David Sable, Global CEO of Y&R, announced today that Y&R is launching a new global technology marketing practice named Tech.YR. By aligning seven Y&R companies that focus on technology and telecommunications — Banner in London, SicolaMartin in Texas, Y&R Business Communications Geneva, Y&R Singapore, Y&R Beijing, Y&R Brazil, as well as VML in multiple markets, Tech.Y&R will provide an integrated global network to its clients.

The agencies all have extensive experience working with globally recognized technology companies. They share the same philosophy and rigorous methodologies to communicate simply and persuasively about complex products and services to both consumer and business audiences. The network will offer its clients media planning and buying, search, social and mobile, as well as the development of online and offline campaigns. Tech.YR will draw from VML’s resources to deliver digital marketing solutions across the globe.

Marcus Brown, who will remain the CEO of Y&R’s operations in Geneva, will lead the practice as its Managing Partner. Banner CEO Michael Wrigley, and Cherie Cox, CEO of SicolaMartin will each serve as Partners. Each of the agencies will remain independent but will come together around shared clients.
“Tech.Y&R allows any client with a technological, telecom or otherwise complex offering a unique and proven global network. We are offering them a global partner who understands how to turn complexities into compelling marketing. Beyond accountability and measurable value across multiple markets, which of course this brings, it is also about letting our clients tap into great resources and people around the world who have highly specialized experience in this sector,” said David Sable.

Tech.YR begins with a strong client base. Adobe and Dell are serviced in multiple locations and Symantec, Autodesk, LG, AMD and BMC Software are serviced by individual offices. The practice is built on a strong heritage of jointly servicing technology clients including Novell, Freescale, SITA, ITU and Blue Coat.

Paula Simchak has been promoted to Creative Director. Formerly Associate Creative Director/Sr. Writer, Simchak has been with SicolaMartin for 10+ years, working on a variety of accounts, such as AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, St. David’s HealthCare, and more. Prior to joining SicolaMartin, Simchak was VP/Associate Creative Director at Lowe Lintas & Partners in New York City.

Meredith Cuevas has been promoted to Account Supervisor on the Dell and Sybase accounts. Formerly a Sr. Account Manager, Cuevas has been with the agency for three years. A San Antonio native, she joined SicolaMartin after almost four years as Campaign Manager at The Advertising Council in Washington, D.C.

Kim Bissell has been promoted to Sr. Account Manager on the Dell and Sybase accounts. A six-year agency veteran, and native of San Antonio, Bissell began her career at SicolaMartin as an intern, while attending the University of Texas.

Katherine Seaberg has been promoted to Sr. Account Manager on the AMD, CoreLogic and St. David’s HealthCare accounts. A native of Virginia, Seaberg began working at SicolaMartin as an intern, while attending graduate school at the University of Texas. She has been with SicolaMartin for five years.

Lastly, Laney Catledge has been promoted to Sr. Client Accountant. A native of Mississippi and 10-year SicolaMartin employee, Catledge manages all billing and works with client teams to ensure profitability and provides counsel for client teams, regarding financial issues.

About SicolaMartin
Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency that turns marketing complexities into compelling ideas. For more than 20 years, the agency has created powerful connections between brands and their customers in industries such as enterprise technology, consumer electronics, managed services, healthcare, telecom and supply chain management and logistics. Industry leaders, including AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, McLane and Sybase have relied on SicolaMartin for innovative marketing solutions. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands.

Best Online Technology Video was awarded to the “Dell s300wi Interactive Projector” video. A sales video targeting IT decision-makers in the K-12 education market, it was produced for Dell’s software and peripherals division to share the benefits and features that this new Dell product has to offer. Winning Outstanding Online Video was the Dell “Take Your Own Path” video. Targeting inactive and prospective customers of Dell PartnerDirect Partners, the video positions Dell resellers as critical partners to help small businesses grow, thrive and take their own path.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our work with Dell,” stated Diane McKinnon, EVP, Executive Creative Director at SicolaMartin. “The Dell s300wi Interactive Projector video helped launch a great product by making it relevant for targets in the education industry—and the ‘Take Your Own Path’ video is a great tool to help Dell partners reach more of their customers.”

