Wawner Strategies, a Charleston-based strategic communications agency and the Metro Chamber’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, is proud to announce the appointment of Anne Lucas as its new Strategic Partner, Client & Operations Lead, effective today.

Lucas’s appointment marks a defining moment for the agency: a new era of deepened client service, refined operations, and sustainable, strategic growth. She will work closely with Founder and Principal Kat Wawner to enhance delivery across all facets of the business and help shape the agency’s long-term vision for creativity, impact, and more.

“Anne is an exceptional leader whose strategic vision is matched only by her integrity and empathy,” said Kat Wawner. “She’s built her career on trust, growth, and community. She brings that spirit to everything she does, and we’re thrilled to welcome her into this pivotal role.”

A seasoned communications strategist, Lucas brings nearly a decade of experience leading client service and agency operations in Charleston’s top-tier creative economy. She has held senior roles at respected firms such as Cobble Hill and Levelwing, where she led integrated campaigns across travel, food & beverage, retail, and beyond.

A Virginia native who was proudly called Charleston home for over a decade, Lucas is passionate about work that blends purpose with performance. A College of Charleston graduate, her leadership style is rooted in Wawner Strategies’ core values of keep it human, “authenticity and integrity are foundations to who I am,” she said. “I believe the best work happens when you lead with honesty, warmth, and trust.”

Since its founding, Wawner Strategies has built a reputation not only for creative, strategic work, but for cultivating a culture of excellence and integrity. The team includes some of the region’s most accomplished professionals, including a recent winner of Charleston’s Best & Brightest Under 35. This standard of talent is reflected in the agency’s standout portfolio.

Wawner’s current client roster includes luxury consumer brands, visionary interior designers, and leading food and beverage concepts. Highlights include:

• Charleston Candle Company, whose national press coverage and influencer campaigns have fueled significant business growth;
• Commonehouse Aleworks, a mission-driven brewery and lifestyle brand based in North Charleston; and
• Lillian’s Petite Market & Eatery, a refined culinary destination rooted in local ingredients and charm.

Anne Lucas’s arrival represents more than team expansion; it’s a powerful commitment to Wawner’s clients, community, and the next generation of leadership. Her impact will help the agency continues to position itself as a home for big-agency thinking and small-agency heart. Lucas’s insights and leadership will play a key role in creating that vision with purpose.