What Thrive PR does

Thrive PR is a woman-owned, Dallas/Fort Worth-based strategic communications and creative agency founded in 2003 by Kelly Kirkendoll. The firm operates as a full-service integrated communications shop offering five core service lines: Strategic Communications, Public Relations, Marketing (digital and traditional), Website Design and Development, and Creative Services, supplemented by specialized offerings in Internal Communications, Crisis Management, and Fractional CMO/CCO engagements. It also operates dedicated website design verticals for authors (pricing disclosed at $3,500–$8,000 per project) and chefs/caterers, signaling a deliberate move to productize select capabilities. There is no proprietary technology platform; the agency's 'product' is its talent, process, and award-winning creative execution, validated by a national PRSA Silver Anvil Award, multiple PRSA Dallas Pegasus and Worthy Awards, and an NRCA Gold Circle Award.

The firm serves B2B companies, B2C companies, nonprofits and advocacy organizations, member-based associations, coaches/consultants/thought leaders, roofing and home service companies, culinary providers, and healthcare organizations — spanning SMBs, enterprises, and trade associations. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, relying on direct outreach, referrals, and inbound website inquiries rather than a structured sales development function. Anchor clients include NTRCA, Tarrant Transit Alliance, and Hospice Source, each with decade-plus or multi-year fractional engagements. Revenue is generated through project-based and retainer professional services arrangements; pricing is largely quote-based and not publicly disclosed except for the author website tier. Headcount per firmographics is 1–10, with a named core team of approximately 8 and additional specialists brought in on demand, which constrains scaling economics and makes anchor-client retention strategically critical.

The company is privately held, founder-owned, and self-funded with no disclosed outside investment, M&A activity, or subsidiaries. It markets itself through a 'Thrive Views' blog, LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram presence, a quarterly eNewsletter, case studies, and earned media, while operating across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex with national and Canadian client reach delivered primarily via remote collaboration. Founder Kelly Kirkendoll's 2023 PRSA Dallas Executive PR Pro of the Year and 2025 Propel100 recognitions are central to its reputational and business development moat.

Name

Thrive PR

Legal name

Thrive PR

Website

https://thrivepublicrelations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thrive PR is a woman-owned, Dallas/Fort Worth-based integrated communications agency offering PR, marketing, branding, creative, and website design services to B2B, B2C, nonprofit, and association clients across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations and Marketing Communications Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA), Reputation Management & Online PR (BPAFADAN), Event PR & Communications Support (BPAFADAO)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Website design development
• Strategic communications consulting
• Marketing communications agency
• Branding creative services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: Thrive PR generates revenue through client engagements for strategic communications, public relations, marketing, creative services, and website design/development. Services include fractional CMO, strategy, branding, web design, copywriting, social media management, digital marketing, SEO, email marketing, and more. Engagements appear to be project-based and/or retainer arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thrive PR is a full-service strategic communications and creative agency providing integrated public relations, marketing, branding, creative, and website design/development services for B2B, B2C, and nonprofit clients. Engagements are delivered as project-based or retainer arrangements and span media relations, crisis management, social media management, digital marketing, SEO, content marketing, copywriting, email marketing, internal communications programs, and fractional CMO/CCO services. The agency combines strategy, creative, and execution under a single account team to help clients tell their stories, expand reach, engage audiences, and grow.

