# Charles Ryan Associates

> Charles Ryan Associates is an independent communications agency founded in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1974. Now operating from Charleston and Richmond, it combines strategy, advertising, public relations, creative, digital, media buying, analytics, in-house film production and communications training for corporate, public-sector and nonprofit clients. Its distinctive asset is continuity: the firm has repeatedly transferred leadership to longtime insiders while widening its work from traditional PR into integrated brand communications.

- **Founded:** 1974
- **Headquarters:** Richmond, United States
- **Founders:** Charles E. ‘Charlie’ Ryan (Founder)
- **Products:** Strategy, Creative and CRA Film, Digital, Media, CRA Forum
- **Notable:** Reached its 50th anniversary in September 2024., Expanded from a one-person, one-client PR shop into an integrated agency serving clients in more than 30 states in recent years., Earned state and federal women-owned-business designations and GSA certification under the ownership group that bought the firm in 2015.

## Products & services

- **Strategy** — Audience and competitive research, messaging, communications planning, crisis planning and campaign strategy.
- **Creative and CRA Film** — Brand identity, graphic design, print, audio and in-house video production.
- **Digital** — Website design and development, user experience, content, SEO, SEM and social strategy.
- **Media** — Audience targeting, media planning, buying, placement, optimization, analytics and campaign reporting.
- **CRA Forum** — Customized media, spokesperson, presentation, crisis, social and public-meeting training plus focus groups, surveys and facilitation.

## Achievements

- Reached its 50th anniversary in September 2024.
- Expanded from a one-person, one-client PR shop into an integrated agency serving clients in more than 30 states in recent years.
- Earned state and federal women-owned-business designations and GSA certification under the ownership group that bought the firm in 2015.
- Founder Charles E. Ryan received the 1997 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and was inducted into the West Virginia University Business Hall of Fame in 2002.
- The firm has received ADDY and Telly awards, according to West Virginia University’s profile of its founder.
- Selected for a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation communications and marketing contract running from 2023 to 2026, with extension options through 2028.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Susan Lavenski retired after 28 years at CRA; longtime partners Matt Isner, Matt Fidler and Alisha Maddox became the sole owners.
- **2025-08** — CRA published guidance on employee-generated social content, encouraging brands to recognize useful creators already inside their organizations.
- **2024-09** — CRA marked 50 years in business and reported work across more than 30 states in recent years.

## Links

- Website: https://charlesryan.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/charles-ryan-associates
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CharlesRyan
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CharlesRyanAssoc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlesryanassociates/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlesRyanAssociates

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/charles-ryan-associates
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-23