​​​FRAN GALLAGHER
Chief Executive and Lead Strategist
Fran Gallagher has practiced public relations for 30 years, having developed and directed strategic communications programs for clients in many industries and sectors. Ms. Gallagher has managed public relations campaigns and major activities for such clients as ABC Radio Networks, Ascension Health, H-E-B/Central Market, Aaron Brothers Art & Framing, Gordon’s Jewelers, Bailey Banks & Biddle, Zales Fine Jewelry Outlet, Zale Corporation, The City of Dallas, Snelling Personnel Services, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Southern Methodist University/Perkins School of Theology, The Dallas Arboretum, The Nasher Sculpture Center/The Nasher Foundation, NorthPark Center, Hitachi Semiconductor (America), Dave & Buster’s, Kusin & Company Art Economics, TCI Cablevision of Dallas, Trammell Crow Company/Spire Realty Group and various national restaurant chains, including Papa John’s Pizza, Maggiano’s Little Italy and Church’s Chicken.
From media relations, crisis communications programs, community relations, special events, promotions, Ms. Gallagher has connected clients with their key audiences through creativity, innovation and dedicated service. Before beginning her own public relations practice in 2006, Ms. Gallagher was Executive Vice President and Director of Client Services for Levenson & Brinker Public Relations, having managed the public relations group during the merger of Brinker Communications with Levenson Public Relations, for whom she had worked for nearly nine years. During the merger year of 2004, Levenson & Brinker Public Relations rose from 30th to 10th among public relations firms in The Dallas Business Journal’s Annual Book of Lists.
Since its launch in March 2006, Ms. Gallagher’s company Praestar Public Relations has built its client roster Lifestyle Expert and Author Christy Rost and A Home for Christy Rost: Thanksgiving on PBS nationally since November 2009; DRG Concepts with the critically acclaimed Wicked Butcher at The Sinclair Hotel in Fort Worth, Dallas Fish Market, Dallas Chop House, Wild Salsa, Chop House Burger, and the forthcoming Oven and Cellar in Downtown Fort Worth; Legends Hospitality with AT&T Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Toyota Stadium for FC Dallas, Constellation Field in Houston and premier sports and entertainment venues across the United States; and Hoque Global, including its real estate division's gateway developments Newpark Dallas and SoGood Dallas.  Praestar directs communications for 5G Studio Collaborative, the international architectural firm and design architect for the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel and Virgin Hotels Dallas.  Ms. Gallagher leads marketing and communications for premier shopping destination Glade Parks in Euless adjacent to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, on nearly 200 acres mainly owned by North Rock Real Estate, innovating with community programs including live music, wellness and farmers market events year round.   She serves as PR and communications counsel and helps direct community engagement programs for Midtown Public Improvement District in East Dallas. 

Ms. Gallagher has led communications programs for professional services practices including MAS Lawfirm of Dallas; Mr. Jim’s Pizza, a leading 57-franchise location system of top quality pizza restaurants, and Zanata in Rockwall. Clients also include Lavendou Bistro Provençal, named D Magazine’s top French restaurant for numerous wins; Ceyhinz Link International (with its premier international Riococo and Ceytips Ceylon Tea brands); Berkshire Property Advisors with elegant properties in Downtown Dallas and across the United States; Winn Meat Company (now owned by Ben E. Keith Foods), a 100-plus-year-old purveyor of fine proteins for the Texas and Southwest restaurant, hotel and country club industries. the dynamic builder Centerpoint Construction and AUI General Contractors. Additional successful clients: Langford Property Company, developer with a portfolio that includes a $60-million retail destination in Collin County; The Grill on the Alley, a famous upscale restaurant that began in Beverly Hills; Daily Grill, also based in Los Angeles; Movie Tavern, the leading cinema-eatery concept in the United States and its sister brand Starplex Cinemas with locations across the United States; the annual Savor Dallas, an International Experience of Wine, Food, Spirits and the Arts; and the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of Turnaround Management Association, the international non-profit association dedicated to corporate renewal. Along with directing strategic communications for Bank of the Ozarks in North Texas, Ms. Gallagher has also served the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association as public relations counsel. iT’Z Family Food & Fun Family Entertainment Centers, a food focused game and amusement center concept for parents and kids, and Texas Charity Golf, raising funds for North Texas not-for-profit organizations at North Texas’ highest profile golf events, are also among the client experience of Praestar Public Relations. Ms. Gallagher served a key strategic leadership role with Central Market’s statewide public relations campaign through Levenson & Brinker Public Relations. She directed communications for the openings of all Central Market’s North Texas locations, beginning in 2001 and continuing with the brand’s Southlake, Texas grand opening.
She is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and currently volunteers on public relations for WE Over Me Farm at Paul Quinn College in Dallas and for Metropolitan Dream Center of Dallas. She is also an active volunteer with her clients for The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center in Downtown Dallas.   She also volunteers in Dallas Fort Worth for 7740 Dallas, launched in 2020 to provide meals and community support to frontline workers in healthcare and hospitality in the pandemic.   She is also a DFW volunteer for Chef Jose Andres' acclaimed World Central Kitchen meeting need when communities face crisis and disaster. 

Ms. Gallagher’s interest in community relations is demonstrated by her involvement over the years with such organizations as Central Dallas Association (now DowntownDallas, Inc.), The Visiting Nurse Association’s Meals on Wheels, The Junior League of Plano for which she served as public relations chair. Interested in the United States’ early history, Ms. Gallagher is a shareholder in the Library Company of Philadelphia, the nation’s first lending library, and has volunteered with the Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. She has also served on the board of directors for the Assistance Center of Collin County and the Historic Downtown Plano Association. A member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano, Ms. Gallagher is a sixth-generation Collin County resident.
Ms. Gallagher graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, with Departmental Distinction with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, with minors in French and Psychology, from Southern Methodist University.