Seasoned Public Relations Veteran Returns to Erwin-Penland

March 08, 2010

GREENVILLE, S.C. [March 8, 2010] – Erwin-Penland (EP), one of the five largest advertising and marketing firms in the Southeast and a division of Interpublic Group’s Hill, Holliday, announces the return of integrated marketing and public relations expert Barry Finkelstein as the agency’s vice president and director of public relations.

Finkelstein spent seven of the last nine years at Erwin-Penland before moving to Pittsburgh in 2008 to become senior vice president and director of public relations at MARC USA, a large, privately held full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency. There, Finkelstein worked on accounts for clients including Rite Aid, All-Clad Cookware, Krups Appliances, Culver’s Restaurants, Bryant Heating & Air Conditioning, Lanxess Chemicals and the United Way of Allegheny County.

Upon his return to EP, Finkelstein brings with him more than 20 years in the public relations and marketing industries, applying his experience and knowledge of the advertising world to strengthen client service. Finkelstein oversees all public relations work on behalf of the agency’s clients, serves on the agency’s senior management team and plays a leading role in its business development efforts.

Finkelstein is an active member in various community and professional organizations including Leadership Greenville's Class 30. He is a past board member of the Public Relations Society of America’s Georgia, South Carolina and Pittsburgh chapters, served on the Board of Governors for the Carolinas and Pittsburgh councils of the American Association of Advertising Agencies and participated on the board of directors for Hands On Greenville, serving as chair from 2007-2008.

“We are pleased to have Barry’s experience and expertise back at Erwin-Penland as we continue to advance our public relations and new business efforts for the agency,” said Erwin-Penland President Joe Erwin. “His body of work and passion for superior client service embodies everything our agency strives to be, making him a perfect fit for this role.”

A graduate of the University of Florida, Finkelstein holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism with a minor in business administration. For a full biography, interview or more information, contact Erwin-Penland at (864) 271-0500.

About Erwin-Penland
Based in Greenville, S.C., Erwin-Penland (www.erwinpenland.com) is a full-service marketing firm that provides advertising, event marketing, interactive, public relations and strategic planning services to clients including: Verizon Wireless, Denny’s, Lockheed Martin, BI-LO Supermarkets and Advance America. The 250-person firm is part of Boston-based Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc., one of the nation’s largest ad agencies and a member of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG).