CommPRO Editorial Staff

New York City-based communications firm Thunder11 has named Ryan Birchmeier Senior Vice President of Client Relations. As part of the promotion, Birchmeier has been made an equity partner. 

In his new role, Birchmeier will help manage and expand the day-to-day service offerings of the firm’s growing client base in health care, tech, and public affairs. Thunder11 already offers a broad range of capabilities from messaging and brand identity to thought leadership, content creation, crisis and issues management, communications and sales force training and podcast production, among others. 

Earlier this year, Thunder11 launched “Public Health” a new podcast aimed at sharing the rarely heard experiences of the people who make our health systems run. Hosted by Birchmeier and his sister, Katie Fendler, a Philadelphia-based nurse practitioner, the podcast has featured stories about mental health services for children of incarcerated parents, a center for Native American nursing students, and the untenable issue of medical waste. 

“We’re excited to promote Ryan as we continue to elevate the level of client services fitting of a boutique firm,” said Senior Partner Marco Greenberg. “Ryan joins Thunder11’s growing leadership team, alongside Liel Leibovitz, Dan Perry, and myself, which has proudly helped our firm navigate the evolving landscapes of media and communications.” 

Last month, the firm announced a trans-Atlantic partnership with fast-growing Paris-based communications agency JIN aimed at offering clients new creative and digitally focused capabilities. Thunder11 was recognized last year as "Boutique PR Firm of the Year" at the Platinum PR Awards and, in 2020, was named to the Agency Elite Top 100 list of leading US communications agencies. 

Birchmeier, who previously served as Vice President of Media Relations for Thunder11, graduated with a degree in English from Saint Joseph's University, where he ran track and cross country. In his previous role as Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, he managed communications for a range of real estate, tech and industrial projects across the city. 

Birchmeier came to New York City by way of Philadelphia, where he served in a number of communications roles across the City government in the Office of Innovation & Technology, the Managing Director’s Office, and Philly311.

“In my two years at Thunder11, I have seen the firm deliver a new level of creativity, content creation, and top-tier media engagement to clients around the world,” said Birchmeier. “I am grateful for the opportunity to take on this new role, and continue to learn from our growing team and endlessly impressive clients.” 

Thunder11’s clients have ranged from health care organizations such as Northwell Health and the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, tech unicorns such as Datto and WeWork, publicly traded companies such as AT&T and GSK, and public affairs organizations such as the Council on Foreign Relations and Iran 180, among others.