The past year was a pivotal one for DKC, as it was the most successful year in the company‘s history. In addition to significant growth across multiple industry sectors and media platforms, the agency launched new initiatives and practice areas to boot. DKC’s most strategic new initiative was the launch of DKCulture, a new division that connects the dots between brands, talent and BIPOC Gen Z + Millennials. DKCulture produces work that links purposeful content with large multi-channel communication campaigns, utilizing their PR, social and DEI expertise. A few early DKCulture clients include Snoop Dogg, Charlamagne tha God and Dr. Dre, as well as expansions of scope for existing clients including Moet Hennessy, Indeed and The Big East Conference. DKC’s Sports Division also launched a new practice area, DKC Campus, to guide brands, athletes, conferences and institutions through the new era of NCAA name, image and likeness. The agency has mastered the art of crafting storylines that drive conversation. From the creation of temporary housing for Afghan refugees to rolling out TikTok’s newest products, DKC engineered some of the biggest news stories of the last year.
Leadership team:
Sean Cassidy, President & CEO
Notable long-term clients:
Airbnb, Etsy, Away, Oracle, Care.com, BMW, Dyson, Moet Hennessy, Spotify
New client wins:
GoPuff, The Arena Group (which owns Sports Illustrated and recently acquired Parade), Headspace, Falcon’s Beyond, TikTok, K-18, Daring Foods, Brixton
How is the agency advancing DEI in the industry?
“DKC is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, safe and inclusive environment that champions curiosity, confidence and empowerment in the workplace for every employee to thrive. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee continues to drive the execution of goals, KPIs and action plans to meet our DEI standards in each facet of the company. We've established a Recruitment Hiring & Retention Strategy that seeks to increase staff diversity and greater BIPOC representation at DKC at all levels. We've launched and are developing original branded, educational content that grapples with critical cultural and historic topics, trends and themes; including a Speaker Series, monthly Antiracism Newsletters and a DEI podcast. We will continue our cultural sensitivity and micro-aggressions training - initiated in Fall 2019. We're driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion beyond DKC by engaging with Black and minority-owned businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations that push to dismantle systemic racism and injustices, through DKC Impact, our pro-bono service offering; and new business sourcing. We will continue to observe holidays and events as an entire company that honor, celebrate and commemorate Black and multicultural history, experiences and beliefs.”
After two decades in the business, Cashman & Associates founder Nicole Cashman knew where to best invest after the pandemic: in her agency’s internal team. Cashman & Associates now offers every employee one-on-one monthly leadership and executive coaching with a certified coach that helps them step out of the day-to-day and focus on what will make them their happiest, most productive and most confident selves professionally. With this innovative and inspiring culture has come expanded offerings. Clients reap the benefits of added SEO capabilities and the full-circle approach the agency takes in their multi-platform communications strategy. The team has been working on something on the side, too. In June 2020 they launched a brand called Snack PR dedicated to project-based account work. While the brand was slated to launch in the onset of the pandemic, they decided to launch it during the shutdowns as they felt there was even more of a need than ever before for spot-project work for clients in and out of the hospitality industry. Snack PR still sees a steady flow of clients across the country who have gravitated to the brand and service model Cashman & Associates calls the “bite-sized” version of their award-winning services.
Leadership team:
Nicole Cashman, Founder & CEO
Notable long-term clients:
Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants, LDV Hospitality, Elior North America, James Beard Foundation, Modern Luxury Media, Four Seasons Philadelphia at Comcast Center, Jean-Georges Philadelphia, Visit Philadelphia, Philly Fights Cancer, AKA, Brandywine Realty Trust, PREIT, Comcast, Bozzuto, Welcome America, Scannapieco Development Corporation, Steak 48, National Real Estate, Heyday, Van Leeuwen
New client wins:
Post Brothers, Primark, Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association, Work to Ride, JLL
How is the agency advancing DEI in the industry?
“We have built a training and networking program in partnership with the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and adjusted it for virtual adaptations. The Masterclass program is a five-week guided learning for students of color in the marketing, communications and journalism fields who are looking to gain an understanding of agency-life, see real-world examples of work and hear from industry insiders on career topics such as advice and what the individual jobs in the industry are like. Students are offered one-on-one mentoring, as well as a capstone project where they have guided instruction on drafting agency-ready materials such as media alerts, pitches and more, that they can use in their portfolios. Our goal in the program is to offer a network to emerging leaders of color and guidance as they enter the field. It’s important that we generate more diversity in the industry, and by giving these students a direct line toward internships or jobs at not only our own agency but agencies in our region, we have already seen the stepping stones of success as our students enter the job market. Also, this year alone we’ve donated more than $50,000 of pro-bono services to organizations impacting under-served or multi-cultural minority groups.”
