Stonewall News
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Stonewall Marketing, Greater Parkersburg CVB honored with 2008 Telly Award
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Ohio University students get a day-in-the-life glimpse of Marietta agency
International Academy of the Visual Arts recognizes Stonewall Marketing
with nine Davey Awards-
Ohio Travel Association recognizes Stonewall Marketing for creative excellence
Stonewall Marketing honored with first place OACVB 2007 MIDDY Award
- Stonewall Marketing wins 13 coveted Millennium Awards
- Entrepreneur magazine ranks Stonewall Marketing as 340th fastest growing
business in America
Stonewall Marketing, Greater Parkersburg CVB
honored with 2008 Telly AwardMARIETTA, OH (March 19, 2008) - Stonewall Marketing and the Greater
Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau were recently honored with a 2008
Telly Award for their creative work on an interactive CD-ROM featuring area
attractions, history, events, and other points of interest."The Telly Awards are well known and highly respected throughout the
industry. More than 14,000 entries from all 50 states and around the world
were evaluated in this year's competition. We are honored to be recognized
in conjunction with the Greater Parkersburg CVB," Stonewall President Thomas
J. Crooks said.
Left to Right: Buddy Butler, Stonewall Marketing Accounts
Director; Steve Nicely, Greater Parkersburg CVB President; Kari Thompson,
Stonewall Marketing PR Manager; and Tom Crooks, Stonewall Marketing President & CEO.Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards serve as the premier award honoring
outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials, the finest film and
video productions, and groundbreaking web commercials. The Telly Award
Statuette is custom designed and manufactured by the same company that makes
the OscarR and EmmyR awards.Greater Parkersburg CVB President Steve Nicely said, "The CD-ROM is a
professionally produced marketing piece that truly depicts the plethora of
wonderful attributes this region has to offer. We are thrilled to now be
able to say it is award-winning!"The CD-ROM begins with an introduction that automatically launches upon
placement in a PC computer's CD drive and is accessible to MAC systems as
well. The introduction plays full screen and, once complete, automatically
transitions to a home page where the user may select any of the nine
sections featuring: history & heritage, attractions, events, shopping,
dining, lodging, recreation, directions/maps, and contact us/links. The
content of each section includes a presentation consisting of audio
narratives and images, lasting 30-60 seconds.Four individual sponsor sections are also featured lasting 60 seconds each.
Primary sponsor for the CD-ROM was Simonton Windows. Secondary sponsors
included the Blennerhassett Hotel, Fenton Art Glass and the Blennerhassett
Historical Foundation. Funding for the project was also provided through
two Local Economic Development Assistance Grants secured by Senators Donna
Boley and Frank Deem and administered through the City of Parkersburg and
Wood County.The interactive CD-ROM is currently being used by the CVB as a direct mailer
to visitors, meeting planners, group tour leaders, schools and realtors.In August 2007, Stonewall Marketing was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as
the 340th fastest growing entrepreneur business in the country. Stonewall
provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to clients in
the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare,
financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry.###
Ohio University students get a day-in-the-life glimpse of Marietta agency
MARIETTA, OH (February 11, 2008) - Ohio University students from the E.W.
Scripps School of Journalism in Athens, Ohio closed their text books
recently and paid a visit to Stonewall Group, a Marietta based advertising
and marketing agency, for a real-world glance into the careers they are
aspiring to one day hold.
Twenty-nine students from two courses, advertising management and
advertising campaigns, toured the Front Street agency followed by a question
and answer session with company president Tom Crooks and executive
vice-president Leslie Fasching. A number of other Stonewall employees were
also on hand to field questions ranging from account management to graphic
design to copy writing and public relations.