View the videos here:

http://www.sicolamartin.com/portfolio/motion/motion-online/dell-s300wi-projector/

http://www.sicolamartin.com/portfolio/motion/dell-take-your-own-path-video/

About SicolaMartin
Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency that turns marketing complexities into compelling ideas. For more than 25 years, the agency has created powerful connections between brands and their customers in industries such as enterprise technology, consumer electronics, managed services, healthcare, telecom and supply chain management and logistics. Industry leaders, including AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, McLane and Sybase have relied on SicolaMartin for innovative marketing solutions. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands. For more information, visit http://www.sicolamartin.com.

Jason McQueen has been hired as Director of Media Services. McQueen joins SicolaMartin after spending three years as Vice President, Media Director of Virilion—where he helped clients leverage new media technologies to reach their desired audiences.

Aaron Orner has been hired as Director of Digital Strategy. Prior to joining SicolaMartin, Orner was an independent online marketing consultant, helping companies improve their online marketing communications. Before his consulting role, Orner acted as Chief Creative Officer and CEO of Orner, Sproat, Zimmerman.

Nik Bristow has been hired as Sr. Copywriter. A graduate of the Portfolio Center, Bristow spent the last eight years working in Atlanta at the Austin Kelley and Fitzgerald+Co agencies on clients such as Coca-Cola, Six Flags, TVA, RaceTrac and Bio Willie, to name a few. He has also blogged for AutoBlog Green.

Andrea Ehringer joins the account service department as Senior Account Manager on the AMD, CoreLogic and St. David’s HealthCare accounts. Prior to joining SicolaMartin, Ehringer was at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg, Florida where she worked in the marketing department as an account manager.

Crystal Cook has been hired as Executive Assistant to the President, helping with business development. Prior to her new role within SicolaMartin, Cook worked in account service on the AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, Intertek and St. David’s HealthCare accounts.

Sonia Chaphekar joins the account service department as Account Manager on the Dell account. Prior to joining SicolaMartin, Chaphekar was at Sanders\Wingo for three years, working on the AT&T account. An Austin native, Chaphekar is a graduate of Texas State University.

Freddie Munoz joins the media department as Media Manager. A graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Munoz spent four years as a media planner with MindShare on the Land Rover account prior to joining the SicolaMartin team.

Jeremy Ballard joins the media department as Media and Traffic Coordinator. Prior to joining the SicolaMartin team, Ballard worked in the operations department of LibreDigital, an Austin-based digital publisher. A Dallas native, Ballard has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Texas State University.

Flip Villela has been hired as Assistant Art Director on the Dell and McLane accounts. A Dallas native, Villela has a degree in studio art from the University of Texas and studied graphic design at Austin Community College.

Dave Johannes joins the interactive department as Junior Developer. Previously a designer/developer for the Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services group at the University of Texas, Johannes launched several new sites for departments on campus.

Stella Alvarez joins the account service department as Assistant Account Manager on the Dell and Sybase accounts. An advertising graduate of the University of Texas, Alvarez comes to us from Univision Radio Austin, where she was the National Account Coordinator.

Lastly, Kim Baze joins the account service department as Assistant Account Manager on the AMD, CoreLogic and St. David’s HealthCare accounts. A graduate of Texas State University with a degree in advertising, Baze began her career at Motion Computing before finding her way to SicolaMartin.

About SicolaMartin
Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency that turns marketing complexities into compelling ideas. For more than 20 years, the agency has created powerful connections between brands and their customers in industries such as enterprise technology, consumer electronics, managed services, healthcare, telecom and supply chain management and logistics. Industry leaders, including AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, McLane and Sybase have relied on SicolaMartin for innovative marketing solutions. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands. For more information, visit http://www.sicolamartin.com.

