# James LaForce

> James LaForce is the New York founder and CEO of LaForce, an independent communications agency shaped by his early apprenticeship to fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. Raised in Green Bay and educated at Columbia University, he built a career connecting fashion, luxury, retail, hospitality and consumer brands to culture, while preserving an old-school belief in curiosity, restraint and long relationships. With his husband, writer Stephen Henderson, he also manages the LaForce Henderson Foundation, whose giving supports human rights, education, culture and environmental causes.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at LaForce
- **Organizations:** LaForce, LaForce Henderson Foundation, Municipal Art Society of New York, Perfect Earth Project, Housing Works
- **From:** Green Bay, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Studies in English literature and writing, Columbia University
- **Known for:** Built and leads an independent New York communications agency with work spanning fashion, luxury, beauty, hospitality, retail, consumer goods and technology., Helped Target promote its designer-collaboration program, including the Missoni for Target launch., Helped develop the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic over more than a decade from a publicity event into a ticketed hospitality and social-content platform.

## Career timeline

- **1981-1987** — Worked for fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, learning publicity through press relations, events and close observation of Lambert’s working methods.
- **1995** — Co-founded LaForce + Stevens, an independent New York public relations and marketing communications agency.
- **2014** — Named the Missoni for Target launch as a favorite recent fashion project and described the internet as making fashion conversation broader, more international and more democratic.
- **2016** — Founded the current LaForce agency after LaForce + Stevens dissolved.
- **2017** — Worked with LIFEWTR on the NYFW: Women’s presentation for three CFDA+ designers and discussed the growing importance of following and story for young designers.
- **2018** — Received the Rand Skolnick Social Responsibility Award with Stephen Henderson at the Bailey House Gala & Auction; LaForce also entered Observer’s PR Power 50.
- **2020** — Led a Design Leadership Network discussion on clear, reassuring communications during crisis without overpromising.
- **2022** — Reflected publicly on his career, the evolution of PR and memorable events, including the Paris Lip launch.
- **2026** — Listed as CEO alongside president Olita Mills when LaForce ranked No. 27 on Observer’s PR Power List for its 2025 work.

## Achievements

- Built and leads an independent New York communications agency with work spanning fashion, luxury, beauty, hospitality, retail, consumer goods and technology.
- Helped Target promote its designer-collaboration program, including the Missoni for Target launch.
- Helped develop the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic over more than a decade from a publicity event into a ticketed hospitality and social-content platform.
- Received the 2018 Rand Skolnick Social Responsibility Award with Stephen Henderson from Bailey House.
- LaForce appeared on Observer’s PR Power lists in 2018 and 2026, ranking No. 27 in the latter edition.
- Through the LaForce Henderson Foundation, LaForce and Henderson have donated more than $2 million to national and grassroots causes.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — LaForce president Olita Mills discussed the agency’s growth, James LaForce’s mentorship and his encouragement to rethink the organization during the pandemic on the Agency Side Podcast.
- **2026-02** — Observer ranked LaForce No. 27 on its 2026 PR Power List, naming James LaForce as CEO and Olita Mills as president and highlighting the agency’s 2025 work for Maybelline, Moët & Chandon, Uber, Target, Motorola and other clients.
- **2026-01** — James LaForce shared the agency announcement promoting Shauna Solum, describing the move as an important milestone for LaForce.

## Links

- Website: https://laforce.nyc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaforce
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/JamesLaForceNYC

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/james-laforce
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22