"I know Tom and Leslie's character and philosophy and knew that these were
people they would like to hear from, people that they would feel comfortable
in asking questions of and would also enjoy the informal nature of
Stonewall," Ohio University professor Craig Davis said."We were thrilled to host so many bright and talented students for an
afternoon," Crooks said. "It provided us with a wonderful opportunity to
share our story and philosophy about business, while also giving insight
into the professions they are seeking to become part of one day."Crooks and Fasching answered questions ranging from how they manage daily
activities to their recommendations on how to stand out and be hired by a
firm."It was great to meet everyone at Stonewall and see where the magic
happens," OU student Chris Glaser said."Prior to teaching, I worked in large and medium agencies and know that
real-world experiences are just as important as a degree," Davis said. "A
lot of students are trying to determine what type of career they would like
to pursue. This visit presented an opportunity for them to hear different
perspectives.something that is almost more valuable then any multiple choice
exam I can give."Stonewall provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to
clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare,
financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry.
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Stonewall Marketing welcomes Mitchell as spring intern
MARIETTA, OH (February 22, 2008) - Stonewall Marketing Group, a marketing
and advertising agency based in Marietta, Ohio, recently welcomed Brandi
Mitchell as its spring marketing intern.
Marketing President Thomas Crooks said. "She is an exceptionally bright
student who will contribute a great deal to our company."
A native of Lore City, Ohio, Mitchell is a junior majoring in international business at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. She is a McDonough
Leadership Scholar and serves as a mentor at Washington Elementary School.Mitchell's internship includes assisting in working with Stonewall customers
three days a week on a number of special projects.Stonewall provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to
clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare,
financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry. In August
2007, Stonewall was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as the 340th fastest
growing entrepreneur business in the country. The company has been
recognized with more than 150 awards over the years.###
Stonewall Marketing expands Front Street location
MARIETTA, OH (December 4, 2007) – Stonewall Marketing, a full service marketing and advertising agency, is expanding its office space in downtown Marietta, Ohio.
The firm, which currently occupies two lofts at 154 ½ and 152 ½ Front Street, will expand into a neighboring third loft, formerly occupied by Dixie Sporting Goods at 150 ½, above Goldline Jewelry.
Stonewall President & CEO Thomas J. Crooks stated, “As we grow and expand we want to remain true to our Front Street roots. We absolutely love downtown Marietta, which is why we chose to open the business here nearly seven years ago.”
“We are committed to staying in downtown and have great landlords, David & Brian Haney,” Stonewall Executive Vice President Leslie Fasching said. “When the loft space next door became available, we knew this was the perfect opportunity to align our staff all on one level.”
In November Dixie Sporting Goods moved to the fifth floor of the Riverview Building located at the corner of Greene and Front Streets.
“It has been a fun and exciting seven years with Stonewall,” building owner David Haney said. “We are very happy to see them growing and expanding. The move for Stonewall and Dixie Sporting Goods was a win-win for Marietta. Both businesses remain downtown and thriving. We were happy to work with David Archer who owns the Riverview Building. Once Stonewall has moved into the new space, we’ll begin working vigorously to fill the storefront space at 152 Front Street with a retail business.”
In all, Stonewall will occupy 4,000 square feet of loft space on Front Street in what the owners believe to be “the finest space available in downtown Marietta” with skylights, 12 foot ceilings, and hardwood floors.
“Marietta has a sense of place. A historic district that has an ambience unmatched in the region,” Crooks said. “We knew this was where we wanted to grow our business from the very beginning.”
Business has indeed grown. When Crooks and Fasching formed the business in 2001 they had one additional employee. The company now boasts 14 full-time and two part-time employees. In fact, in August of this year, the firm was recognized as the 340th fastest growing entrepreneur business in the country by Entrepreneur magazine.
The agency provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare, financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry. Stonewall has been recognized with more than 150 awards over the years by the International Academy of the Visual Arts and numerous other industry outlets.
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Stonewall Marketing welcomes Lux as graphic designerMARIETTA, OH (November 8, 2007) – Stonewall Marketing welcomes Kristina Lux as graphic designer, announced Thomas J. Crooks, president and CEO.
