Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We have answers
About Ascent Strategic Communications
We deliver bold, strategy-led communications that spark meaningful growth. By embedding with your team, we align our strengths to elevate yours, building custom strategies that are clear, confident, and authentic. Our work spans brand positioning and messaging, media relations and thought leadership, advocacy and issues management, and integrated PR and marketing campaigns. From launching new brands to guiding organizations through complex regulatory landscapes, we deliver communications that connect with the right audiences, strengthen reputations, and drive measurable impact.
We partner with organizations of all sizes, including startups to established enterprises, and across sectors including healthcare, biotech, nonprofits, government and advocacy, automotive, business services, real estate, financial, hospitality and restaurants, and beyond. Our clients come to us when they need clarity, direction, and impact in their communications.
We are headquartered and founded in Charlotte, NC, but we partner with clients nationwide—coast to coast—with team members operating in the Central Standard Time (CST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) timezones.
Anna Stallmann is the founder and CEO of Ascent Strategic Communications. She started the organization originally as Anna Stallmann Communications in 2021.
Anna Stallmann founded the organization, originally named Anna Stallmann Communications in 2021, and in 2025, Anna Stallmann Communications rebranded to Ascent Strategic Communications.
Services and Approach
Our services include:
- Strategic communications planning
- Crisis communications and reputation management
- Content strategy and development
- Digital strategy and development
- Executive thought leadership
- Stakeholder and community engagement
- Public relations and media engagement
- Brand positioning and brand messaging
- Social media strategy and management
- Internal communications and employee engagement
- Media training and public speaking support
- Campaign design and content development
- Creative design and brand identity development
We begin with discovery: learning our clients’ goals, challenges, and audience behaviors and needs. From there, we develop a tailored strategy and work as an extension of our clients’ team to ensure seamless execution. Get in touch and schedule a consultation with us!
We do both. Some clients bring us in for a focused campaign or launch, while others partner with us for ongoing strategic counsel and communications support. For best results, we encourage beginning with our established positioning program to help audit your brand position and identify your unique white space. Our minimum length for project engagement is 6-months, and we are honored to have the majority of our clients with us now in multi-year engagements.
Working Together
We tailor pricing based on the value of the project and the resources needed to deliver the results you aspire to reach. As a partner to our clients, we can structure agreements in project-based work, retainer-based monthly agreements, and the occasional hourly arrangement for established clients. During discovery, we’ll align on a structure that works best for your goals and resources - and we are always happy to offer a referral if we are not the right fit for you.
While we work across sectors, we bring deep experience in healthcare, biotech, nonprofits, government and advocacy, automotive, business services, real estate, financial, hospitality and restaurants, and beyond. All of our clients are united in a mission-driven focus, clearly aligned around a business or organizational objective. Our adaptable framework grounded in communications excellence allows us to apply our expertise to a variety of industries, and reinvigorates our team of continuous learners.
Both. Some clients rely on us as their entire communications function, while others bring us in to complement and extend their in-house teams.
Results and Impact
At Ascent, we craft custom communications strategies that align with our clients’ business goals to amplify their message through smart, integrated solutions.
Our award-winning team partners with impact-driven organizations to develop bold, effective strategies that deliver measurable results. With clarity, creativity, and confidence, we help brands rise. View client results.
Yes! Over the years, Ascent has earned the following awards:
- Charlotte Magazine, Best PR Firm, 2023
- Charlotte Business Journal, 4th Fastest Growing Company, 2024
- Gold Stevie Award, Marketing Campaign of the Year, 2024
- Hermes Creative Awards, 2024
- Bronze Stevie, Brand & Experience through Experiential Event, 2024
- Silver Stevie, Women in Business, Start-up of the Year, 2024
