5 Years of Sun PR: A New Look for a New Era
It’s been over five years since Sun PR was founded. Since 2020, our agency has grown significantly, bringing on talented staff and consultants, working with market-changing clients and expanding to multiple office locations across the U.S.
Beyond being an exciting milestone, five years marked a natural point for us to refresh our brand to aptly reflect where we are and where we’re going as an agency. We’re excited to share our new look with you — but more importantly, to share a look into what’s ahead for Sun PR.
To commemorate the 5-year anniversary, we sat down with Sun PR Founder Carol Hanko for a Q&A to dive into the past, present and future of the agency.
What inspired you to start Sun PR?
CH: After several decades as a communicator, I saw firsthand how tech engineers solved seemingly insurmountable problems. This ongoing experience inspired me to work primarily with engineers focused on climate, environmental resources, and energy, which are closely intertwined. The world is definitely undergoing an energy transition, and it’s exciting to be working in the midst of it. Scientists and engineers are clearly brilliant, yet they are often the most challenged when it comes to communicating. Most people don’t realize that scientists were talking about the “greenhouse gas effect and/or theory” more than 100 years ago at the start of the industrial revolution. Climate change as we know today has had many names — with the term “hot-house theory” in the 50s being one of the standouts. If Sun PR can help today’s highly intelligent minds navigate this landscape and articulate their climate and energy solutions more effectively, I feel like we’re contributing to society in a positive way.
What was the communications landscape like when you started, and how has it changed?
CH: I think we all know the world was a different place in 2020. Much of our workplace experience has shifted online, and AI is changing all professional sectors faster than most of us can track. When social media emerged 15 years ago. I think media and PR companies reacted too slowly (same with the Internet, for that matter), but it seems like this time around, marketers and communications professionals are working harder to stay on top of AI. It’s difficult to say how things will change, but change is guaranteed. I am hopeful that the demand for objective, trusted and vetted information — the foundation of journalism — does not go away. In college over 30 years ago, my journalism professors said the Internet was coming, and the news industry would soon be extinct. It’s still here, despite several rocky and turbulent decades. The format and tone of news have just evolved, making my communications career anything but boring.
How do you see the role of communications evolving in environmental and energy sectors?
CH: The U.S. is currently somewhat derailed in pursuit of cleaner energy, while the rest of the world is blazing forward. However, I believe global market forces will continue to carry the energy transition forward in the U.S., regardless of short-term policy adjustments. Most of us want the same thing; sometimes, it’s just hard to see that in today’s media landscape. Our role as communicators is to help our clients tell their stories in ways that highlight the fundamental value their offerings can provide for everyone. It sounds simple to pull off, but it’s not. But we’re a smart and patient group of professionals, making our day-to-day jobs challenging and fun.
Where do you see Sun PR heading in the next five years?
CH: Sun PR will hopefully continue to grow as it has over the past five and a half years — slow and steady. One of the benefits of working with so many different companies for 25 years is that you see operational trends in company growth patterns. Smart growth versus rapid growth is the path I envision for Sun PR, mainly because I have seen that model work so well for other companies. We want to be thoughtful about the clients we engage with, working with people and organizations that are passionate about future energy systems and designing future-forward technologies and policies.
What does the new brand represent?
CH: At Sun PR, what sets us apart is how we make energy, climate and technology stories impossible to ignore. We wanted our new brand and website to reflect that same bold presence, delivering the clarity and momentum we bring to every client.
We partnered with the incredibly talented team at Civilization to bring this vision to life. Drawing inspiration from our namesake, the sun, our hope is the new identity radiates energy, power and growth. It captures the essence of who we are: a dynamic, energetic team of communicators operating at the leading edge of PR and media trends.
But more than a visual shift, this rebranding is a renewed statement of intent. We’re here to help changemakers break through noise and inertia. Our new look signals our continued commitment to meaningful work, strategic storytelling and real-world impact. It’s a reflection of our evolution and the future Sun PR is helping to shape.