Inside Fenton Communications: What Makes It a Most Loved Workplace®

Inside Fenton Communications: What Makes It a Most Loved Workplace®

How Fenton's SPARK pillars — from Systemic Collaboration to Killer Outcomes — create a workplace where purpose and people thrive together.

May 31, 2026 4 min read
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Key Takeaways

  • Fenton Communications has been Certified Most Loved Workplace® in both 2024 and 2025, reflecting a consistently people-first culture.
  • All five SPARK pillars — Systemic Collaboration, Positive Vision for the Future, Alignment of Values, Respect, and Killer Outcomes — score an impressive 85 out of 100.
  • Fenton is an industry leader in diverse representation, with 55% of staff company-wide being people of color, including at the leadership level.
  • As the first national agency founded solely for social impact, every role at Fenton is connected to a mission that matters.

What is it like to work at Fenton Communications?

Working at Fenton means showing up every day to fight for causes that shape real lives. From advancing racial equity and protecting reproductive rights to demanding climate action and expanding economic opportunity, every project carries weight. This is not a firm where social impact is a side project — it is the only project. That singular focus makes the day-to-day deeply motivating for staff at every level.

How does Fenton Communications build a collaborative workplace?

Fenton's Systemic Collaboration pillar scores 85/100, and it shows in how the team operates daily. Project leads run weekly team meetings to keep everyone aligned. The CEO holds monthly all-staff meetings where employees across the organization actively participate. Slack keeps wins visible and questions welcome — reinforcing that no one succeeds alone here.

This culture of openness is modeled from the top. Senior leaders are approachable, generous with feedback, and quick to share knowledge. The message is clear: collaboration is not just encouraged — it is how great work gets done.

Does Fenton Communications have a positive vision for the future?

Fenton scores 85/100 on this pillar, and the evidence is woven into the firm's 40-year history. Staff come to work energized by shared goals — sustainability, healthy communities, innovation, and justice. When your daily work directly contributes to a more equitable society, optimism is not just an attitude. It is a professional fuel source.

How does Fenton align company values with employee values?

Scoring 85/100 on Alignment of Values, Fenton lives its principles rather than just posting them on a wall. The firm has established pay equity practices, built a career framework to ensure fair advancement, and created Fenton's Principles of Excellence — clear guidelines to help every employee do their best work. The agency doubled its revenue and staff headcount under CEO Valarie De La Garza, the first woman and person of color to lead Fenton in its history. Her servant-leadership approach and commitment to justice set the tone for the entire organization.

How does Fenton Communications show respect for its employees?

Fenton's Respect pillar also scores 85/100, backed by real, active programs. The firm supports multiple employee resource groups (ERGs) for AAPI staff, Black staff, Latinx staff, LGBTQIA+/Queer staff, women-identifying staff, and staff with disabilities. These groups are not symbolic. They provide safe spaces for dialogue, professional growth resources, and programming that brings important conversations to the wider Fenton community. Respect for personal pronouns and an active DEIJ Task Force further demonstrate that inclusion is a daily practice here.

What kind of results does Fenton Communications achieve for employees and clients?

The Killer Outcomes pillar rounds out a perfect 85/100 sweep across all five SPARK dimensions. Fenton's award-winning, multicultural staff combines lived experience with deep subject-matter expertise to deliver communications that move people and change policy. For employees, that means working on campaigns that actually make the news — and make a difference. The firm's record growth trajectory is proof that purpose and performance go hand in hand.

If you are ready to put your communications skills to work for causes that matter, explore open opportunities at Fenton today. Apply for the Digital Account Executive – Social Justice role or browse all openings on the Fenton Communications careers page.