Sparkpr

Spark Public Relations (also referred to as Spark) is a public relations and integrated marketing communications agency headquartered in San Francisco, California, with offices in New York City. The firm focuses on the technology and consumer markets.[1]

Sparkpr
TypePrivate
IndustryPublic Relations
Founded1999 (1999)
FounderDonna (Sokolsky) Burke and Chris Hempel
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CA, USA
Number of employees
60+
Websitewww.sparkpr.com

History

Spark Public Relations was founded in 1999 by Donna Sokolsky Burke and Chris Hempel,[2] who started the firm after working at Netscape. Its early clients were Silicon Valley start-ups and former Netscape colleagues.[2][3] It signed one-year contracts to help with startup launches and IPOs, in exchange for equity in the company. It supported VA Linux's IPO in December 1999.[2][3]

In 2004, price comparison website Shopping.com hired Spark as its first ad firm.[4] Also in 2004, the company started working with photo-sharing site Flickr.[5] The following year, it began supporting Yahoo.com and MyYahoo.[6] In 2007, it founded SPR Europe, a London-based affiliate for the European market.[7] An office was opened in South Africa in 2008[8] and in New York in 2012.[9]

In 2015, Spark announced its suite of services called Agile Narrative, designed to help companies with branding.[10]

Recognition

In 2016, co-founder Donna Sokolsky Burke was named one of the Top Women in PR by PR News.[11]

References
  1. "Winners of the 2012 Bulldog Digital/Social PR Awards for Outstanding Achievement by Agencies and Individuals in PR and Corporate Communications" (PDF). Bulldog Reporter. January 14, 2013.
  2. Boutin, P. (November, 1999), "Lack of Flacks", WIRED Magazine, Vol. 7, Issue 11. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  3. Clarkson, B. (March 14, 2001). "P.R. agents to startups: Keep quiet!". Computerworld. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  4. Gordon, Andrew (February 2, 2004). "Sparkpr to deliver Shopping.com to a broader audience". PRWeek. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  5. "Spinning the Web: P.R. in Silicon Valley". nytimes.com. July 4, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  6. Gordon, Andrew (October 13, 2004). "Yahoo selects Spark for 'front door' assignments". PRWeek. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  7. "SparkPR Expands to London". PRWeek. July 30, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  8. Shah, Aarti. "Sparkpr opens South Africa office, adds clients". PRWeek. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  9. Krietsch, Beth (April 26, 2012). "SparkPR opens New York office". PRWeek. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  10. "Sparkpr Rolls Out "Agile Narrative" Services, Brings On Chief Narrative Officer". www.holmesreport.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  11. "Celebrate the 2017 Top Women in PR honorees Jan. 24 in NYC!". PR News. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
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