The Mach 1 Group

About the agency

The Mach 1 Group is an Austin, Texas public affairs and strategic communications agency founded in 2013 by Katherine McLane. Its core work spans media relations, crisis management, policy communication, reputation strategy and initiatives seeking to shape public opinion. McLane's official biography lists past service as press secretary at the U.S. Department of Education during the George W. Bush administration and work for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration.

The agency's current website names McLane as founder and CEO and Mary Bell Love as partner and chief operating officer. Love's biography highlights policy and natural-resources communications. Mach 1's case and experience pages feature organizations such as the University of Texas, LIVESTRONG, The Nature Conservancy and several Texas trade associations, without establishing that every featured organization remains a current customer.

The firm publishes award and recognition imagery associated with PRNEWS, Bulldog PR, Ragan, Stevie and other programs, as well as agency biographies describing individual honors. Those are attributed claims and should not be conflated with external audits of campaign effectiveness. Its blend of government experience, public policy subject matter and crisis counsel distinguishes it from consumer-product publicity agencies.