The Tara Dowdell Group, an award-winning social good public relations and marketing agency headquartered in Jersey City, is expanding to the Washington, D.C., metro area — and has hired a top talent to help it do so.
Zy Richardson, who served as chief spokesperson and director of communications at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office the past four years, has been hired as vice president of communications and charged with expanding TDG’s services to the Baltimore and D.C. Metro area.
“Zy’s hiring ushers in a new era for Tara Dowdell Group,” Tara Dowdell, the agency’s founder and president, said. “I started TDG with a vision to build a full-service PR and marketing agency that maintains the highest level of excellence and integrity while supporting organizations engaged in social good.
“Zy shares this vision and will help us continue to innovate and expand in today’s dynamic media landscape, including opening an office in the D.C. Metro area. She brings a wealth of talent and experience that will be invaluable to the growth of our public relations, content development and community engagement efforts.”
Richardson brings nearly two decades of experience crafting effective communications and media relations strategies for socially conscious and high-profile organizations and individuals. Most recently, she spearheaded strategy, media and communications for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, credited with leading high-stakes messaging on criminal justice reform focused on racial justice and drug policy reform.
Her media prowess and C-level counsel amplified the office’s national profile, garnering global media attention for media events, opinion editorials, interviews and statements featured in the New York Times, CNN, the Baltimore Sun, and many more. Additionally, she oversaw crisis and rapid response communications for the state’s attorney and managed all aspects of public appearances, including site selection, briefing documents, legislative testimonies, community meetings, panel and keynote requests, and press outreach materials.
About TDG
Tara Dowdell Group is an award-winning certified minority-/women-owned business enterprise public relations and marketing agency with a passion for promoting organizations, institutions and businesses that are engaged in social good. Its clients consist of foundations, nonprofits, public sector agencies, health care organizations and mission-driven businesses. Its services include public relations, community outreach, branding and marketing, and graphic and website design.
Richardson said she is eager to get going.
“Combining my commitment to transformative change with storytelling ignites my passion for this work, which is why I’m tremendously excited to join TDG’s social good mission,” she said. “TDG has a proven track record in amplifying impactful initiatives and empowering visionary changemakers. With my unwavering focus on social good and having cultivated positive working relationships with national and local media outlets in the Baltimore and D.C. Metro region, I am thrilled to join the team and look forward to propelling TDG’s work even further.”
Richardson’s prior experience also includes serving as the communications director for the District of Columbia Department of Public Works and the senior national public relations representative for the Postal Service, where she was responsible for promoting the $65 billion shipping and mailing product portfolio.
Richardson received her Master of Arts in public communications from American University in Washington, D.C., and her Bachelor of Arts from Morgan State University in Baltimore. She also completed the Executive Leadership Program from George Washington University.
