Fans of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers will notice a new look at the restaurant chain’s site. A site redesign went live recently and joins several Red Robin online promotions created with the help of Empower MediaMarketing’s digital team.

For the third consecutive year Empower has designed the creative around Red Robin’s Deal-Liciousness Three of a Kind Instant Win Sweepstakes. The promotion is supported by a digital media campaign that builds on the two previously successful campaigns.

Empower MediaMarketing’s Digital team offers a full complement of online marketing services from strategy to execution. Other projects include work for Wild Adventures Water & Theme Park and Bush Brothers & Company.

CINCINNATI, June 11, 2009— Empower MediaMarketing announced today that it has been assigned media planning responsibilities by Rust-Oleum Corporation, a worldwide leader in protective paints and coatings for home and industry, based in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Cincinnati-based Empower is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels. Rust-Oleum’s media mix includes digital as well as national television and print.

“Empower brings a very creative element to the media planning process,” said Lisa Bialecki, director, integrated communications for Rust-Oleum. “We are excited about implementing their many great ideas.”

Cathy Shaffner, vice president, client strategy, Empower MediaMarketing, said, “Rust-Oleum is a category leader and we look forward to helping them expand market share through the implementation of a highly strategic and creative media plan.”

Media planning for Rust-Oleum previously was handled by Minneapolis-based Periscope, which retains creative.

The Rust-Oleum account win follows Empower’s recent announcement that it has been assigned the advertising services business for Marzetti, the specialty food company. Empower also announced a series of account wins during fourth quarter 2008 and first quarter 2009.

About Rust-Oleum Corporation
Rust-Oleum Corporation is a worldwide leader in protective paints and coatings for both home and industry. The company offers a wide product range including decorative fashion paints, durable industrial roof repair coatings and the famous rust-fighting formula that started it all. Rust-Oleum Corporation is a subsidiary of RPM International, Inc., a multinational holding company with subsidiaries that manufacture and market high-performance coatings, sealants and specialty chemicals, primarily for maintenance and improvement.

# # #

Bill Price, CEO of Empower Media Marketing, sits down with Cincinnati Business Courier Publisher Doug Bolton as part of his Publisher’s Beat series on CET Connect.  Price details how his agency is doing in the current economy and why he sees this as the best time to get into the business.

Cincinnati Business Courier Publisher Interviews Empower MediaMarketing CEO from Empower MediaMarketing on Vimeo.

CINCINNATI, May 18, 2009—Kevin Dugan, an award-winning marketing strategist, has joined Empower MediaMarketing as director of marketing. In this new position, Dugan reports to Jim Price, vice president, media innovation, and is responsible for leading the overall marketing efforts for the Empower MediaMarketing brand.

“As Empower MediaMarketing continues to grow, we need someone to help us tell our story,” Price said. “Kevin has built a well-earned reputation as a big-picture strategist who gets results. He’s a great fit for this role and for where our company is headed.”

Dugan most recently was director of marketing communications for FRCH Design Worldwide, a Cincinnati-based company specializing in architecture, interior design, graphic communications and brand strategy. At FRCH, Dugan helped raise awareness of the firm through strategic marketing efforts,

Before joining FRCH in 2004, Dugan worked in the advertising business for 12 years including positions at HSR Business to Business, the world’s largest B-to-B focused agency, and Sive/Young & Rubicam.

Blogging since 2002, Dugan writes for two blogs and both are ranked among Advertising Age magazine’s Power 150, a ranking of the world’s top marketing blogs. Dugan is also the founder of Cincinnati Social Media, a local organization bringing together professionals to meet, share and learn about social media and its impact on business.

In 2009, Dugan was presented with the Werner-VonderHaar-Bogart Award, the highest honor the Cincinnati PRSA chapter bestows upon a public relations professional. 

About Empower MediaMarketing
Empower MediaMarketing (www.empowermm.com) is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels.  Empower services include media planning and buying, a full-service digital practice, media-marketing strategy and consulting, and a consumer insights department that offers consumer research, ROI analysis and various proprietary tools.  Clients include U.S. Bank, Meijer, Godiva Chocolatier, Long John Silver’s, Bush Brothers & Co., T. Marzetti, Biltmore, Clopay Building Products, Humana, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, 1-800-CONTACTS, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Stanley Steemer and Ashley Furniture.

