Latest news with #ChrisGallagher
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Top Agency Growth Partners for 2025
Chris Gallagher Contributor More and more, small to medium-sized businesses are opting for agencies that operate more as a growth partner than the traditional one-and-done campaign model. If you're data-driven, knowing that about 66% of businesses work with an agency for at least some of their marketing and PR strategies may be helpful. Many brands do both. They own some services in-house and work with an agency for others. A helpful tip is to opt for an agency that works like a growth partner for your business. This means they dive in, analyze your current efforts, consider your goals, and become one of your team members. The following 10 agencies are ones that your business should have on your radar for 2025 as they have exceptional client reviews, have proven their value in growing brands, and are known to dive in and become true growth partners. MOCEAN MOCEAN is a full-service creative agency and production company for entertainment and brands. Named one of the Best Places to Work for Innovators in 2023 by Fast Company and three-time Agency of the Year, the agency has created award-winning campaigns for history's biggest pop-culture moments, applying strategic thinking and creative execution to a wide range of industries and clients, across every platform. MOCEAN's impressive roster of clients includes Fortune 500 brands and people to action through the power of emotion. They are recognized leaders in creating the kind of strikingly original campaigns that energize audiences and consumers alike growing from core to more. Rebel Gail Rebel Gail has firmly established itself as one of the top PR firms in the United States, earning recognition for its innovative approach to beauty and health brand marketing. Founded in 2015 by industry veterans Nancy Caravetta and Jessica Goldberg, Rebel Gail has rapidly grown into one of the most influential firms in the sector. Highlighted for its ability to shine a spotlight on beauty and health brands through cutting-edge earned, owned and paid digital marketing and the integration of AI into campaign management, the agency founders recently earned a coveted spot on the 2024 Inc. Female Founders 250 list. Ad Vendors When it comes to impactful advertising, Ad Vendors International (AVI) is in a league of its own. As an Indeed Preferred Agency Partner, AVI delivers unmatched white-glove service in employer branding and job posting optimization, helping organizations attract top talent and stand out in today's competitive job markets. From programmatic advertising to out-of-home campaigns and legal advertising, AVI leaves no avenue unexplored, ensuring every campaign achieves measurable results. What sets AVI apart is its tailored strategies and collaborative approach. Every campaign is carefully crafted to not only meet but exceed client expectations, ensuring their message resonates with their audience and drives meaningful engagement. /prompt /prompt is the earned-first creative agency that's creating waves with its unique approach to what it calls Storymaking – a process that eschews brand messages in favor of brand actions that get people talking. This year was particularly noteworthy for the AI-augmented agency, as it cracked the 'viral' code on multiple occasions – trending nationally during the Super Bowl for Cetaphil and exceeding the one-million mark for organic views in the first 24 hours of campaign launches for large and mid-size companies. The agency's Unisom campaign also won top honors recently after they spoofed internet users with a cadre of top models and influencers who seemingly changed their plans at the last minute to choose a good night's sleep over attending the star-studded Met Gala. Visual Identity Group Visual Identity Group is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in full-funnel marketing and software development solutions. For over 24 years, the agency has built a reputation based upon more than clever design and digital technology - it is cemented in the fact that its creative marketing programs get results for clients both big and small, from small business startups to Fortune 500s. HelpGood HelpGood is a full-service social impact marketing agency dedicated to building a better world with its clients. Through a collaborative and strategic approach, HelpGood delivers prestigious work that drives meaningful change. From amplifying iconic wildfire prevention messages on Instagram to championing reproductive rights, this certified B Corp crafts creative communications and solutions for today's most pressing causes. In 2024, HelpGood earned spots on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies and ADWEEK's Fastest Growing Agencies, ranking #1 in social impact. Walker Kreative Walker Kreative, founded in 2015 in California by Cebron Walker, is a leading digital marketing enterprise known for its comprehensive array of services in advertising, web design, hosting and premium video production. Catering to businesses across the United States, their skilled team is committed to delivering exceptional outcomes, specializing in custom-tailored websites, engaging video content, compelling marketing campaigns, and SEO-driven strategies. With a proven track record in Private Medical Practice marketing, particularly in Dentistry and Veterinary, Walker Kreative's mission is to assist small and medium-sized businesses in amplifying their online presence, generating increased website traffic, and ultimately achieving higher sales and inquiries. Bluewater Known for building tribal brand loyalty and trust while driving sales, Bluewater helps brands thrive in a competitive marketplace. Operating across local, regional, and global markets, Bluewater provides tailored solutions to address unique challenges in any region. Bluewater