Product overview

Thrive PR is a full-service strategic communications and creative agency offering integrated marketing and PR services. The agency provides five core service lines: Strategic Communications, Website Design and Development, Public Relations, Marketing Services, and Creative Services. These services work together as an integrated offering, with the agency combining strategy, branding, digital marketing, content creation, and design to help clients tell their unique stories and grow. The agency also offers specialized services including Internal Communications programs for workforce engagement, Crisis Management, and Fractional CMO/CCO services. Specialized website design verticals include Author Website Design and Chef/Catering Website Design. Founded in 2003 and based in Dallas/Fort Worth, the agency serves B2B, B2C, nonprofit, and association clients across the U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Communications Strategic communications consulting that examines business goals at multiple levels to develop integrated communication plans addressing clients' unique needs, goals, challenges, and opportunities, spanning public relations, branding strategy, internal communications, strategic marketing, digital strategy, content strategy, and social media.
• Website Design and Development Full-service website design and development creating modern, on-brand, SEO-optimized websites that drive leads, serving B2B, B2C, and nonprofit clients.
• Public Relations PR services focused on evolving, promoting, and protecting clients' brands and reputations through media relations, crisis management, influencer strategy, reputation management, and awards promotion.
• Marketing Services Comprehensive marketing services including fractional CMO, strategic marketing planning, branding, integrated marketing communications, social media management, digital marketing, traditional advertising, content marketing, SEO, and email marketing.
• Creative Services Award-winning creative services including branding strategy, identity design, marketing collateral, messaging and positioning, graphic design, content strategy, copywriting, presentations, photography, and videography.
• Internal Communications Internal communications programs designed to engage disparate workforces through CEO field visits, employee newsletters, engagement surveys, culture definition, and recognition programs; recognized with a national PRSA Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for the Hospice Source program.
• Crisis Management Crisis communications and management services that protect and manage brand reputation during challenging situations.
• Fractional CMO/CCO Services Fractional Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Communications Officer services providing executive-level marketing and communications leadership to organizations on a part-time/embedded basis.
• Author Website Design Services Custom website design services for authors, speakers, and thought leaders, including book promotion, author branding, email capture integration, event pages, and SEO optimization; pricing typically ranges from $3,500 to $8,000.
• Chef and Catering Website Design Services Custom website design and branding services for personal chefs, private chefs, and caterers, including visual identity design, brand voice guidance, and conversion-focused layouts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bloom Health Partners selected as K-12 COVID testing vendor for all of southern Alabama by Oct. 2021, 200 Texas school districts by Sept. 2022, met revenue goals by June 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UAB School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner with Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama State Department of Education for the 'COVID Testing in Alabama K-12 Schools Program.' Bloom Health Partners was selected as vendor for southern Alabama through this coalition. Thrive developed communications materials to support the testing program.
• Alabama Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for COVID testing in Alabama K-12 schools program. Thrive created communications materials for parent education and testing participation.
• Alabama State Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for COVID testing program in Alabama K-12 schools. Thrive developed communications to support testing participation.
• Texas Education Agency (TEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBloom Health Partners selected as one of 6 vendors for Texas schools for rapid result testing materials and/or in-school testing services. Thrive created webinar materials and communications for TEA partnership.
• Hospice SourcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrive served as fractional Chief Communications Officer for Hospice Source, implementing comprehensive internal communications program. Won multiple awards including national PRSA Silver Anvil. Partnership included CEO roadshow, employee newsletter, engagement surveys, and culture definition.
• First Christian Church Fort WorthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in charitable eye clinic project. Church had underutilized space that was converted to serve estimated 7,000 homeless patients. Thrive helped PSP position as catalyst for the clinic.
• University of Houston College of OptometryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Fort Worth charitable eye clinic project providing optometry services.
• University of the Incarnate Word School of OptometryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Fort Worth charitable eye clinic project providing optometry services.
• Tarrant Transit Alliance (TTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership with nonprofit transit advocacy organization. Thrive served as PR/marketing director for over a decade, created Vote for Better Transit campaign, new website, ongoing branding, content, design and social media management. Won multiple PRSA awards.
• NTRCA (North Texas Roofing Contractors Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed as fractional outsourced PR and Marketing Director for more than a decade. Created 'Who's On Your Roof?' consumer awareness campaign that won National NRCA Gold Circle Award. Helped grow association visibility, value, and membership.
• Texas Roofing AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix Texas roofing associations provided funding and public support for Don't Fraud My Texas campaign. Combined 1200+ members amplified campaign educational content. Thrive created branding, strategy, and implementation for statewide initiative.
• AlconminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Fort Worth charitable eye clinic project providing eye care products/services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Merritt Group: Mid-size U.S. public relations and integrated marketing agency specializing in B2B technology, healthcare, and professional services. Closely aligned with Thrive PR's B2B and integrated communications positioning and team-size profile.
• 5W Public Relations: Mid-size U.S. PR agency offering media relations, digital marketing, crisis communications and integrated marketing services to B2B and B2C clients. Closely comparable to Thrive PR in service mix, client profile (SMB to mid-market), and full-service integrated positioning.
• Pierpont Communications: Texas-based independent PR and integrated communications firm serving B2B, B2C, and nonprofit clients. Direct competitor in the regional Texas market with a similar mix of public relations, marketing, and digital services.
• HCK2 Partners: Dallas-based public relations and communications agency serving consumer, B2B, and nonprofit clients in Texas and nationally. Overlaps directly with Thrive PR on healthcare, nonprofit, and B2B engagements in the DFW metro.
• Saxum: Oklahoma-based integrated marketing and communications agency offering PR, branding, digital, and content services. Comparable independent, full-service agency competing in adjacent regional markets with similar client verticals.

Regional players

• The Richards Group: Long-established Dallas-based brand and advertising agency offering branding, advertising, digital, and integrated marketing. Comparable on full-service creative/branding capability and DFW base, though Thrive PR is more PR-led and Richards is broader in advertising.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: World's largest independent PR firm with global integrated communications, marketing, and digital services. Sets the competitive ceiling for Thrive PR's category and competes for the same enterprise and mid-market communications budgets.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and integrated marketing agency with strong healthcare, B2B, and social impact practices. Direct overlap with Thrive PR's healthcare and nonprofit verticals, though at significantly larger scale.
• Ketchum: Global communications consultancy offering PR, branding, social, and digital marketing. Comparable to Thrive PR on integrated communications, with overlapping capabilities in healthcare and corporate reputation work.
• FleishmanHillard: Global public relations and integrated marketing agency with deep healthcare, nonprofit, and corporate communications practices. Competes for the same healthcare and association clients as Thrive PR at the enterprise tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thrivepr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thrive-pr
• Instagraminstagram.com/thriveprmarketing
• Xx.com/thriveprusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Thrive PR