Women-Owned Firm Poised for Further Growth Under New Leadership

The Hatcher Group is proud to announce that we have earned two significant business certifications and hired two dynamic communications professionals to help us continue to grow our firm.

A Maryland-based full-service communications firm, The Hatcher Group was purchased in January by partners Amy Buckley and Amy Fahnestock and is now certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. In addition, the firm has been awarded Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification from the WBENC for the U.S. Small Business Administration Federal Contracting Program.

“We are delighted to officially be a part of this incredible network of women-owned businesses,” said Amy Fahnestock. “We know many corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies seek to demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity by working with certified businesses such as ours, and we look forward to growing our roster of mission-driven clientele. And with the government’s goal of awarding at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned businesses, we are well positioned as a strategic partner.”

With these new certifications and an eye on expanding strategic capacity, The Hatcher Group is welcoming two senior staff members with backgrounds as entrepreneurial leaders.

“It was important to us to bring in new talent committed to our vision and with expertise in growing a business strategically and effectively,” said Amy Buckley. “With our new business certifications, and their leadership, we are able to expand support for organizations working for change across the nation and in Maryland. We’re thrilled about what’s to come for Hatcher in this next chapter.”

Natasha Lesser, who has deep roots in Maryland and experience in working with mission-based organizations, will lead Hatcher’s Baltimore office and work closely with the team in Annapolis. She will focus on building our Maryland practice and serving our many regional clients, which include Maryland 529, Horizon Foundation, Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, the Maryland Pesticide Education Network, and the 1199 Service Employees Union, among others.

Before joining The Hatcher Group, Lesser founded and grew her own boutique agency in Baltimore, Little Chairs, working with clients such as PDK International and University of Maryland Medical Centers. She also has worked for larger agencies in Washington, D.C., and New York. Lesser’s broad expertise in communications strategy, web design and development, digital, content development, and project management will help her leverage the talents of the entire firm.

Matthew Anthes, Hatcher’s new vice president of digital strategies, also co-founded and managed his own boutique digital communications and marketing firm, SociallyMined. He has spent over 20 years as a consultant in the nation’s capital providing strategic counsel and program execution to a range of clients including start-ups, Fortune 100 companies, and public-sector clients, such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and USAID.

Throughout his career, Anthes has helped clients to achieve their objectives through his expertise in strategic communications, public policy, and federal marketing. Anthes has extensive experience with digital marketing, social media, and data and analytics (including sentiment tracking and influencer marketing).

WBENC’s national standard of certification is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women.

The Hatcher Group is a full-service communications and marketing firm dedicated to inspiring social change. We develop effective strategies that spur people to action. Based in Bethesda, The Hatcher Group has offices in Annapolis and Baltimore. Learn more at: www.thehatchergroup.com