VERMONT ADVERTISING AGENCY SWITCHES ON THE POWER
HMC Changes Ownership and Management
Stowe, VT --
HMC Advertising in Stowe is bringing a whole new power source to marketing in New England. Literally. HMC, which has been in existence since 1980, was sold this year to its employees - positioning it for new management, new growth, new opportunities, new ideas and a renewed zeal and commitment to serving clients.
Brian Harwood, now the "Chair Emeritus" of the agency, stepped down from his CEO role in January along with his long-time business partner Brad Moses. The two then passed the management baton to employees Veronica Williams and Anne Loecher.
Loecher continues in her role as agency Creative Director, adding Managing Member to her title, while Williams has picked up the reins as Director of Client Services, Managing Member. Williams was Director of Marketing at Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield before joining HMC in 2001. Loecher was with Grey Advertising and other New York agencies, and served as a Creative Director at the Clio-acclaimed DDB/Chicago before coming to HMC in 1996.
Both Williams and Loecher are enthusiastic about the opportunity to build on HMCs considerable capabilities, and to taking the company forward. "HMC has always been dedicated to client success - providing clients with a level of marketing services typically only found at big agencies in big cities," says Williams. "The difference is at HMC, we can work with a range of client budgets, so you don't have to be Nike to get extraordinary advertising work when you work with us."
Loecher points to the newly created HMC logo, which features a number two above the letters. "The two stands for a couple of things. First, that we're a new iteration of HMC. Brian and Brad graciously handed the reins to us, and HMC is evolving through new management into its second generation. Also, the two stands for the exponential new power which we're all infusing into the place. And," she adds, "that translates to even greater energy and resources available to our clients."
The "all" Loecher references is a team of 15 advertising professionals working in account management, creative, media and more. Some are "urban refugees" says Loecher. "Some of us have come from big agencies in New York, Boston, the Midwest," she says, "and we bring our training and experience from there. While others are natives of Vermont and Northern New England, and they bring a deep knowledge of this particular market."
Williams' client side experience is another great benefit to those choosing HMC. "Coming from the client side, I'm especially aware of how critical it is for Marketing Directors everywhere to justify their advertising expenditures with real, bottom-line results," she says.
HMC is a full-service agency and welcomes inquiries from prospective customers - be they Vermont and New England-based, or from anywhere. "Any Marketing Director who's looking to bolster their brand with topnotch work at a reasonable price - that's our target audience," says Williams.
Harwood and Moses will retain limited ownership and serve as consultants until 2010. Harwood, will continue to work on a part-time basis at HMC, which is located on Route 100 in Stowe.
The company is agency of record for Smugglers' Notch Resort, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and The Vermont Health Plan, The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, Champlain College, Trapp Family Lodge, HearthStone Stoves and Susan Sargent Designs, among others.