has long been a catalyst for growth, driving results for global brands using a full-funnel strategy. Their expertise drives significant profit growth and revenue increase as well as U.S. expansion. Bluewater is far more than just product and CPG marketers—its experience in lead generation drives success for home services brands and health insurance marketing innovators. Bluewater's DRTV strategies, leveraging comedic creative and unique brand positioning, and drove significant year-over-year improvements for their clients as well as helping them with acquisition. Wagner Creative Wagner Creative, founded by Melissa Wagner, is a strategic marketing and communications agency committed to supporting purpose-driven brands in the architecture, design, and construction industries. Since its inception in 2019, the agency has been dedicated to promoting small businesses, amplifying women in design, and fostering long-term client partnerships. With creative studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, San Francisco, and the Catskills, Wagner Creative takes a holistic approach to marketing, blending storytelling and content creation, strategic planning, and deep industry expertise. As a fine artist herself and an advocate for the industry she serves, Melissa Wagner brings a unique understanding of the creative process and studio-specific demands. Her passion for empowering women-owned businesses and building relationships that drive collective growth has helped forge a client base of future collaborators rather than competitors. WAGNER CREATIVE's work reflects its core mission: to support and elevate creative brands with purpose and drive meaningful change in the industries it serves. Enthuse Marketing As an education-based marketing agency, Enthuse teaches the world to love your brand. Blending expertise in instructional design, storytelling, experience production, and sales performance, Enthuse creates actionable brand education programs delivered by best-in-class educators through compelling experiences. Enthuse's approach has proven to position its clients as trusted leaders with their key customers, ultimately building long-term relationships and business growth. Founded by a leader in experiential marketing and business operations and a seasoned elementary school educator, Enthuse is one of the fastest-growing 100% women-owned and led marketing agencies in the United States.
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
USMI Founder Torrel Harris' Journey to Becoming a Sports Agent is One of Perseverance and Resilience
Chris Gallagher Contributor Hear this story Before Torrel Harris became a pioneering force in sports management, securing one of the largest NBA contracts in history, he was a young man defying expectation. In 1981, he became one of the first African American basketball players in 14 years to graduate from Murray State University in Business Administration. The road wasn't easy. Torrel recalls, 'They told me to switch my major to PE. My coach even had a meeting with me, telling me they didn't think I could do it.' Rather than backing down, Torrel doubled his efforts, sitting at the front of every class, knocking on professors' doors for extra help, and treating his education like a full-time job. His professors, initially skeptical, soon became his mentors—coaches in the game of business. That perseverance would define his career and ultimately earn him induction into the New York Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Torrel's life took many turns before he became an industry pioneer in athlete representation. After college, he entered the corporate world, working as a buyer in New York's high-end retail industry. But long hours and low pay soon pushed him toward a more lucrative path. A friend introduced him to financial planning. Within a month of working part-time in the industry, he made nearly as much as his year's full-time salary. That was all the confirmation he needed. He left his corporate job and immersed himself in financial and estate planning, advising high-net-worth individuals on how to protect and grow their wealth. One of his major clients was George 'Iceman' Gervin. Representing this NBA Hall of Famer, he asked himself a bigger life-changing question: 'How do I give back?' That moment set Torrel on a new path. Determined to master the craft of athlete representation, he trained under a top sports agency for four years, working with some of the biggest names in basketball, football, and baseball. By 1988, he was ready to launch his own firm—Unique Sports Management, now Unique Sports Management International (USMI). Torrel's influence extends far beyond traditional athlete representation. From 1994 to 2005, he secured exclusive licensing rights with both NBA and NFL Properties Divisions, making his firm the only privately held, minority-owned company for overseeing management, manufacturing processes, designs, and major corporate decisions. His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to invent the reversible nylon warm-up suit, which evolved into a successful sportswear manufacturing company. Today, as the Chairman of USMI, he continues to redefine sports management, overseeing contract negotiations, financial planning, investment strategies, brand endorsements, charity initiatives, and marketing strategies—all with a focus on holistic athlete development. Torrel has represented a host of elite athletes, but one of his most defining career moments came when he secured one of the largest contracts in NBA history for one of his sons - Tobias. At the time, it was the highest contract in the history of the Philadelphia 76ers and the 5th highest contract in the history of the NBA. In 2019, it was the highest contract that a father has secured in the history of professional sports. His success as a negotiator stems from a simple philosophy: securing wealth is just the beginning—protecting it is the real challenge. Torrel himself saw firsthand how many athletes made millions during their careers only to end up struggling financially after retirement. 