Our Firm

We love to build and help our clients make a positive impact – for themselves and the people they serve. Led by our values of respect, trust, integrity, and kindness, we collaborate with our clients to build community, form and retain relationships, and measure impact and growth.

Who we work with

Partners with state government agencies and nonprofit organizations that work with and advocate on behalf of the intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) community to help define and amplify advocacy efforts through effective storytelling

Supports nonprofit organizations as their marketing agencies to help them increase awareness and outreach

Outfits as a Fractional Marketing Department for growth-stage B2B startups to help them build brand awareness and scale.

The Team

With experience in nonprofit communications, event production, social media, graphic design, storytelling, web design and development, the firm is powered by a talented team that brings together expertise, enthusiasm, moxie, and passion for the work we do.

Devika Rao
President & CEO

Kimberly Shoaf
Production Manager

Ariana Kendricks
Senior Graphic Designer

Daniel Gonell
User Experience Designer

Steph Jerez
Social Media Manager

The 23 East Group Story

Devika Rao acquired O’Neill Communications in 2022 and rebranded and relaunched the company as 23 East Group in January 2023. The name reflects her roots, and the icon symbolizes curiosity and change. The firm maintains its foundational values while adapting to future demands.

Let’s start from the beginning

In 2014, our president CEO Devika Rao was hired by then O’Neill Communications. In 2022, she acquired the company from the former owners, and in January 2023, the firm was rebranded to 23 East Group, and as they say, the rest is history.

The story behind the brand

The Name: 23 East is a nod to roots and foundation, a must-have for any good brand to center itself and thrive. It is a part of the address of Devika’s generational family home in India, a place that she considers to be her foundation, a place of centering. East represents new beginnings, innovation, and fresh ideas. Group highlights togetherness. We don’t get to our successes alone. And it is with our clients, partners, friends, and colleagues being a part of the firm’s ecosystem that our success has been mutual and formative.

The Icon

The icon is an artistic form of 23, allowing for interpretation and conversation, a result of effective marketing and communications. Additionally, two plus three equals five, and five represents curiosity and change. The icon enables curiosity, a must-have trait to be a good communicator and marketer. And, with curiosity, we can welcome and embrace our only constant: change. The firm continues to transform its services and capabilities to harness tomorrow’s demand. Through it all, our core foundational values remain the same: respect, integrity, kindness, and service.