MPA Strategies: Your Trusted Partner in Public Affairs and Management
This year, MPA Strategies has been honored with the 2024 Best of South Carolina Award, a testament to the trust and admiration they’ve garnered from their community.
The Best of South Carolina Awards, celebrated on guidetosouthcarolina.com, are more than just accolades. They are a reflection of customer votes, highlighting businesses that truly make a difference. MPA Strategies, under the leadership of founder Ashley Hunter, has certainly made its mark.
Ashley Hunter, a South Carolina native, started MPA Strategies in 2011. With a rich background in association management and lobbying, Ashley’s vision was clear: to create a full-service public relations firm that could handle everything from community advocacy to digital marketing, media relations, and special event planning. Her approach was rooted in understanding and enhancing how organizations are perceived by citizens, local business leaders, policymakers, and the media.
"MPA Strategies is the one source you can rely on for full-service solutions," Ashley explains. "While we have years of solid working relationships with the decision-makers in our state; it isn’t just about 'who you know' anymore. Knowing how you and your organization are being perceived plays an enormous role in your overall success. That perception can be completely overhauled or merely tweaked by your ability to implement a public affairs and management strategy."
Ashley’s resume is nothing short of impressive. Before MPA, she spent six years at the largest association management and lobbying firm in South Carolina. She was selected for The State Newspaper’s “Top 20 Under 40” in 2012 and named one of the 2018 Women of Influence by the Columbia Regional Business Report. Her passion for public service is evident in her volunteer work as a Guardian ad Litem for Richland County and her tenure as Chairman of the Board for the Healing Families Foundation. In 2021, she was named an SC Phenom by the Columbia Regional Business Journal, and in 2023, one of South Carolina's Top Women in Business. Adding to her accolades, Ashley is also certified by FBI-LEEDA in Media and Public Relations.
The success of MPA Strategies can be attributed to their innovative approach to traditional public relations services. They offer a comprehensive suite of services, including direct community advocacy, digital marketing, media relations, membership drives, project funding and procurement, social media management, and special events planning. The goal? To eliminate the time organizations spend on promotion, allowing them to focus on their core functions.
MPA Strategies’ ability to maintain a steady flow of positive information and updates for their clients has set them apart. Whether it’s internal department marketing or planning major events, their strategies are designed to be both economical and effective. This commitment to excellence is echoed in their team, which is comprised of some of the most talented professionals in the industry.
The recognition by the Best of South Carolina Awards speaks volumes about the impact MPA Strategies has had. It’s a celebration of a decade-long journey marked by passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As they continue to soar, MPA Strategies remains a shining example of how vision and hard work can transform perceptions and drive success.
