While companies now hire firms and employees to run their social media operations, using the medium will become a basic job skill like typing or photocopying.
“It won’t be much longer” until that happens, said Jay Baer, a social media consultant and co-author of “The Now Revolution: 7 Shifts to Make Your Business Faster, Smarter, and More Social.” Continue reading
Big River, a Richmond-based, independently owned branding and advertising firm, today commemorated its tenth anniversary in business. Advertising veteran Fred Moore founded the agency on September 10, 2001. Moore launched the agency with a single employee and today boasts a team of 28.
“My dream was to create a place where we could do great work for clients who wanted a non-traditional approach to advertising,” explained Moore. “I wanted to assemble a group of talented people who were up to that challenge.”
Big River began operations in Shockoe Slip in remnant office space provided by The Martin Agency. In 2008, Big River relocated to a 7,500-square foot suite in the Edgeworth Building at 2100 East Cary Street. The agency currently is expanding into adjacent office space and will increase its open-style office to more than 12,000 square feet.
“It has been an amazing journey as we attracted more and more great clients, added more really talented employees and saw tremendous growth in our revenues,” said Moore.
Big River is the agency of record for the multi-million dollar Virginia Lottery account and works for an array of clients in the wellness, financial and hospitality industries. A few years ago, the agency famously created television ads for MoonPie that stretched the cookie maker’s factories beyond capacity and caused alarm about a possible MoonPie shortage.
Moore takes great pride in the roster of employees he has assembled, including alumni from large, well-respected ad agencies such as DDB, The Martin Agency, BBDO and Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Big River’s employees have worked on some of the world’s largest, most successful brands including McDonald’s, GEICO, Proctor & Gamble, Pepsi, Dell and Gatorade.
“I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to watch Big River take root and flourish,” says Moore. “It’s been a wonderful, exciting adventure and I look forward to the next 10 years.”
Devon C. Rohr has joined Big River as a designer. Devon formerly worked at Shades of Light, where she redesigned and expanded the retailer’s catalog, website, television, print and online marketing efforts. A seasoned art director and graphic designer, Devon’s resume includes experience with Digital Ink, The Richmond Times-Dispatch and Print Solutions. Devon graduated cum laude from VCU with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.
Big River continues to expanded the abilities of its creative department with the arrival of Scott Ackerman, who has joined as the agency’s creative technology director. Scott formerly worked as a senior interactive developer for Boulder’s Crispin Porter + Bogusky on an array of high-profile interactive projects for clients including Coke Zero, Dominos, Volkswagen, American Express and Burger King.
NEW YORK, Sep 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Cortview Capital Securities LLC (Cortview), a middle-market focused broker-dealer offering fixed income sales, trading and origination, investment banking and corporate finance services, today announced that Joe Jennings, Doug Ingram, Larry Meding and Scott Robicheaux have joined the firm to expand the services offered by Cortview’s Memphis-based rates business. These professionals will work as a team to provide a diverse set of strategic services to Cortview’s middle-market financial institution clients, and will also provide Cortview’s full range of sales expertise across the fixed income spectrum. Continue reading
Big River has been hired by Williamsburg Winery to create a social media presence for the multi-generational, family-owned business that boasts a winery, European-style hotel, two restaurants and wine shop.
Classes have started at VCU and The Brandcenter and several Big River folks are teaching classes. Kelly Slothower continues to teach “Contemporary Research” at the Brandcenter and now Sarah Trickey has been added to the roster, teaching “Strategic Thinking” to future ad professionals.
Across campus at VCU’s School of Mass Communications, Marcel Jennings and Noel Ritter are co-teaching a class called “Perspicuousness.” A special prize goes to anyone who knows what that means without looking it up.
Classified Moto — Big River is creating an inaugural website for the custom motorcycle shop that has gained a national following including being featured on AC360. The shop combines modern technology with vintage motorcycle parts to create one-of-kind, high performance bikes that are also works of art.
Big River was the beneficiary of three summer interns from VCU’s prestigious Brand Center. The interns, writer Chris Brotzman, art director Thomas Scott and creative technologist Bryan Callison contributed their talents to existing and potential agency accounts.
Big River recently welcomed two new summer interns as part of the agency’s ongoing outreach to young people interested in advertising. Jonathan Miutz, a sophomore at The College of William and Mary and Lee McElroy, a junior at Saint Christopher’s are helping create presentations, conducting social media research and assisting with secondary research for a variety of the agency’s clients.