrp.com.