Blast PR: Santa Barbara Adtech and Martech PR Since 2000

Blast PR is a Santa Barbara, California PR firm for advertising technology, marketing technology and digital media, founded in 2000. A 2012 release names Bryan and Kathleen Formidoni as co-founders, and PRWeek's 2020 profile credits Kat Formidoni Butler as founder and owner. PRWeek reported nearly 20 employees in March 2020, and the firm's website is blastpr.com.

Originally published January 2019. Updated October 20, 2026.

Summary

• Blast PR has served the ad tech and mar tech community for more than 20 years.
• It is a small independent specialist with virtual offices across several US cities.
• Warren Pickett joined as VP of brand strategy in March 2021 to help grow client relations and content.

Company info

Who founded and leads Blast PR?

PRWeek's profile, published under the agency's byline in March 2020, says Kat Formidoni Butler founded Blast in 2000 and has provided strategic counsel and creative direction ever since. It says she was with Engage when it went public in the late 1990s and used that experience as a jumping-off point to found the agency in Raleigh, North Carolina.

A March 2012 release said Lana McGilvray was appointed principal to work alongside Bryan and Kathleen Formidoni, who co-founded the agency in 2000, and that the firm was opening an Austin office. Kathleen Formidoni said in that release that the agency had spent 11 years delivering results-driven PR.

How has Blast PR grown?

Blast PR has grown from a Raleigh start into a multi-city team that works virtually. The 2012 release said staff were in Austin, New York City, Raleigh, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Washington, D.C., and called blast! PR the number one PR agency for digital media, which is the firm's own description.

The March 2021 release describes a 20-year-old agency with virtual offices in five cities, adding Denver, and says Pickett would help advance client relations, identify growth opportunities, expand content offerings and provide research.

Date	Event	Source
2000	Agency founded	2012 release; PRWeek; G2
March 2012	Lana McGilvray appointed principal; Austin office opens	Marketwire release
March 2020	PRWeek profile marks 20 years	PRWeek
March 2021	Warren Pickett named VP of brand strategy; Denver added	Globe Newswire release

What does Blast PR do?

Blast PR is a full-service public relations and marketing services firm for digital innovators, consumer and business brands, organizations and non-profits, according to its March 2021 release. PRWeek describes it as a leading PR firm in the ad tech and mar tech space and says its clients have gone on to outcomes such as IPOs, acquisitions by larger tech players and significant funding, which is the agency's own description. G2 lists media relations, content creation, social media strategy and crisis communication.

Which clients has Blast PR worked with?

The agency's published materials describe clients across the online advertising ecosystem, including agency, design, media and entertainment, technology and venture capital sectors. Current references should be requested from the firm. EPR's adtech and martech and B2B marketing sections cover the category.

How does Blast PR compare with other tech PR firms?

Blast is a small independent specialist, so compare it with BAM Communications and Channel V Media.

Related: PR agency profiles, AdTech and MarTech, B2B marketing, BAM Communications, 5W Public Relations