Schwartz Media Strategies (SMS), one of Florida’s largest independent communications and public affairs firms, is marking its 20th year in business counseling clients across a range of industries that are shaping the state. Over the past two decades, SMS has played a central role in advancing Florida’s economy, defining and promoting its global brand, and leading campaigns that have strengthened communities statewide – with a concentration in the real estate, finance, law and professional services, consumer, municipal, and nonprofit sectors.
Since its founding in 2005, SMS has evolved alongside Florida’s growth as an international destination for tourism, inbound investment, and commerce. From guiding Downtown Miami’s emergence as one of the world’s most dynamic urban centers and ushering in the rise of landmark real estate developments, to advocating for critical policy issues and championing nonprofit initiatives, SMS has consistently aligned its growth with Florida’s trajectory.
Along the way, the firm has diversified beyond traditional media relations, embracing integrated marketing, digital strategy, and public affairs to keep pace with an ever-changing communications landscape. Today, Schwartz Media Strategies ranks as the fourth-largest communications firm based in Florida, according to PR Week’s 2025 Agency Business Report.
“Twenty years ago, we launched Schwartz Media Strategies with the dual goals of helping Florida businesses and organizations tell their stories in a meaningful way, while at the same time creating a culture of service and strategy that is unique in our market,” said Tadd Schwartz, Founder and President of Schwartz Media Strategies. “We’ve since built a company that is trusted by Florida’s biggest brands, and which is home to a team of professionals who are on the front lines navigating the most important issues across our state.”
Counseling Florida’s Leading Companies
SMS has advised many of Florida’s most influential companies and organizations, whose success stories mirror the state’s own growth. Whether guiding clients through high-stakes transactions and crises, the development of billion-dollar real estate projects, or sustained public relations campaigns that create long-term brand value, the firm is known for its strategic approach to storytelling, its network of media contacts in Florida and beyond, and its deep roots in the communities it serves.
Notable past and present clients include:
- Commercial and Residential Real estate: JLL, Terra, Miami Worldcenter, CMC Group, 13th Floor Investments, Gencom, GL Homes, Mast Capital, OKO Group, Skanska, BH3 Management, Rilea Group, ZOM Living, Swerdlow Group, Cushman & Wakefield, BH3 Management, Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Merrimac Ventures, Skanska USA, Melo Group, Origin Construction
- Finance & Professional Services: Bilzin Sumberg, City National Bank of Florida, NSI Insurance, Podhurst Orseck, Kluger Kaplan, Ratzan Weissman & Boldt, Hall Lamb & Hall, Astigarraga Davis, Leesfield & Partners, The Florida Bar, Apollo Bank, Banesco USA, Kawa, Ruden McClosky
- Hospitality & Destinations: Park Hotels & Resorts, Bulgari Hotels, Aman, Resorts World, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Miami, Diamond Rock Hospitality, Westin Fort Lauderdale, Bal Harbour Shops, CocoWalk, Hampton Inn Brickell
- Municipal & Public Affairs: Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, Coconut Grove Business Improvement District,Village of Key Biscayne
- Nonprofits: Achieve Miami, Carrfour Supportive Housing, Lotus House, University of Florida, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Urban Land Institute, CREW-Miami (Commercial Real Estate Women), Miami Jewish Health Systems
- Arts, Culture & Entertainment: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Inter Miami CF, Perez Art Museum Miami, Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, Frost Science, Miami Open Tennis Tournament
A Culture of Community Building
As a firm born and raised in Miami, SMS embodies the energy, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit that define South Florida. With deep ties to the community and an intricate understanding of the region’s cultural and economic forces, SMS has become the go-to communications partner for both new-to-market entrants seeking to establish themselves and long-standing local organizations looking to elevate their brands. By leveraging local expertise, far-reaching relationships, and cultural fluency, SMS helps clients navigate the nuances of Miami while amplifying their presence on the national and global stage.
Likewise, the firm supports nonprofits through sponsorships and in-kind services to the tune of more than $100,000 annually. These organizations are addressing statewide priorities ranging from homelessness and income inequality, to education and health and wellness.
Examples include Lotus House Shelter for Women and Children, the Miami Dolphins Cancer Challenge, The Children’s Movement, Achieve Miami, The Miami Foundation, Florida Foster Care Review, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Southern Florida Chapter, and the American Jewish Committee.
Looking Ahead: Integration and Innovation
As SMS enters its third decade, the firm is doubling down on data-driven digital marketing, integrated campaigns, and public affairs strategies designed to tackle Florida’s most pressing issues – from affordability and infrastructure to cultural preservation and sustainable growth.
This next chapter also comes at a time of significant growth for the firm. SMS has expanded its team to 14 professionals and recently relocated its headquarters to Coral Gables, a move that reflects both its success and its deepening roots in the heart of South Florida’s business community. The new office underscores SMS’s commitment to creating a collaborative, innovative environment that mirrors the energy and diversity of the clients and communities it serves.
SMS is also embracing new technologies, including the thoughtful use of artificial intelligence, to create efficiencies in research, analytics, and project management. These tools are enabling team members to devote more time delivering to personalized client service and strategic counsel, developing relationships with media contacts, and cultivating community partnerships that are a hallmark of the firm’s approach.
Over the past 20 years, SMS has grown from a one-person consultancy into one of Florida’s largest independent public relations firms. Its trajectory has been shaped not only by client successes, but also by a commitment to evolving alongside the communications industry itself – broadening from media relations into digital, brand strategy, and public affairs to deliver integrated solutions that meet the needs of a globalized, fast-changing marketplace.
In doing so, SMS continues to deliver on its promise of #fuelingflorida and #movingmiami: telling the stories that matter, building brands with staying power, and giving back to the community that has shaped its journey.
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