What The Silverman Group does

The Silverman Group, Inc. is a privately held, Chicago-centric public relations boutique firm founded in 2000 by Beth Silverman. The firm provides professional public relations services — media relations, strategic counsel, spokesperson training, and event support — to a concentrated roster of arts, cultural, civic, and non-profit clients in the Chicago metropolitan area, supplemented by select commercial entertainment engagements. Its core operational asset is a proprietary, continuously updated database of more than 5,500 local, regional, and inter/national print, broadcast, and online media contacts, which the firm uses to secure coverage, features, interviews, and reviews for clients.

The firm operates with a deliberately small team of six professionals led by Founder & President Beth Silverman, who brings nearly 40 years of Chicago market experience and is recognized as a regional "connector." Notable long-tenured client relationships include The Joffrey Ballet (20+ years), Cirque du Soleil (since 1989), Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Second City, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago Architecture Center, and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The service mix spans traditional media relations alongside newer formats including podcasters and Instagram influencers, with on-site support at interviews, photo shoots, and press events.

The business model is professional services revenue generated through client engagements — likely project-based or retainer arrangements — under a sales-led, direct-engagement go-to-market. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is customized per engagement. The firm is founder-owned (Beth Silverman consolidated sole ownership in 2001), has no external institutional investors, and operates from a single Chicago office at 213 West Institute Place. Marketing is primarily organic, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, client testimonials, an active Instagram presence, and the founder's personal reputation.

Name

The Silverman Group

Legal name

The Silverman Group, Inc.

Website

https://silvermangroupchicago.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Silverman Group is a Chicago-based public relations boutique serving arts, cultural, civic, and non-profit organizations with media relations, strategic counsel, and event support, leveraging a proprietary database of 5,500+ media contacts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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. PR Consulting Services: Professional public relations consulting services provided to arts, cultural, civic, and non-profit organizations. Services include media relations, strategic counsel, spokesperson training, and event support. Revenue is generated through client engagements which appear to be project-based or retainer arrangements for ongoing PR representation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Silverman Group is a Chicago-based public relations boutique firm founded in 2000 by Beth Silverman. The firm serves arts and cultural institutions, non-profits, and civic organizations, providing media relations, strategic PR counsel, spokesperson training, and event support, supported by a proprietary media database of more than 5,500 contacts.

Product overview

The Silverman Group is a Chicago-based public relations boutique firm providing PR services including media coverage, strategic counsel, and connection management for arts and cultural institutions. The firm leverages a proprietary database of 5,500+ media contacts to secure press features, interviews, and reviews for clients. Services include traditional and new media integration, spokesperson media training, and on-site event support. The firm does not offer a software product platform but rather professional PR agency services delivered by a team of communications specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Media Relations

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured extensive press coverage for major clients including The Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera, and Cirque du Soleil

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• 5W Public Relations: Mid-sized U.S. PR agency with cultural, entertainment, and nonprofit practices. Comparable in serving entertainment and arts-sector clients (including Cirque du Soleil-adjacent accounts), though at larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• FleishmanHillard: Major global PR and communications agency with arts, entertainment, and nonprofit capabilities via its Chicago office. Comparable as an alternative PR provider for marquee cultural clients, though operating as a broad incumbent rather than a specialized boutique.
• Edelman: Global largest PR firm with a Chicago office and a dedicated arts, culture, and social impact practice. Comparable as a competing PR provider to Chicago cultural institutions, but at vastly larger scale and broader sector mandate.
• Zeno Group: Mid-to-large global PR firm with strength in consumer, lifestyle, and cultural storytelling. Comparable as a competing PR partner for premium arts and entertainment brands, particularly those with crossover commercial audiences.
• Ketchum: Large global communications consultancy with cultural-institution and nonprofit experience. Comparable in serving high-profile arts and entertainment clients, but as part of a much broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Res Publica Group: Chicago-based public relations and public affairs firm focused on nonprofit, civic, arts, and cultural clients. Closely comparable in vertical specialization, geographic focus, and boutique service model.
• Henson Consulting: Chicago-based boutique PR and communications firm serving a similar mix of cultural, nonprofit, civic, and consumer clients in the Chicago market. Directly comparable as a similarly sized, similarly specialized Midwest PR boutique competing for the same regional institutional accounts.
• Public Communications Inc. (PCI): Chicago-headquartered communications firm with deep experience in arts, culture, education, and nonprofit clients. Comparable in vertical mix (museums, performing arts, foundations) and Midwest geographic base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/silvermangroupchicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Silverman Group