'The worst advice any person can give an athlete is: You just play, and I'll handle your money,' he says. 'Young men need to be their own businessmen.' That philosophy became USMI's core mission: developing sportsmen who are also savvy businessmen. Torrel calls himself a Lifestyle Manager, not just an agent, because his work extends far beyond contracts. He educates players on wealth preservation, investment strategies, real estate, and estate planning. His goal? To ensure that when their playing days are over, they're financially set for life. He states, 'If I negotiate a big contract for you but you don't know how to save or invest that money, I've failed you.' At the heart of everything Torrel does is ensuring his players use their talent wisely—not just for themselves, but for their families and communities. He instills in them the importance of giving back, building businesses, and creating generational wealth that will benefit their children and grandchildren. 'We come into this world with nothing, and we leave with nothing,' Torrel Harris reflects. Unlike many agents who aggressively recruit clients, Torrel takes a different approach. He once represented a long list of athletes but ultimately scaled back to focus on quality over quantity. 'I realized I could be more effective if I worked closely with just a few players at a time,' he explains. 'It's not about how many contracts I sign—it's about the impact I make on the lives of the athletes I work with.' That impact is undeniable. From negotiating one of the biggest NBA contracts of all time for his son to mentoring young players on financial literacy, Torrel Harris has redefined what it means to be a sports agent. He isn't just helping athletes make millions—he's helping them build legacies. And that, he believes, is the true measure of success.
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
How this Company is Leading the Agtech Revolution
Chris Gallagher Contributor Human beings have been practicing organized agriculture for an estimated 8,500 years and have constantly innovated to beat the challenges of changing climates, pests and predation and population pressures. The world is currently in the opening stages of a massive new agricultural revolution that is combining recent advances in high tech and data sciences with traditional agricultural methods to meet the challenges of the 21st century on a sustainable basis. Standing behind this new AgTech revolution is the goal to ensure food security and reduce hunger worldwide. One of the pioneers at the forefront of AgTech innovation is ICL Group. The company is channeling research and development into a range of game-changing technologies that are transforming farming and food production around the world. Disruptions to the Food Supply Chain The massive ongoing challenges of global warming (and associated extreme weather events) and the need to feed a growing world population that is expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050 have all impacted food security and have caused major global food shortages. The rate of global population increase may be slowing in the long term; however 10 billion people will still need to be fed before the end of the century. Projections vary, but some agronomists anticipate a need to double current agricultural production. The Shift to Sustainable Agriculture There is a shift to sustainable agriculture that places environmental protection and the efficient use of existing resources at the forefront of this industry. The emphasis is on obtaining higher yields from existing lands and reducing negative environmental impacts and operating costs. The goal is to be able to produce more with less. Leading AgTech Innovations ICL Group is a global specialty minerals company and has been developing and creating innovative Agtech solutions that have been impacting the industry. The company also places sustainability at the forefront of its core activities. Its biggest production plants are even currently undergoing conversion to circular economies powered by locally generated green energy. According to Elad Aharonson, President of ICL's Growing Solutions: 'Through cutting-edge technology and continuous innovation, we strive to create sustainable solutions that are revolutionizing the future of agriculture.' ICL Group has made a long-term commitment to align its strategies with the climate change goals of the Paris Agreement and also with the wider objectives of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs). The UN SDG 2 Zero Hunger is an inspirational challenge that ICL group is addressing through AgTech innovation, particularly in the field of precision agriculture and sustainability. Precision agriculture, driven by artificial intelligence, big data, biogenetics, the internet of things (connected to robotics, autonomous vehicles, and drones) is turning farming units into the agricultural equivalent of smart factories. One of ICL Group's next generation controlled release fertilizers eqo.x, is an environmentally friendly fertilizer. Its unique biodegradable release technology delivers nutrients throughout each crop growth cycle - without wastage or environmental damage from excess nutrients leaching into soil or groundwater, leaving no harmful residue. eqo.x can reduce nutrient losses by up to 50% and increase nitrogen use efficiency by up to 80% via its temperature-based controlled release mechanism. This translates into major savings for growers and reduces their carbon footprint. ICL Group Partnerships for Strategic Growth Through ICL's FoodTech and AgTech accelerator 'The Planet Startup Hub'- ICL's knowledge, experience, strengths, and