Innis Maggiore Group Announces Acquisition of TNP Group in Youngstown

CANFIELD, Ohio (June 19, 2001) -- Innis Maggiore Group today announced that it has acquired TNP Group, a Youngstown-based marketing communications agency, and added TNP's president, Clare Kettering Jones, to its staff.

Jones, who established TNP in 1995, joins Innis Maggiore as account supervisor in the firm's recently opened Youngstown office. She brings more than 20 years of advertising agency experience to the rapidly growing Canton-based firm.

"This transaction strengthens our capabilities in Youngstown and demonstrates our commitment to provide leadership in this market," said Dan J. Pecchia, vice president of Innis Maggiore's Youngstown office and one of the firm's principal owners. "As our business grows, we will seek additional alliances that put top-shelf talent in front of our clients."

The transaction with TNP marks Innis Maggiore's fourth acquisition in less than three years. The agency had previously acquired assets of Monter Creative Design in North Canton, Talisker Group in Hudson, and HUB Communications in Uniontown.

TNP has provided marketing services to large and small Youngstown-area companies, including LTV Steel, RMI Titanium, Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital, Belmont Pines Hospital, Sharon Custom Metal Forming, Community Bus Service and others.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

"Innis Maggiore's arrival in Youngstown gives us an opportunity to provide TNP's clients with much deeper resources," Jones said. "This transaction is very good news for our clients."

Before establishing TNP, Jones was executive vice president and creative director at Ira Thomas Associates, a Youngstown advertising and public relations firm, where she worked for 14 years. Before ITA, she held creative and executive positions with Gordon Associates, an agency in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Scannell, Inc., an agency in Milwaukee, Wis.

Jones has secured numerous awards for her work, including four certificates of excellence and a Silver Camera Award from the Chicago-based International Film & Video Festival, six national Telly Awards and dozens of regional ADDY awards. She is a graduate of Rosary College of River Forest, Ill., and a resident of Boardman. She has three children.

Innis Maggiore Group, Inc., with offices in Canton and Youngstown, Ohio, is a regional advertising and public relations firm. The firm employs 32 people and reported 2000 capitalized billings of nearly $13 million, up by an average of 23 percent annually since 1997. Key clients include Republic Technologies International, Aultman Health Foundation, Smithers-Oasis Co., Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Square Two Golf, NancyLopezGolf, the National Association of College Stores, Waikem Auto Group, Rainbow Rentals and Akrochem Corp. Innis Maggiore is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

For more information contact:

Jim Cyphert
Director of Public Relations
Innis Maggiore
P: 330-492-5500
Email: jim.cyphert@innismaggiore.com