Escobar to lead day-to-day operations and firmwide strategy as Dan Ward transitions to CEO
ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2026) – Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management, a 41-year-old strategic communications firm helping mission-driven organizations and businesses navigate pivotal moments through strategic communications and counsel, promoted Kacie Escobar, MBA, APR, to president, where she will lead day-to-day operations, strategic priorities and execution. Dan Ward, APR, CPRC, will transition to chief executive officer, focusing on culture, business development and strategic partnerships.
Kacie Escobar
As the agency’s president, Escobar’s responsibilities include team performance and financial results, while driving execution of the firm’s long-term vision for growth. She works closely with clients and staff, ensuring Curley & Pynn continues to deliver high-level counsel for organizations navigating complex moments, from fundraising and growth initiatives to reputation management and leadership transitions. Escobar is the first woman to serve as president in the firm’s history.
As CEO, Ward continues to strengthen Curley & Pynn’s culture and values, expand business development efforts and cultivate strategic partnerships. He serves as a senior adviser to the leadership team and remains actively engaged with clients, providing counsel and continuity while supporting the agency’s future growth.
“Curley & Pynn has played a defining role in my personal and professional growth,” said Escobar. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount from mentors who gave me opportunities to lead, from exceptionally talented colleagues and from clients who have entrusted our team during critical moments. I’m excited to continue building a firm where people can grow and do fulfilling work that matters.”
“Kacie is the kind of leader who raises the bar for everyone around her,” said Ward. “She has earned the trust of our team and our clients by pairing sharp strategy with execution that moves the needle. As Curley & Pynn continues to evolve, this move positions us to serve mission-driven nonprofits as well as businesses and community partners that seek candid counsel and measurable results.”
Escobar has been with Curley & Pynn for more than 10 years and previously served as an intern in 2013. Her promotion reflects the agency’s continued evolution, maintaining a long-standing legacy of candid counsel while building a highly specialized focus on helping mission-driven organizations earn trust, build awareness and strengthen fundraising campaign outcomes.
“I have seen first-hand how Kacie leads with candor, insight, and strategic vision and the impact that has on elevating awareness and perception,” said Gordon Greenfield, chief marketing and communications officer for the Sarasota Orchestra, a Curley & Pynn client since 2022. “Her leadership is one reason why I view the Curley & Pynn professionals not just as partners, but as an extension of our internal team.”
“Kacie represents the very best of what we always believed at Curley & Pynn,” said Roger Pynn, retired co-founder and former owner of Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management. “She is deeply committed to doing the right work for clients. Watching her grow from an intern into the firm’s first female president is a proud moment, and I’m confident she will lead with the same high standards and heart that defined the agency for 41 years.”
Throughout her career, Escobar has led communications counsel and public relations support for clients in a range of industries. In recent years, she helped expand the firm’s work supporting nonprofits to build awareness and strengthen fundraising results, including communications planning for major campaigns and growth initiatives. Additionally, she helped guide Curley & Pynn to record financial results in 2025.
Outside the agency, Escobar is active in the industry and community. She is chair-elect for the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation and has joined the Central Florida Vocal Arts development committee to provide communications insight to support fundraising success.
“Kacie Escobar is one of the most thoughtful, strategic thinkers in the Florida PR professional community today,” said Lindsay Hudock, MA, APR, CPRC, president of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). “She brings a rare blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and deep understanding of nonprofit fundraising, strengthened by her work with the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation, where I’ve had the honor of serving alongside her. Under her leadership, Curley & Pynn is exceptionally well-positioned to deliver high-impact strategic communications for mission-driven organizations.”
Escobar’s honors include being named a UCF 30 Under 30 winner in 2019 and recognition as FPRA Member of the Year in 2023. She has earned more than a dozen awards for professional achievement from FPRA and the Public Relations Society of America. As president, Escobar will continue building Curley & Pynn’s credibility in the profession and in the nonprofit community by leading teams that build stakeholder trust, strengthen reputations and propel missions forward.
About Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management
Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management, The Strategic Firm®, is a Florida-based strategic communications and public relations agency with more than 40 years of experience. We help nonprofits navigate pivotal moments — from fundraising campaign milestones to leadership transitions to program launches — with smart, strategic communications that builds stakeholder trust, strengthens reputations and propels missions forward. Learn more at https://thestrategicfirm.com/.