Georgella Muirhead, one of the most influential figures in American public relations and a pioneering force in Black communications leadership, will retire at the end of 2025, closing a remarkable chapter that spans nearly five decades of impact. Her departure marks not only a personal milestone, but a defining moment for Detroit’s communications landscape and for 98Forward, the firm she helped build into one of the nation’s most respected Black woman-owned agencies.
Muirhead’s career began in public service, where she served as communications director for the cities of Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Southfield before taking on a pivotal role in Detroit. For eight years, she led the City of Detroit’s communications department under Mayors Coleman A. Young and Dennis Archer, managing a 32-member team responsible for citywide messaging, media relations, and some of the city’s most visible moments. Her leadership guided communications for historic events including Pope John Paul II’s visit to Detroit and the Detroit Pistons’ championship celebrations, while initiatives such as No Crime Day and the nationally recognized Devil’s Night campaign strengthened community engagement and reshaped public perception.
That deep foundation in government communications informed Muirhead’s approach in the private sector. In 1998, she co-founded Berg Muirhead & Associates with the late Bob Berg, creating a firm known for strategic clarity, trusted relationships, and an unwavering commitment to authentic storytelling. The agency would later become 98Forward, now recognized as Michigan’s largest Black woman-owned strategic public relations and communications firm.
The firm’s continued growth underscores the enduring strength of Muirhead’s vision. In 2016, longtime partner Marilyn Horn purchased the company, ensuring continuity while ushering in a new era of leadership. Under Horn’s direction, 98Forward has expanded its national footprint while remaining rooted in the values that defined its founding—integrity, service, and impact. Today, the agency stands as a national model of Black leadership in public relations and business.
As Muirhead steps back from day-to-day operations, she will remain connected to the firm in an of counsel role, offering strategic insight and mentorship to emerging communications professionals. Her legacy is evident not only in the campaigns she led or the institutions she helped shape, but in the generations of practitioners she influenced along the way.
With Muirhead’s retirement, 98Forward enters its next chapter anchored in nearly 30 years of excellence. Guided by a Detroit soul and a national reach, the firm continues to tell stories that move communities, shape conversations, and push the communications industry forward—building on a foundation laid by one of its most enduring pioneers.