The Martin Group Launches Martin Davison Public Relations.
Buffalo, N.Y. — The Martin Group (TMG) today announced the formation of a new affiliate—Martin Davison Public Relations—following the acquisition of boutique communications services provider AMDG Public Affairs. The new TMG affiliate is being created to boost the agency’s public relations capabilities and augment TMG’s fast-growing branding, advertising and digital offerings. The transaction is effective May 1, 2015. Full terms of the agreement were not disclosed. AMDG Public Affairs principal Matt Davison will become managing partner of Martin Davison Public Relations and help oversee affiliate operations. TMG senior vice president Dick Shaner, Jr. and senior public relations manager Oliver Hays will shift to Martin Davison Public Relations and continue providing strategic counsel, staffing advisement and client account services coordination. Several other public relations staff members will comprise the remainder of the affiliate team.
“I’m very pleased to introduce Martin Davison Public Relations as an affiliate of The Martin Group,” said Tod Martin, TMG president and chief creative officer. “The creation of Martin Davison Public Relations is a direct reflection of our focus on cutting-edge thinking and enhanced client services to further position The Martin Group as the region’s most comprehensive branding, advertising, public relations, and digital agency.”
TMG is one of Western New York’s “fastest-growing companies” according to Buffalo Business First, with more than 50 employees spread between its two offices in Buffalo and Rochester. In June 2014, TMG acquired venerable communications firm Travers Collins to begin increasing the agency’s public relations offerings for clients. The creation of Martin Davison Public Relations will allow the agency to provide traditional and boutique-style public relations services, with the support and capabilities of a large-scale advertising agency. The Martin Davison Public Relations client roster will include current public relations clients of TMG and AMDG Public Affairs, with no expected changes in client relationships and account services.
“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with a premier branding and advertising agency, while maintaining the flexibility and autonomy needed to build a truly innovative and responsive public relations firm,” said Davison. “The Martin Group has demonstrated a commitment to thoughtful growth, community engagement and an internal culture that very much aligns with what we were building at AMDG Public Affairs. I couldn’t be happier to join Tod Martin, the team at TMG and a distinguished public relations practitioner like Dick Shaner, Jr. in putting our mark on the public relations scene, while at the same time carrying on the legacy of a local PR pioneer like Bill Collins.”
Martin Davison Public Relations will focus on conventional public relations service offerings, while also advancing several practice areas, such as startups, entrepreneurship, small business creation support, advocacy and public affairs, community relations, Canadian/American and cross-border enterprises, special events, media training, crisis communications, and digital/social PR.
Initial organizational development plans for Martin Davison Public Relations include the prospective hiring of an additional senior-level public relations practitioner with extensive experience executing national media relations campaigns, and the recruitment of a mid-level account executive who has worked in both agency and startup public relations settings.
“Matt and I very much agree that our future team hires will be critical to the development and continued growth of Martin Davison Public Relations,” said Martin. “We want someone with serious national media relations chops, who can balance multiple projects and land the type of coverage that will make an even greater impact for our top-flight clients. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen our team with hard-charging and strategic-thinking PR account executives who are excited to be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking organization.”
AMDG Public Affairs clients include the 43North-Global Business Idea Competition, Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, Peace Bridge Authority, Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance, Sonwil Distribution, Welke Customs Brokers, American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, Colligan Law LLP, Ted’s Hot Dogs, and Winthrop Financial, among others. Several other recent clients are Canisius High School, Cabela’s, and Pine Hill Fresh Foods, Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, Montante Solar., Jefferson Awards for Public Service, Hebeler Corporation, and the Valley Community Association.
Some of The Martin Group’s current clients include ECMC, Evans Bank, Independent Health, Kaleida Health, New Era Cap, Orville’s Home Appliances, Phillips Lytle LLP, Diocese of Buffalo, and Seneca Gaming Corporation.
About The Martin Group
The Martin Group was founded in 2001 and is a leading strategic branding, creative marketing and public relations firm. The company is headquartered in downtown Buffalo, with an office in Rochester, N.Y. Using its proprietary Brand Fuel process – a mix of research, positioning and creative invention – the agency has ignited brands for a wide range of local, national and international organizations. The firm has extensive experience in several categories, including retail and sports promotion, health care branding and advertising, financial services and legal marketing, industrial/manufacturing brand marketing, website development, public relations, and social and digital media. TMG was recently named one of the fastest-growing and top private companies by Buffalo Business First. To learn more, call 716.853.2757, or visit the TMG website at tmgbrandfuel.com, our Facebook page at facebook.com/TheMartinGroup or our Twitter page at https://twitter.com/tmgbrandfuel.