Clairemont Communications

What Clairemont Communications does

Clairemont Communications is a public relations and marketing communications agency founded in 2010 by Dana Phelps in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm served B2B clients across real estate development, manufacturing, hospitality, nonprofit, and financial services sectors, delivering strategic communications services including media relations, crisis communications, content strategy and creation, social media management, event planning, internal communications, community relations, executive thought leadership positioning, and message development with spokesperson training. The agency operated as a tactics-agnostic professional services organization, combining traditional PR tools with newer digital and content marketing capabilities, and had accumulated 249 PR industry awards for its client work across a 13-year independent history.

Clairemont's service portfolio was organized around eight core offerings targeting enterprise and mid-market clients primarily in North Carolina's Triangle region. Revenue was generated through retainer-based engagements and project-based work with no publicly disclosed pricing. The firm distributed services through direct client engagement and extended its national footprint via membership in the Public Relations Consultants Group (PRCG), a network of independent PR agencies enabling cross-referrals and capability extension across geographies. The firm's value proposition rested on crisis communications experience, a diversified vertical mix, and an award-winning campaign track record. Clients included Wendell Falls/Brookfield Residential, Triangle Family Services, PDQ, T.MAC, Papa Spud's, the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs, and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

On December 12, 2023, Clairemont was acquired by RLF Communications, a larger full-service PR agency with offices in Greensboro, Raleigh, and Charlotte. Founder Dana Phelps became chair of RLF as part of the transaction, and the acquisition was RLF's second of 2023 following its January acquisition of the BAERING Group. As Clairemont is no longer an independent operating entity, its strategic direction is now subsumed within RLF's broader service platform, and no standalone technology architecture, AI capabilities, or funding history exists.

Name

Clairemont Communications

Legal name

Clairemont Communications

Website

https://clairemontcommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clairemont Communications is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based public relations and marketing communications agency founded in 2010 by Dana Phelps, serving B2B clients in real estate development, manufacturing, hospitality, nonprofit, and financial services. The firm was acquired by RLF Communications in December 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital PR & Social Media Communications (MPAAADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Media relations
• Crisis communications
• Content strategy
• Event planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

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

Revenue model

1. PR and Marketing Communications Services: Professional services revenue generated through retainer-based PR services, media relations, content strategy, social media management, event planning, and crisis communications for B2B clients across multiple industries including real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, nonprofits, and financial services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clairemont Communications is a Raleigh-based public relations and communications agency that delivers earned media relations, content strategy, social media management, event planning, crisis communications, internal communications, community relations, executive thought leadership, and spokesperson training. The firm serves business clients across real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, nonprofit, and financial services sectors with retainer- and project-based engagement models. Following its December 12, 2023 acquisition by RLF Communications, the agency operates as a subsidiary within a larger PR platform with Dana Phelps serving as chair.

