MAJOR NEW BUSINESS WINS - NATIONAL CREATIVE AWARDS - NOTABLE NEW HIRES
Portland, Maine, January 3 , 2008—The VIA Group announced today that it would close 2007 as one of its best for new business growth. Following competitive reviews, VIA was awarded agency of record status for LoJack, Maidenform, DuPont (Professional Products Group) and Colonial Life. The agency also secured substantial work with national brands including the New England Aquarium, PUMA, HBO, Fidelity Investments and Guardian Industries. VIA's existing clients include TD Banknorth, Analog Devices, HP Hood, Dunkin' Donuts, CBS RADIO and Silverstein Properties.
2007 also saw VIA bringing home numerous awards for its creative work. For digital work done for clients Monster ("Job Sign" campaign) and the Maine Readiness Council ("Kick Start" campaign) the agency was honored with awards from the Interactive Media Association and the Web Marketing Association, respectively. In November, VIA received four Creativity Awards for work done for clients Monster ("Job Sign"), HP Hood ("Spilled Milk") and the Maine Readiness Council ("Kick Start" tv ad). At the Midas Awards, VIA was named a Finalist Award Winner for work done for client TD Banknorth. Rounding out the year at the Broderson Awards hosted by the Ad Club of Maine, VIA was awarded Best of Show for its multimedia campaign for Kick Start Maine targeting junior high school students. The agency also took home one silver and three gold Brodersons for work for CBS RADIO, the Maine Readiness Council and HP Hood.
VIA's public relations campaigns were also award winners in 2007. VIA's campaign for Silverstein Properties promoting the opening of 7 World Trade Center, the first new building of the World Trade Center development, was awarded the Public Relations Society of America's Silver Anvil award, one of the highest honors in the public relations industry. The agency was given the Best PR Campaign award for its work with Coco Crisp of the Boston Red Sox and in partnership with client HP Hood at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) awards. The IDFA also presented a Best Overall award to VIA in partnership with HP Hood for its "Crash Landings" advertising campaign recognizing the communities that supported the efforts following the Hood blimp's crash landing in September 2006.
VIA continued to grow in 2007 with12 new associates joining the agency in areas ranging from client strategy to creative, media and administration. Each new hire has brought exceptional skills, but several are particularly notable. Dan O'Donnell, a veteran of NYC agencies including JWT, Young & Rubicam and Euro RSCG, joined VIA as a group strategy director leading such accounts as TD Banknorth, LoJack and Colonial Life. David DeSmith, the genius behind some of the country's most recognizable campaigns joined as a creative directors immediately making an impact on accounts such as DuPont, Colonial Life, Analog Devices and Guardian Industries. At the close of the year Janine Rock and Michelle Arsenault joined as client strategists. Both come with years of industry experience, Rock at Keds, Stride Rite, Timberland and Converse and Arsenault, a former marine, at agencies including Mullen and Jack Morton Worldwide, and IBM.
"It has been a record year for VIA in many areas," stated John Coleman, CEO and founding partner of VIA. "From creating the first brand campaign for TD Banknorth to producing a video game to drive sales at DuPont to our digital efforts for Monster, our creative product this year has been outstanding. It is the kind of work that wins awards, creates buzz, attracts new business and associates and, most important, delivers for our clients."
About VIA
Founded in 1993, VIA is an agency with a long track record of helping companies grow by solving their toughest marketing, branding and advertising problems. The bigger the challenge the happier we are. Current clients include TD Banknorth, LoJack, Maidenform, Colonial Life, DuPont, Analog Devices, Dunkin' Donuts, Silverstein Properties and Guardian Industries, who are served from offices in Portland, Maine; Boston; and New York City.