WASHINGTON, DC—Veteran healthcare public affairs executive Al Jackson has joined Spectrum to lead the public affairs practice. Jackson has led public affairs and advocacy program for biopharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, professional societies, trade associations, consumer brands and patient advocacy groups. He was most recently senior vice president at O’Neill & Associates and before that led Washington, DC, operations for Chandler Chicco.

CLEVELAND—Dix & Eaton has promoted Lisa Rose to president of the firm. She joins an executive leadership team (pictured) that also includes chief executive officer Chas Withers and executive chairman Scott Chaikin. Rose is currently a senior managing director and leads D&E’s investor relations practice. In her new position, she will partner with Withers in the areas of client service, practice development, talent development, and professional partnerships and alliances.

CHICAGO—Hill+Knowlton Strategies has added Lisa Schrader, who has joined the firm as a senior vice president from her role as chief of staff to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In her previous role, she was responsible for the day-to-day management of the city and its sister agencies. Before that,she served as chief operating officer for the City of Chicago and as a deputy chief of staff and deputy chief financial officer for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

CHICAGO—Zapwater Communications has promoted Jennifer Lake to senior vice president. Since joining Zapwater in 2010, Lake has led new business development and many of the agency's fashion, retail and lifestyle clients. In her new position, Lake will be taking on a larger role in strategic planning and operations, while continuing to lead new business development and several key accounts.

BOSTON—LaVoieHealthScience, a communications agency focused on health and life science, has appointed Martin Forrest as senior vice president. Prior to joining LHS, Forrest served as the founding vice president of communications for Zoetis, a global animal health company that was spun out of Pfizer. Previously, he led market access and patient advocacy for Novartis Oncology in Latin America, and prior to that was vice president of investor relations and communications for Chiron Corporation.

SACRAMENTO—Perry Communications Group, a public affairs and strategic communications firm, has added Anita Gore as senior account manager. Before joining PCG, Gore served more than 30 years in public affairs positions at the Department of Finance, the Health & Human Services Agency and most recently the California Department of Public Health. She also directed external affairs for the Board of Equalization and served as staff to both the California State Senate and Assembly.

PITTSBURGH—Education specialist Dick Jones Communications has added Sean Rossall as managing partner and chief executive officer. Previously, Rossall spent the last four years at Cerrell in Los Angeles leading crisis communications and media relations efforts on behalf of the firm. Earlier in his career, he was a corporate communications and social media specialist at entertainment specialist BWR. 

NEW YORK—CRC, a consumer lifestyle agency specializing in fashion and beauty, has hired Stephanie Channell and Sydney Cooper. Channell, who joins from Zing USA, will serve as vice president and lead account teams and business development. Cooper, most recently with Christian Louboutin, joins as junior account executive.

NILES, MI—Southwest Michigan-based marketing and public relations firm Classic Communications has added Cean Burgeson to its team as senior project manager. Burgeson has worked with national brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, Gladiator GarageWorks, United Federal Credit Union and Stryker Flex Financial. He previously worked with Classic before leaving the firm to work closer to his home for ARS Advertising in St. Joseph, Mich.

DALLAS—The Point Group, an independent, full-service marketing communications firm, has hired Brian Gross as executive creative director. He previously served as associate director at ANPI, a wholesaler of voice, data and phone solutions, and as senior copywriter at Ambit Energy.