Duffey Communications recently announced several promotions and new hires. Lynn Ahlfinger has been promoted to Group Director of Finance after five years as Duffey’s Controller. She will manage the elements of internal and external financial management, budget supervision and client service activities as they relate to Duffey’s fiscal management.

Matt Serra has been promoted to Account Executive after a successful year as an account associate on Duffey’s consumer branding and corporate services team. Chris Anderson has joined Duffey’s health care marketing practice as an Account Supervisor. Anderson comes to Duffey from McKesson HBOC, Inc. where he was an Account Executive responsible for enterprise wide sales of hospital information system software, hardware, and services within existing hospital accounts. Anderson will work with clients such as Southeast Gynecological Oncology, LLP and the Ovarian Cancer Institute.

Teri Lippincott has been added as an Account Associate responsible for media relations, speakers’ bureau and special events planning and promotion. Prior to joining Duffey, Lippincott served as Marketing Coordinator for the Atlanta Botanical Garden where she handled media relations activities, acting as a liaison with the local and national media.

Duffey’s technology practice has added Denise Garner as an Account Associate responsible for news release writing, media relations, and marketing collateral development. Garner previously served as an Account Coordinator for Text 100 Public Relations, a high tech public relations firm in Boston. At Duffey, Garner works with clients such as Navision Software and Caredata.com.

Heather Miner has joined Duffey’s consumer branding and corporate services group as an Account Coordinator. Miner comes from the Friends of Newt Gingrich campaign. She will coordinate activities for CenturyTel and Kinko’s.

In the past two months, the company has also added two high tech clients to its technology practice. Best Software, Inc. hired Duffey to develop and implement a strategic public relations program to help build the Best Software brand. Best Software was founded in 1982 and develops solutions that enable companies to optimize their workforce, fixed assets, and planning and budgeting processes. Duffey has also added the John J. Nail startup Digitalbenefits.com, an online services hub for managing employee benefits. Duffey will be creating and executing the public relations, marketing, and branding activities surrounding the launch of the new company.