NEW YORK — The Organization of American Women in Public Relations announced that is has launched a New York City chapter to be led by Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO, Pure Performance Communications and Shannon Furey, M Studio PR director. It is in search of a chapter chair and vice chair. A launch will take place at Novotel Times Square on June 9. 

HOUSTON — Sard Verbinnen & Co has announced the opening of its new office in Houston, Texas. Frances Jeter, former group vice president, internal and external affairs at Spectra Energy, and Kelly Kimberly, former managing parter of Kimberly Pubic Affairs, will help drive the firm's expansion in the Southwest with SVC's team across its six other offices. Jeter has served as VP of public affairs for Duke Energy Gas Transmission and has held positions at ExxonMobil and Westinghouse. Kimberly has served in leadership positions at Enron Corp. as well as senior vice president of PR relations and marketing communication for Enron International. 

CORPUS CHRISTI — Public relations firm Kailo Communications Studio has unveiled its new brand. The company will now be known as KCS Public Relations, a new name fit to reflect the firm's goal to appeal to a wider audience. The rebranding is complete with a new logo, tagline, website and updated mission and vision. The firm has also launched a new charitable program called KCS Community Connections, which will redirect a percentage of all PR spending by clients to a local nonprofit each year. 

NEW YORK — Worldcom Public Relations Group, a global partnership of PR firms, has competed its global conference in Hong Kong where it welcomed new partners Made In PR from Poland and OptimumBrand in Turkey. Based in Warsaw, Made In PR provides communications consulting services based on specialist expertise in information campaigns, crisis management, and strategy development. OptimumBrand is based in Instanbul and is an integrated communication agency focused on brand building, marketing consulting, strategic corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, and digital and content marketing.