Innis Maggiore Group Names Three Vice Presidents

CANTON, Ohio (November 5, 1999) - Innis Maggiore Group Inc. today announced that it has named three new vice presidents and owners of the regional advertising and public relations firm.

Thomas J. Merrill has been named vice president of client services.

Dan J. Pecchia has been named vice president of public relations.

Jeffrey Monter has been named vice president of creative services.

The three join Dick Maggiore, president and chief executive officer; Chuck Innis, chairman; and Kathi Maggiore, vice president of administration, as the agency's owners.

"These promotions will broaden our management team and support our ongoing transition from a local, family-owned business to a regionally prominent firm," Dick Maggiore said.

"These three individuals have brought Innis Maggiore a wealth of new ideas and talent while preserving our traditions of integrity, quality and service."

The appointments follow significant growth at the Canton-based agency. Capitalized billings in 1998 were nearly $12 million, up more than 50 percent from billings in 1997, and up more than double from billings in 1996. The agency's staff has grown to 27, from just 11 in early 1997.

Merrill, as vice president of client services, supervises the agency's marketing communications, advertising, strategic planning, research and media placement areas. He had most recently been director of client services.

Prior to joining Innis Maggiore Group in 1995, Merrill served for six years as director of marketing and communications at United Way of Central Stark County, the region's leading fund-raising organization. Previously, Merrill served as an account executive with a St. Louis-based advertising and public relations firm.

A Canton resident, Merrill is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is a member and past president of the Canton Advertising Club and serves on the board of Pegasus Farms in Canton.

Pecchia, as vice president of public relations, manages media relations, investor relations, internal communications, publishing and business writing activities. He had most recently been director of public relations.

Pecchia joined Innis Maggiore in January 1998 from Ira Thomas Associates in Youngstown, where he had worked for five years, most recently as director of editorial services. Before that, he spent 11 years in the daily newspaper business, most recently as business editor of The Vindicator in Youngstown. He also served as a reporter and business editor at The Tribune Chronicle in Warren.

Pecchia holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Youngstown State University, where he has taught writing courses since 1987. He is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and the Public Relations Society of America, and serves as a board member and Sunday School teacher at Grace Church of the Nazarene. He lives in Canfield. Monter, as vice president of creative services, supervises the creative conception and development of print and broadcast materials for advertising and public relations. He had most recently been creative director.

Monter joined the agency in November 1998 when his company, Monter Creative Design, merged with Innis Maggiore. Before striking out on his own, he was creative director for Communication Resources, Inc., a Canton publishing company. Before that, Monter served as art director for Wern, Rausch, Locke Advertising in Canton for 12 years. Monter attended the Columbus College of Art & Design. He is a member of the Canton Advertising Club and a resident of North Canton.

Innis Maggiore Group Inc., based in Canton, Ohio, is a regional advertising and public relations agency. The agency employs 27 people and reported 1998 capitalized billings of nearly $12 million. The agency's major clients include Republic Technologies International, Aultman Health Foundation, Oasis Floral Products, Square Two Golf, Waterlink, Rainbow Rentals, Akrochem, Crown Divisions, Parker Hannifin and Alpha Enterprises. Innis Maggiore Group 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