PARKERSBURG — In September 1974, Charlie Ryan left a successful career in television to open a PR shop in Charleston, a business that was considered risky at the time, with Ryan as the only employee.
Fifty years later, Charles Ryan Associates is a woman-owned strategic communications firm proud to have worked for some of the nation’s largest brands and clients in over 30 states.
“Fifty years ago this week, Charles Ryan Associates first opened for business in the basement of a law office. One man, one desk and one phone in Charleston, West Virginia launched a half-century of smart brand communications while working with clients across the United States.” “We’re excited to be working with Salesforce to bring this technology to market,” said Susan Ravenski, CEO of Charles Ryan Associates. “I’m grateful to our founder, Charles Ryan, who started this journey for us, and to all of the CRA alumni who have joined us over the past 50 years and helped us get to where we are today.”
Charles Ryan Associates (known as CRA by our staff and most of our clients) has grown into a successful communications and digital firm with offices in Charleston and Richmond, Virginia, and staff in Chicago, Columbus and Virginia Beach. Our motto is “Smart Brand Communication”
Lovenski will be celebrating her 27th year with Charles Ryan Associates this fall, and she is joined by the other three owners who all have long careers with the firm: Chief Communications Officer Alisha Maddox in Charleston, Chief Creative Officer Matt Fidler and Chief Strategy Officer Matt Isner in Richmond.
The executive team also includes four vice presidents: Meredith Jenkins, Kayla Harris, Tommy Dutton and Kim Boyd.
Lovenski said the owners are more than business partners, they’re like family, because all four grew up together at Charles Ryan Associates: Lovenski and Fidler have been with the firm for 27 years, Isner for 25 and Maddox for 23.
The owners, who had worked at the company for many years, purchased it in 2015.
The company is now heavily digitally focused, adhering to the principle that all brand communications are centered around smart strategy, creative, digital and media. Notable accomplishments over the past few years include achieving state and federal Women-Owned Business designation and earning GSA certification.
The company also has an in-house video production division, CRA Film, headed by Fidler, a digital and media insights team headed by Isner and a strategic media and communications training division called CRA Forum, headed by Maddox.
Now retired and living in North Carolina, Ryan stays in touch with the owners and is amazed at what they’ve built.
“Congratulations to the men and women, past and present, of Charles Ryan Associates for 50 years of outstanding service.” Ryan said. “I’ve been there from the beginning and am pleased that Susan Labensky and the current owners of CRA have led the company I know and love to incredible heights.”
Labenski said the owners are proud of Charles Ryan Associates’ accomplishments in West Virginia and the success the company has had across the country.
“We’ve worked with clients from California, Texas and Oklahoma to New York and Georgia and many places in between. While we treasure our West Virginia roots, we are fortunate to have a broad reach across the country.” She said.
Get the latest news from the day and more delivered to your inbox