Kiterocket: Phoenix Tech PR Agency Since 2005, Now Bodewell
Kiterocket was a Phoenix tech PR agency founded by Martijn Pierik, acquired by Southwest Strategies in 2025 and now part of Bodewell Group since February 2026.
Specialty
Cleantech & Energy
Updated
Nov 4, 2026
Desk
EPR Editorial Team
Firm summary
Kiterocket is a Phoenix-based PR and marketing agency for emerging technology, semiconductors, renewable energy and sustainability, founded by Martijn Pierik and co-founded by Amanda Foley. It was named agency of record by the global semiconductor association SEMI in June 2025, and Southwest Strategies Group acquired it on July 1, 2025. On February 23, 2026 that group rebranded as Bodewell Group, and Kiterocket's technology and sustainable-living work now continues inside Bodewell.
Originally published August 2018. Updated November 4, 2026.
Summary
- Kiterocket traces to Amanda Foley's Duo PR (2004) and Martijn Pierik's Impress Labs (2005), which merged in 2016 and relaunched as Kiterocket in 2017.
- SEMI, which connects more than 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals, named Kiterocket its agency of record on June 3, 2025.
- Southwest Strategies Group acquired Kiterocket on July 1, 2025, giving the group more than 120 employees across six offices in three states.
- Bodewell Group, the new name of Southwest Strategies, lists semiconductors and data centers among its focus areas and clients including Renesas, SEMI, Veolia and Walmart, per O'Dwyer's.
In this profile
- What are the key facts about Kiterocket?
- Who founded and led Kiterocket?
- How did Kiterocket grow?
- What happened in the Southwest Strategies acquisition?
- What is Kiterocket's status now?
- What does Kiterocket do?
- Which clients has Kiterocket worked with?
- What is the latest Kiterocket news?
- How does Kiterocket compare with other technology PR firms?
Who founded and led Kiterocket?
| Name | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Martijn Pierik | Founder and chairman | Led the technology line of business after the acquisition. Previously founded Impress Labs and spent nine years at Mathews & Clark Communications. Said at the deal he was proud of the organization Kiterocket built over decades |
| Amanda Foley | Co-founder and CEO | Led the sustainable living line of business. Founded Duo PR in 2004. Served as president of Public Relations Boutiques International for 2019 to 2020 |
| Rebecca Holmes | Founder and chief growth officer | Listed by O'Dwyer's |
| Patrick McGuire | Vice chair | Listed by O'Dwyer's |
How did Kiterocket grow?
- 2004: Amanda Foley founds Duo PR, per the Daily Journal of Commerce.
- 2005: Martijn Pierik and Dave Richardson found Impress Labs, per pv magazine, and Kiterocket's own releases date the agency to 2005.
- 2016: Duo PR and Impress Labs merge.
- 2017: The combined firm relaunches as Kiterocket.
- July 2019: Amanda Foley becomes president of Public Relations Boutiques International.
- August 3, 2023: Kiterocket acquires Seattle's Action Mary, adding senior leaders and food and agriculture and cause marketing capabilities, per PrivSource.
- June 3, 2025: SEMI names Kiterocket its agency of record.
- July 1, 2025: Southwest Strategies Group acquires Kiterocket, its first move out of state and its first deal in marketing and technology.
- February 23, 2026: Southwest Strategies Group rebrands as Bodewell Group and its acquired agencies, including Kiterocket, begin operating exclusively under that name.
What happened in the Southwest Strategies acquisition?
Southwest Strategies Group announced the deal on July 1, 2025. Its release says the addition brought the group to more than 120 employees across six offices in three states, and the San Diego Business Journal described it as the firm's first move out of state. The deal added two lines of business, technology and sustainable living, to the group's energy, transportation, water and land use work. CEO Chris Wahl said at the time that Kiterocket's client-centric philosophy and investment in its team aligned with the group's values, and that semiconductors are the lifeblood of modern American infrastructure. Southwest Strategies Group and Kiterocket continued serving existing clients and began collaborating on larger initiatives.
What is Kiterocket's status now?