CINCINNATI, April 22, 2009— Empower MediaMarketing announced today that it has been assigned media  planning/buying, digital strategy/creative and web site development responsibilities by T. Marzetti Company, the Columbus, Ohio-based specialty food division of Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC). Cincinnati-based Empower is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels.

“Empower demonstrated great expertise in the food category combined with creative approaches — across all media types — on how they can help us build business through a more diversified media mix,” said Bev Sandberg, Marzetti’s vice president, marketing, “We look forward to working with Empower on a number of exciting new marketing initiatives.”

Denise Halpin, senior vice president, Empower MediaMarketing, said, “Our efforts will seek to expand awareness of the Marzetti product line and its well-established reputation for quality. The Marzetti corporate culture is a great fit with that of Empower MediaMarketing’s, and we are excited about working closely together in the months ahead.”

Halpin added that Empower “is also pleased that our selection by Marzetti, coming on the heels of other account wins in recent months, is further confirmation that our long-term vision for growth is working even in today’s difficult advertising climate.”  

Media for T. Marzetti Company previously was handled in-house.

About T. Marzetti Company
T. Marzetti Company, a division of Lancaster Colony Corporation, is a retail and foodservice company. The company markets a wide variety of brands, including: Marzetti®, Girard’s®, Cardini’s®, Teresa’s® and Pfeiffer® salad dressings, Marzetti® dips, croutons and slaw dressing, New York Brand® and Mamma Bella® frozen garlic bread, Sister Schubert’s® homemade rolls, Jack Daniel’s® mustards, Romanoff® Caviar, Reames® frozen egg noodles, Inn Maid® egg noodles and Chatham Village® croutons.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 12, 2009—Thomas Santen, a 20-year agency and client-side marketing veteran, has joined Empower MediaMarketing as growth director. In this new position, Santen will report to Allison Hoffman, senior vice president, and will be responsible for developing new business for the agency. 

Santen joins Empower from Mars Advertising in Southfield, Mich., where he was vice president/director retail channel marketing. In that role, he was responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies and promotions for large retail and manufacturing brands and companies. Santen worked with the agency’s clients as well as on new business initiatives.

Before joining Mars Advertising, Santen was vice president of marketing and director business development for JA&G Advertising in Cincinnati. He was responsible for new business development across a four state area, generating $28 million in sales within a two year period.

Santen also was senior marketing manager/national accounts for Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing in Cincinnati, where he managed integrated marketing and direct mail programs for retail chain stores, and developed business from Fortune 500 companies.

“Tom has ‘walked the walk’ as a marketer,” Hoffman said. “His keen understanding of how to help companies build market share in today’s tough economy has led to Tom’s sensational track record of new business development. We are excited that he has chosen to bring his many skills to Empower.”

Santen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Cincinnati.

About Empower MediaMarketing

Empower MediaMarketing (www.empowermm.com) is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels.  Empower services include media planning and buying, a full-service digital practice, media-marketing strategy and consulting, and a consumer insights department that offers consumer research, ROI analysis and various proprietary tools.  Clients include U.S. Bank, Meijer, Stanley Steemer, Godiva Chocolatier, Long John Silvers, Bush Brothers & Co., Ashley Furniture, Biltmore, Cincinnati Bell, Clopay Building Products, Humana, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, 1-800-CONTACTS, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 7, 2009—Empower MediaMarketing has been awarded national media buying duties by Louisville-based Long John Silver’s® restaurants, the world’s largest quick-service seafood chain. This is an expansion of duties for Empower, which has been Long John Silver’s media planning agency for 11 years and has handled local media buying during that time as well. 

“Integrating our national and local media strategy under one roof will mean greater efficiency and effectiveness for our ad budgets,” said John Villanueva, chief marketing officer, Long John Silver’s. “Empower has consistently developed creative, cost-effective media strategies to help attract people to our restaurants, and we know they will bring the same discipline and creativity to their broadened responsibilities.” 

“It is gratifying when a valued client like Long John Silver’s asks us to take on more responsibility,” said Mitch Dunn, vice president, client strategy, Empower MediaMarketing. “In these times especially, it speaks to their trust in us to deliver great results with the utmost efficiency.  We appreciate the opportunity to take our relationship to a new level.”

Northlich, Cincinnati, will continue to handle creative.  

