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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, Founder

Devika Rao is the President & CEO of 23 East Group. Her main focus is to build a purpose-driven agency that amplifies stories that need to be told, seen, and heard. Under her leadership, the firm has expanded its services to include video and audio marketing, event production, marketing and promotions, and public relations. Her expertise in storytelling, communications, media, and content marketing has also resulted in numerous national speaking engagements. She volunteers and gives back to organizations focused on the local arts, youth and education, and entrepreneurship.

Devika Rao
President & CEO

Kimberly Shoaf

Account Manager

Kim is an Account Manager, Writer, and Editor at 23 East Group. She has over 20 years of experience as a marketing communications professional in both the government and private sectors. Her background includes developing and managing content for websites, social media, email campaigns, and print/online publications. Kim’s strength is an understanding of the importance of information architecture by ensuring that content created for all types of media is usable, accessible, and understandable. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Digital Marketing and Public Relations. When not working, Kim enjoys spending time with her family, flower gardening, reading, and is an avid music fan of all genres.

Kimberly Shoaf
Account Manager

Ariana Kendricks

Senior Graphic Designer

Ariana is our Senior Graphic Designer at 23 East Group. Highly creative with a proficiency in a variety of creative tools and software, Ariana is passionate about effective communication through design. Ariana enjoys tackling a wide range of design problems to produce well-crafted solutions. Her work includes logos, websites, social graphics, and print designs. She brings a combination of artistic and technical expertise to create art that literally works for her clients. Her collaborative spirit and positive energy fosters an energizing environment where her clients feel their design needs will be effectively handled.

Ariana Kendricks
Senior Graphic Designer

Daniel Gonell

User Experience Designer 

Danial is a vital asset to our team, serving as a seasoned User Experience Designer and Growth-Driven Designer with over 12 years of comprehensive experience. His expertise extends across crucial domains such as branding, sales and marketing automation, visual design, web development, and project management. In his role, Danial plays a pivotal part in delivering cutting-edge digital creative solutions tailored for a diverse range of businesses and clients. With a track record of over 100 website designs, contributions to the launch of more than 200 brands, and significant involvement in startup ventures, Danial brings a wealth of creativity and adaptability to our team. His ability to seamlessly collaborate with various stakeholders and wear multiple hats makes him an invaluable member of our workforce.

Daniel Gonell
User Experience Designer 

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.