Starting as a two-woman team, Jennifer Bett Communications (JBC) has been nationally recognized for their work as a boutique women- and minority-led agency. Founder Jennifer Meyer and partner Melissa Duren have turned their shop into a bi-coastal, 45-person company that has made good on its initial vision to support women-run businesses, the likes of which comprise two-thirds of JBC’s roster. In addition to their client services, JBC sees the value of each team member, so much so that the agency built entire divisions around that expertise, including a Thought Leadership Division that elevates founder voices, a Content Division led by a seasoned fashion journalist and a Broadcast Division that operates more like a producer than a publicist. JBC now offers media training as a part of client scope as well. The agency has also instituted ongoing agency pro-bono consultations to hundreds of start-up founders via “Office Hours," one-on-one virtual sessions that identify solutions to help accelerate brands. Most recently, JBC expanded its extracurricular services to include making all-new investments in content, and launching both a podcast and a monthly newsletter, both designed to support entrepreneurs.
Leadership team:
Jennifer Bett Meyer, President & Founder
Melissa Duren Connor, Partner & Managing Director
Notable long-term clients:
Female Founders Fund, Grove, Nuuly, Parachute, Recess
New client wins:
Ring Concierge, The Honey Pot Company, theSkimm, Zola
How is the agency advancing DEI in the industry?
“As one of the few BIPOC leaders in the PR space, JBC’s Partner and Managing Director Melissa Duren Conner has always been committed to a more compassionate, inclusive future. In addition to actively seeking diverse candidates to join the JBC team, both Meyer and Conner have implemented regular DEI training and workshops for the team on a bi-annual basis. Some of the most recent trainings have included a seminar on unconscious bias hosted by executive coach Brooks E. Scott as well as a workshop on inclusive language in media and marketing specifically surrounding gender identity and representation to ensure both JBC and JBC clientele are using appropriate language in all communication efforts. To further expand on DEI services, JBC has most recently appointed a current team member to the title of DEI Coordinator. This new position will oversee everything from internal hiring to team retreats through a DEI lens to better support and benefit team members both in work as well as in their personal lives. JBC also actively supports the ACLU, Feeding America and Planned Parenthood.”
