BEN FINZEL
Ben Finzel is president of RENEWPR, a Washington, DC-based public affairs communications consulting firm. Ben works with a team of independent PR professionals located in key markets nationwide. Together, they provide advice, counsel and outreach on strategy, messaging, media and partnerships to business, non-governmental and foundation clients focused on energy, environmental, and equity issues and opportunities.
A DC native who has built a 30-year career in Washington, Ben has served as a congressional staffer for two Democratic Members of Congress, as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy and as a public relations agency executive at five firms. He opened RENEWPR in 2015.
In 2018, Finzel launched DC Family Communicators, a professional networking group for LGBTQ communications professionals in DC. The group has more than 200 members and provides networking, mentoring, career advice and job connections via live and virtual events, an email listserv and private Facebook and LinkedIn groups. Finzel manages the group on a pro bono basis.
In 2019, Finzel and five agency owner colleagues (including two CAPRSA Executive Committee members) collaborated to launch The Change Agencies, the first national network of independently owned multicultural and LGBTQ public relations firms.
In 2019, Finzel was honored as one of 50 Legacy Leaders Over 50 by BEQ Pride Magazine. In 2020, he was named a Business of Pride honoree by the Washington Business Journal. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University. He is married and lives in the DC area.