PR Consultants Group adds Piper Communications to nationwide network

PR Consultants Group has added Knoxville-based Piper Communications to its nationwide network, expanding its Tennessee reach and deepening advanced energy and technology expertise. The move gives the group more local access in East Tennessee while giving Piper access to a broader bench of senior communications specialists.

Why it matters: - The addition strengthens PR Consultants Group’s coverage in East Tennessee and adds sector depth in advanced energy and technology. - The network model is designed to let clients tap senior specialists in more than 50 U.S. markets without hiring multiple agencies. - Piper Communications brings local relationships in Knoxville, Oak Ridge and across Tennessee, which can matter for energy, technology and economic development work.

What happened: - PR Consultants Group named Piper Communications, a Knoxville-based public relations firm, as the newest member of its independent PR network. - The announcement was made Oct. 21, 2026. - Elizabeth Edwards, president of PR Consultants Group, said the addition will enhance value, expertise and experience within the network. - Cortney Piper, president of Piper Communications, said joining the network expands the expertise and on-the-ground support the firm can offer clients.

The details: - PR Consultants Group was founded in 2000 and operates as a nationwide network of senior-level public relations, strategic communications and marketing specialists. - The network includes independently owned member firms in more than 50 U.S. markets. - PR Consultants Group said its model lets a client work with one trusted agency and then activate senior specialists across the network as needs expand. - The network says that structure can support crisis communications, public affairs, media relations, digital strategy, industry-specific counsel and multi-market campaigns. - Piper Communications started in 2008 during the recession and now serves clients across the globe from downtown Knoxville. - Piper Communications is an SBA-certified Woman-Owned Small Business and a graduate of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Mentor-Protégé Program. - The firm was named Communicator of the Year in 2026 by the Knoxville chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. - Piper Communications has led communications around Centrus Energy’s more than $560 million expansion in Oak Ridge, which is expected to create nearly 430 jobs. - The firm also led media work for Kairos Power’s April 2026 groundbreaking for the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge. - Piper Communications provides media and public relations support for METAL, the workforce training program led by IACMI. - The company’s website is more information.

Between the lines: - The deal reflects how regional firms are using national networks to scale without losing local identity. - PR Consultants Group is positioning its model as an alternative to large holding-company agencies and solo boutiques. - The announcement also leans into a broader pitch that AI-era communications now require stronger earned media, authority and narrative control. - The release cites late-2025 research showing 96% of content cited by AI assistants comes from PR-generated material and says AI-referred traffic converts at three to four times the rate of traditional organic search.

What's next: - PR Consultants Group is likely to use Piper Communications to deepen its energy, technology and Tennessee relationships. - Piper Communications can now draw on a wider bench of senior specialists for clients needing support beyond East Tennessee. - The network says it will continue to market its model as a way to add national scale without added agency complexity.

The bottom line: - The partnership adds a Knoxville energy-and-tech specialist to a network built to give clients local expertise and national reach at the same time.