The Castle Group
The Castle Group is a privately held, women-owned Boston-based communications agency delivering integrated public relations, event management, crisis communications, public affairs, social media, and marketing communications services to enterprises, nonprofits, government, and education clients since 1996.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Castle Group does
The Castle Group, Inc. is a privately held, women-owned professional services firm founded in 1996 by Sandy Lish and Wendy Spivak, headquartered in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. The company delivers integrated communications and event management services across six core service lines: Public Relations, Event Management, Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Social Media, and Marketing Communications. Its client base spans Fortune 500 enterprises, mid-market companies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, government entities, and healthcare/life sciences organizations, with named engagements including SHI International, MassBio, the City of Boston, the Office of Governor Maura Healey, Boston Business Journal, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
The firm operates on a traditional professional services revenue model, generating fees through project-based engagements and retainer arrangements tailored to client scope; no proprietary software, technology platforms, or API offerings are disclosed. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range, with satellite offices in Atlanta and Maui extending reach beyond the Boston metro. The company is founder-owned with no disclosed external funding, parent, or subsidiaries, and Sandy Lish continues to lead the business as Principal/Co-founder alongside co-founder Wendy Spivak, with a management team averaging roughly 14 years of tenure.
Distribution is exclusively direct-to-client via consultative, relationship-based sales; the firm uses content marketing (blog, email), Instagram, earned media, and community panel events such as the Mission to Motion series co-hosted with media partner GBH to generate leads. Underlying assets are human capital, an established Boston network spanning government, civic, nonprofit, and media constituencies, and a portfolio of industry recognitions including Forbes 2021 Best PR Agency, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 2021 Small Business of the Year, PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 100 (2022), and a five-time Boston Business Journal Best Places to Work designation. The firm is a member of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) via Sandy Lish's Executive Committee role, enabling cross-market collaboration.
The Castle Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Castle Group
- Legal name
- The Castle Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://thecastlegrp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Castle Group is a privately held, women-owned Boston-based communications agency delivering integrated public relations, event management, crisis communications, public affairs, social media, and marketing communications services to enterprises, nonprofits, government, and education clients since 1996.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Castle Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Relations and Communications Services
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Retreats & Team Offsites (Non-incentive) (THAHAMAL), Company All-Hands, Town Halls & Leadership Offsites (THAHAIAB), Corporate Team-Building & Offsite Services (HSACADAF)
Keywords
Where The Castle Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Castle Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Relations Services: Strategic communications, media relations, and public affairs services delivered through project-based or retainer engagements for corporate, nonprofit, and government clients.
- Event Management Services: Full-service event planning, production, and execution including conferences, incentive programs, product launches, corporate retreats, and fundraisers. Revenue generated through service fees for planning and on-site management.
- Crisis Communications: Crisis management and communications advisory services for organizations facing reputational challenges, regulatory issues, or sensitive situations.
- Social Media and Marketing Communications: Digital and social media strategy, content development, and marketing communications services integrated with PR and event programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Castle Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Castle Group is a Boston-based, women-owned communications agency delivering integrated professional services across six core practice areas: Public Relations, Event Management, Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Social Media, and Marketing Communications. Engagements are delivered as customized consulting projects or retainers for corporate, nonprofit, government, and institutional clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Services are executed by in-house teams from offices in Boston, Atlanta, and Maui.
Product overview
The Castle Group is a full-service communications agency offering a unified portfolio of six core service lines: Public Relations, Event Management, Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Social Media, and Marketing Communications. These services are delivered as professional consulting engagements rather than software products or platforms. The agency serves diverse industries including education, healthcare, energy, life sciences, technology, financial services, nonprofit, real estate, hospitality, consumer, and professional services. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Boston's Charlestown Navy Yard, the women-owned business also maintains offices in Atlanta and Maui.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Relations Strategic public relations services including media relations, press releases, media training, and earned media coverage for corporate, nonprofit, government, and institutional clients.
