Crawford Agency taps earned media veteran to lead public relations efforts
June 19, 2024
Crawford, a leading full-service marketing and creative agency in Greenville, announced the addition of Colton Grace as its senior public relations account director. In this new role, Grace will use his extensive experience to enhance Crawford’s PR capabilities and drive exceptional outcomes for its clients.
“At Crawford, our people are the secret sauce that sets us apart,” said Andy Windham, agency president and chief strategy officer. “Colton’s track record in public relations aligns perfectly with both the strategic vision of Crawford and the priority we place on sharing the amazing work of our clients with the world.”
Grace honed his skills in the national media landscape as press secretary and advisor for a former South Carolina congressman and as communications director for a substance use policy think tank, securing regular placements in outlets like Newsweek, The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal. Most recently, he served as the director of strategic communications for Spartanburg Community College, where he implemented strategies that elevated the college’s profile and significantly increased enrollment.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to lead the dynamic PR team at Crawford, an organization brimming with creative visionaries,” said Grace. “There is nothing quite like the thrill of securing media coverage and I am ready to support the success of Crawford’s incredible clients.”
Grace joins the Crawford team as it is gearing up for exciting PR opportunities with current clients in the financial, healthcare and higher education industries, as well as with new clients like COOP Ale Works, a craft beverage producer expanding their novel lines of hard seltzers across the nation.
His arrival also coincides with strategic leadership investments and realignments in the firm’s creative and strategy teams. Crawford recently welcomed Rusty Broome as the firm’s group creative director, who brings more than 17 years of award-winning experience working with clients such as Southwest Airlines, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and Capital One. Last year, Bryant Lambert also joined the agency as SVP of client relations, bringing 13 years of national brand leadership to the firm.
Additionally, Wendy McCarthy has taken up a new, pivotal role as the agency’s director of client strategy and Ted Rooke has been elevated to director of planning & media, bringing more than 50 years of combined experience to the firm’s client strategy division.
“At Crawford, we are committed to fostering long-lasting client relationships built on understanding, agility and delivering exceptional value,” said Marion Crawford, agency founder and chief executive officer. “Colton’s role leading our PR team reflects our dedication to integrating PR and creative expertise, ensuring we consistently exceed client expectations. Our success stems from a strong, performance-oriented team and this addition strengthens our ability to innovate and deliver impactful solutions. We are excited about the opportunities ahead.”
About Crawford
Crawford is a marketing and communications agency that creates holistic and compelling campaigns that connect brands to the heart of decision making. From sound strategic direction to excellence in execution, Crawford provides a full suite of branding, advertising, public relations, social and digital media services. Now in its 14th year of business, the woman-owned agency regularly receives recognition from its clients, community and peers, and was recently named a six-time Best Place to Work in S.C. To learn more visit the agency’s website, crawford.agency.