About Long John Silver’s

Long John Silver’s, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s most popular QSR seafood chain, specializing in delicious, signature batter-dipped fish, chicken, shrimp and hushpuppies. Since 1969, the company has been bringing families together with traditional seafood items, new products such as Buttered Lobster Bites, and Freshside Grille™ offerings, which include Pacific Grilled Salmon, Grilled Tilapia, and Shrimp Scampi. Today, there are more than 1,100 Long John Silver’s® restaurants worldwide, and over 400 additional points of distribution in multi-brand restaurants.

About Empower MediaMarketing

Empower MediaMarketing (www.empowermm.com) is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels.  Empower services include media planning and buying, a full-service digital practice, media-marketing strategy and consulting, and a consumer insights department that offers consumer research, ROI analysis and various proprietary tools.  Clients include U.S. Bank, Meijer, Stanley Steemer, Godiva Chocolatier, Long John Silver’s, Bush Brothers & Co., Ashley Furniture, Biltmore, Cincinnati Bell, Clopay Building Products, Herschend Family Entertainment, Humana, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, 1-800-CONTACTS, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

# # #

CINCINNATI, Jan. 5, 2009— Empower MediaMarketing announced today that it has been assigned media strategy, planning and buying responsibilities by Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) for two of its Georgia properties: Stone Mountain Park in metro-Atlanta and Wild Adventures in Valdosta.  In addition, Empower has been retained to redesign and launch a new web site for Wild Adventures.

“Empower brought us some innovative ideas to help maximize our media budget and build integrated campaigns,” said Rob Collins, vice president, advertising, HFE. “They demonstrated a deep knowledge of our business and will be a great partner as we look towards 2009.”

“This is a great match that makes a lot of sense, as we have extensive theme park experience here at Empower,” said Brian McHale, president, Empower MediaMarketing. “We have lots of ideas for HFE and the two parks, and are looking forward to diving in and working with these leading providers of unique, memorable family entertainment.”

Creative for both parks will continue to be handled in-house.

About Herschend Family Entertainment

Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation (HFEC) develops and operates entertainment, tourism and hospitality properties that span 22 locations in 10 states.
 
Select properties include theme parks (Silver Dollar City, Dollywood, Wild Adventures), water parks (White Water, Dollywood’s Splash Country), aquariums (Adventure Aquarium, Newport Aquarium), natural wonders (Stone Mountain Park, Talking Rocks Cavern), and sightseeing tours (Ride the Ducks, Classic Cable Car Sightseeing).
 
HFEC is the operating partner with Dolly Parton in The Dollywood Company (Dollywood and Dollywood’s Spash Country). The Dollywood Company is also the largest shareholder in the Dixie Stampede Dinner attractions.
 
A complete listing of properties and locations can be referenced at http://www.hfecorp.com.

About Empower MediaMarketing

Empower MediaMarketing (www.empowermm.com) is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels.  Empower services include media planning and buying, a full-service digital practice, media-marketing strategy and consulting, and a consumer insights department that offers consumer research, ROI analysis and various proprietary tools.  Clients include U.S. Bank, Meijer, Stanley Steemer, Godiva Chocolatier, Long John Silvers, Bush Brothers & Co., Ashley Furniture, Biltmore, Cincinnati Bell, Clopay Building Products, Humana, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, 1-800-CONTACTS, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

# # #

CINCINNATI, Jan. 5, 2009—Empower MediaMarketing announced today that Ashley Reker has rejoined the agency as a digital strategist. She previously spent six years at Empower as a media planner and client strategist before leaving the agency in February 2008 to join Mullen in Boston, where she was a digital senior media planner.
 
“I am delighted to welcome Ashley Reker back to Empower,” said Jim Price, vice president, media innovation. “During her six years here she made her mark as an innovative media strategist who also excelled at client service. Ashley is a great addition to our team, and we look forward to seeing her add to her long list of client success stories.”   

Reker earned a bachelors degree in marketing from Miami University (Ohio).

About Empower MediaMarketing

Empower MediaMarketing (www.empowermm.com) is an advertising company that specializes in reaching its clients’ customers through any and all media channels.  Empower services include media planning and buying, a full-service digital practice, media-marketing strategy and consulting, and a consumer insights department that offers consumer research, ROI analysis and various proprietary tools.  Clients include U.S. Bank, Meijer, Stanley Steemer, Godiva Chocolatier, Long John Silvers, Bush Brothers & Co., Ashley Furniture, Biltmore, Cincinnati Bell, Clopay Building Products, Humana, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, 1-800-CONTACTS, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

# # #