- Event Management Full-service event planning, production, and execution covering conferences, incentive programs, product launches, corporate retreats, fundraisers, and meetings for clients across nonprofit, public, and private sectors.
- Public Affairs Government relations and public affairs consulting helping clients navigate policy, stakeholder engagement, community relations, and government communications.
- Crisis Communications Crisis management and communications services including strategy development, media response, stakeholder messaging, and reputation management during emergencies or sensitive situations.
- Social Media Social and digital media services including content strategy, platform management, social advertising, and engagement analytics integrated with broader PR and event programs.
- Marketing Communications Integrated marketing communications including messaging development, collateral creation, and multi-channel campaign execution for client brands.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 30 years in business serving clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies
Companies that use The Castle Group
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Castle Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Castle Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Public Relations Global Network (PRGN)coreSandy Lish serves on the Executive Committee of the Public Relations Global Network, an invitation-only network of independent PR firms from around the world. The network enables collaboration with agency principals in every major media market to develop world-class relationships for clients and teams.
- GBHsecondaryCollaborated with media partner GBH to host the Mission to Motion: Health, Wellness, and Equity panel discussion in May 2023. GBH serves as media co-host for annual panel events.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Castle Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Edelman: Global largest PR firm with full-service communications, public affairs, and event capabilities. Represents the scale-based competitive ceiling against which regional independents like Castle compete on enterprise RFPs.
- Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and communications agency with strong public affairs, crisis, and event practices. Comparable on Fortune 500 enterprise and government client work, but at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- SHIFT Communications: Boston-headquartered PR agency serving consumer, technology, and enterprise clients. Comparable scale, service model, and New England enterprise client roster.
- Mower: Independent integrated marketing and communications agency with Northeast roots and full-service PR, digital, and event offerings. Closely comparable mid-size independent agency model.
- Inkhouse: Boston-area integrated PR and communications agency serving technology and B2B clients. Direct competitor in the Northeast mid-market PR segment with similar size, service mix, and client profile.
- Small Army: Boston-based integrated communications and creative agency. Direct competitor for regional enterprise, nonprofit, and event marketing engagements of similar scale.
- Allen & Gerritsen: Philadelphia/Northeast-based integrated marketing and communications agency offering PR, events, and digital. Comparable full-service agency model and Fortune 500 client tier.
- Solomon McCown & Company: Boston-based strategic communications and public relations firm with comparable nonprofit, education, and professional services client focus. Direct competitor in the same regional mid-market segment.
- Rasky Partners: Boston-based public affairs and PR firm with strong government and corporate communications practices. Closely comparable on public affairs, crisis, and Northeast enterprise client base.
- V2 Communications: Boston-based integrated PR and content agency serving technology and B2B clients. Comparable regional mid-market competitor with similar service-line breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Castle Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Castle Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Castle Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Castle Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Castle Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Castle Group
What does The Castle Group do?
The Castle Group is a Boston-based, women-owned communications agency delivering integrated professional services across six core practice areas: Public Relations, Event Management, Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Social Media, and Marketing Communications. Engagements are delivered as customized consulting projects or retainers for corporate, nonprofit, government, and institutional clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Services are executed by in-house teams from offices in Boston, Atlanta, and Maui.
Is The Castle Group a public or private company?
The Castle Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Castle Group founded?
The Castle Group was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Castle Group based?
The Castle Group is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Castle Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Relations Services are the primary driver. The others are event Management Services, crisis Communications and social Media and Marketing Communications.
Who are The Castle Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Edelman and Weber Shandwick. Direct peers are SHIFT Communications, Mower, Inkhouse, Small Army, Allen & Gerritsen, Solomon McCown & Company, Rasky Partners and V2 Communications.
Does The Castle Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Castle Group.
What industry is The Castle Group in?
The Castle Group's product category is Public Relations and Communications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAMAA, Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites), with a secondary code of THAHAMAL, Corporate Retreats & Team Offsites (Non-incentive). Its SIC code is 8742.