BOSTON — PAN Communications has launched an online guide to help B2B marketers align their strategy with different stages of their companies’ growth. The tool, called NXT, offers assets and tools designed to assess companies’ level of marketing expertise, such as worksheets, how-tos, case studies, data and insights. Simplifying the process of aligning budgets and teams with growing expectations and driving impact and return are among the issues the guide addresses.

CHICAGO — Golin has rolled out a new offering, called CXPR, a suite of services to improve social media customer care and engagement to drive sales and enhance reputation. The new offering combines Golin’s marketing communications and crisis management expertise with scalable customer care support and advanced analytics technology.  It was developed over the past two years with industry-leading clients and strengthens CX in four key areas: customer care; brand protection; brand building; and informed decision making. CXPR uses data science to prioritize high-value customer engagement opportunities based on projected sales or reputation risk and reward.  These opportunities are quickly triaged to the best specialists for response, leveraging AI-powered engagement platforms such as Sprinklr, the agency said.

INDIANAPOLIS — Elizabeth Friedland, a 15-year veteran of the communications industry, has branched out on her own to open Nest Comms. Addressing a gap in the market, Nest Comms develops corporate communication strategies that align to a business’s bottom line, tying communication effectiveness directly to sales and pipeline -- evolving beyond traditional measurements of communications success. Friedland most recently led the internal and external communications strategy for Indianapolis-based Appirio’s $500M acquisition by Wipro.

NEW YORK — Austin-based Ketner Group Communicatons has opened an office in New York. The move comes after a big 2018 for the agency, in which it experienced 40% organic growth, added six new clients and nearly doubled its team.

GAINESVILLE, FL — The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications in May will launch an online master’s degree with a specialization in public interest communications, the country’s only master’s program in this emerging field. Courses will include theory, scholarship and strategy for public interest communications, the art and science of storytelling, and visual design for social change.