On February 23, 2026, Southwest Strategies Group rebranded as Bodewell Group, unifying its family of agencies into a single strategic communications firm. The announcement said all legacy firms, including Southwest Strategies and its acquisitions Katz & Associates (2023), BergDavis Public Affairs and ColLAborate (2024) and Kiterocket (2025), would operate exclusively under the Bodewell Group banner. Wahl, a co-founder of Southwest Strategies with the now-retired Alan Ziegaus, remains CEO, and he said the firm's clients need clarity and alignment in a period of historic infrastructure expansion. O'Dwyer's describes Bodewell as supporting infrastructure projects, technology advancements and public policies, with a focus on water, transportation, energy, semiconductors, data centers and land use, and lists offices in Fresno, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle alongside the San Diego headquarters. Kiterocket's technology and sustainability work now sits inside Bodewell.
| Legacy firm | Joined | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Katz & Associates | 2023 | Water outreach |
| BergDavis Public Affairs | 2024 | San Francisco public affairs |
| ColLAborate | 2024 | Facilitation and engagement in the Los Angeles region |
| Kiterocket | 2025 | Technology, semiconductors, renewable energy and sustainability |
What does Kiterocket do?
Kiterocket describes itself as a PR-forward full-service communications and marketing agency. Foley told the San Diego Business Journal that Southwest's infrastructure and public affairs roots paired with Kiterocket's product and service PR and lead generation would give clients an end-to-end offering.
- PR and media relations for emerging technology and semiconductors
- Renewable energy and sustainability communications
- Product and service PR, with lead generation
- Food, agriculture and cause marketing, via the Action Mary deal
EPR's technology PR and B2B PR pages cover its main categories.
Which clients has Kiterocket worked with?
| Client | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SEMI | Global semiconductor and electronics industry association; agency of record from June 2025 | Semiconductor Digest, Greater Phoenix In Business |
| Renesas, OmniVision | Semiconductors | O'Dwyer's |
| NexTracker, Revision Energy | Solar and renewable energy | O'Dwyer's |
| Siemens, Special Competitive Studies Project | Industrial technology and policy | O'Dwyer's |
| Wild Alaska Sole Association | Food and seafood | O'Dwyer's |
O'Dwyer's now lists Renesas and SEMI among the clients of Bodewell Group, alongside Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, Stantec, Veolia and Walmart.
What is the latest Kiterocket news?
| Date | News | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2026 | Bodewell Group is featured among O'Dwyer's "PR Firms on the Rise for 2026" | O'Dwyer's |
| February 23, 2026 | Southwest Strategies Group rebrands as Bodewell Group; Kiterocket and other legacy firms operate exclusively under the new name | O'Dwyer's |
| July 1, 2025 | Southwest Strategies Group acquires Kiterocket | Southwest Strategies release; Times of San Diego |
| June 3, 2025 | Kiterocket is named agency of record by SEMI | Agility PR |
| August 3, 2023 | Kiterocket acquires Action Mary in Seattle | PrivSource |
How does Kiterocket compare with other technology PR firms?
Kiterocket's work now sits inside a regional strategic communications group, so compare it with other B2B technology firms in EPR's PR agency profiles directory.
| Firm | Focus | EPR profile |
|---|---|---|
| Bhava Communications | Technology PR | Bhava Communications |
| Hotwire | Global technology PR | Hotwire |
| Walker Sands | B2B marketing and PR | Walker Sands |
Related: PR agency profiles, Technology PR, B2B PR, Bhava Communications
Kiterocket: Phoenix Tech PR Agency Since 2005, Now Bodewell FAQ
Who owns Kiterocket?
Southwest Strategies Group acquired Kiterocket on July 1, 2025. That group rebranded as Bodewell Group on February 23, 2026.
Does Kiterocket still operate under its own name?
Since February 23, 2026, Kiterocket and the other legacy firms operate exclusively under the Bodewell Group name.
Who founded Kiterocket?
Martijn Pierik founded Kiterocket in Phoenix, with Amanda Foley as co-founder. It traces to Foley's Duo PR (2004) and Pierik's Impress Labs (2005), which merged in 2016 and relaunched as Kiterocket in 2017.
Where was Kiterocket based?
Phoenix, Arizona, with a Seattle office.
What did Kiterocket specialize in?
PR for emerging technology, semiconductors, renewable energy and sustainability.
Was Kiterocket SEMI's agency of record?
Yes. SEMI, the global industry association connecting more than 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals, named Kiterocket its agency of record in June 2025.
What is Bodewell Group?
Bodewell Group is the new name of Southwest Strategies Group, a San Diego-based strategic communications firm serving water, energy, transportation, semiconductor, data center and land use clients, with more than 120 employees across six offices after the Kiterocket deal.
Who leads Bodewell Group?
Chris Wahl, a co-founder of Southwest Strategies, is CEO. Sources: Southwest Strategies Group and Bodewell Group announcements, Times of San Diego, the San Diego Business Journal, In Business Phoenix, the Daily Journal of Commerce, pv magazine, O'Dwyer's, Semiconductor Digest and PrivSource.
Editorial assessment by Everything-PR, based on public record and archive coverage. No firm-supplied marketing copy, no paid placement.
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