Otter PR, the innovative public relations firm launched in 2020 with a vision for transforming the industry, can now add to its long list of accolades inclusion on the Inc. Regional list of the fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast for 2024. The Inc. Regional award, which is an extension of the Inc. 5000 regional rankings, acknowledges Otter PR as one of the most successful companies within the southeast region of the US. It was announced on February 27, 2024.
Otter PR was ranked No. 33 out of 233 businesses included on the new Southeast Region list. Combined, the honorees were responsible for creating a total of 20,496 jobs in the region and adding $8.8 billion to the economy while experiencing a median revenue growth rate of approximately 166 percent from 2020 to 2022.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by Inc. as one of the fastest-growing private companies in our region,” says Otter PR CEO and co-founder Scott Bartnick. “This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team over the past few years. We have focused on innovating within the PR industry, enhancing our client offerings, and recruiting top talent. This strategic growth has allowed us to better serve our clients while expanding our own impact as an agency.”
Inc. Magazine is one of the world’s most respected business publications, providing organizations around the world with insightful and instructive content focused on entrepreneurship, business growth, and the small business ecosystem. It is well known for its “Inc. 500” and “Inc. 5000” lists, which shine a light on businesses that have harnessed explosive business strategies and a commitment to excellence to drive outstanding growth. Past honorees include companies such as Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Pandora, Patagonia, and Oracle.
“The honorees in our Inc. 5000 network are the Who’s Who of private companies. They’re energizing regional economies as they engineer the future of their industries. Learn who they are and what they do — they’ll be impacting things for a while,” said Eric Hagerman, Special Projects Editor at Inc. Media.
“Making the Inc. Regional list validates that our approach is working,” says Bartnick. “We thank our loyal clients and talented staff who have made this rapid expansion possible. And while we are proud of this designation, we remain focused on sustaining our growth trajectory for years to come.”
The roadmap to receiving an Inc. 5000 Regionals ranking
Otter PR was launched in 2020 with a unique vision for reshaping the public relations space. Bartnick and his co-founder Jay Feldman, who now serves as Otter PR’s CMO, saw the media landscape shifting, with legacy media outlets losing their grip on public attention. They took advantage of the shift by launching a Web3 native agency that would help its clients gain media exposure through non-traditional outlets, including podcasts, social media, and other digital channels.
“We both had a vision of transforming the PR industry with a fresh perspective and fresh approach,” Feldman recalls. “It was clear to us that the status quo was no longer delivering the quality of publicity brands were looking for. Newspapers, radio, and other outdated media platforms were losing ground daily to social media and digital outlets. As we turned to those emerging outlets, we found new ways to tell stories, engage audiences, and build meaningful media relations. We set out with a goal to fill the gaps in the industry and, as our award-winning growth has shown, we accomplished our goal.”
As the January 2024 USA Today article featuring Otter PR explains, digital media has become an essential part of effective PR strategies for today’s brands. The digital world is where people connect. Brands that don’t bring their message to that space will only fall farther and farther behind.
“In public relations, meeting consumers where they are is paramount,” Bartnick told USA Today. “It’s not about leading them to your message, but ensuring your message finds them in the places they naturally engage. This approach builds trust, relevance, and resonance, fostering lasting connections in today’s dynamic communications landscape.”
Fastest-growing private companies identified by average growth rate, other impactful metrics
The Inc. 5000 Regional lists recognize private companies based on what the magazine describes as “innovative achievements” that generate “sustainable growth and jobs.” The award, which is one of the most esteemed honors that growing private business and business leaders can receive, salutes a commitment to long-term growth and enduring economic impact in a region. The recipients of the 2023 Inc. awards for the Southeast, which included dozens of inspiring independent small businesses, added more than 25,000 jobs to their region.
“Being named to the Inc. Regional list is not only a great validation for our agency, but for our wider community,” Feldman says. “Our significant and sustained growth over the past few years has allowed us to add dozens of well-paying jobs and put money back into the region’s economy. Fueling growth in our region has been incredibly rewarding. We’re proud to be included among the top job creators in the Southeast acknowledged by Inc. and we plan to continue growing our agency in a way that brings shared prosperity for our team, clients, and community alike.”
To be eligible for the prestigious Inc. award, companies must be for-profit and U.S.-based. There is also a minimum revenue required to qualify. To be eligible for this year’s award, businesses must have generated at least $100,000 in revenue in 2020 and $1 million in revenue in 2022. The limited number of companies named to the list each year commonly show four-digit percentage growth over a three-year period.
Inc. ranking adds to numerous awards earned by Otter PR in 2022 and 2023
The impressive levels of success Otter PR has achieved in the short time since launching has resulted in a long list of awards, each highlighting the appreciation and esteem the company has earned among its clients and colleagues. Most recently, Otter PR was honored with the coveted 2023 People’s Choice Stevie® Award for Favorite Public Relations Company. The Stevie® Awards are one of the world’s premier business award programs. Otter PR’s win, which was determined by public vote, indicates that the company has earned a tremendous amount of prestige and influence within the global public relations community.
Otter PR has previously received a Silver Stevie® Award in the 20th Annual International Business Awards, which is considered an “Oscar” of the business world. Otter PR was selected for the award from among 3700 nominations submitted by businesses in 61 countries.
Otter PR was also recognized in early 2024 by Ragan Communications for contributing to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in public relations. The award, which was an Honorable Mention in the DE&I category of Ragan’s PR Daily Awards, stemmed from the company’s work with Wynne Nowland, a transgender woman who serves as CEO of Bradly & Parker.
In 2023, Otter PR was the recipient of the UpCity Best of Florida Award, which indicates the consistent delivery of exceptional services and remarkable results, as well as a Tampa Bay Inno Awards Honoree, which is presented to outstanding achievers in the Tampa Bay metro area tech scene. In 2022, Otter PR was honored with a 2022 Manifest Global Award for Most Reviewed Company and a BIG Award for Business naming it Company of the Year, as well as being inducted into the prestigious Two Comma Club, which celebrates making more than $1 million in revenue through a ClickFunnels marketing campaign.
Tags: business success, media relations, PR, Public relations
