What Ackermann does

Ackermann Marketing & PR is a privately held, founder-owned integrated marketing and public relations agency headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1982 by Cathy Ackermann, the firm delivers six core service disciplines: Strategic Planning, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Brand Development, Digital Advertising, and Website development. The agency sells exclusively through direct enterprise engagement and referrals, targeting mid-to-large organizations across five primary verticals — healthcare, financial services, technology and cybersecurity, tourism and hospitality, and utilities. Named enterprise clients include University of Tennessee Medical Center, SmartBank, Avertium, Titanic Museum Attraction, Energy Systems Integration Group, and Treehouse Grove at Norton Creek. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contract billing cadence; no pricing tiers are publicly disclosed.

The business operates as a pure human-delivered professional services firm with no proprietary technology platform, software products, APIs, or disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Revenue is generated through client engagements and retainers for ongoing strategic communications support. The firm was historically recognized on the Inc. 500 List of Fastest-growing Private Companies based on 650% growth in its first five years, and more recently named to Newsweek's 'America's Best PR Firms 2024' list as the sole Tennessee firm recognized for Crisis, Issues & Change Communications specialization. Operational scale is small, with a core leadership team of approximately five named members and total headcount reported in the 11-50 range. The company maintains active thought leadership through blog content, a podcast RSS feed, and social media presence across LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram, and has executed at least one acquisition to penetrate the Dallas market.

Name

Ackermann

Legal name

Ackermann Marketing & PR

Website

https://thinkackermann.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ackermann Marketing & PR is a Knoxville-based, founder-owned integrated marketing and public relations agency serving enterprise clients across healthcare, banking, cybersecurity, tourism, and utilities since 1982.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing & Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Advertising Agencies (54181)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Event & Experiential PR (Launches, Stunts, Press Events) (MPAAADAM), Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG)

Keywords

• Integrated marketing services
• Public relations agency
• Crisis communications
• Brand development
• Strategic communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Marketing & PR Services: Professional consulting services including strategic planning, public relations, crisis communications, brand development, digital advertising, and website services. Revenue generated through client engagements and retainers for ongoing strategic communications support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ackermann Marketing & PR delivers integrated marketing and communications services to businesses and organizations across the U.S. The firm provides Strategic Planning, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Brand Development, Digital Advertising, and Website development services, combining these disciplines into unified campaigns rather than fragmented tactics. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based agency has served clients for over 42 years across healthcare, banking, technology, tourism, and utilities verticals.

Product overview

Ackermann Marketing & PR is a professional services firm offering an integrated suite of marketing and communications services. The core offerings include Strategic Planning, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Brand Development, Digital Advertising, and Websites. Rather than a software product with modules, the company provides these as discrete but integrated service disciplines that work together as part of a unified marketing strategy. The firm also publishes thought leadership content on marketing topics through its news/blog section, and serves clients across diverse industries including healthcare, banking, cybersecurity, tourism, and hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Planning Delivers an integrated marketing plan rather than a fragmented checklist, reinforced by multi-faceted marketing components tailored to meet growth objectives for businesses and organizations.
• Public Relations Builds and solidifies relationships through strategic public relations campaigns, providing proactive and responsive service and producing real, measurable business results for clients across industries.
• Crisis Communications Provides rapid crisis response including customized statements tightly targeted to key audiences, multi-channel communication delivery, message control, and coordination with response teams and authorities. Recognized by Newsweek as the sole Tennessee firm specializing in Crisis, Issues & Change Communications.
• Brand Development Develops brand identity representing the DNA of the entire organization, incorporating differentiated visual design with focus on the aspects of an organization that set it apart and create marketplace leadership.
• Digital Advertising Research-grounded digital strategy spanning Google, Spotify, Instagram, Hulu, and other platforms, focused on integration across all marketing channels to support client growth objectives.
• Website Development Website development and maintenance services including site updates, system improvements, and complete new design builds for client organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 650% revenue growth in first 5 years achieving Inc. 500 recognition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Samaritan's Feet InternationalminorOthers · 6 March 2023Non-profit partnership connected to Titanic Museum Attraction campaign. Titanic Museums partnered with Samaritan's Feet to support their mission of serving children by providing shoes. Partnership aligned with Titanic Museums' 'Year of the Titanic Children' campaign theme.
• Pete NelsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Pete Nelson, television personality and expert in treehouse design/development, for Treehouse Grove media event. Nelson provided tours and one-on-one interviews with media. This partnership leveraged Nelson's existing publicity expertise and visibility to generate coverage for the treehouse resort's second phase launch.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital advertising platform partner for client campaigns. Ackermann manages digital advertising across major platforms including Google, Spotify, Instagram, and Hulu according to their services page.
• SpotifyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital advertising platform partner for client campaigns.
• InstagramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital advertising platform partner for client campaigns.
• HuluminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital advertising platform partner for client campaigns.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• M Booth: M Booth is an integrated marketing and public relations agency of comparable size, delivering strategic communications, brand development, and digital services to enterprise clients. It directly parallels Ackermann's integrated-services model and cross-vertical client base.
• Walker Sands: Walker Sands is a B2B integrated marketing and PR firm combining media relations, content, and digital advertising for technology and B2B clients. Closely matches Ackermann's integrated approach serving healthcare, technology, and financial-services buyers.
• 5W Public Relations: 5W Public Relations is a full-service PR agency of similar size offering media relations, crisis communications, brand development, and digital services. Directly comparable to Ackermann in scope of services and target client mix.
• Levick Strategic Communications: Levick is a crisis communications and public relations firm specializing in reputation management and high-stakes issues work. Directly mirrors Ackermann's distinctive crisis, issues, and change communications focus recognized by Newsweek.
• Trevelino/Keller: Trevelino/Keller is a B2B public relations and integrated marketing firm combining brand, PR, and digital services for technology and professional services clients. Comparable to Ackermann in offering structure and boutique positioning.
• The Hodges Partnership: The Hodges Partnership is a boutique public relations and integrated communications firm serving clients across multiple industries. Highly comparable to Ackermann in size, integrated offering, and Southeast regional roots.

Broad incumbents

• FleishmanHillard: FleishmanHillard is one of the world's largest global public relations networks offering consumer, healthcare, technology, and crisis communications. Represents the scaled competitors Ackermann competes against at the enterprise end of its market.
• Edelman: Edelman is the largest global public relations firm offering integrated communications across marketing, crisis, brand, and digital globally. Sets the competitive ceiling that boutique agencies like Ackermann benchmark against for enterprise credentials.
• Bozell: Bozell is a broad integrated marketing communications agency offering PR, advertising, and digital services across multiple verticals. Overlaps with Ackermann's integrated-services model but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio scope.

Regional players

• Landry/French: Landry/French is a New England-based integrated marketing communications firm of similar boutique size with comparable PR, brand, and digital offerings. Geographic peer that does not directly compete in the same territory as Ackermann.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/cathy-ackermann-11568a8
• Xx.com/thinkackermann
• Facebookfacebook.com/thinkackermann

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Ackermann