resources connect with external innovation in order to bring innovative ideas to market. In fact, the Agtech market is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years and will become increasingly competitive, as can be seen in the chart below. Innovative Startups in the Agtech Field Agmatix is an agro informatics company that is part of ICL's AgTech digital solutions. The startup offers apps and platforms that leverage big data to provide growers with data-based insights and solutions for crop plans. Interestingly, Agmatix pitches its products towards agronomists. Another key area where Agmatix is delivering much needed innovation is field trials. Agmatix Agronomic Trial Management software streamlines the design and implementation of field trials, standardizing data and securely connecting stakeholders and participants around the world. Agmatix software can reduce the cost and duration of trials, expand their parameters and reduce the multi-year journey to market for vital AgTech products. Growers, another one of ICL's AgTech solutions, connects farmers and their advisors to the rest of the agriculture ecosystem through its software platform, and empowers agricultural professionals with augmented decision-making capabilities and executable data-driven recommendations. The Future of AgTech AgTech is evolving as rapidly as its high-tech equivalents in industry and finance. Smart agriculture is nowhere near as high profile as other branches of the high-tech sector, but it is arguably the world's most vital industry: without a stable food supply nothing can function. The ability to feed a growing human population - in a sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion - depends on continual technological innovation and a steady stream of breakthrough ideas. This is how ICL operates. Programs like ICL's BIG (Business Innovation for Growth) internal accelerator are designed to develop ideation and a culture of innovation and channel employee ideas into active projects. With over 13,000 employees worldwide, ICL invests strongly in developing employee engagement initiatives. Transparency is a core value of ICL. According to ICL's recent ESG report, the company recognizes the value of lessons learned in shaping its decisions and actions. While its commitment is to always strive to do the right thing, in the right way, the company acknowledges that mistakes can happen. ICL Dead Sea is working to minimize its environmental footprint and to restore, as much as possible, open areas that have been environmentally and ecologically disturbed. Companies can devote financial resources and create new R&D facilities for AgTech research, but ultimately it's the commitment and dedication of people who want to end world hunger and create a new sustainable agricultural ecosystem that are driving the future of AgTech. ICL is an example of a company that continues its mission to seek innovative AgTech and sustainable agriculture solutions that help support the agricultural ecosystem.
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
How Dr. David L. Hawk Has Made a Career Leading Ethical Business Practices
Chris Gallagher Contributor Hear this story David L. Hawk, PhD, has made a notable career in directorship at the Center for Corporate Rehabilitation via advising and leading businesses in ethical practices, and reconnecting to nature. His mission has focused on the development of unusual businesses for approaching changes. Beginning his education at Iowa State University, Dr. Hawk earned a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1971. He then worked on and received a master's degree in architecture and then in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. Dr. Hawk's turning point in life came in 1968 near the end of his service with a helicopter squadron in Vietnam. From seeing how humans treat each other and nature, he later began a doctorate in system science and international business at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Completing his PhD in 1979, the dissertation reported on his thesis that business as usual was creating environmental deterioration that would lead to climate change conditions. With the help of several industries, he demonstrated how and why humans must change. Dr. Hawk had conducted much of his doctoral research in Sweden. While living there, he co-founded and became a visiting professor at the Institute of International Business at the Stockholm School of Economics. His environmental project launched the Institute's research via an extensive study of the relationship between business practices and environmental deterioration. Heads of 20 firms and six governments took an active role in this project. They came to strongly support his concerns relative to the global spread of environmental deterioration from retention of business-as-usual ideas. Sweden's prime minister subsequently presented Dr. Hawk's work to the OECD. Dr. Hawk established and managed the Foundation of the Eternal Feminine, a nonprofit dedicated to the worldwide education of women for leadership roles. Meanwhile, Dr. Hawk continued with his central inspiration, nature, to lead himself and others towards a pattern that would create and support unusual business that could support and enrich natural life. Since 2005, Dr. Hawk has sponsored research and international corporate retreats on his 1,500-acre farm in Fairfield, Iowa. Until he recently turned it over to a trusted friend, he had done the same on his eight-acre farm in Mt. Olive, New Jersey. Both locations seek to illustrate the connection between professional work and nature. The New Jersey site holds an 1836 stone house once occupied by a man who illustrated the Wizard of Oz books and stories. Before Dr. Hawk's recent work at the Center for Corporate Rehabilitation and the Foundation of the Eternal Feminine, he was the senior advisor