Airfoil Public Relations Gains Mid-Size Agency Status as Client Expansion Accelerates

As it completes five years of high-energy, high-growth, high-tech services, Airfoil Public Relations also is completing a transformation from an upstart firm to a nationally acknowledged mid-sized High Tech Public Relations agency. The agency’s first half-decade of impacting the public relations profession has been characterized by significant expansion of clientele, services, industry and client recognition, and professional staff.

While other public relations firms have contracted, Airfoil has been one of America’s most rapidly expanding agencies, with account expansion fueling an eightfold increase in staff over five years to a total of 40 professionals. Since its founding in August 2000 by Chief Executive Officer Lisa Vallee-Smith and President Janet Tyler, with Microsoft as its first client, Airfoil has grown primarily through expansion of major accounts and the attraction of other aggressive, fast-moving companies and organizations.

From its beginnings as the agency for Microsoft’s Great Lakes District, Airfoil now has assumed national public relations representation for Microsoft Corporation. Similar rapid expansion occurred in its work for eBay; and today Airfoil carries out national and city-by-city public relations for several eBay categories, projects and companies, including eBay Motors, PayPal and ProStores. In all, Airfoil represents a wide range of corporations that lead their industries regionally, nationally and globally. Today, Airfoil is approaching the $5 million fee mark, a result of its success in competing against even the largest PR firms across the United States and of high satisfaction levels that have led clients to expand their work with Airfoil.

“Airfoil’s willingness to introduce truly creative programs, strategies and processes – and advance them from conception to completion with consistent results — is an asset they brought to the table from the very onset of our relationship,” says Beth Jordan, Microsoft Group Public Relations Manager. “From organizational efficiencies to significant progress in deepening our local media, community and marketplace imprints, we value the high return on investment we’ve realized through our work with Airfoil.”

In its earliest years, Airfoil developed two primary practice areas, business to consumer, headed by Vice President Tracey Parry, and business to business, led by Vice President Eric Kushner. Subsequently it built a highly successful research department, developed by Director of Research Christopher Yoon, to provide clients with intelligence on their competitive positioning and communications effectiveness. In 2005, a third practice area was created for automotive/manufacturing technology, directed by Vice President Kim Welch, and the agency added an editorial services department, headed by Director of Editorial Services Steve Friedman, to offer specialized writing for top-level executives, media and marketing materials, and executive training.

“Over the past five years, Airfoil has attracted an exceptionally talented group of public-relations professionals and a remarkable clientele of innovative companies with ambitious growth plans, organizations that are invested in public relations as a strategic asset to help them reach their business objectives,” said CEO Lisa Vallee-Smith.

Airfoil’s reputation for energy, creativity, higher strategic thinking and accountability for “fast companies” has led business publications and the profession’s leading journals to designate Airfoil as one of America’s top independent and high-tech PR firms and one of the region’s “Cool Places To Work.”

Airfoil intends to continue building its role as an increasingly crucial part of its clients’ businesses. Further plans in 2005 include expansion of Airfoil’s office space within metro Detroit to accommodate its enlarged services and staff, as well as initiation of a new three-year strategic plan designed to continue the firm’s progress toward becoming a large independent agency known widely for its strategic communications consulting and impeccable execution.

About Airfoil Public Relations Inc.
Airfoil is an independent public relations firm that specializes in marketing technology products and services for emerging and established technology companies. Established in 2000, Airfoil is a Top 100 PR firm, according to PRWeek, and is a recipient of the PRWeek Boutique PR Agency of the Year Honorable Mention. For more information about Airfoil Public Relations, please call 866.AIR.FOIL or visit http://www.airfoilpr.com/

Contact:

Jane Berger
1.248.304.1407
berger@airfoilpr.com
Airfoil Public Relations – High Tech PR – www.airfoilpr.com