PROVIDENCE, RI: McGrath/Power Public Relations and Communications has opened an office in Providence, RI, marking a return to the East Coast for the Silicon Valley-based tech agency.
McGrath/Power partner and SVP Kathryn Walker will lead the office.
Sproutel, an interactive game-maker for children with chronic illnesses, is the first client served by the New England office. The agency picked up the business via startup incubator Betaspring.
The firm is planning to capitalize on the growing technology community in Rhode Island. While it will look to work with startups and early stage entrepreneurs, it expects to expand its client portfolio to include midsize startups and bigger brands to match its Silicon Valley office.
San Jose, CA-based McGrath/Power reported revenue of $2.6 million in 2012, a year-over-year increase of 37% compared with the year prior. It had 16 staffers as of the end of 2012.
The office launch is a return to the East Coast for McGrath/Power, which was originally based in New York before relocating to Silicon Valley.
“We had designs on formalizing our presence on the East Coast, and it felt like the right time based on demand and the fact we turned 30 for the next generation of the agency's future,” said Jonathan Bloom, founding partner and CEO.
At launch, Walker will be the sole staffer in the office, but the firm plans to hire three to five employees in the next six months.
