Ditto Announces New Crisis Comms and D.C. Tech Policy Relations Offerings

As we continue Ditto’s pursuit to be a better PR firm and deliver the best possible PR results to our clients, I’m excited to announce two new practice areas that Ditto will now offer: crisis communications and tech policy relations, helping bridge the gap that exists between Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.

Why, you might ask?

Tech companies that used to be seen as the bright new avatars of American innovation are increasingly being portrayed as sinister centers of unaccountable power, a transition likely to have major consequences for the industry and American politics moving forward.

And with the media increasingly focused on issues such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, autonomous vehicles and machine learning — companies must understand and appreciate what this means when it comes to protecting the reputation of their brands, their products, and their employees.

Ditto has provided these services to clients over the years, but with our latest combination of new talent and seasoned veterans, we now have the resources and expertise to offer these practices as full service capabilities.

These practices will be led and supported by a dedicated team with decades of crisis and inside-the-beltway experience. They include:

• Blain Rethmeier who previously headed Edelman’s West Coast crisis and risk practice, and has extensive experience working with CEOs and senior government officials on policy-related issues, strategic communication needs, reputational positioning, and branding.
• Steven Melfi who provides clients with strategic insight and guidance for maintaining sound public profiles and managing reputational risk. Steven has lead crisis engagements including preparedness initiatives and executing traditional and online programs during issues-related events.
• Kris Kitto who spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., covering Congress, the White House, federal agencies and national politics for The Hill and other news organizations. He has deep expertise in crisis communications and issues management with a unique specialty in cyber security and data breaches.
• Caroline Pruett who worked as a media consultant for the Clinton Global Initiative, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and No Labels, among other influential policy organizations, before moving to San Francisco to work with Facebook, Google Nest and top blockchain startups.
• Jake Ciorciari who is Ditto’s latest addition and spent the last five years at MWWPR working for the firm’s Corporate and Crisis Communications practice. He has helped counsel clients across a diverse range of sectors including financial services, transportation, public policy, technology and professional services.

Whether your organization needs a preemptive crisis plan for a hack, natural disaster or any other compromising situation, our team is ready to jump in at any point to assess the risk and provide immediate support. As for tech policy and regulation, we have collectively worked in the White House and federal agencies, on Capitol Hill and political campaigns. We have the expertise needed to help companies navigate the ever-changing relationship between Washington and Silicon Valley.

Shoot me an email (Trey@dittopr.co) or reach out to crisis@dittopr.co or techpolicy@dittopr.co for more information.