“Kristi is a fantastic addition to our creative team,” Stonewall Senior Art Director Neil Hawkins said. “She is very diligent, attentive, and a pleasure to work with. We are extremely happy to have her join us.”
Lux’s work at Stonewall includes the design of various collateral materials and concepts for clients in a variety of fields and interests.
Lux’s art work has been exhibited in the Presidential Gallery at Marshall University and was recognized with an award from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism & Mass Communications at Marshall University.
Stonewall Marketing was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine in August 2007 as the 340th fastest growing entrepreneur business in the country. The company employs fourteen full time and two part time professionals and provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare, financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry.
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International Academy of the Visual Arts recognizes Stonewall Marketing with nine Davey AwardsMARIETTA, OH (November 8, 2007) – For a third year, the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA) recognized Stonewall Marketing of Marietta, Ohio with multiple Davey Awards for its creative excellence.
The Davey Awards exclusively honor the “Davids” of creativity, the finest small firms, agencies and companies in the world. David defeated the giant Goliath with a big idea and a little rock - the sort of thing small firms do each year. The annual International Davey Awards honors the achievements of the "Creative Davids" who derive their strength from big ideas, rather than big budgets.
“We have an outstanding team. Being recognized internationally by our peers is a tremendous accomplishment,” Crooks said. “It also demonstrates to our clients our level of expertise and vision.”
Winners for the prestigious 2007 awards were recently announced from New York City and included more than 4,000 entries from around the world.
In the print/collateral category, Stonewall received nine awards for the design of the Class VI River Runners 30th anniversary catalog, Greenbrier County CVB (West Virginia) 2007 visitors guide, Greenbrier County CVB (West Virginia) group tour brochure, the Wilds ad campaign, The Colony Theater seat sponsorship direct mail piece, Licking County CVB (Ohio) ad series, Morgantown Airport ad campaign, Simonton Windows West Coast direct mail piece, and the Ahia House logo.
“We are very excited about working with clients that let our creativity shine,” Stonewall Senior Art Director Neil Hawkins said. “The Davey Awards show us that we are not only setting the bar high – but are being recognized for exceed it.”
“Because we have a talented team with great chemistry that meshes and performs well together, we’ve enjoyed success with the marriage of verbal and visual components of solid creative ideas,” Stonewall Senior Copywriter Robert Bowman said.
Recipients of the Davey Awards receive custom statuette’s that are designed and handcrafted by the producers of the Golden Globe Award. Each statuette, standing 12 inches tall and weighing over five pounds, represents a modern interpretation of the icons of the story of David and Goliath.
The Davey Awards are sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms. IAVA members include executives from organizations such as Alloy, Coach, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Estee Lauder, Fry Hammond Barr, HBO, iNDELIBLE, Wunderman, MTV, Polo Ralph Lauren, Refinery, Sotheby's Institute of Art, Victoria's Secret, Wired, Yahoo! and many more.
Stonewall Marketing was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine in August 2007 as the 340th fastest growing entrepreneur business in the country. The company employs fourteen full time and two part time professionals and provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare, financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry.
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Ohio Travel Association recognizes Stonewall Marketing for creative excellence
MARIETTA, OH (October 19, 2007) – Stonewall Marketing, a full service advertising and marketing firm located in Marietta, Ohio, was recently recognized by the Ohio Travel Association (OTA) for its creative excellence in promoting tourism, according to Thomas J. Crooks, President & CEO.
The firm received two Ruby Awards for Best Print Campaigns in both the large and small operating budget categories.
A 2007 print ad series for the Wilds, one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world in Cumberland, Ohio, was honored in the large operating budget category.
“This included creative work that competed with all the large tourism attractions and major market destinations in Ohio,” Stonewall Accounts Director Buddy Butler said. “This is a great accomplishment for the Wilds.”
