Minneapolis digital marketing agency Rocket55 has expanded into the public relations field with the hiring of PR veteran Brant Skogrand as its director of public relations.
The firm, which provides web design, content marketing and other digital services, announced the acquisition of Skogrand PR Solutions this week.
"The lines between search engine optimization, social media, and public relations are blurring at a rapid pace, and brands that harness the power of the intersection of these disciplines will outperform the competition," said Steven Ayres, founder and chief executive of Rocket55, in a statement. "We have been impressed with Brant since working with him as a Skogrand PR Solutions client over time. Bringing someone of Brant's caliber on board makes the most sense to start offering public relations services to clients."
Skogrand has led his own public relations and social media firm for the past seven years. He has previously worked for Risdall Public Relations, Thrivent Financial, Thomson Reuters, Tunheim and The Musicland Group entertainment company. Skogrand also teaches public relations as an adjunct professor at North Central University and has served as the past president of the Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
"By joining Rocket55, we now have the opportunity for even tighter collaboration that will provide better end results for clients in both public relations and digital marketing," Skogrand said, in a statement. "I see countless ways that adding public relations to clients' marketing mix will provide strong benefits."