Standing Partnership Announces New Operating Group President, Ashlyn Brewer

Standing Partnership, an operating group of Cleveland-based Dix & Eaton, today announced the promotion of Ashlyn Brewer to President of the Standing Partnership Operating Group, effective July 1, 2025. Brewer replaces Melissa Lackey, who has served as Operating Group President since she and partner Julie Steininger sold the firm to Dix & Eaton in November 2023.

“Ashlyn has been a driving force in Standing’s success. Her professional growth over the past 15 years has been nothing short of amazing,” said Lackey. “She’s a strategic and talented leader with marketing and digital prowess, as evidenced by her leadership of the firm’s fast-growing Technology vertical. I can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have as she moves into leading the operating group.”

Lackey will move into the newly created role of Enterprise President at Dix & Eaton. Steininger, former Executive Vice President, will step into the newly created Chief People Officer role at Dix & Eaton. Jim Brown will continue in his enterprise-level roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

“As Dix & Eaton and Standing Partnership have been working to integrate our two firms, we have been building out enterprise-level functions to focus on strategic evolution, growth strategy, culture and values, and technology,” said Chas Withers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dix & Eaton. “We are very fortunate to have Melissa and Julie stepping into those roles and taking on enterprise responsibilities.”

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to scale our business, leverage our shared values and create a powerhouse consultancy,” Lackey said. “I look forward to helping to further elevate our organization and drive growth while creating a great place to work and build a career.”

In addition to the three St. Louis-based appointments, Dix & Eaton announced the promotion of two leaders into executive leadership positions within its Cleveland-based operating group:

• Gregg LaBar will become Operating Group President for the Dix & Eaton Operating Group. He has been the firm’s Chief Client Officer and the leader of the Sustainability/Investor Relations practice.
• Lisa Zone will become Executive Vice President for the Dix & Eaton Operating Group. She has been a Senior Managing Director and the leader of the Marketing Communications and Public Relations practice.

Concurrent with all the promotions, Dix & Eaton announced the retirement of Lisa Rose, who has been Group President since 2016 and a member of the D&E team since 1996. Upon retirement from her full-time position, Rose will continue to have a role with Dix & Eaton as a Senior Advisor and will remain a member of its Board of Directors.