Stephen R. Hourahan has been named director of public affairs at Duffy & Shanley Inc. He will be responsible for providing strategic counsel, developing business and ensuring outstanding service to clients.
Hourahan previously was director of communications and campaign chairman for former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee. He has a degree in humanities from Providence College.
PBN: What position does Duffy & Shanley hold in the market now, and where might you seek to strengthen and expand it?
HOURAHAN: We are a fully integrated marketing communications firm – I’ve been hired to run the public affairs group. We are a leader in this field, with a strong list of blue-chip corporate and issue-oriented clients. … With my experience in Washington and home in Boston, my job is to expand on our leadership both regionally and nationally.
PBN: Is there a new vision since the firm passed from David to Jon Duffy?
HOURAHAN: Dave was the best PR guy around when it came to the Rhode Island market. Jon is more of a marketing communications guy and has a network well beyond Rhode Island.
PBN: How much is PR still about securing media placements versus other ways of reaching audiences?
HOURAHAN: My job is to communicate our client’s message in the most effective way possible. The exciting news is that there are many more vehicles available today to help us achieve our client’s objectives. Media placements will always be a core vehicle, but blogs, micro-sites, opinion-leader campaigns and social networks are becoming a part of every conversation.
PBN: Working for Senator Chafee, you were involved in one of the toughest campaigns ever seen here. Looking back, how do you feel about it?
HOURAHAN: I have had the pleasure of working for two of the finest elected officials Rhode Islanders have ever had representing them, U.S. Senators John and Lincoln Chafee. As moderate, independent-minded Republicans, their campaigns were always spirited and always a battle. … The thing that was different about this race was the fact that it was based on national politics, entirely out of our control. … [Lincoln Chafee] was defeated based solely on who would control the U.S. Senate.
Moving forward, I am still energized by politics and look forward to some of the interesting races that I see shaping up in the next few years.
