Strategy + Creative = Results
MB Piland Fat Free Advertising & Marketing won Bronze Quill honors at the International Association of Business Communicators Topeka annual awards for its work on Learning Quest and SquareOne Credit Suite.
The competition about more than pretty images and clever words. Entries are evaluated on a number of criteria including creativity, effectiveness and work plan. They were reviewed by IABC member judges in Iowa, Florida and Texas.
“We are proud of this recognition for our client work,” said Alex Reilly, Vice President and Agency Principal. “We’re known for our outstanding creative work, but we also have a depth of strategy behind everything we do. It’s gratifying to win awards that consider results an important part of the picture.”
The winning entry for Learning Quest was a statewide targeted television campaign highlighting parents’ hopes and dreams for their children’s future. One judge noted “beautiful and clean visual ads. They hit home with me and I’m in your target audience. Good measurements to objectives...the testimonials add credibility.”
SquareOne Credit Suite was a national product launch that included branding, development of trade show and collateral materials and print ads. Judges said “great understanding of audience and funny descriptions” and “excellent creative campaign.”
MB Piland Advertising and Marketing, established in 1998, is known for its innovative work and unique Fat Free™ approach, that creates hand selected teams of independent talent specially suited to client needs.
date: June 1, 2009
MB Piland Fat Free Advertising™ Earns WBE Certification
MB Piland Fat Free Advertising has earned official certification as a Women Business Enterprise from the State of Kansas. The WBE designation is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation.
Attaining the certification is rigorous, and includes evaluations of a firm’s business plan, promotional activities, financial management, purchasing and HR policies. It also entails a lengthy site visit and interview process. Once the certification is earned, it must be maintained with yearly oversight by Kansas Department of Transportation and the Office of Minority & Women Business Development at the Kansas Department of Commerce.
“I’m proud to have received this certification,” says Martha Bartlett Piland, President + CEO of MB Piland. “This third-party approval offers us an additional level of credibility in the marketplace. And it tells our clients and prospects that we’re a topnotch business.”
The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce/GO Topeka was engaged in working with local legislators and Governor Sebelius’s office to make a WBE designation available in Kansas. “Previously, women-owned businesses in other states could vie for this certification, but we couldn’t,” says Bartlett Piland. I appreciate the Chamber/GO Topeka’s efforts, Representative Annie Tietze and former Governor Sebelius and her staff on this issue. It significantly helps level the playing field when we’re competing for business with firms in other states.”
According to Women Entrepreneur, “WBE Certification is akin to the UL seal of approval for electric appliances: The business has been “tested” and gives the purchaser comfort that a woman really does have the majority ownership and control of the company.” This is especially important for companies who seek supplier diversity.
MB Piland Fat Free Advertising, established in 1998, is known for its unique Fat Free™ approach that creates hand selected teams of independent talent specially suited
to client needs. The firm was named Women-owned Service Business of the Year in 2005
by the State of Kansas. It was also named 2006 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. MB Piland has earned numerous local, regional and national awards for its work. For more information, visit www.mbpiland.com
