Young Opens Laguna Office; PR Firms Take Home Awards
Billy Fried, a former senior executive at W.B. Doner & Co.’s Newport Beach office, has pulled away from the corporate pack and started his own ad agency.
His new venture, called Spasmodic, is set to be headquartered in his stomping grounds, Laguna Beach. And, just as the name is, well, a bit different,it refers to the creative muscle apparent in right-brained thinkers,so is the ad shop’s set-up.
Fried said an art gallery and coffee bar will comprise the front office, while ad types will work in the back. He said he plans to form his own gang of freelancers, who’ll pay a desk fee and work together on projects.
“Clients can choose from an a la carte menu of freelance writers, art directors, Web and graphic designers,” Fried said. “That way I can work with smaller clients and offer them senior level resources without the commensurate expense.”
Fried, Doner’s former senior vice president of non-automotive business, said he doesn’t plan to take any clients with him. But he said he has new business prospects in the works.
Spasmodic services are set to include traditional branding, sports and event marketing (Fried has put on several large parties as the co-founder of Digital Orange County, a networking group of 2,500 marketing professionals). He even plans to offer original music.
Tunes? In his other life, Fried also is a musician and wants to bring part of that to the agency.
“I want to stimulate an atmosphere of intense creativity,” he said.
Fried’s exit marks the third senior exec to leave an Orange County ad shop in about a month. Recently, Scott Montgomery left FCB Southern California, Irvine, to take a breather. And Bruce Mayo, formerly of Lawrence, Mayo & Ponder in Newport Beach, has started his own ad shop.
Mayo, the OC Ad Club’s former co-president, and Fried, incoming president, plan to hook up to work with “smaller, edgier clients.”
Though conventional wisdom says now may not be the best time to start an ad shop, Fried said he is undaunted.
Fried’s pitch is that by keeping overhead expenses low and using seasoned freelancers, he can offer budget-conscious clients top-notch work at lower prices.
Ad Shop Opens Laguna Office
Laguna Beach is a popular spot these days.
Fifty-year-old Young Co., an ad, marketing and public relations firm based in Santa Monica, has opened a satellite office in Laguna to service its OC clients. The agency specializes in business-to-business work. Local clients include 3DSP Corp., Irvine, a designer of digital signal processing chips.
The Laguna Beach office, which mainly handles public relations work, has four employees, including vice president of public relations John Dillon, but may increase its count as business grows, the firm says.
PR Firms Honored
Sports radio personality Steve Hartman, co-host of “Loose Cannon Talk,” was master of ceremonies for the 26th annual PROTOS awards show, where 26 OC public relations firms and other businesses walked away with honors on June 29.
Organizers said this was the biggest annual event for the OC chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, drawing more than 250 practitioners. There were 155 entries submitted from OC companies, with 78 awards given out. The ceremony had several sponsors, including Business Wire, Magnet Communications, Corona, and Integrity Public Relations LLC, Mission Viejo.
For the second year in a row, Bock Communications Inc. in Costa Mesa took home the most awards at 16.
Other top winners were: Magnet Communications (eight awards); Amies Communications, Irvine (seven); Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide, Irvine (six); NCG Porter Novelli, Irvine (six); PainePR, Costa Mesa (four); Gladstone International, Laguna Beach (three); Laer Pearce & Associates, Laguna Hills (three); HB Marketing Communications, Brea (three); and Strategies, Costa Mesa (three).
Honors also were given out for distinguished service. Emma Daugherty of California State University, Long Beach won the individual award. The communications department at California State University, Fullerton earned the organization award. Three students, each from different universities, walked away with $1,000 scholarships.
Bits and Pieces:
Denise Denison-Erkeneff was re-elected as governor for the American Advertising Federation of Southern California. Her term begins July 1. Denison-Erkeneff said she is looking forward to focusing her efforts on student programs including the National Student Advertising Competition. She also has decided to take a break from the OC Ad Club board of directors Customers of Tuttle-Click Ford in the Irvine Auto Center gave Ford Motor Co.’s highest honor to the dealership for excellent customer service and satisfaction. Fewer than 7% of Ford’s 5,000 dealers were awarded the honor Marketing By Design Associates in Lake Forest is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The firm works with numerous homebuilders including Ashbrook Communities and Brookfield California Land The Orange County Register’s Golf Extra magazine recently made some changes, including switching to higher quality paper The Johnny Rockets Group Inc. in Laguna Hills recently kicked off a 66-day road trip to promote the recent menu changes at its classic American-style diners. The festivities were held at Johnny Rockets in Santa Monica and people had a chance to sample free food and win prizes, including a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.
