In its fifth year, Ascent’s 109% two-year growth reflects rising demand for communications strategies built on clarity, trust, and measurable impact
Charlotte, N.C. — March 31, 2026 — Ascent Strategic Communications (Ascent), a Charlotte-based strategic communications firm, has been named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Mid-Atlantic, earning the No. 52 spot on the 2026 Inc. Regionals list and ranking No. 2 among Charlotte-based companies, No. 12 in North Carolina, and No. 4 in the Advertising, Marketing & PR category.
Founded in 2021 by Anna Stallmann, Ascent has rapidly built a reputation for delivering high-impact strategic communications across business sectors including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, professional services and non-profit. At the five-year mark, the firm is now recognized among 950 companies named to Inc.’s 2026 Regionals lists.
“This recognition is meaningful because of what it represents,” said Anna Stallmann, founder and CEO of Ascent Strategic Communications. “We built Ascent on the belief that communications should be strategic, not reactive, and that relationships matter just as much as results. Our growth is a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the commitment of our team to deliver work that moves businesses forward and builds lasting trust.”
For Ascent, communications is not a support function but a core component of business performance. Ascent has built a strategy-first model that connects messaging to growth, reputation, and market positioning.
This recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the firm, following its 2025 rebrand from Anna Stallmann Communications to Ascent Strategic Communications. The rebrand reflects the company’s evolution from a startup consultancy into an established, team-driven agency, now operating as a fully integrated strategic partner sought out by organizations navigating growth, complexity, and change. It also signals a broader shift in how companies engage with communications, moving from tactical support to executive-focused, strategic counsel.
As organizations face increasingly complex communications environments, many are outgrowing fragmented, tactical efforts. Ascent helps clients break through the noise with cohesive strategies designed to build awareness, authority, and trust.
“Growth-stage companies often reach a point where doing more is no longer the answer,” Stallmann said. “What drives results is clarity. When communications are aligned, intentional, and connected to business objectives, they become a central part of business performance.”
The firm’s model combines senior-level expertise with an agile structure, giving clients access to strategic counsel and execution across public relations, digital marketing, brand positioning, and creative development. Ascent continues to invest in its team, recently adding two new hires and attracting top talent while maintaining a culture that prioritizes long term growth and retention.
Ascent’s inclusion on the Inc. Regionals list underscores its growing role in shaping how organizations use communications to drive growth, build trust, and reach their peak potential.
About Ascent Strategic Communications
Ascent Strategic Communications (Ascent) is a Charlotte-based, woman-owned communications firm that helps clients become the clear choice for their audiences. Ascent delivers custom, strategic communications solutions tailored to each client’s goals, blending expertise in public relations, digital marketing, creative design, and brand positioning to drive real, measurable impact. Learn more at ascentcomms.com or follow along on Instagram @ascentcomms and LinkedIn.
Founded in 2021 by Anna Stallmann, Ascent has rapidly built a reputation for delivering high-impact strategic communications across business sectors including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, professional services and non-profit. At the five-year mark, the firm is now recognized among 950 companies named to Inc.’s 2026 Regionals lists.
“This recognition is meaningful because of what it represents,” said Anna Stallmann, founder and CEO of Ascent Strategic Communications. “We built Ascent on the belief that communications should be strategic, not reactive, and that relationships matter just as much as results. Our growth is a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the commitment of our team to deliver work that moves businesses forward and builds lasting trust.”
For Ascent, communications is not a support function but a core component of business performance. Ascent has built a strategy-first model that connects messaging to growth, reputation, and market positioning.
This recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the firm, following its 2025 rebrand from Anna Stallmann Communications to Ascent Strategic Communications. The rebrand reflects the company’s evolution from a startup consultancy into an established, team-driven agency, now operating as a fully integrated strategic partner sought out by organizations navigating growth, complexity, and change. It also signals a broader shift in how companies engage with communications, moving from tactical support to executive-focused, strategic counsel.
As organizations face increasingly complex communications environments, many are outgrowing fragmented, tactical efforts. Ascent helps clients break through the noise with cohesive strategies designed to build awareness, authority, and trust.
“Growth-stage companies often reach a point where doing more is no longer the answer,” Stallmann said. “What drives results is clarity. When communications are aligned, intentional, and connected to business objectives, they become a central part of business performance.”
The firm’s model combines senior-level expertise with an agile structure, giving clients access to strategic counsel and execution across public relations, digital marketing, brand positioning, and creative development. Ascent continues to invest in its team, recently adding two new hires and attracting top talent while maintaining a culture that prioritizes long term growth and retention.
Ascent’s inclusion on the Inc. Regionals list underscores its growing role in shaping how organizations use communications to drive growth, build trust, and reach their peak potential.
About Ascent Strategic Communications
Ascent Strategic Communications (Ascent) is a Charlotte-based, woman-owned communications firm that helps clients become the clear choice for their audiences. Ascent delivers custom, strategic communications solutions tailored to each client’s goals, blending expertise in public relations, digital marketing, creative design, and brand positioning to drive real, measurable impact. Learn more at ascentcomms.com or follow along on Instagram @ascentcomms and LinkedIn.