RALEIGH, N.C. (April 30, 2012) – French/West/Vaughan (FWV), one of the nation’s leading independent public relations and brand communications agencies, has received an honorable mention as The Holmes Report’s  2011 “Small Agency of the Year.” Agencies with fee revenue of between $10-20 million annually generally fall into The Holmes Report’s small agency category.

The Holmes Report, one of the public relations industry’s oldest and most respected trade publications, compiles an annual “National and Regional Agencies of the Year” list as well as an annual Report Card analyzing agency financial performance, innovation, client retention and satisfaction. Dedicated to proving and improving the value of public relations, The Holmes Group provides insight, knowledge and recognition to public relations professionals worldwide.

“FWV had an outstanding year, and we are thrilled to receive recognition from Paul Holmes, an industry luminary, who publishes some of the most respected commentary in our industry,” said FWV President & CEO Rick French. “This acknowledgement is a reflection of the hard work, exceptional talent and adaptive mindsets of FWV’s team of professionals, and we look forward to continued growth in 2012.”

 Arkansas-based Mitchell PR won the coveted “Small Agency of the Year” award and additional honorable mentions in the category were awarded to New York-based agencies Kaplow and RF Binder, as well as Minneapolis-based Padilla Speer Beardsley.

About French/West/Vaughan

French/West/Vaughan is the Southeast’s leading public relations, public affairs and brand communications agency, independent or otherwise. National and international clients represented by the agency include Melitta, Wrangler, Justin Boot Company, the International Gemological Institute, RBC Bank and Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants, among many others. The agency also offers award-winning advertising, graphic design, media planning and placement, and digital and social media marketing and monitoring services for a wide range of clients. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., FWV also has offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Tampa and Dallas. For more information, please visit www.fwv-us.com.