CINCINNATI, June 17, 2008—Kirby Thornton has joined Empower MediaMarketing as a director in the agency’s Knowledge, Information and Invention research division.  Thornton is an 18-year media research and marketing veteran who most recently was director of market assessment for the Cincinnati Enquirer. In his new position at Empower, he reports to Julie Pahutski, senior vice president, research.  

“Kirby has a tremendous background in the collection and analysis of consumer research data,” Pahutski said. “He also understands how to translate research findings into actionable marketing strategies and plans, which is what our research division is all about.” 

At the Enquirer, Thornton’s responsibilities included database marketing, system implementation and integration, primary and secondary market research and oversight of the company’s business-to-business marketing efforts. 

Before joining the Enquirer in 2003, Thornton was market research/direct market manager for The Plain Dealer Publishing Company for five years. He also spent eight years at the Dallas Morning News, in positions including circulation direct marketing manager, database projects coordinator and research assistant/analyst.  

Thornton earned an MBA from Texas Christian University’s MJ Neeley School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas. 

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 research department that offers customer-insight analysis, ROI analysis and various proprietary tools.  With these resources, Empower delivers media strategies that create deep and long-lasting relationships between clients and their consumers, with the breadth and depth of a large agency but the responsiveness large agencies can seldom deliver.  Clients include Ashley Furniture, Biltmore, Bush Brothers & Co., Check ‘n Go, Cincinnati Bell, Clopay Building Products, Humana, Long John Silver’s, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, 1-800-CONTACTS, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Stanley Steemer and U.S. Bank.

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 Mark Braff

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