What Clockwork Marketing Services does

Clockwork Marketing Services, doing business as Clockwork Public Relations (and Clockwork PR), is a privately held, founder-led boutique public relations consultancy founded in 1994 by Maxine McBride, who continues to serve as President and CEO. The firm is headquartered in Northeast Florida (Jacksonville) and operates across the Southeast United States, serving for-profit businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, public and government entities, and high-profile individuals. Its offering is organized around eight interconnected service modules: Crisis Communication, Public Relations, Media Relations, Corporate Communication, Strategic Communication, Community Relations, Focus Group Research, and Content Development. There is no disclosed technology platform; the firm's value proposition is built on senior-level strategic counsel, the founder's media relationships and community standing, and decades of operating history.

The firm operates as a classic professional services business, billing clients through project-based engagements and/or retainer arrangements at quote-based pricing tailored to scope. Its go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven: demand is generated through the founder/CEO's thought leadership, board seats and committee roles across civic organizations (Leadership Jacksonville, JAX Chamber, JAXUSA Partnership, Urban Land Institute North Florida), and her senior advisor position at the Institute of Crisis Management, supplemented by referral business from executives, community leaders, and media contacts. The current named team is small — CEO, two Communication Strategists (Tamara McClaran and Laura Jane Pittman), and one Marketing and PR Coordinator (Jackie Hughes) — making Clockwork a high-touch, senior-led engagement model rather than a scaled agency.

Clockwork is a profitable, founder-owned private company with no disclosed external funding, parent company, subsidiaries, or notable M&A activity. Its competitive moat rests on the founder's reputation, long-tenured media and civic relationships, and a regional portfolio of awards (including a Woman of Influence recognition, People to Know in Florida designation, and a Prism Award of Excellence in Community Relations). The firm has been active in the Northeast Florida community for over 30 years, working with clients throughout the Southeast on reputation management, crisis preparedness, media relations, corporate messaging, community engagement, and content development.

Name

Clockwork Marketing Services

Legal name

Clockwork Public Relations

Website

https://clockworkmarketing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clockwork Marketing Services (dba Clockwork Public Relations) is a privately held, founder-led boutique public relations firm founded in 1994 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, serving businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and individuals across the Southeast United States through crisis communication, media relations, strategic communication, and content development services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

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. Public Relations Services: Professional consulting services billed through project-based engagements and/or retainer arrangements for ongoing strategic counsel. Revenue derived from providing crisis communication, media relations, corporate communication, strategic communication, community relations, focus group research, and content development services to clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Clockwork Marketing Services (also known as Clockwork Public Relations) is a full-service public relations firm that provides strategic communication, crisis communication, media relations, corporate communication, community relations, focus group research, and content development services. The firm primarily serves businesses, corporations, nonprofits, government entities, and select individuals across the Southeast United States, with senior-level strategic counsel and direct engagement from founder/CEO Maxine McBride.

