September Edition 2026

CIO Bulletin

Amy Prenner, Founder of The Prenner Group: Leading With Vision, Authenticity, and a Hands-On Commitment to Client Success

StreetLight, transportation analysis platform

True leadership in public relations is rarely loud. It is the quiet consistency of someone who listens first, works harder than expected, and never forgets that every client deserves to feel like the most important person in the room. In a field often driven by flash and short-term noise, that kind of steady, people-centered approach stands out, and it is exactly what defines the women entrepreneurs shaping the industry today.

Amy Prenner, Founder of The Prenner Group (TPG), embodies this rare blend of grit and grace. Known for her hands-on leadership style, she works closely with clients to understand their objectives, develop clear messaging, and create communication strategies that support sustainable business growth. Whether advising internationally recognized personalities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, and John Travolta or supporting emerging brands and creative ventures, Amy is recognized for bringing the same level of commitment, discretion, and attention to every engagement.

Under her leadership, The Prenner Group has evolved into a full-service public relations, marketing, and communications firm serving experts, lifestyle brands, consumer companies, authors, artists, and independent filmmakers. Supported by strong media relationships across consumer, trade, digital, national, and international platforms, the firm delivers expertise in brand development, product launches, media relations, talent partnerships, special events, crisis communications, social media strategy, and independent film publicity.

What distinguishes Amy Prenner’s leadership is a clear and disciplined philosophy: be proactive, remain authentic, and consistently prioritize client success. That commitment to strategic execution, meaningful relationships, and measurable results makes her a compelling honoree among the “Best Women Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026.”

CIO Bulletin had the honor of speaking with Amy Prenner, the visionary Founder of The Prenner Group. In this exclusive interview, she offered compelling insights into her professional journey, the passion that inspired her career path, the unique strengths that distinguish The Prenner Group, and her strategic vision for guiding the company toward continued innovation, growth, and long-term success.

Interview Highlights

What was the motivation behind starting The Prenner Group?

The Prenner Group was founded in 2007, born from a desire to apply my experience as a television and film publicist to build a boutique public relations and communications firm. I was initially hesitant, but with encouragement from friends and mentors, I took the leap. My first client was NBC’s The Singing Bee, hosted by NSYNC’s Joey Fatone. It was an exciting start that opened the door to countless opportunities and referrals and this year marks 20 years in business.

My path to publicity wasn’t linear. I first considered a career as an on-camera news reporter, then explored becoming a talent agent. Eventually, I landed working for producer Lynda Obst, who was coming off the success of Sleepless in Seattle and preparing to release One Fine Day, starring George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer, alongside her book Hello, He Lied. During that time, I became fascinated by the media process—watching an ABC News crew conduct an interview and seeing a Glamour feature come together. Attending a film premiere and experiencing the energy of the red carpet sealed it for me. I was hooked.

I joined a PR firm where I learned the foundations of talent publicity, working with rising stars such as Ben Affleck, Calista Flockhart, Jared Leto, Adrian Brody, and Debi Mazar. It was an ideal environment to develop my skills and discover where I thrived within the entertainment industry.

From there, I moved into television publicity. I helped relaunch EXTRA in 1999, then joined Paramount to work with the producers of Entertainment Tonight on projects including the movie review show Hot Ticket and the Blind Date spinoff Rendez-View. I later spent five years at Wheel of Fortune, promoting one of America’s most beloved game shows. After traveling on location with the show multiple times, I knew it was time to take the next step and build something of my own.

As a woman entrepreneur, what challenges did you face building a communications firm from the ground up, and how did you establish credibility in a competitive industry?

Launching The Prenner Group in 2007 was both exciting and daunting. Like many entrepreneurs, especially women starting out at that time, one of the biggest challenges was being taken seriously as a business owner rather than just a practitioner. I was stepping away from established companies and relationships to build something of my own, which meant I had to prove not only my expertise but also my ability to deliver results independently.

