Northeast Ohio to Make a Name for Itself

Monday, July 31, 2006

The Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance, founded by the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland and Team Northeast Ohio (NEO), today announced that advertising and marketing firm Doner will help the Alliance brand the region to visitors, businesses, college students and young adults. Doner, the nation's largest privately held advertising and marketing agency, will lead the Alliance's brand strategy and implementation work over the next 12 months. The firm employs 80 people in its Cleveland office, where the account will be managed.

"Fourteen agencies submitted proposals for the Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance work and we narrowed the competition to the four firms that presented to the GCMA leadership," said Alliance spokesperson Rick Batyko. "The firms were all very strong, but Doner excelled due to its depth in economic development, travel and tourism and regional branding expertise. We're delighted that the account will be managed by a highly experienced Cleveland-based team."

Four agencies presented to GCMA on July 17, 2006, and the leadership team unanimously selected Doner.

Engaging in a brand development process and marketing the region will increase Northeast Ohio's ability to compete for business expansion projects and travel and tourism spend. The brand development process will take between 10 and 12 months and will involve input from a variety of residents and marketers in the Greater Cleveland area, including representatives across the 13-county Northeast Ohio region. The Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance/Doner team is developing the process and timeline.

Leading the account for Doner will be Clevelander Jennifer Deutsch, senior vice president and general manager of Doner's Cleveland operations. Deutsch, whose Cleveland-based firm BrandInsights merged with Doner early this year, has extensive experience in regional branding, most recently working with San Antonio and Anaheim in their place-branding efforts. Last year she helped reposition the Cleveland Hopkins Airport's brand to its new CLE imagery and messaging. Prior to launching BrandInsights, Jennifer was vice president of brand management at Marriott International where she refined her destination travel and convention marketing skills. She also served as vice president of marketing for Third Federal Savings & Loan.

Other key members of the Doner team will be Larry DeAngelis, VP and account director; Jeffrey Moreau, associate creative director; Beth Morgan, VP strategic planning; and Jeff Petit, Senior VP Brand Strategy. Among Doner's other local clients are Sherwin Williams, KraftMaid, FirstMerit Bank, GE Lighting, American Greetings and Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Other notable clients include Du Pont, La-Z-BOY and Mazda.

The Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance objective is to drive strategic, long-term marketing of the thirteen-county Greater Cleveland area in order to increase meeting and tourist attraction as well as business investment and attraction. The Alliance was founded by the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland and Team NEO. Participation is open to any organization that has a stake in marketing the region.

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