2024 Profiles PROFESSIONAL SERVICES |
Charles Ryan Associates |
Established :
1974
Contact Information :
( 877 ) 342-0161
Owners :
Susan Lavenski
Chief Executive Officer / Owner
Matt Fidler
Chief Creative Officer / Owner
Matt Isner
Chief Strategy Officer / Owner
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The year was 1974 . The man was Charlie Ryan . He left a successful career in television to open what seemed to be a risky business : a public relations firm in Charleston , WV , with only one employee — himself .
Fifty years later , Charles Ryan Associates ( CRA ) is now a women-owned strategic communications firm that works for some of the largest brands in the country , with clients in more than 30 states . CRA has office locations in Charleston , WV , and Richmond , VA , as well as staff in Chicago , IL ; Columbus , Ohio ; and Virginia Beach , VA .
CEO Susan Lavenski will begin her 27th year at CRA this fall and is joined by three other owners , all with long careers at the firm . Alisha Maddox , chief communications officer , grew up in and still resides in Charleston . Matt Fidler and Matt Isner , who now reside in Richmond , VA , and manage the office there , are both West Virginia natives and started their careers in CRA ’ s Charleston office . Fidler , chief creative officer , is from Charleston , and Isner ,
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chief marketing officer , is from Elkins . Four vice presidents are also part of the management team : Meredyth Jenkins , Kyra Harris , Tommy Dutton and Kimm Boyd .
Lavenski says that the owners are more than business partners — they are family . All four have grown up together at CRA . Lavenski and Fidler are celebrating 27 years at the firm , Isner , 25 years and Maddox , 23 years .
After working at the company they poured their hearts and careers into for so long , they purchased CRA in 2015 . CRA now has a major digital focus while adhering to the principle that all communications must center around strategy , creative , digital and media . Notable accomplishments in the last several years include earning state and federal women-owned designations as well as becoming GSA certified . The firm also has its own in-house video production entity called CRA Film , led by Fidler .
Charlie Ryan , now retired and living in North Carolina , stays in touch with CRA ’ s owners and is astounded by what they have built .
“ Congratulations to the men and women of Charles Ryan Associates , past and present , for 50 years of superlative service ,” says Ryan . “ I was there at the beginning , and I am elated that Susan Lavenski and the current owners of CRA have taken the firm I know and love to extraordinary heights .”
Lavenski says the owners are proud of CRA ’ s legacy in the state of West Virginia as well as the firm ’ s successes across the country .
“ We have worked with clients from California , Texas , Oklahoma , New York , Georgia and many places in between ,” Lavenski says . “ We love our West Virginia roots , but we are fortunate to have a large footprint across the country .” •
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Alisha Maddox
Chief Communications Officer / Owner
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