Beckerman Celebrates Best Year Ever: 2009

HACKENSACK, N.J., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Beckerman, a fast-growing independent public relations firm, marks 2009 as a year of record-breaking revenues and unprecedented growth.  The firm now boasts a presence in Hackensack, N.J., New York, N.Y., and Washington, D.C. and a client roster that spans the globe, signing 25 new clients in 2009, including 10 in the last several months.

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2009 revenues were up more than 20 percent over 2008, bolstered by an aggressive expansion strategy that began with Beckerman's acquisition in June of Avalanche Strategic Communications, a diversified public relations firm with niches in the clean tech, healthcare, legal services, consumer and technology markets, followed by the acquisition of Manhattan-based digital media specialist firm, WISE PR, in September.

"The aim of the acquisitions was to strengthen our core service offerings while diversifying into multiple sectors that would dramatically position Beckerman for future growth," said Beckerman CEO Michael Beckerman, who founded the firm in 1989.  "A steady stream of both existing and new clients is now taking advantage of our expanded capabilities and specialty areas to meet their strategic business objectives in today's highly competitive marketplace."

In 2009, Beckerman relocated its headquarters from Bedminster, N.J., to Hackensack, N.J., and opened satellite offices in New York, N.Y., and Washington, D.C., allowing it to better serve its expanding client roster.  

The agency also hired eight public relations professionals, including those in several top positions, with the addition of Naomi Dector as senior vice president and Sagar Dalal as vice president.  Dalal leads the newly formed Beckerman Investor Communications Consulting and Real Estate Fund Advisory Services Division.

"The economic recession hit the public relations industry particularly hard," said Beckerman President Keith Zakheim.  "But we have found that our contrarian business strategy not only enabled us to grow, but more importantly it has provided our clients with the tools to help them grow their businesses."

Beckerman's newest clients bring the firm's client roster to well over 100, representing a wide range of industries, including alternative energy, digital, technology, legal and real estate:  

• AdMeld (www.admeld.com) - Headquartered in New York City with offices in San Francisco and London, AdMeld helps the world's premium online publishers maximize revenue from ad networks and ad exchanges, reduce operating costs and protect their brands from unwanted ads. 

• Car Charging Group Inc (www.carcharging.com) - At the forefront of the electric car revolution, Miami Beach, Fla.-based Car Charging Group Inc. is developing a nationwide infrastructure to provide, install and maintain conveniently located electric car charging stations compatible with all electric vehicles.

• Cereplast Inc. (www.cereplast.com) - Cereplast Inc., based in Hawthorne, Calif., is a pioneer in the bioplastics industry, designing and manufacturing proprietary starch-based resins for use in renewable plastic applications, replacing petroleum-based additives to meet the growing demand from consumers and manufacturers for sustainable products. 

• Clear-Lite Holdings Inc (www.clearlite.com)  - Based in Boca Raton, Fla., Clear-Lite is a world leader in innovative, environmentally friendly compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) products. By wrapping their CFLs in a safety coating that helps capture broken glass and mercury, Clear-Lite's ArmorLite™ bulb works to keep people and pets safe from potentially dangerous mercury contamination if a bulb breaks. 

• FonGenie (www.fongenie.com) - Mountain View, Calif.-based FonGenie is an automated service that lets business owners manage their company's phone-answering system online, customizing phone menu options and choosing between two text-to-speech voices to create messages that provide general business information, answer frequently asked questions and advertise promotions.

• FullSIX NY (www.fullsix.com) - FullSIX NY helps companies build great brands by creating engaging experiences for consumers wherever they live in the digital world. Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, FullSIX is the quintessential creative agency, and is part of the FullSIX Group, a global marketing and communications agency founded in 1997. FullSIX NY has created award-winning consumer experiences that are dynamic, elegant and interesting for Fortune 1000 clients. 

• Hidrock Realty Inc. (www.hidrock.com) - Hidrock Realty is a private real estate firm with properties throughout the East Coast. Based in Manhattan, the company provides fully integrated real estate services, including joint venture acquisitions, asset management, property management, office and retail leasing and commercial and residential development.

• Howrey LLP (www.howrey.com) Founded in 1956 global law firm Howrey LLP has over 650 attorneys and more than 30 economic, financial and regulatory consultants.  A consistent American Lawyer "A-List" firm, Howrey is one of the most frequently used law firms by the world's leading companies.

• Trump Plaza Residences Jersey City (www.trumpplazaresidences.com) – Managed by the Trump Organization, the world's only global luxury real estate super-brand, the 55-story upscale condominium, Trump Plaza Residences Jersey City, is the tallest residential tower in Jersey City with 443 residences, of which more than half have been sold and closed since its completion in 2008.

About Beckerman

Beckerman is one of the largest independent full-service public relations firms in the industry. Founded in 1989, Beckerman's staff of more than 40 experienced media professionals represents a distinguished roster of over 100 clients from diverse industry sectors including real estate, environmental, financial, health care, technology, consumer products, public affairs and corporate political reputation. The firm has offices in Hackensack, N.J., New York, N.Y., and Washington, D.C. To learn more please call 201-465-8000 or visit www.beckermanpr.com.

Contact: Joanne Kaniewski, 201.465.8000

SOURCE Beckerman