The Licking County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Licking County, Ohio also took home a first place finish for its 2007 print ad series in the small operating budget category.
The 10th annual Ruby Awards were presented October 18 during OTA’s annual conference on tourism in Sandusky, Ohio. The awards, which “Recognize Uncommon Brilliance,” honor the most innovative examples of marketing by Ohio tourism entities. Entries are judged based on impact, relevance, clarity, creativity and overall communication of the organization’s message.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by the Ohio Travel Tourism Association and its nearly 700 industry members for our creative work and marketing efforts,” Stonewall Marketing President Tom Crooks said.
In August 2007, Stonewall Marketing was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as the 340th fastest growing entrepreneur business in the country. Stonewall employs thirteen full time and four part time professionals and provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare, financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry.
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Stonewall Marketing honored with first place OACVB 2007 MIDDY AwardMARIETTA, OH (September 24, 2007) -- The Ohio Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus honored the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau and Stonewall Marketing with a First Place “MIDDY” Award for excellence in print tourism marketing for the 2007 Official Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors Guide.
“This award is such a compliment since it comes from our peers in the tourism industry,” Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB Executive Director Debbie Robinson. “It also demonstrates the dedication the Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB staff and its partners have in promoting the area as a travel destination.”
“It is a great day when a company is fortunate enough to receive recognition alongside a client for collaborating on a project. We are thrilled for Debbie and her office for their hard work on the guide and pleased to be part of helping the VCB achieve their marketing goals,” Stonewall Marketing Account Director Buddy Butler said.
The Official 2007 Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors Guide was created in partnership with Stonewall Marketing, a full-service marketing firm based in Marietta, Ohio. The guide serves as a key marketing tool for the region. More than 75,000 copies of the guide are distributed annually to individual inquiries, state welcome centers, travel & trade shows, groups, regional attractions, etc.
Present for the award luncheon in September was Executive Director of the Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB Debbie Robinson (left) and Stonewall Marketing Account Director Buddy Butler.OACVB’s 10th Annual Awards of Excellence are named the “MIDDY Awards” to reflect the Midwest region of the country, as well as the states contiguous to Ohio. Participants are recognized for excellence in planning, creativity and effectiveness of message, concept and design. The MIDDY Awards competition is open to all members of the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.
In the past, Stonewall Marketing has also received MIDDY awards for its work with the Marietta/Washington County CVB.
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Stonewall Marketing wins 13 coveted Millennium AwardsMARIETTA, OH (August 13, 2007) – Stonewall Marketing Group, a full-service marketing firm in Marietta, Ohio, was recognized recently with 13 national Millennium Awards for outstanding creativity in advertising and marketing.
Created to honor outstanding creativity, skill, craft and talent in television/film/video/commercials, print, advertising, web-design, audio and radio, the spring 2007 Millennium Awards competition attracted more than 1,475 entries with only the top 5% being recognized.
“Receiving this kind of recognition from a national creative awards competition validates the great work we are doing. It takes a team effort internally and with our clients to generate great work and we are very proud,” Stonewall Marketing Group President Tom Crooks said.
The firm was awarded three first place Gold, six Silver awards, and four Bronze awards:
Gold – Simonton Windows West Coast Direct Mail Piece
Gold – Greenbrier CVB Group Tour Guide
Gold – Greenbrier CVB 2007-08 Visitors Guide
Silver – Class VI 30th Anniversary Catalog
Silver – Class VI 2007 Calendar
Silver – Colony Seat Sponsorship Brochure
Silver – Southern West Virginia CVB Ad Series
Silver – the Wilds Membership Brochure
Silver – the Wilds Print Campaign
Bronze – Ahia House Logo
Bronze – Licking County CVB Ad Series
Bronze – Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Ad Campaign
Bronze – Morgantown Municipal Airport Ad CampaignEach entry was judged based on a point system by professionals in the communications industry. Unlike many other competitions, the Millennium Awards offers three levels of award recognition.
