Your business, articulated. Your impact, magnified.

A national content marketing and public relations firm specialized in financial services and real estate.

Learn More
Complex Business Content… for Actual Humans

Tired of jargon, but need to get your story out? We make complex content clear and accessible.

Learn More
Strong Content, Media That Matters

No subject matter is too complex for our team of senior storytellers, and we understand the media outlets and marketing channels that matter to you.

Learn More

ABOUT US: BUSINESS, ARTICULATED

We are a national content marketing and public relations firm specialized in financial services and real estate.

We subscribe to a new adage: B2B + B2H. Not only are we business-to-business, we are business-to-human. Our goal is always to bring complex content to life, making it more accessible to the individuals who read it. Strong content can influence business outcomes; to that end, our team helps your ideas come alive, and connects you with media outlets that matter to you.

No subject matter is too complex for #TeamAkrete’s 20+ person team of senior storytellers. When we write, we do so with an understanding developed over decades in financial services and real estate. We speak your language, and will help you tell vibrant business stories rich in words, visuals and video.

Our specialization in two industries is narrow, but our services are broad. We connect investors, customers and corporations by using strategy-shaped storytelling. Our services fall into five categories:

Akrete is certified as a women’s business enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women in the U.S.

Akrete is a “Top 20 Financial PR Firm” and “Top 50 Professional Services Firm” nationally, according to O’Dwyers ranking. And we are ranked as “Chicago’s #13 top PR Firm” overall. www.odwyerpr.com

We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today and we can provide full documentation to any type of supply chain diversity program, supporting our clients’ corporate social responsibility objectives.

INDUSTRY FOCUS: WE KNOW YOUR LANGUAGE

Commercial Real Estate

Deep roots in financial services storytelling help our veteran consultants connect financial institution executives with dealmakers in your targeted industries.

Financial Services

Marketing commercial real estate (CRE) and the built environment has never been more electric. Connect creatively using social, video and mobile-friendly campaigns.

Industry Depth and Case Studies

WHAT WE DO: CONTENT MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Your story is unique; tell it that way.

We use five primary tactics to articulate and promote your story; whole.

CONTENT: Content Marketing + Editorial
- STRATEGY: Business + Communications Aligned
- DIGITAL: Social Media, Microsites, Email
- PUBLIC RELATIONS: Full-Service PR and Media Relations
- TRAINING: Executive Counsel and Workshop

Learn More about our Services

OUR CLIENTS, OUR GREATEST ADVOCATES

Our clients tell our story even better than we can—and we appreciate that irony.
Within financial services and commercial real estate, we work with businesses from global brands to start-ups and other marketing and PR agencies.

Some Current and Recent Clients:
JLL (formerly Jones Lang LaSalle); KeyBank; KeyBanc Capital Markets; the Ontario, Canada Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure; Golub and Company, Bentall Kennedy, Third Federal Savings and Loan, Oxford Properties, Chicago Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), Wright Heerema Architects, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise; Burwood Group Consulting; LeasePipeline.com; Arbor Lodging Partners; and more.

**Clients, Delighted:**

“Dedicated, visionary, focused, effective, innovative…adjectives which barely scratch the surface of the qualities of these multi-faceted, dynamic and highly talented public relations, communications and branding executives. Margy and Renata have a gift for bringing teams together. Their passion and insight propel us to higher levels as an organization.”

~R. J. Brennan, Managing Director, RoyalBrennan LLC and Past President, CoreNet Global Chicago Chapter

More Clients and Case Studies

TEAM AKRETE

Margy Sweeney

Akrete’s Principal and Founder, Margy has injected creativity into the promotion of complex global businesses for more than 25 years.

Renata Pasmanik

Stunning events, creative video and impeccable design are a few of the benefits Renata, Akrete’s Vice President, brings to our clients.

Brian Greenberg

Our Chief Information Officer, Brian brings the technical perspective both to our work in the technology industry and in our digital marketing work for all our clients.

Nicole Stenclik

A strategic marketing and communications consultant, Nicole has spent close to a decade working with premier global and national brands to develop, deliver and amplify brand narratives that stand out in a crowded markets, provoke new ways of thinking and inspire action.

Donna McSorley

National business media engagement runs in Donna’s veins. Akrete’s New York City-area representative, Donna brings 17 years’ experience publicizing financial services firms to our team.

Kellie Pellechia

Human-friendly business articles can be hard to find, but veteran ghostwriter Kellie Pellechia offers our clients a delightful balance of accuracy, complexity and human interest.

Becky Reno

Collaborating across regions and locations is part of the Akrete model—and that requires serious organization and focus. Becky’s work pulls it all together.

Daisy Simmons

Need social-savvy copy that delights investors while calling for action? Look no further than this California-based Team Akrete writer and social media content strategist.

Jennifer Harris

A former journalist and public relations firm executive, Jennifer is our ‘lead nerd’ and offers her rigor and scientific perspective as an expert developer and promoter of business thought leadership.

Patricia Agos

Creative positioning of complex content is an opportunity and welcome challenge for Patricia, who specializes in integrated marketing, public relations, sponsorships and advertising campaigns.

Craig Bloomfield

Writing like a reporter is no problem for this former business journalist, public relations veteran and JLL alumnus; Craig brings an investor-focused, ROI-driven perspective to every assignment.

Amanda Hargrove

Amanda has a passion for helping others articulate their stories. Her experience spans both marketing and communications, including positions at Deloitte and Ogilvy Public Relations, where she served clients in the professional services, technology and financial services industries.

Aleks Walker

Aleks has more than a decade’s experience in every facet of public relations, including content creation, media relations, internal communications, and experiential marketing.

Lana Demyanyk

A 2016 graduate of DePaul University, Lana is Akrete’s Marketing and Finance coordinator, and plays an essential role in the execution of client events, campaigns, metrics, and reporting.

Melanie Pikosky

Melanie Pikosky has more than a decade of strategic communications and public relations experience, having worked at global agencies and in-house teams across the Midwest.

Chris Lackner

Chris has 20 years of experience in media relations, marketing, and public relations. With a background in political consulting and years of experience on political campaigns, he knows the importance of having a strong communications strategy.

Learn More About Our Team

Your business, articulated. Your impact, magnified.

Complex Business Content… for Actual Humans

Strong Content, Media That Matters