# Erica McArthur Allison

> Erica McArthur Allison, also professionally listed as Erica McArthur, is the founder, president and CEO of Formation PR + Brand in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She founded the agency in 2007 and specializes in public relations, branding, strategic communications and crisis communications for institutions including community colleges, foundations, nonprofits and regional development organizations. Her work combines national client relationships, public-sector storytelling, communications training and involvement in her local community.

- **Role:** Founder, President & CEO at Formation PR + Brand
- **Organizations:** Formation PR + Brand, Allison Development Group, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, City of Hendersonville Planning Board
- **Education:** BA in political science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MA in political science, Appalachian State University
- **Known for:** Founded and continues to lead Formation PR + Brand, established in 2007., Agency had served nearly 300 clients across ten states and D.C. by October 2022., Agency’s GroWNC branding received a 2012 MarCom Gold award, as listed on her LinkedIn profile.

## Career timeline

- **2001–2007** — Served on the City of Hendersonville Planning Board, according to her LinkedIn profile.
- **2007** — Founded Allison Development Group.
- **2011** — Agency developed communications, outreach and the GroWNC brand for a five-county regional planning initiative.
- **2012** — Agency received MarCom Gold awards for GroWNC branding and a Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra program, according to her LinkedIn profile.
- **2017** — Renamed the agency Formation PR + Brand on its tenth anniversary.
- **2019** — Moved the agency from Flat Rock into Hendersonville’s Historic Seventh Avenue District after purchasing a building with her husband.
- **2022** — Agency marked 15 years and reported nearly 300 clients in ten states and the District of Columbia.
- **2023** — Added senior strategists Annie Carlson and Julia Hockenberry to specialize the agency’s client work.
- **2026** — Discussed ambition and contentment on Heather Gates’s podcast; published essays on intentional communications and trust.

## Achievements

- Founded and continues to lead Formation PR + Brand, established in 2007.
- Agency had served nearly 300 clients across ten states and D.C. by October 2022.
- Agency’s GroWNC branding received a 2012 MarCom Gold award, as listed on her LinkedIn profile.
- Served as board president of the Boys & Girls Club, recalled by photographer Ellie Navarro in 2022.
- Presented communications training for regional development organizations, including the 2023 SWREDA conference.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Published essays on September 25 about intentional strategic communications and the role of evidence, plain language and proximity in building trust.
- **2026-07** — Appeared on the July 1 episode of Stand in the & with Heather Gates to discuss ambition, contentment and running a business.

## Links

- Website: https://formationpr.com/team/erica-mcarthur/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamcarthur
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ericamallison

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/erica-mcarthur-allison
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25