Credibility came from doing the work consistently and strategically. I leaned heavily on the relationships I had built throughout my career in television and film publicity and focused on delivering exceptional results for my clients. My first projects, including NBC’s The Singing Bee, gave me the opportunity to demonstrate what a boutique agency could do: be nimble, highly personalized, and deeply invested in each client’s success.

Another challenge was navigating growth while staying true to my vision. I did not want to be everything to everyone; I wanted to build a firm known for thoughtful strategy and strong execution. By carving out a niche and later expanding into areas like independent film, streaming, podcasts, and IP-driven projects, I was able to stay ahead of industry shifts while maintaining a clear identity.

Ultimately, establishing credibility came down to results, relationships, and reputation. In this business, word travels quickly, so I made sure it traveled in the right direction.

Can you explain your services in brief?

TPG is a full-service, strategy-driven public relations, marketing, and communications firm where I offer comprehensive support for companies, products, and entertainment brands of all shapes and sizes. With a strong focus on independent film, streaming platforms, podcasts, and intellectual property, we deliver tailored campaigns that elevate visibility and drive meaningful audience engagement. We represent a diverse roster of experts, lifestyle brands, consumer products, and entertainment ventures.

As a communications executive, I think like a producer, blending public relations, marketing, and brand development to position established companies for continued success while helping emerging and next-generation brands grow into thriving businesses. At TPG, we generate impactful media attention through long-standing relationships with key members of the press across consumer, trade, digital, and broadcast platforms. With deep expertise and connections spanning local, national, and international markets, we bring our clients’ stories to the forefront and showcase them to the world.

Your approach emphasizes "hands-on, personal communication" and “strategically designing roadmaps for each client.” How does this personalized, craft-focused philosophy differentiate The Prenner Group from larger, less nimble PR agencies?

For me, it has always been about being truly involved. I am not interested in a one-size-fits-all approach or handing clients off once a contract is signed. Every client comes in with a different story, a different goal, and a different set of challenges, so the strategy has to reflect that.

What makes The Prenner Group different is that we take the time to really understand the bigger picture before we start pitching anything. We build thoughtful, strategic plans that evolve as the project grows, whether that is a film release, a podcast launch, or building long-term brand visibility. Clients are not just getting a team; they are getting direct access to experience and insight at every step.

Larger agencies can do great work, but they often rely on scale and standard systems. We are intentionally more nimble. We can pivot quickly, stay closely connected to the media, and adjust strategies in real time. That level of attention and flexibility is hard to replicate at a bigger firm, and it is something our clients genuinely value.

In 2024 alone, you led campaigns for sixteen independent feature films and documentaries. As a woman leader, how do you balance serving such a high volume of projects while maintaining the depth of attention and strategic thinking each client deserves?

It really comes down to being intentional about how we take on and manage the work. Even with a high volume of projects, I am very mindful about making sure every client gets the level of attention and strategy they deserve. 2024 was an incredible year with sixteen films and documentaries, and 2025 has been just as exciting in terms of both volume and the quality of the projects we are working on.

That starts with building the right team around me and working with people who understand the standard we are trying to maintain. I stay closely involved in the strategy for every project, especially at the beginning when we are setting the tone and defining the goals. From there, it is about clear communication, strong organization, and knowing how to prioritize without losing sight of the bigger picture. Not every moment in a campaign carries the same weight, so part of the job is knowing when to lean in and when to let the process work.

Working across independent film and documentaries also helps because I genuinely care about these projects and the stories behind them. That keeps the work from feeling transactional. At the end of the day, it is not just about volume, it is about making sure each project has a thoughtful approach and the best possible chance to break through.

Your expertise spans entertainment, consumer brands, hospitality, and non-profit sectors. How has working across these diverse industries sharpened your ability to tell compelling stories and secure meaningful media placements?

