In the latest sign of its continued growth, Baretz+Brunelle announced that Nicole Rodgers Houston has joined the firm as managing director and will open and lead its new Washington office. A legal marketer with more than 20 years of experience, Houston most recently was the head of marketing communications for Arnold & Porter, one of the world’s largest law firms.
“Nicole is a pillar of the legal marketing community and the ideal person to establish our presence in D.C.,” Baretz+Brunelle co-founder Spencer Baretz said. “She is as well respected as she is liked among PR professionals, and will be a great asset to Baretz+Brunelle’s clients.”
At Arnold & Porter, Houston played a significant role in the firm’s merger with New York-based Kaye Scholer and led numerous successful PR campaigns. Before her tenure at Arnold & Porter, she held leadership positions in the marketing departments of Crowell & Moring and Pillsbury (thenShaw Pittman).
“Baretz+Brunelle provides a level of service that is qualitatively different than other agencies in the space – more sophisticated, more creative, and more effective,” Houston said. “Having worked with the B+B team as a client, I saw firsthand the value they bring, and I am extremely excited to be part of the team.”
Baretz+Brunelle launched in 2016 with a dozen veteran communications professionals. Since then, its staff has nearly doubled in size; it has expanded to 10 locations nationwide; and it has added significant new capabilities, including a host of digital marketing offerings through Chief Digital Officer Amy Hanan, who joined last year.
“Nicole performs at the highest level and builds meaningful relationships while she’s doing it,” Baretz+Brunelle co-founder Cari Brunellesaid. “In that sense, she already embodies what Baretz+Brunelle is all about.”