# Catalyst Communications Group

> Catalyst Communications Group is a privately held Tampa communications consultancy founded in 2017 by former television reporter and congressional communications director Preston Rudie. Its journalist-heavy team sells media relations, public affairs, crisis counsel, messaging, training, events, social media and related communications work to private companies, nonprofits, public agencies and public figures, with a relationship-led footprint that now extends from Tampa Bay into South Florida.

- **Founded:** 2017
- **Headquarters:** Tampa, United States
- **Founders:** Preston Rudie (Founder & CEO)
- **Products:** Media relations, Crisis management, Messaging and strategy, Public and government affairs, Media training
- **Notable:** Voted Best PR Firm in Tampa Bay by Tampa Magazine readers in the publication's 2025 Best of the City program., Grew to a publicly stated 15-person team with more than 250 years of combined media experience by October 2025., Expanded into South Florida in July 2026 with the hire of media-relations specialist Rachael Lobeck.

## Products & services

- **Media relations** — Story development, press outreach, editorial access and measurement of earned coverage.
- **Crisis management** — Rapid media response, statements, damage-control strategy and reputation counsel.
- **Messaging and strategy** — Positioning, strategic messaging, internal communications, speeches and opinion editorials.
- **Public and government affairs** — Communications and engagement involving local, state and federal policymakers and stakeholders.
- **Media training** — Interview preparation for executives, business owners, nonprofit leaders and elected officials, including message, tone and on-camera delivery.
- **Special events** — Media-event planning including venues, credentials, security, press kits and press-conference logistics.
- **Social media** — Strategy and execution connecting social channels with community, news and current events.
- **Video, photography and creative services** — In-house visual production complemented by a 2024 creative partnership with 1887 Creative.

## Achievements

- Voted Best PR Firm in Tampa Bay by Tampa Magazine readers in the publication's 2025 Best of the City program.
- Grew to a publicly stated 15-person team with more than 250 years of combined media experience by October 2025.
- Expanded into South Florida in July 2026 with the hire of media-relations specialist Rachael Lobeck.
- Founder Preston Rudie earned 24 Regional Emmy awards and six Edward R. Murrow awards during his reporting career.
- Director of Video & Photography Gene Yagle received the Suncoast Chapter NATAS Silver Circle honor in 2024.
- Founder Preston Rudie's documentary Conquering Kili was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Gasparilla International Film Festival.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Expanded into South Florida and hired Rachael Lobeck as a media relations specialist.
- **2026-06** — Hired public-affairs leader Maya Brown as vice president.
- **2026-03** — Added former City of Tampa and Tampa Police communications professional Hannah Webster as a media relations specialist.
- **2026-02** — President Christina Barker was named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 for a fourth consecutive year.
- **2025-11** — Hired longtime Tampa television reporter Melissa Marino as a media relations specialist.
- **2025-10** — Won the reader-voted Best PR Firm category in Tampa Magazine's 2025 Best of the City program.

## Links

- Website: https://www.catalystcommunicationsgroup.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalyst-communications-group/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/catalyst-communications-group
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-20