Detroit Regional Chamber > Member News > Detroit-based Van Dyke Horn PR Firm’s Growth Continues with Launch of New Lansing Office

Detroit-based Van Dyke Horn PR Firm’s Growth Continues with Launch of New Lansing Office

April 30, 2018
Detroit-based Van Dyke Horn, Michigan’s largest minority-owned public relations firm, announced today that it has opened an office in Lansing.  This announcement comes after two years of significant growth for the 20-year-old firm, formerly known as Berg Muirhead and Associates.  Van Dyke Horn has doubled its revenue and staff since 2016, now with a 14-member team across the two offices.

“Since our founding, our firm has been dedicated to being present wherever our clients need us,” said Peter Van Dyke, Van Dyke Horn CEO. “There has been a consistent demand for Van Dyke Horn to service clients in Lansing. With our strong history of award-winning services in public affairs, complemented by our diverse array of communications services, we are thrilled to meet this demand and expand within the Lansing market.”

Van Dyke•Horn has hired Lansing communications veteran Maureen McNulty Saxton to lead its Lansing office.  For the last 10 years, Saxton has owned the communications consulting firm PR Edge, with clients ranging from those in the energy sector to early childhood education.  Her past experience includes heading  the communications/press offices of the State of Michigan’s Departments of: Treasury; Management & Budget; History, Arts & Libraries and a statewide gubernatorial campaign. Prior to her work in Lansing, she was a reporter at the Erie Daily Times in Erie, PA, the Grosse Pointe News, and at the Detroit Free Press.

“Maureen comes to Van Dyke Horn with a strong portfolio of clients, further establishing our foundation in Lansing,” said Marilyn Horn, Van Dyke Horn president and CFO. “She is an excellent addition to the team and we are thrilled that she will be helping steward our expansion.”

The opening of a Lansing office is another step in Van Dyke Horn’s rapid growth since owners Van Dyke and Horn acquired the company in 2016 from founders and Michigan communications legends Bob Berg and Georgella Muirhead.  Van Dyke Horn recently hired Kaye Byrd, former deputy communications director for Wayne County and communication director for its public works department.  Byrd is leading representing a large portfolio of the agency’s utility clients.

Van Dyke Horn also hired Brianna Shreve as an account executive and Grant Wickersham as junior account executive in late 2017.  Additionally, the recently promoted team members Nat Synowiec, to senior account executive and operations director, Elizabeth Durham, to senior accounts and operations executive, and Terrence West to account executive.

A key element that defines Van Dyke Horn’s brand, and sets it apart from other Michigan-based agencies, is to have a diverse team that reflects the diversity of the communities and industries the company serves.

“Van Dyke Horn strong believes in having a team that reflect the clients and communities we serve. While we are proud of our deep bench strength of professional expertise, we also recognize how important it is to have a diverse team of consultants, in gender, culture, race and age,” said Van Dyke.  “In a nutshell: we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk,” he said.

Van Dyke Horn’s mission is to not only serve its clients, but to serve the communities in which it does business.  In Detroit, Van Dyke Horn sponsors the Berg Muirhead Scholarship for Public Relations Student Advancement in honor of the firm’s founders, as well as supports the Michigan Humane Society, Detroit Public Theatre and the Coleman A. Young Foundation. –

Van Dyke Horn currently serves approximately 40 clients across a broad spectrum of sectors,  including automotive, government, energy, education, coalitions, hospitality, non-profits, foundations and associations, real estate development and utilities.


About Van Dyke•Horn

Van Dyke•Horn, Michigan’s largest minority-owned public relations agency, is headquartered in Detroit with an office in Lansing.

The company executes integrated and strategic campaigns that resonate with our clients’ industries and their audiences. We are respected for our skill, integrity and dedication to our clients and our community.

Formerly Berg Muirhead and Associates, Van Dyke•Horn builds on the foundation established by its founders with an 18-year track record of successfully serving clients.  While we serve clients globally, it’s Van Dyke•Horn’s philosophy to not simply work from Detroit, but to be deeply engrained in our community. Our clients benefit from our intentional, relationship-driven philosophy. It’s our team of industry experts that all abide by Van Dyke•Horn’s relationship-driven philosophy that drives our clients’ results.

 

For more information, visit www.vandykehorn.com