at China Construction America Inc., where he helped significantly expand their presence and revenue. This was done via helping the company adapt to climate change conditions, showing dedication to protection of nature, and seeking innovation at all levels of the corporation. He previously wrote a guidebook on IT business futures for IBM's CEO while serving as an adviser. Beyond his corporate work, Dr. Hawk authored six books and numerous journal articles. Through this work, he encourages others to use mathematics, science, poetics and humor to categorize context in terms of its 'dimensionality.' The framework uses five dimensions of thinking to encourage people to question authorities, orders, views of nature (or lack thereof) and governance of self. "I put this together to help people, particularly non-university, even anti-university people, to understand what they think and say." Dr. Hawk notes. He promotes thinking for oneself and assuming moral responsibility for results in all affairs, including work in professional settings. Dr. Hawk's early book, "Too Early, Too Late, Now What?', was placed in the Library of Congress, and is widely noted. A more recent book, 'Humans are F---ed!', was released in 2023. The winner of a prize, the book tapped into growing concern over the future of life on Earth. Additionally, Dr. Hawk was a commissioner for net neutrality, where he championed equal access to the internet as an essential service for accessible knowledge to people worldwide. In 2004, he was awarded the International Professor of the Year by IBM. Dr. Hawk promotes a change of mind in corporate settings, encouraging individuals to support self-governance. His work demonstrates a passion for individuality and selflessness beyond material desires. As a thought leader, author and director, Dr. Hawk's efforts toward a better world for all are evident in his compassionate and thoughtful work. Many of his past students have become leaders in their industries and organizations. Of the 10,000 souls that were his former students, he remains in contact without about 1,000, continuing to learn from their lives. About Marquis Who's Who®: Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website,
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Dr. Alan C. Hartford: An Expert Creating the Next Specialists in His Field
Chris Gallagher Contributor Dr. Alan C. Hartford is an expert in oncology, the field of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and study of cancer. Dr. Hartford specializes in neuro-oncology, connective tissue oncology, genitourinary oncology and pediatric oncology, with three decades of experience in his profession. He believes that there is no greater joy than nurturing the development, growth and healing of others and that science is a romantic quest for knowledge, with the application of medicine being a true art. On the Quest for Knowledge Dr. Hartford began his pursuit of this ideal with his education, first earning a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with distinction from Stanford University in 1983, as well as a Master of Arts in philosophy in the same year. He went on to gain his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1992, followed by a PhD in political economy and government in 1997. This achievement of degrees was interspersed with internships and residency programs, beginning with an internship at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1992 to 1993. This was followed by a residency in radiation oncology and a fellowship in radiation oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from 1993 to 1998 and 1998 to 1999, respectively. Professional Achievements Along the Way Following his education, Dr. Hartford has been a researcher, professor and interim chief of radiation oncology. He is licensed to practice medicine in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts and has served on more than 20 scientific study and review panels of the National Institutes of Health-National Cancer Institute. Establishing a Residency Program at Dartmouth's Medical Center In accordance with his belief in science as a romantic quest for knowledge, Dr. Hartford is proud to have served as the founding director of the radiation oncology residency program at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center since 2016, also acting as a professor of medicine at the nearby Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth since 2021. Very few people are fortunate enough to start a residency program, making Dr. Hartford's work in this role a unique feature of his career. He is proud that this program will help to create forward-thinking specialists in his field, serving to discover new knowledge as they grow in experience. Dr. Hartford's dedication to this residency program reveals his position as a mentor. He has worked with numerous undergraduate, graduate and professional students who have gone on to achieve great things in their respective fields. Dr. Hartford is also committed to his role as a researcher, serving as an associate editor for 'Practical Radiation Oncology.' He has contributed, authored and co-authored several original articles in scientific reviews and medical journals, always working to advance the field of medicine. Beyond the professional, Dr. Hartford is also the author of 'First Days of August,' a 2015 novel published under the pen name Alan Froning. Dr. Hartford's Greatest Achievement and Hope for the Future Dr. Hartford still cites his greatest achievement as the birth of his daughter, Anya. Looking toward the future, he most anticipates the joy that will come from seeing his daughter grow up. Though he acknowledges that happiness and heartache are unavoidable, he hopes that these work together to create the goodness of life. About Marquis Who's Who®: Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website,
