Verde PR and Base Camp Communications merge

Where there were two, now there is one. As of Dec. 1, 2009, two independent PR agencies, Verde PR and Consulting and Base Camp Communications, will merge into one entity under the Verde name.

For details from the news release, click here. 

One could surmise the stars were aligned to pave the way for this merger. Both Mike Geraci, founder of Base Camp, and Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, founder of Verde, were journalists before launching PR careers. Both launched their respective businesses in 2001, and considered the other a mentor and sounding board even when competing for the same clients.

“All along, I have been one of Mike’s biggest promoters, even telling prospective clients that if they did not choose me, they should go with Mike — probably not the best business strategy, but it is heartfelt,” Carpenter told SNEWS®. “Ever since we launched our businesses, we have collaborated on so many different levels that this is just a natural progression.”

Geraci agreed, and added that each brings a set of skills to the team that is needed, and will complement the cross over of talents that exist.

“When you sold your business to Active Interest Media, no doubt you looked at them as a potential partner that would allow you to focus on things you had wanted to focus on, but could not otherwise,” said Geraci, in reference to the acquisition of SNEWS by Active Interest Media in December 2007. “I know I am very good at PR, but not so good at managing a PR firm — and those are two very different skill sets.

“The great opportunity here is that we will be able to take our business to the next level together, rather than competing with each other, and that benefits both our clients and our employees,” added Geraci. “We both realized that we could try to grow our businesses independently of the other, but whether or not we would succeed was best answered by a maybe. Together, we know that what we can do is greater than simply the sum of the parts — one plus one really does equal four.”

For her part, Carpenter-Ogden told us that she is very excited about the vision and skills in terms of emerging and new media that Geraci brings to the new partnership.

“Media will not notice much change as it will still be the same friendly faces who try to anticipate their needs around a story before they even have to ask,” she told us. “But with our clients, there will be a more visibly integrated approach to brand promotion that encompasses PR and marketing and communications in new mediums and fields.”

Added Geraci, “For all of those who are still wondering that big question — “Why?” — the answer will become very evident in the next few months. There is a certain level when you are a smaller firm where your ideas outpace your capacity to pull them off. Now, together, we have the size and scope of experience to pull off the big idea, and it’s going to be exciting.”

–Michael Hodgson