Tennessee and Texas-based Public Affairs and Strategic Consulting Firm Poplar Group Expands into North Carolina

RALEIGH/DURHAM, N.C. – Public affairs and strategic consulting firm Poplar Group is expanding into North Carolina with a new office in the Research Triangle, led by veteran strategist Crystal Feldman Lorbacher. With existing locations in Austin and Nashville, the expansion underscores the firm’s commitment to serving clients in the rapidly growing Southeastern region.

“With North Carolina’s growing influence in business, technology and public policy, we are thrilled to bring Poplar Group’s expertise to the state,” said Crystal Feldman Lorbacher, partner at Poplar Group. “Our team’s deep experience in strategic communications, public affairs and government relations positions us to deliver winning solutions for clients navigating today’s complex landscape.”

The firm’s leadership team includes partners Chris Devaney (Tennessee), Chris Walker (Tennessee), Frank Ward (Texas), and Crystal Feldman Lorbacher (North Carolina). Collectively, they bring extensive experience at the local, state and federal levels, having led high-profile communications and public policy initiatives across various industries.

“As a North Carolina native who has witnessed the transformation and growing national influence of the state over the past four decades, I am delighted for our firm to be establishing a presence in the Research Triangle,” said Poplar partner Frank Ward. “We look forward to having the opportunity to support and guide many of the state’s great companies and institutions.”

Founded in 2021, Poplar Group is a full-service strategic advisory firm dedicated to delivering data-driven results for corporate, government, nonprofit and political clients. By establishing offices in some of the nation’s fastest growing and most influential markets, Poplar Group provides tailored strategies to help clients achieve their business and policy objectives effectively.

 

About Crystal Feldman Lorbacher

Crystal Feldman Lorbacher is a communications and public affairs leader with a distinguished career spanning the federal, state and local levels. Recognized for her ability to design and execute award-winning communications and public outreach campaigns, she specializes in crafting innovative strategies that deliver measurable, data-driven results.

Before joining Poplar Group, Lorbacher was an executive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), where she led communications, government affairs and community outreach. A former registered state lobbyist, she has expertise in public policy, regulatory affairs and advocacy.

Lorbacher’s public service career includes key leadership positions within the North Carolina Governor’s Office and the North Carolina departments of Transportation, Environmental Quality and Public Safety. Additionally, she served as press secretary for the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee and has been actively involved in national and state political campaigns.

A Durham native, Lorbacher holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University. She lives in Durham with her husband and two children. 

About Frank Ward

A Raleigh native, Frank Ward is a Texas-based public affairs consultant with more than two decades of experience in government, politics and business. He has held various roles at the White House, on Capitol Hill, at the Export-Import Bank of the Unites States and in the Texas Capitol, as well as in the private sector with Public Strategies Inc./H+K Strategies and The Mach 1 Group.

Before joining Poplar Group, Ward founded Forward Public Affairs, an Austin-based consulting firm, and served as Interim Executive Director of Communications and Director of Media Relations for the Texas Education Agency. He also ran for Austin City Council, and prior to that, served as a commissioner on the city’s Parks and Recreation Board.

Ward holds a B.A. in English from Denison University, where he served as student body president. He also holds a M.A. in Government from The Johns Hopkins University.

He lives in Austin with his wife and three children.

About Chris Walker

Chris Walker is a seasoned strategist with experience in high-profile communications and public policy efforts at the federal, state and local levels. He previously served as senior advisor and director of communications for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, overseeing messaging and strategy across 23 cabinet departments.

Walker also worked with Tennessee SCORE, a K-12 and higher education advocacy organization, and served as press secretary for U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. He held public affairs roles in the George W. Bush administration at the departments of Treasury and Defense.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Walker lives in Nashville with his wife and two children. 

About Chris Devaney

Chris Devaney has more than 25 years of experience in campaigns, communications and government. He began his career as a journalist before serving as a senior aide to U.S. Sens. Fred Thompson, Phil Gramm, and Bob Corker.

As chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party from 2009 to 2015, he led the GOP to historic gains, securing supermajorities in the state legislature. He later managed Gov. Bill Lee’s successful 2018 campaign and served as special assistant to the governor.

Devaney also led an international nonprofit focused on child nutrition in Haiti. A University of Oklahoma graduate, he lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., with his wife and four children.

Learn more about Poplar Group at poplargroup.com.