Advertising Age Recognizes Modea With Award for Best Culture at Annual Small Agency Conference

BLACKSBURG, VA--(Marketwire - Jul 29, 2011) - Modea, a leading independent digital advertising agency, won the Small Agency Best Culture of the Year Award last night in Denver, CO, at the second annual Small Agency Conference and Awards, sponsored by Advertising Age.

Agency co-founders Aaron Herrington and David Catalano accepted the award on behalf of the Blacksburg, VA-based shop.

"Every employee is required to develop and maintain a Career Development Plan that outlines their short- and long-term career goals, sets achievements and directly contributes to their performance bonus," Ad Age wrote in its recognition of Modea.

"This is such an honor," said Herrington. "But it wouldn't have been possible without the support of our clients who value us as true partners, embrace our culture, and respect our strategic and creative vision."

Added Catalano, "Our people know that the culture isn't defined by the founders, but by the daily actions of every member of the agency. This recognition is a tribute to the people back home who care deeply about the work we do and the environment we do it in."

Both executives described Modea as a place that strikes a balance between work and play.

"The great work that all Modeans do is not easy, but we have fun doing it," Herrington said. "We are lucky to have a group that values personal responsibility and accountability for their actions. I'm so proud of everyone who makes our shop a fantastic place to work."

Modea was recognized for the internal culture that drove significant new business growth, not to mention its strategic thinking and creative execution. In the past 12 months, the agency joined the rosters of brand marketers such as Chiquita, HTC and Mizuno, boosting its revenue by 75 percent and expanding the agency's staff to 82 people.

Creative Highlights

• Chiquita Fruit Bites + Duos. Modea recently launched an integrated campaign to generate awareness and trial for Chiquita Fruit Bites and Duos.
• HTC. For the recent launch of the HTC Status phone, the first smartphone with a dedicated Facebook button, Modea developed an innovative microsite that was used to train in-store sales reps on the device and generate consumer interest and excitement around trying the phone.
• Mizuno. After in-depth consumer research, Modea recently re-launched the new website for Mizuno, a manufacturer of premium sporting goods for athletes.

Other marketers that work with Modea include Graco, Lenox, Moveline, and Verizon Wireless.

About Modea
Modea (www.modea.com) is an advertising agency with digital roots. The agency has brought together brand builders who love technology, and technologists who love brands to create work that naturally fosters connections with its clients' consumers. With all 82 of its employees based in Blacksburg, VA, Modea has developed an agency culture based on accountability, passion for creating, and an entrepreneurial drive to invent. Since its founding in 2006, the agency has experienced 75-100% annual growth and was named the 221st fastest growing company in America by INC Magazine. Modea has been successful in drawing talent from across the country through its unique culture, its strong focus on creative, and its commitment to creating an unparalleled quality of life for its employees.

For more information on Modea, please visit us on Facebook and Twitter.