Vrge Expands West Coast Operation; Amy Widdowson Mains Appointed Vice President to Drive San Francisco Initiatives

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vrge Strategies, a strategic consulting firm helping companies, organizations and individuals to spur and navigate technology and societal disruption, today announced an expansion of its West Coast operations with the appointment of Amy Widdowson Mains to Vice President, overseeing its San Francisco office.

Mains, who has been at Vrge since the company's inception, will be the point person overseeing Silicon Valley technology clients while collaborating with Vrge partner Matt James and digital expert Jeff Stanger on the company's Strategic Philanthropy practice, which will assist organizations and individuals working to transform key societal issues such as health care, climate change and criminal justice reform.

"Given her technology expertise and focus on business and societal transformation, Amy is perfectly positioned to run point in San Francisco," said Vrge partner Mark Blafkin. "With a dynamic team in place, Vrge is poised to grow and lead change in how businesses operate, how the nature of work is evolving and the important role that organizations can play in driving societal transformation."

At Vrge, Mains specializes in content creation, social media and public affairs, leading technology civic infrastructure and advocacy, as well as advising national and international not-for-profits. Prior to Vrge, she worked in-house in communications and marketing at a variety of Bay Area startups including Say Media and The Obvious Corporation. She started her career at DonorsChoose.org as a Princeton Alumni Corps fellow.

Vrge's West Coast leadership team now includes:

• Mark Blafkin, Partner. Based in Seattle, Mark has more than a decade of experience in rallying third parties to drive and win technology debates and policy battles.
• Matt James, Partner. Based in Northern California, Matt launched Vrge's Strategic Philanthropy practice, focused on developing innovative projects and campaigns that move the needle on social and economic issues.
• Jeff Stanger, Strategist and Digital Advisor. Based in Northern California, Jeff has 20 years of experience helping non-profit, foundation, government and research clients re-imagine their data and information to engage target audiences through interactive, digital-native communications.

Vrge has offices in San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC focused on helping its clients navigate a period of significant transformation – economically, technologically and culturally – where foundational principles are being rethought.  With decades of experience and a track record of successful strategic campaigns in technology, business, and politics, Vrge understands how to navigate change and disruption that all too often make the difference between success and failure.

About Vrge

Vrge was founded on the premise that companies and organizations large and small must navigate disruption that is redefining how companies operate, how society views technology and how transformation is reshaping our economy and society. Vrge has senior leaders in San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. In addition, Vrge operates Vrge Analytics, a research and polling firm that provides clients insights into how the public, businesses and policy leaders view the intersection of technology, business and society. Vrge is part of Next Fifteen, a global communications consultancy.

SOURCE Vrge Strategies