With the ever-evolving needs of our clients, public relations and public affairs services have seen a growth boom in recent years. Building on our agency’s historic strength, we’re accommodating this growth by expanding and adding more talented and passionate professionals to the team. Chernoff Newman recently introduced two new roles within our public affairs and public relations practice – director of public sector and senior public relations manager. Filling those positions are two exceptional communicators and well-known faces in South Carolina public education and economic development sectors: Ryan Brown and Brooks Hearn.
Ryan Brown, Director of Public Sector
Ryan Brown, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, joins the team as the director of public sector based in the agency’s Columbia office. Ryan brings nearly a decade of experience working with local and state government offices and elected officials. In his prior role, he worked as the chief communications officer at the South Carolina Department of Education, a position he held for seven years. With Ryan’s leadership, local involvement and political knowledge, he will be an asset both internally to the newly formed strategic communications team, as well as to the wide variety of clients he now serves, including the Medical University of South Carolina, Teach for America and South Carolina Ports Authority. In his spare time Ryan enjoys traveling, boating and spending quality time with his two dogs, Boris and Bowman.
Brooks Hearn, Senior Public Relations Manager
The Charleston office is pleased to welcome Brooks Hearn, APR, as senior public relations manager. Brooks is also a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is coming to the agency with 15 years of public relations experience. She was named Emerging Leader of the Year in 2019 by the Greater Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce and Best & Brightest 35 and Under by Charleston Business Magazine. Brooks is currently serving as president of the South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and recently achieved her Accreditation in Public Relations. She was just appointed to join the 2022-2023 class of South Carolina Port Ambassadors. Brooks will be responsible for the development and implementation of campaigns and communications programs while simultaneously ensuring Chernoff Newman’s clients meet their business objectives. When not in the office, you can find Brooks enjoying one of Charleston’s beaches, playing golf or tennis, or attending a local sporting event.
Interested in joining the team? Take a look at our career opportunities.
