Communications LAB

What Communications LAB does

Communications LAB is a full-service, woman- and minority-owned communications agency headquartered in Orange, California, with a second office in Pasadena. Founded in 2013 by CEO Arianna Barrios and President Brian Lochrie through the combination of Barrios and Associates with the marketing and media division of Faubel Public Affairs, the firm delivers an integrated suite of services spanning public relations, digital marketing, video production, graphic design, crisis communications, strategic communications, media relations, public outreach, project management, website development, social media management, and in-house Spanish/English translation. Its core technology stack is built on Adobe Creative Suite for design, an in-house virtual production studio with live broadcasting, drone capture, and multi-platform streaming integration to Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, and client websites. The firm is differentiated by a deep bench of bilingual staff and longstanding relationships across Orange County, the Inland Empire, and Los Angeles.

The firm generates revenue through customized, quote-based professional services engagements. Its primary client base is concentrated in California public-sector and regulated-utility procurement: transportation authorities (LA Metro, OCTA, TCA), water districts (Santa Margarita, East Orange County, Mesa, Poseidon Water), energy utilities (Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric), and county government (County of Orange). It has completed two acquisitions to date — the Faubel Public Affairs division at formation in 2013 and Thomas Communications Group in 2017 — the latter scaling headcount to 20+ and enabling the LA expansion. The agency is widely certified (WBE, WOSB, MBE, WMBE, DBE, SB, CBE, LSBE, SBE, OCLSB), giving it access to diversity set-aside public-sector bids across federal, state, county, and municipal levels. It was ranked the #4 PR firm in Orange County and recognized as the fastest-growing PR firm in the region by the Orange County Business Journal in 2022.

Communications LAB's go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales into public agencies and regulated utilities, supported by case studies, a video portfolio (The Reel), a blog (Lab Notes), earned media through industry awards, and an email newsletter. Repeat mandates, multi-year project continuity (e.g., two decades with Poseidon Water), and outcome-based results such as a 36% reduction in water consumption for Santa Margarita Water District and roughly a 300% expansion in Hispanic media coverage for Southern California Edison anchor the firm's value proposition. The firm competes against larger national PR networks by offering senior, bilingual attention on California-specific public affairs, infrastructure outreach, and crisis communications engagements.

Name

Communications LAB

Legal name

Communications LAB LLC

Website

https://communicationslab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations and Communications Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Community outreach consulting
• Digital marketing agency
• Video production services
• Crisis communications consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: Full-service communication agency providing consulting, strategic planning, crisis communications, media relations, community outreach, graphic design, video production, web editing, and translation services to government agencies, water districts, transportation authorities, utilities, and non-profit organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Communications LAB is a full-service communications and public relations agency that delivers integrated PR, digital marketing, video production, graphic design, crisis communications, strategic communications, media relations, public outreach, project management, social media, and bilingual translation services. The firm combines traditional public and stakeholder outreach with digital tactics and serves government agencies, water districts, transportation authorities, utilities, and non-profit organizations primarily across Southern California.

Product overview

Communications LAB is a full-service communications agency providing integrated PR, marketing, and outreach services. The company offers a unified suite of service offerings rather than distinct product modules: Public Relations, Digital Marketing (including social media, content marketing, and website development), Video Production (with live streaming and drone capabilities), Graphic Design (in-house award-winning team), Crisis Communications, Strategic Communications, Media Relations, Public Outreach, Project Management, Social Media Management, and Translation Services. These services are delivered through a team-based approach, combining traditional public and stakeholder outreach strategies with digital tactics to serve clients across transportation, water, energy, education, government, healthcare, nonprofit, and public policy sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Comprehensive public relations services including public opinion research, direct mail, collateral materials, website development, social media management, message development, third-party advocacy, and social listening for public agencies and organizations.
• Digital Marketing Full-service digital marketing including digital strategy, content marketing, targeted advertising, social media strategy, website development, video advertising, and analytics.
• Video Production Full-service video production including live broadcasting and streaming, Zoom-Facebook-YouTube-website integration, in-house virtual studio, webinars, and drone capabilities.
• Graphic Design In-house award-winning graphic design services including branding guides and review, brand roll-out, web design, advertising, animation, and illustration.
• Crisis Communications Crisis communications services including proactive planning, active crisis support, speech and statement writing, media relations, media training, community outreach, editorial board meetings, and letters to editors.
• Strategic Communications Strategic communications including analysis, audits, external and internal ascertainments, branding, and communications plans.
• Media Relations Media relations services including earned media, strategic messaging, in-house bilingual staff, social media management across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and spokesperson roles.
• Public Outreach Public outreach services including stakeholder outreach, strategy, public meetings, workshops, event planning, facilitation, and public hearings, delivered with bilingual in-house staff.
• Project Management Project management services including collaboration, real-time tracking, organization, vendor oversight, accounting, and reporting metrics for client engagements.
• Social Media Management Social media services including editorial calendars with writing and graphics, content development, and online branding with engagement tracking.
• Website Development Website development and maintenance services as part of digital strategy and online presence management.
• Translation Services In-house translation services supporting bilingual and multicultural communications for clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced water consumption by 36 percent for Santa Margarita Water District drought campaign
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cerrell Associates: Los Angeles-based public affairs and government relations firm specializing in municipal, regulatory, and ballot measure campaigns. Comparable as a California-focused public affairs boutique serving government and infrastructure clients.
• Townsend Public Affairs: California state and local government affairs and public relations firm. Comparable due to overlapping California public affairs, government relations, and community outreach service offering.
• Faubel Public Affairs: California public affairs and communications agency whose marketing and media division was acquired by Communications LAB at its 2013 founding. Direct comparable as a California public affairs firm serving regulated industries and government entities.
• Tripepi Smith: California-based public affairs, marketing, and technology firm serving cities, special districts, and public agencies. Direct comparable due to overlapping public sector, water, and government client base in California.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global public relations and communications firm with a dedicated public affairs practice serving corporate, government, and infrastructure clients. Comparable as a broader incumbent competing for California public sector RFPs where Comm LAB also competes.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations network with public affairs and corporate communications practices. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for enterprise-level government, utility, and infrastructure communications engagements.
• Ogilvy PR: Global communications network with public relations, public affairs, and social change practices. Comparable as a broad incumbent with full-service creative, digital, and public affairs capabilities that overlap with Comm LAB's integrated offering.
• FleishmanHillard: Global public relations and integrated communications agency with public affairs and crisis communications capabilities. Comparable as a broader incumbent pursuing similar corporate, utility, and public-sector accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/commlaboc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communications-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/commlaboc

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Communications LAB