April 2010 New Hires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE LAVIDGE COMPANY ADDS SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGEMENT TO ITS IN-HOUSE SERVICE ROSTER

Also announces new hires and promotions across all departments

PHOENIX, Ariz. – (April 7, 2010) – The Lavidge Company (TLC), a full-service advertising, public relations, marketing communications, consulting and interactive marketing agency, today announced that it has added special events management to its in-house service offerings. Missy Lagomarsino has been hired to oversee TLC’s special events services, which will be part of the agency’s public relations department.
 “Our clients ask us for help with their events so often that it made sense to dive more deeply and offer this as a fully realized in-house specialty. Special events management is a natural evolution for our agency’s expansion,” said Bill Lavidge, CEO of TLC. “We looked hard for someone with the right level of experience and market knowledge and Missy fit the bill.”
Lagomarsino will serve as Account Supervisor for Events. Most recently she successfully ran her own special events firm Tutto Bene Special Events. During this time, she developed and executed corporate special events for local and regional businesses, including Costco Home, Rural Metro, Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, Beazer Homes and more. Prior to specializing in events, she worked in public relations with the Martz Agency and WFC Advertising & Impact Communications.
In addition to hiring Lagomarsino, TLC has also hired six new staff and promoted five employees across all agency departments. 
Keith Denham joins the Phoenix advertising agency’s Interactive department as a Project Manager. Denham came highly recommended from Avanade, a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture. He has an extensive background in project management and is originally from New Zealand. He is overseeing work for several clients including Massage Envy and Innovative Brands, makers of Sure and Pert Plus products. 
Jill LaMay joined TLC Interactive as a Web Developer focusing on the new Loyalty Program for Massage Envy.  LaMay is a talented software engineer with a passion for turning routine Web forms into rich user interfaces using the latest technology.
Jennifer Arvizu is the newest addition to Lavidge Marketing Services (LMS) at the Phoenix advertising agency. She will serve as an Account Executive/Project Manager for TLC clients including Innovative Brands, Banner Healthcare, Plane Jane and Title Management Agency.  She has spent the past few years with Campbell Fisher Design & Catapult Strategic Design, managing all aspects of client projects from budget through final delivery. 
Cory Mercurio is the most recent addition to TLC’s Interactive department and has been hired as a Web Developer. He got his start working with e-commerce solutions in the mid-90s. Since then he has worked for Intel and a variety of other companies providing software for image management and life sciences.
Gillian York began as an account service intern less than a year ago and has moved into a permanent position as an Account Coordinator for LMS.  She will be helping with budget development/stewardship, job tracking and research.  Originally from Ohio, she has a degree in finance from Miami University.

Promotions
Mercedes Aloia was promoted to Account Supervisor in the ad department of the Phoenix advertising agency. Aloia works with Lavidge clients such as Massage Envy, Phoenix International Raceway, Bonneville, Phiten and Lifelock.  She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the W.P. Carey School of Business.
Kyra Harmanos was also promoted to Account Supervisor, overseeing McDonald’s and Massage Envy Phoenix Co-ops for the advertising department.  Harmanos has been with Lavidge for more than five years and has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.  She has also served as Fantasy Football Commissioner for three years running.
Joseph Valdez was recently promoted to Account Supervisor in public relations.  Valdez has worked with clients such as Arizona Grand Resort, Discount Tire, CCS Presentation Systems, and Innovative Brands.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs and Corporate Communications from Southern Methodist University.
Greg Sexton was also promoted to Account Supervisor for public relations.  Prior to TLC, where he has served for nearly three years, Greg was Editor-in-Chief of Arizona Business Magazine for 10 years.  He works with clients such as Banner Health, Harvey Mackay, MJ Insurance, Nighthawk Radiology, TPI Composites and Smartcomm LLC. An Arizona native, he holds a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
Jennifer Spangler was promoted to Senior Account Executive in public relations.  Her client roster includes Alliance Residential, Harvey Mackay, Robson Resort Communities and Innovative Brands.  Last year she jumped headlong into the social media fray and quickly became one of the agency’s specialists in this emerging medium.

About The Lavidge Company

The Lavidge Company is a locally owned and operated full-service advertising, public relations, interactive, consulting and marketing communications agency.  Since 1982, The Lavidge Company has specialized in developing brand positioning for products and services.  Highlights of the agency’s client base includes Discount Tire, Pearle Vision, Arizona Grand Resort, Massage Envy, Robson Resort Communities, Phoenix International Raceway, Banner Health, McDonald’s and many more. Named as one of the 15 fastest growing companies in Arizona by Arizona Business Magazine, The Lavidge Company was also recently voted as one of the “Best Places to Work” in Phoenix by Phoenix Business Journal, selected as one of Arizona Woman’s “2008 Best Workplaces for Women,” and was recognized by Comerica Bank as a 2008 “Arizona Company to Watch.” The Lavidge Company offices are located at 2777 E. Camelback Road, #300, Phoenix, Ariz. 85016.  More information on the agency may be found at www.lavidge.com. @lavidgeco Facebook: LavidgeCompany.

MEDIA CONTACT:

480.998.2600
Jennifer Spangler x552
jspangler@lavidge.com
Joseph Valdez x540
jvaldez@lavidge.com

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