Product overview

Clockwork Public Relations is a full-service public relations firm offering a comprehensive suite of communication services. The firm operates as a unified service portfolio centered around strategic public relations, communications, and crisis management. The core offerings include eight distinct but interconnected service modules: Crisis Communication, Public Relations, Media Relations, Corporate Communication, Strategic Communication, Community Relations, Focus Group Research, and Content Development. These services work together to provide comprehensive, client-focused marketing and communication strategies, supported by in-house capabilities and a network of partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crisis Communication Provides expertise and support during reputation-threatening situations, focusing on quickly implementing proactive measures to help minimize disruption and protect organizational reputation, business, and financial strength. Designed for organizations facing or preparing for reputation, business, or financial threats.
• Public Relations Strategic public relations services that increase credibility, build awareness with the target audience, and support a positive brand image for organizations and businesses dependent on their reputation for survival and success.
• Media Relations Manages the entire media relations process to maximize positive media coverage and keep the press informed through media pitches, interviews, articles, and press releases, securing successful outcomes locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Corporate Communication Strategic creation and management of organizational messaging that positively influences prospective employees and consumer relationships for businesses.
• Strategic Communication Communication planning that helps organizations achieve goals and objectives while targeting specific audiences and stakeholders, providing objective communication for internal and external stakeholders, building support, and driving the change needed to create, reinforce, or change public opinion.
• Community Relations Programs that create mutually beneficial relationships and activities to enhance an organization's reputation and build community support, loyalty, and goodwill, setting a business apart from the competition.
• Focus Group Research Market research services that identify target audiences, find influencers, determine budgets, and provide informed advice as the foundation for communication success.
• Content Development Original content creation for media and organizational materials that reinforces messaging and tells stories effectively to support public relations and corporate communication objectives.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institute for Crisis ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Maxine McBride serves as Senior Advisor for the Institute of Crisis Management, indicating a deep strategic relationship and thought leadership exchange in crisis communication expertise.
• JAX ChambercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member and participant in JAX Chamber activities including Government Affairs Committee and as Trustee; supports local business community and generates referral opportunities.
• JAX USA PartnershipcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member of JAXUSA Partnership Business Development Committee supporting regional economic development and business attraction efforts.
• Leadership JacksonvilleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCEO Maxine McBride serves on the Leadership Jacksonville Board, participating in community leadership development and networking.
• Urban Land Institute North FloridaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaxine McBride is a founding member of the Urban Land Institute North Florida chapter, providing thought leadership in land use and real estate development communications.
• National Association of Home BuildersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembership affiliation supporting real estate and construction industry clients with industry-specific PR expertise.
• Northeast Florida Builders AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional membership affiliation providing access to regional construction and real estate industry clients.
• Florida Home Builders AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState-level membership affiliation supporting real estate and home building industry expertise.
• Monique Burr Foundation for ChildrenminorOthersCEO Maxine McBride serves on the board of this children's safety nonprofit; charitable involvement and community support relationship.
• Wolfson Children's Hospital The Women's BoardminorOthersCEO Maxine McBride is a member of The Women's Board of Wolfson Children's Hospital; charitable and community support relationship.
• Cystic Fibrosis FoundationminorOthersCEO Maxine McBride received the National Leadership Award from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; active supporter of foundation initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Dalton Agency: Jacksonville, FL-based full-service marketing and public relations agency serving regional and national clients. Comparable as a similarly sized, founder-influenced boutique operating in the same Northeast Florida market with overlapping client segments and service offerings.
• 5W Public Relations: Mid-size independent public relations agency offering media relations, crisis communications, and corporate communications. Comparable as a similarly sized, independent PR firm with a comparable mix of services and client segments.
• Gregory FCA: Mid-size, founder-influenced public relations firm offering strategic communications, media relations, and content services. Comparable as a similarly sized independent PR firm with an overlapping service portfolio and client types.

Broad incumbents

• Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Global public relations firm offering strategic communications, crisis management, and public affairs services. Comparable as a broad incumbent with deep crisis communication expertise and a similar service mix to Clockwork.
• FleishmanHillard: International public relations and integrated marketing agency with strong crisis and corporate communications practices. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities across PR, crisis communication, and corporate messaging.
• Ketchum: Global public relations agency providing media relations, corporate communications, and content development services. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering the same core services Clockwork provides at substantially greater scale.
• Edelman: World's largest public relations firm offering comprehensive communications, crisis, and corporate reputation services globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering the same core service categories (PR, crisis, corporate comms, media relations) at global scale.
• Burson: Global communications firm specializing in public relations, public affairs, and crisis management. Comparable as a broad incumbent with particularly strong crisis communication capabilities that directly overlap Clockwork's signature niche.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations agency providing strategic communications, media relations, and crisis management across industries. Comparable as a large incumbent offering Clockwork's full service mix with much greater geographic and sector breadth.

Regional players

• rbb Communications: Florida-based public relations and integrated marketing agency headquartered in Miami. Comparable as a Florida-headquartered PR firm with regional Southeast presence and overlapping client types, serving as a regional peer in the same state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Clockwork Marketing Services