Founded in 2003 by Helene Solomon, the agency was initially known as Solomon McCown. Following the recent acquisition by Daniel F. Cence, a veteran political strategist, the agency was renamed Solomon McCown & Cence.
Leveraging extensive experience in public policy and business, the agency works with CEOs and entrepreneurs to identify unique communication approaches and the right strategies to reach target audiences. Thanks to its expertise in crisis management, traditional and digital media and public affairs, the firm prides itself on the ability to amplify messages to reach target audiences.
Thriving at the intersection of business and public policy, Solomon McCown & Cence provides senior counsel in dynamic and considerably complex sectors, including public affairs, housing and real estate, education, and healthcare.
Case Studies
#1. Atrius Health
Being the largest non-profit and independent medical group in New England, a leader in innovative healthcare, and delivering effective systems of connected care to close to 720,000 adults in eastern and central Massachusetts, Atrius Health has relied upon Solomon McCown & Company’s expertise in building local and national awareness of their brand.
Charged with positioning Atrius Health executives as authorities in the healthcare and payment reform space and raising the brand’s awareness nationally and in Massachusetts, Solomon McCown & Cence has adopted several strategies. The agency produces a continuous stream of media coverage on the organization’s wins, best practices, and lessons learned being an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). At the same time, the PR agency positions Dr. Steven Strongwater – Atrius Health’s CEO – as an authority on important healthcare policies and issues in the industry.
The results included securing placements for Dr. Strongwater’s op-eds on topics like preventing physician burnout and decreasing the rate of hospital readmissions in the Boston Business Journal, NEJM Catalyst, CommonWealth Magazine, and in publications like Health Leaders.
At the same time, collective media coverage reached millions of readers, targeted finance executives, healthcare administrators, clinicians, and clinician leaders, who play an important role in the recruitment of physicians.
Effectively, Solomon McCown & Cence’s efforts have helped Atrius Health secure a leadership position in healthcare and become a highly-sought healthcare organization for collaborations and partnerships. Nationally, the organization has been recognized for exceptional community-based and patient-centered care, as a pioneering member of the original CMS Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and more recently as a next-gen ACO, following the completion of a five-year pioneer model.
#2. Beacon Capital Partners
Having been part of Beacon’s emergency team for 14 years, Solomon McCown & Cence has developed effective communication procedures that guide property managers in reporting situations to their headquarters, engaging with the media, and managing tenant communication. With more than 20 holding statements drafted and approved by the agency’s legal counsel, Beacon’s managers are well-equipped with guides to handle sensitive issues.
Solomon McCown & Cence’s efforts have helped Beacon and its team manage dozens of challenging situations without negative blowback on the company. When Superstorm Sandy cut off one of Beacon’s NYC buildings from the communication grid for close to two months, the PR agency helped Beacon prioritize tenant communication. With dozens of tenants in nearby buildings airing their negative views, none of the Beacon’s tenants did, and Beacon wasn’t mentioned in the numerous negative stories that ran.
Notable clients
Brands in Solomon McCown & Company’s client list include Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Rockland Trust, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Related Beal, Skanska, Atrius Health, Mass Brewers Guild, Boston Beer Co. Inc.(maker of Sam Adams), and South Coast Health.