EPR Editorial Team3 min read
Originally published November 2020. Updated June 15, 2026.
Part of PR Agency Q&A Profiles · See also: Scott Goldberg, Carve Communications (Managing Director) · Evan Nierman, Red Banyan
David Barkoe is the CEO and co-founder of Carve Communications, a Miami-based public relations firm operating at the intersection of technology and consumer storytelling. Founded as an award-winning independent agency, Carve grew rapidly during the pandemic, signing 12 new clients during 2020 alone.
Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your company?
A: While the whole planet has dealt with fear and uncertainty, here in South Florida Carve has thrived. The last 8 months have been the most successful stretch in the history of the agency — we signed 12 clients during the "pandemic." We are not together in our office 5 days a week, but the team has bonded virtually and produced some of the best results we ever have. It has forced us to reconsider whether we continue as a remote team, return to full-time office, or do some hybrid.
Q: How has your team adapted to the new normal?
A: Going all remote has been the biggest change. The ability to just shout out an idea or go grab lunch isn't an option right now, but we've used Zoom to our advantage, increased our reliance on Slack, and gotten it done. The other big adaptation is hours — 9:00am-5:30pm is almost irrelevant now. If you can get your work done on a schedule that works for you, do it. The lack of a commute, especially down here in South Florida, has been a welcome relief — that's 1–2 hours a day we didn't have sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on I-95.
Q: You landed over ten new long-term clients during the pandemic. Tips for PR pros earning new business?
A: Focus on what you do best, how you achieve results, and communicate. The foundation of our success is based on the work we've done in the past, both on new business and account sides. We've just doubled down on what separates us from other agencies.
Q: Has your agency changed how it's pitching media?
A: Nothing inherently groundbreaking. We're leveraging the relationships we already have with the media or opening up new relevant ones based on news our clients have to offer. We're pitching more "around the clock" at times and on days we might not have before, and using social media to directly engage the media more than before.
Q: How are you motivating your staff?
A: Through communication about how we're growing — new leads, status of leads, bringing the team in on the process. We've also increased our own agency marketing so the staff sees the fruits of their labor, whether we're promoting a great placement or an article in the trades about our new business wins.
A: While the whole planet has dealt with fear and uncertainty, here in South Florida Carve has thrived. The last 8 months have been the most successful stretch in the history of the agency — we signed 12 clients during the "pandemic." We are not together in our office 5 days a week, but the team has bonded virtually and produced some of the best results we ever have. It has forced us to reconsider whether we continue as a remote team, return to full-time office, or do some hybrid.
A: Going all remote has been the biggest change. The ability to just shout out an idea or go grab lunch isn't an option right now, but we've used Zoom to our advantage, increased our reliance on Slack, and gotten it done. The other big adaptation is hours — 9:00am-5:30pm is almost irrelevant now. If you can get your work done on a schedule that works for you, do it. The lack of a commute, especially down here in South Florida, has been a welcome relief — that's 1–2 hours a day we didn't have sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on I-95.
A: Focus on what you do best, how you achieve results, and communicate. The foundation of our success is based on the work we've done in the past, both on new business and account sides. We've just doubled down on what separates us from other agencies.
A: Nothing inherently groundbreaking. We're leveraging the relationships we already have with the media or opening up new relevant ones based on news our clients have to offer. We're pitching more "around the clock" at times and on days we might not have before, and using social media to directly engage the media more than before.
A: Through communication about how we're growing — new leads, status of leads, bringing the team in on the process. We've also increased our own agency marketing so the staff sees the fruits of their labor, whether we're promoting a great placement or an article in the trades about our new business wins.
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