Product overview

Clairemont Communications is a full-service public relations agency that operates as a single, unified service offering rather than a platform-based architecture. Founded in 2010 and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the agency was acquired by RLF Communications in December 2023. The company's service portfolio centers on public relations as its core product, supplemented by related communication services including content strategy and creation, social media management, event planning, internal communications, community relations, and executive thought leadership positioning. The agency serves diverse clients across industries including real estate developers, manufacturers, hospitality companies, and nonprofits, and has received 249 PR industry awards for client work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Services Comprehensive public relations campaigns for businesses across real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, nonprofit, and financial services sectors.
• Media Relations Securing earned media coverage and managing journalist relationships for client announcements, launches, and ongoing news.
• Content Strategy and Creation Development of content strategy and creation of communications materials aligned with client messaging and audience goals.
• Social Media Services Management of brand social media channels, content calendars, and audience engagement for client organizations.
• Event Planning and Execution Planning and execution of client events including media events, community gatherings, and brand activations.
• Crisis Communications Strategic communications support and messaging for clients facing reputational issues or crisis situations.
• Internal Communications Communications strategy and content for client internal audiences including employees, leadership, and stakeholders.
• Community Relations Community engagement and relationship-building programs for clients operating in local markets and community contexts.
• Executive Thought Leadership Programs to position client executives as industry thought leaders through speaking, media placements, and content.
• Message Development and Spokesperson Training Development of core messaging frameworks and training of client spokespeople for media interviews and public speaking.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RLF CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2023RLF Communications, a full-service PR agency, acquired Clairemont Communications on December 12, 2023. Clairemont founder Dana Phelps became chair of RLF and joined RLF's leadership team. The acquisition strengthened RLF's depth in manufacturing, real estate development, nonprofits, and financial services while bolstering its Raleigh presence.
• BAERING GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023RLF Communications acquired Raleigh-based BAERING Group in January 2023 as its first acquisition of the year, prior to acquiring Clairemont in December 2023.
• Addressable MediaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2010Partnered with Addressable Media on social media audit project for UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Clairemont provided PR expertise while Addressable Media contributed digital communications capabilities.
• Public Relations Consultants Group (PRCG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerClairemont is a member of PRCG, a network of independent PR agencies allowing Clairemont to offer clients expertise and support across the country. Founder Dana Phelps attended the PRCG conference in Oklahoma City.
• The Felice AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with The Felice Agency on the critical firefighter recruitment campaign for NCAFC, securing coverage in 14+ media outlets across North Carolina.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Luquire George Andrews (LGA): Charlotte-based integrated marketing and PR agency serving consumer, healthcare, and real estate clients in the Carolinas. Comparable to Clairemont as a Southeast regional, mid-sized agency with overlapping real estate and lifestyle verticals.
• The Felice Agency: Regional PR partner agency that collaborated with Clairemont on the NCAFC firefighter recruitment campaign. Comparable boutique North Carolina PR firm with similar nonprofit and public-sector engagement profile.
• Inkhouse: Mid-sized, technology and consumer-focused PR agency with a strong media-relations and content offering. Comparable in service portfolio (media relations, social, content) and mid-market positioning, with geographic focus on the Northeast.
• Brodeur Partners: Mid-sized, integrated marketing and PR agency serving technology and consumer brands with comparable media relations, content, and crisis capabilities. Similar mid-market positioning and project/retainer mix to Clairemont.
• French/West/Woody: Raleigh-headquartered, mid-sized full-service PR and advertising agency serving consumer, lifestyle and real estate clients across the Southeast. Directly comparable to Clairemont in size, regional footprint, and vertical mix, including real estate development and lifestyle brands.
• Pace Communications: Greensboro-based content and PR agency with a similar Carolinas regional footprint to Clairemont and RLF. Overlaps in serving hospitality, nonprofit, and consumer brands with storytelling-driven campaigns.
• BAERING Group: Raleigh-based PR and communications firm acquired by RLF Communications in January 2023, prior to the Clairemont acquisition. Sister agency under RLF with comparable size, B2B focus, and Raleigh presence—effectively a structural peer within the same platform.
• Walker Sands: Mid-sized B2B PR and integrated marketing agency with comparable service mix (media relations, content, crisis). Comparable in scale and project-based engagement model, though anchored in Chicago rather than the Southeast.

Broad incumbents

• Crosby Marketing Communications: Mid-sized, full-service marketing and PR agency based in the mid-Atlantic serving nonprofit, government, and healthcare clients. Broader service portfolio than Clairemont but overlaps in nonprofit fundraising PR and cause-marketing communications.
• Edelman: Global, full-service public relations firm with deep corporate communications, crisis, and executive thought-leadership practices that overlap with Clairemont's core services. Represents the upper-bound incumbent against which boutique agencies like Clairemont compete for enterprise accounts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/clairemontcommunications
• Xx.com/clairemontcomm
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClairemontCommunications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Clairemont Communications