Smaller PR Agencies Overtake Giants in August Top 10 Rankings
Top 10 US PR Rankings - August 2025
Impact PR & Communications (Lagrangeville, NY) *
Knox PR (Mount Vernon, OH) *
Wilks Communications (Chicago, IL) *
CICC (Nyack, NY) *
Racepoint Global (Boston, MA) ↓
R&J Public Relations (Bridgewater, NJ) *
HUNTER (New York, NY) ↓
Michele Marie PR (Los Angeles, CA) *
42 West (New York, NY) ↓
Bread & Butter Public Relations (Los Angeles, CA) ↓
* New top 10 company in list
– Top 10 Ranking same from prior month
↑Increased ranking in top 10
↓ Decreased top 10 ranking
The Top 10 US Public Relations and Communications Companies list is calculated from a weighted analysis of key indicators of “deep interest” from businesses seeking to find PR and communications partners in the United States.
The August 2025 Public Relations rankings, produced by CommPRO and CommunicationsMatch, marked a dramatic shift in the industry’s competitive landscape. For the second month in a row, smaller and more regionally based agencies are breaking through, proving that creativity and focus can propel firms into national recognition. Six new entrants into the top 10 reveal how client interest is spreading beyond the traditional hubs of New York and Los Angeles, signaling fresh opportunities for marketers and communicators.
Impact PR & Communications, headquartered in New York’s Hudson Valley, captured first place in its list debut. The award-winning agency is recognized for campaigns that connect people with purpose across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Its rise underscores how localized expertise, coupled with purpose-driven strategy, can gain national traction.
In second place, Knox PR, based in Mount Vernon, Ohio, brings a mission-driven approach to amplifying authors and thought leaders. Its dedication to storytelling that educates and inspires demonstrates the growing appeal of authenticity over scale.
Wilks Group, another debutant headquartered in Chicago, took third. The woman-owned agency specializes in food and beverage, higher education, manufacturing, and social impact, showing that sector expertise and integrated marketing capabilities resonate with today’s clients.
CIIC PR entered at fourth, operating from Nyack, New York. With a portfolio spanning luxury travel, hospitality, lifestyle, and real estate, the agency’s intelligent, creative campaigns and global partnerships highlight how boutique firms can compete in diverse international markets.
Racepoint Global, a Boston-based powerhouse, dropped to fifth. Known for serving tech-forward brands from startups to Fortune 500 companies, Racepoint remains a standard-bearer for integrated communications in the technology sector.
In sixth, R&J Strategic Communications of Somerville, New Jersey, joined the rankings for the first time. Its data-driven strategies in healthcare, real estate, banking, and nonprofits reflect a broader shift toward measurable impact in PR.
Seventh place went to HUNTER, the New York City firm known for cultivating brand love across food, beverage, home, and lifestyle sectors. Although it fell in the rankings, HUNTER’s consistent global influence ensures its ongoing relevance.
Michele Marie PR, based in Los Angeles, reentered the top 10 at eighth. The agency’s fashion, beauty, and lifestyle focus, along with its strong celebrity and influencer connections, continues to deliver media visibility in both traditional and digital spaces.
Ninth place went to 42West, headquartered in New York, with deep ties to entertainment, media, and technology. Its positioning at the intersection of pop culture and content keeps it a player to watch despite slipping down the list.
Closing out the top 10, Bread & Butter, headquartered in Los Angeles, maintains its creative approach to food, beverage, hospitality, and travel campaigns. Its in-house creative studio and collaborative culture highlight the multidisciplinary nature of today’s most effective agencies.
For communicators, the rankings are a wake-up call that clients increasingly value specialized expertise, mission-driven storytelling, and measurable results. The rise of smaller agencies shows that the industry is evolving toward a more diverse, decentralized, and purpose-oriented model. Those who can marry creativity with data and cultural fluency are best positioned to capture client attention in the months ahead.
This list is published monthly in CommPRO as part of the partnership between CommunicationsMatch™ and CommPRO. This collaboration integrates CommunicationsMatch™’s agency search and RFP tools with CommPRO's publishing and events, creating a powerful platform to facilitate new client-agency connections and generate valuable business opportunities for US-based public relations and communications companies.