The Gold Millennium is awarded to those who earn an excellent score between 93-100 points, Silver between 87-92 points, and Bronze between 80-86 points. Only the top two percent of all entries received the Gold award.
“We are thrilled that so many of our clients were recognized along side Stonewall for our collective efforts,” Stonewall Marketing Vice President Leslie Fasching said. “We are proud of the diversity of industries and marketing objectives these awards represent.”
The Millennium Award statues are manufactured by the company that makes the world’s most prestigious awards, the Emmy®, Clio ®, Oscars ®, Miss-America, NFL-MVP, and the MTV Video Music Awards.
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Entrepreneur magazine ranks Stonewall Marketing as 340th fastest growing business in AmericaMARIETTA, OH (July 30, 2007) – The August issue of Entrepreneur magazine ranks Stonewall Marketing, a full-service marketing firm based in Marietta, Ohio, as 340th fastest growing entrepreneur business in the country.
Themagazine uncovered the Hot 500 entrepreneurial businesses for 2007, which generated a massive $12.6 billion in 2006 revenue. This year marks Entrepreneur magazine’s 13th consecutive year of revealing the nation’s Hot 500 fastest-growing companies and the entrepreneurs behind them.
“When we opened our doors six years ago in a two-room loft on Front Street, our goal was never to get big but rather to have fun, create exceptional work, be true to ourselves and exceed the expectations of our clients,” said Tom Crooks, president for Stonewall Marketing. “I guess this recognition goes to show that hard work, persistence and the diligent pursuit of a dream are still very much worthwhile in America.”
“We began with three people and a dream, which has grown beyond our wildest imagination,” said Leslie Fasching, vice president for Stonewall Marketing. “Our clients are amazing. They are the best and brightest throughout Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and D.C. and every bit of credit for this ranking is also due to them for their partnerships and visionary minds. This recognition would also never have been possible without the hard work, dedication and talent of our staff. We are blessed to have some of the most talented marketing and creative professionals in the country.”
Entrepreneur compiled the Hot 500 from a database of over 19 million U.S. businesses with the help of the Corporate Research Board, a leading provider of economic and business data, research and information. Criteria for each company included factors such as a minimum level of sales growth, positive job growth from 2002 to 2006, and company sales for 2006 exceeding $1 million. In addition, the founder(s) must be actively involved in the company. Only 95,000 businesses--or 0.5 percent of the 19 million businesses--met the criteria.
The magazine reports that by their second year in business, 61% of the Hot 500 companies had turned a profit and 56% had earned their first million. As a whole, they’re expected to employ 58,776 individuals by 2008, growing from 2,807 on their first day of business. Savings and personal funds, friends and family, bank loans, lines of credit and private investors were the most common sources of funding for these growing companies.
“For decades, we’ve recognized that entrepreneurs fuel the U.S. economy as the primary generators of new jobs,” says Rieva Lesonsky, senior VP and editorial director of Entrepreneur. “The Hot 500 is our annual ranking of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial businesses. We’re proud to salute America’s leading entrepreneurial companies, which contribute so much to the nation’s and the world’s economy.”
Today, Stonewall Marketing employs thirteen full time and four part time professionals and provides marketing, advertising and public relations services to clients in the fields of consumer retail, travel & tourism, healthcare, financial/banking, grocery, and the building/remodeling industry.
To see the entire list of Hot 500 companies, learn more about the ranking, and view details about each company, visit www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/hot500 . To see Stonewall Marketing’s individual Hot 500 listing visit www.entrepreneur.com/Hot500/Details/340.html .
Entrepreneur Media Inc. is the premier content provider for and about entrepreneurs. The company’s products engage and inspire every day people with the advice, solutions and resources that fuel the bold and independent way entrepreneurs think. After 30 years, the magazine remains the original source for the small and midsize business community. Entrepreneur.com is the most widely used website by entrepreneurs and emerging businesses worldwide.
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