Fifth Influence

Tonight, the Pittsburgh A. Philip Randolph Institute brings together labor, workforce and community leaders for its 2026 Power of Partnerships Gala.

The event recognizes leaders advancing opportunity and inclusion while supporting APRI programs such as Breaking the Chains of Poverty, its pre-apprenticeship program connecting people with training and family-sustaining careers.

Fifth Influence donated the creative and marketing support for this year’s gala, including the event creative, gala program, sponsor and donation signage, email outreach and organic social promotion. We are grateful to be recognized tonight as a Leadership Sponsor.

A special thank-you to Sierra Parm and DeWitt Walton. Their knowledge of APRI, its history and the communities it serves shaped the work from the first concept through final production.

Congratulations to tonight’s honorees and everyone at APRI Pittsburgh.

Learn more about their work: pittsburghapri.org



United Steelworkers

Meet our fall 2026 interns, Emily Roos and Noa Solomon.

Emily, a Political Science student at Duquesne University, is focused on our political work, including research, new-business initiatives and a major role helping us build Fifth Influence’s Campaign Re-Invention Lab.

Noa, a Media and Professional Communications student at the University of Pittsburgh, is working across digital advertising, content, branding, websites and landing pages, research and analytics.

They’ll spend the semester working directly with our team on active client and agency projects.

We’re glad to have Emily and Noa at Fifth Influence this fall.



American Advertising Federation Pittsburgh AMA Pittsburgh

The latter part of August was full of activity and news here at Fifth Influence. Below is just a sample:

- We said goodbye to our summer intern, Sophie Meloy, who returned to Penn State for her senior year.
- We participated in the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Nonprofit Coalition Showcase.
- We had the honor of conducting a video shoot with Pittsburgh icons Art and Patricia Rooney for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and
- We jumped up seven places to 38th on the Pittsburgh Business Times list of the region's largest advertising, marketing and public relations firms. Nice!

American Advertising Federation Pittsburgh AMA Pittsburgh PRSA Pittsburgh Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania



Tanya Posavatz Lenore M. Wetzel Mike Pernice John Craig George Potts

We're excited to share some wonderful news!

Our Design Director, Lenore M. Wetzel, has been named to City&State Pennsylvania's 2026 40 in Their Forties.

Lenore's creativity, strategic thinking, and dedication have helped shape countless brands, campaigns, and organizations over the years. She's an incredible designer, an even better teammate, and someone who makes everyone around her better.

Congratulations, Lenore! We couldn't be more proud of this well-deserved recognition.

Read more:
https://www.cityandstatepa.com/power-lists/2026/07/city-state-pa-2026-40-their-40s/414986/

American Advertising Federation Pittsburgh PA Democratic Party American Association of Political Consultants John Craig Mike Pernice Tanya Posavatz George Potts

Fifth Influence mascot, Coconut George, and his buddy, Positive Pickle, know that PicklesBURGH is quite a big DILL!



Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Visit Pittsburgh City of Pittsburgh American Advertising Federation Pittsburgh AMA Pittsburgh

The Fifth Influence office looks a little more like Fifth Influence today.

Yesterday, several new branded wall graphics were installed throughout our space, introducing more of our new primary blue and bringing our positioning to life at a much larger scale.

Bold color. Strong movement. No beige agency walls.

We wanted the space to reflect the work that happens here: creative thinking, direct communication, progressive advocacy, and ideas designed to influence what happens next.

We think the walls understood the assignment.



American Advertising Federation Pittsburgh AMA Pittsburgh AIGA Pittsburgh
Lenore M. Wetzel Tanya Posavatz John Craig Mike Pernice George Potts

Congratulations to our friends and clients at QBurgh. 🏳️‍🌈

QBurgh is taking a major step forward (https://qburgh.com/qburgh-newspaper-coming/): moving from a twice-a-year magazine-style publication to a monthly newspaper, while continuing to publish its annual Pittsburgh Pride Guide each May.

In a media environment where local journalism is constantly being squeezed, Jeff Freedman and Jim Sheppard are doing something bold, tangible, and deeply rooted in community: putting Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ news, culture, events, politics, opinion, and stories into more hands, more often, all year long.

Fifth Influence is proud to support QBurgh’s growth through paid social media and search advertising that helps connect the publication with advertising partners.

Because when businesses advertise with QBurgh, they are not just buying media. They are helping sustain independent, LGBTQ-owned journalism in Western Pennsylvania.

Please join us in congratulating QBurgh, pick up the new monthly newspaper, and consider supporting them as a reader, subscriber, distribution location, or advertiser.

AMA Pittsburgh American Advertising Federation Pittsburgh