RENEWPR Team
The RENEWPR team is led by Ben Finzel, a DC native who has built a 30-year career in Washington. Ben served as a congressional staffer for two Democratic Members of Congress, a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy and public relations agency executive at five firms before starting RENEWPR in 2015. Over the course of his career, Finzel has counseled leaders at Fortune 500 companies and major businesses, U.S. government agencies, industry trade associations and non-governmental organizations on public affairs and consumer education campaigns, media outreach and partnership development programs and stakeholder relations strategy and outreach. Read Ben's full bio here.
Ben Finzel, President
Washington, D.C.
In addition to agency president Ben Finzel, RENEWPR includes our Team and our network of Partners. The Team includes our COO, Mark Pimble, and seven independent communications professionals from across the country who work with Ben on client projects. The network includes ten Partners: firms that work with us to provide a full range of related communications, marketing and advertising services. This flexible approach enables us to work with a range of clients on a variety of projects.
Lowen Baumgarten
San Francisco, CA
Lowen is an independent communications consultant and writer in San Francisco with more than a decade of experience in message development and content creation. Working with clients large and small, he develops strategies and writes for the web, publication and public speaking. Lowen works across industries, with focus on the technology, financial services, aviation, healthcare, and social impact sectors.
Lowen and Ben first worked together in the Washington, D.C. office of FleishmanHillard from 2007 to 2009. At RENEWPR, Lowen and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including Itron and Aclima.
Specialties: Onsite event support; video production; and writing (feature articles, speeches, op eds & bylines, newsletters, white papers, web copy, and blog posts)
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Jayne Brady
Newport, RI
Jayne is an independent public relations counselor in New England. She has over three decades of public relations experience representing corporate, government and non-profit organizations. She has extensive background developing and implementing both long- and short-term strategies for crisis communication, traditional and social media, product and policy marketing and has established relationships with energy, environmental, technology, security, international and business journalists.
Jayne and Ben first worked together at the U.S. Department of Energy from 1999-2000. At RENEWPR, Jayne and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including 247Solar, Bluesource, SEPA and USEA.
Specialties: Media outreach; media training; writing; editing; and event planning
Darren Goode
Silicon Valley, CA
Darren has leveraged an extensive Washington, D.C.-based journalism and policy background as a communications and media relations consultant currently residing in the heart of Silicon Valley. He has counseled government, corporate, non-profit, trade association and private clients in top-down communication strategy formation, messaging, writing and other content production, media outreach and training and event planning. He spent nearly two decades as a reporter covering energy, climate change, environmental and other federal policies at Politico, The Hill, National Journal and other outlets. He has subsequently served as a communications director, consultant and spokesperson focused on energy policy and clients, including as a senior consultant for Edelman.
Darren and Ben first worked together as part of the Carbon Capture Coalition from 2016-2019. At RENEWPR, Darren and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including Bluesource, Conservation Lands Foundation, Great Plains Institute, Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure and the National EV Charging Initiative.
Specialties: Comprehensive Communications Strategies & Counsel; Media Relations & Outreach; Writing, Editing & Content Production; Message Development; Media Training
Steve Kauffman
Chicago, IL
Steve is a senior marketing communications professional with an extensive mix of corporate and agency leadership experience creating and executing multifaceted communications programs. Certified in crisis communications by PRSA, Steve also specializes in reputation management, media relations, media and message training, consumer marketing, BtoB and BtoC communications, CSR, and executive positioning. He also has in-depth experience in diversity communications having served as co-lead of Fleishman-Hillard’s global LGBT communications practice. His career includes work with AT&T, Motorola, Ernst and Young, Kodak, Procter and Gamble, and Anheuser-Busch.
Steve and Ben first worked together at FleishmanHillard from 2004-2009 when they were co-leads of FH OutFront, the firm's global LGBTQ communications practice. At RENEWPR, Steve and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including Family Equality.
Specialties: Reputation Management; Media Relations; Crisis and Issues Management, Diversity Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility; Executive Positioning
Annette Larkin
Washington, D.C.