Working across different industries has really shaped how I approach storytelling. At the core, every client has a story, but how you tell it and who you tell it to can vary widely depending on the space. Entertainment, consumer brands, hospitality, and nonprofit work all require different entry points, different audiences, and different media strategies.

That range has made me more adaptable and more strategic. It forces you to think beyond a standard pitch and really focus on what makes each client relevant right now. You start to see patterns in what connects with the media and what does not, and you learn how to position a story so it resonates whether you are talking to a trade outlet, a national publication, or a niche audience.

It has also strengthened my relationships with the media because I am not coming to them with the same type of story every time. There is variety and thought behind it. That keeps the conversations more meaningful and ultimately leads to better placements that actually move the needle for the client.

You've worked with major clients including Hulu, Telemundo, Riot Games, Cirque du Soleil, and the Infinity Film Festival, with several clients earning Emmy and Academy Award nominations. As a woman leader, what has been your proudest moment in celebrating a client's success, and how has that moment shaped your leadership journey?

It is hard to point to just one moment, because there have been so many milestones over the years, from major campaigns with companies like Hulu and Telemundo to seeing clients recognized with Emmy and Academy Award nominations. Those moments are incredibly rewarding, but what stands out most to me is being part of a project from the early stages and watching it grow into something that truly resonates.

One of the most meaningful experiences is when a smaller or independent project breaks through in a big way. There is something very special about helping elevate a story that might not have had a built-in platform and then seeing it get recognized on a national or global level. It reinforces why I started The Prenner Group in the first place.

As a leader, those moments have shaped how I define success. It is not just about the headline or the award, it is about the collaboration, the trust, and the process that gets you there. It has also made me very aware of the responsibility that comes with guiding clients through those moments. You want to celebrate, but you also want to stay grounded and keep building.

At the end of the day, the proudest moments are the ones we share with our clients, because their success really is our success.

As film, TV, streaming, podcasts, AI, and immersive media continue to converge, you've committed to "staying ahead of the curve." How are you, as a female entrepreneur, evolving The Prenner Group's approach to reach audiences in fresh, meaningful ways across all platforms?

The landscape is constantly shifting, and that is exactly what makes this work so interesting. For me, staying ahead of the curve is less about chasing every new platform and more about understanding how audiences are actually consuming content and where the real opportunities are to connect with them.

At The Prenner Group, we have expanded our approach to think beyond traditional publicity. That means looking at how film, television, streaming, podcasts, AI, and immersive experiences can all work together as part of a larger narrative. It is not just about securing coverage anymore, it is about building visibility across multiple touchpoints in a way that feels cohesive and intentional.

As a female entrepreneur, I have always leaned into being adaptable and open to change. We are constantly evolving how we tell stories, whether that is identifying new media voices, tapping into emerging platforms, or helping clients position their intellectual property in ways that extend beyond a single release or moment in time.

At the end of the day, the goal is to meet audiences where they are while still maintaining a strong, strategic foundation. Trends will come and go, but thoughtful storytelling and real connection are what continue to make an impact.

What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?

There are definitely exciting things ahead. The industry continues to evolve, and that creates a lot of opportunity for both our clients and our company. We are continuing to expand our work in independent film, streaming, podcasts, and intellectual property, while also exploring new ways to support clients across emerging platforms.

What I am most focused on is growth that feels intentional. That means taking on projects we really believe in, building long-term relationships, and continuing to adapt our strategies to meet audiences where they are. We are also looking at ways to integrate new technologies and approaches without losing the personal, hands-on element that defines The Prenner Group.

For our clients, that translates into more creative opportunities, more visibility across different channels, and smarter, more connected campaigns. So yes, there is a lot on the horizon, and it is a very exciting time for us.

“As a female entrepreneur, I have always leaned into being adaptable and open to change. We are constantly evolving how we tell stories, whether that means identifying new media voices, tapping into emerging platforms, or helping clients position their intellectual property beyond a single release or moment in time.”

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