New Hires Add to Firm’s Strength in Serving Local and National Clients

ARLINGTON, VA – PLUS Communications, one of the nation’s leading public affairs, media and digital firms, today announced two new hires in its Richmond office. Less than two years after opening the firm’s first satellite office, the Richmond office has added highly experienced professionals with backgrounds in the private sector, as well as public policy and national media. In addition to Richmond, PLUS also has regional offices in Austin, Texas and Helena, Montana.

Led by PLUS veteran Richard T. Cullen, PLUS’s offerings in Richmond are strengthened by the additions of Tess Glancey (senior director) and Claire Rooney (associate). They join Nick Larson and Irene Tate in supporting the firm’s array of local and national clients.

“The expansion of our Richmond office mirrors a deeper national trend. With an influx of businesses and new residents to Virginia’s capital region at a faster rate than any point in the Commonwealth’s history, we are more primed than ever to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said Cullen. “The expertise in local government and national politics that our team brings will allow PLUS to continue expanding its best-in-class offerings for clients across the Commonwealth of Virginia and throughout the country.”

Tess joins PLUS with more than a decade of experience in government and the private sector. She began her career on Capitol Hill, serving government officials in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, including positions with then-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s leadership team and the House Committee on Homeland Security. Tess also served as a spokesperson for FOX News Channel. Most recently, she led public relations strategy for television technology company Samba TV.

Claire joins PLUS after working as a legislative assistant for the Virginia General Assembly on the powerful Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, bringing a depth of experience of the inner workings of the state legislature. A proud alumnus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Claire worked under three of the college’s presidents, including former U.S. Senator Paul Trible.

Since its inception in 2022, the Richmond office has built a foundation of seasoned public affairs specialists alongside Cullen, with extensive experience in managing communications and advocacy campaigns for major corporations, trade associations, non-profits and more. Nick previously served as the finance director at the Republican Party of Virginia. In 2021, he oversaw volunteer operations for Governor Glenn Youngkin’s successful gubernatorial bid, including voter contact, grassroots initiatives and data analysis throughout the Commonwealth. Nick also spent time at the White House as a writer and is a graduate of The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.

Additionally, before joining PLUS’s Richmond office, Irene served on Capitol Hill in the office of Congressman Joe Wilson. She also worked alongside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s education and workforce teams, as well as two of their affiliates in her native Palmetto State. Irene is a graduate of the University of South Carolina.

PLUS was acquired in September 2023 by Omnicom PR Group (OPRG), which boasts the world’s largest global network of communications and consulting agencies. The Arlington-based firm employs more than 200 professionals, including 20 partners with unrivaled experience representing multinational corporations, trade associations and non-profit organizations across various industries.PLUS Communications has received many of the highest accolades in the communications industry, including PRWeek’s Best in Public Affairs, Best in Crisis and Best for a Cause awards, in addition to being named a finalist for “Outstanding Midsize Agency.”

To learn more about PLUS Communications, visit PlusPR.com.

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