Most recently, Annette served as the Director of Public Relations at the renowned three Michelin-starred restaurant and Relais & Chateaux hotel, The Inn at Little Washington. Annette is now an independent public relations advisor to Washington area non-profits and corporate clients in the U.S. and Europe. Her background includes staff positions on Capitol Hill and on two successful presidential campaigns. Annette has worked in two of the largest global PR agencies and served as a partner in a boutique firm based in Washington, DC. Clients have included corporate and non-profit health care organizations, heads of state, and law & consulting firms.
Annette and Ben first worked together in the Washington office of FleishmanHillard from 2002-2004. At RENEWPR, Annette and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including CEO Climate Dialogue, Conservation Lands Foundation, DSM North America, Family Equality and National Wildlife Federation.
Specialties: Media relations, media training, message development, crisis communications, community outreach and photo shoots
Jessica Lass
Oakland, CA
Jessica is an independent communications consultant in the Bay Area. She brings 17 years of experience working with government, corporate, tech start-up, and non-profit clients both in-house and at an agency. She excels at reputation and brand management and handling complex, high-risk situations that require turnkey decision making while organizing a group to execute on a coordinated response.
Jessica and Ben first worked together in the Washington office of FleishmanHillard from 2005-2007. At RENEWPR, Jessica and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including Aclima, Conservation Lands Foundation, Great Plains Institute, Institute of the Americas and SEPA.
Specialties: Crisis communications, product launches, media and speaking engagement preparation, brand development and strategy, copywriting/internal company communication
Mark Pimble, COO
Washington, D.C.
Mark is the Chief Operating Officer for RENEWPR, joining the firm in May 2021 after a career in travel management that included eighteen years in a financial accounting role for a U.S. government contractor and a large international banking institution. Mark's career has included numerous management positions in the travel and retail industries as well as multiple years of experience as a corporate trainer. At RENEWPR, Mark manages all financial and administrative functions of the agency.
Specialties: Financial management, accounting, corporate training, government contract administrative management and adherence
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Sarah Prud'homme
Cincinnati, OH
Sarah is an independent public relations consultant with 17 years of experience working with military, government, and non-profit clients. She excels at strategy creation and execution and full spectrum event management and promotions. Currently, Sarah serves as the director of the Cincinnati Aruna Run for the Aruna Project, an international human rights non-profit. Other recent projects include serving as the In-City Planner for Navy Weeks in Shreveport, La. and Dayton, Ohio; and the lead planner of The Rapides Foundation’s Youth Summit on Healthy Behaviors. Prior to starting her consulting business, Sarah worked at FleishmanHillard as the deputy account director of the U.S. Army’s Operation Tribute to Freedom program. Other clients included the Alliance to Save Energy, Library of Congress, National Park Service, and TRICARE.
Sarah and Ben first worked together in the Washington office of FleishmanHillard from 2005-2007. At RENEWPR, Sarah and Ben have worked together on behalf of clients including Great Plains Institute, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Renewable Thermal Collaborative.
Specialties: Strategic planning, content development, event planning, 5K race planning and coaching, media relations, community relations, health promotion
Partners
We have the good fortune of partnering with colleagues nationwide who have expertise in additional areas of communications, including: research, focus groups, analysis, competitive intelligence, branding, marketing, creative, digital, advertising and other public relations and public affairs disciplines. These Partners work with us on campaigns, projects and initiatives and are available to our clients. Contact Ben for more information or click on the logos below to reach out to our partners directly.
A Certified LGBT Business Enterprise
RENEWPR is a "Certified LGBT Business Enterprise" by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). Our LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE®) certification means that we qualify for LGBT-specific business opportunities and can take advantage of partnerships with nearly 100 corporate leaders and programming provided to the hundreds of other LGBTBE®-certified businesses. For more information on the certification, visit the Diversity & Inclusion page on the NGLCC website.
Click below for information about Ben's professional LGBT expertise.
Ben Finzel is an extraordinary person. We were fortunate to have him as part of the senior team at Widmeyer Communications, and I know him as a loyal friend and even a competitor! His attention to detail, the issues and overall work ethic is second to none.
Scott Widmeyer, Founder, Widmeyer Communications, a Finn Partners Company