Austin-based advertising and marketing agency, SicolaMartin, recently announced a new lineup within the agency’s leadership team. The 50-person agency, a part of Young & Rubicam Brands, represents businesses in the technology, B2B and consumer categories including AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, McLane, St. David’s HealthCare and Sybase.

The reorganization includes the promotion of five senior staffers, Nancy George, Kimberly Granberry, Mark Norton, Nada Saidi Smith and Alan Vassberg. All have been named vice president, retaining many elements of their previous organizational responsibilities, while also expanding their roles within the agency.

Nancy George has been promoted to Vice President, Client Services. In addition to her new role in overseeing client and agency interaction, George will maintain her position as Account Director on key anchor accounts. An advertising and marketing veteran with over 20 years of experience on corporate, high-tech, healthcare, entertainment, retail, fast food, industrial, consumer and packaged goods accounts, George plays a vital role in the ongoing relationships between SicolaMartin and its many clients.

Kimberly Granberry has been promoted to Vice President, Finance. A SicolaMartin employee for over 10 years, Granberry oversees all aspects of the agency’s financial operations, developing, implementing and enforcing policies and procedures that improve the overall operation, effectiveness and financial condition of the agency.

Mark Norton has been promoted to Vice President, Creative Strategy and Development. With almost 17 years at SicolaMartin writing creative and copy platforms, Norton has built brands and worked effectively in all forms of traditional media and the latest social and non-traditional channels. Along with his increased responsibilities and new business efforts, Norton will continue as lead writer for a variety of SicolaMartin clients.

Nada Saidi Smith has been promoted to Vice President, Account Operations. In addition to her existing role as Account Director on the McLane and LifeSize accounts, Saidi Smith’s new responsibilities include development of organization policies and processes that cover account operations, personnel and financial performance. A seasoned agency veteran, Saidi Smith has been with SicolaMartin for 19 years.

Lastly, Alan Vassberg has been promoted to Vice President, Communications Planning. With 13 years of industry experience—six as the agency’s previous Marketing Services Director—Vassberg’s new role at SicolaMartin will have him coordinating and maximizing the media, research, account service and creative departments to achieve client goals via the most effective agency initiatives possible.

“Over the past 25 years the agency has developed some incredible talent and stellar leaders,” stated Cherie Cox, President. “These five individuals are helping shape the future of SicolaMartin. Diane and I are proud of all they’ve done, and in their new roles we know there’s no limit to what they can accomplish.”

About SicolaMartin
Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency that turns marketing complexities into compelling ideas. For more than 20 years, the agency has created powerful connections between brands and their customers in industries such as enterprise technology, consumer electronics, managed services, healthcare, telecom and supply chain management and logistics. Industry leaders, including AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, McLane and Sybase have relied on SicolaMartin for innovative marketing solutions. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands. For more information, visit http://www.sicolamartin.com.

(April 15, 2011) Austin-based advertising and marketing agency, SicolaMartin, was recently named #13 on the list of top small employers in the Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of Texas Monthly, the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (TSC-SHRM) and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Texas, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. The Best Companies to Work for in Texas 2011 list is made up of 100 companies.

“What makes us so unique? Turning marketing complexities into compelling ideas is what we do,” stated Cherie Cox, President of SicolaMartin. “And while we take our work very seriously, we try not to take ourselves too seriously. We have Summer Fridays, Flying Saucer Awards and Office Olympics. We strive for a healthy environment where people can balance both their work and their family commitments. We also feel strongly about giving back to the community in which we work and live.”

With an average employee tenure of 7 years, SicolaMartin has a unique culture that sets it apart from most other advertising agencies. It begins with five core values—honesty, respect, passion, fun and accountability—that are upheld by each and every employee. And because SicolaMartin looks for clients with similar values, the result is an environment of ongoing business relationships built on a strong foundation.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Texas and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

For more information on the Best Companies to Work for in Texas program, visit www.BestCompaniesTX.com.

About SicolaMartin

Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency that turns marketing complexities into compelling ideas. For more than 20 years, the agency has created powerful connections between brands and their customers in industries such as enterprise technology, consumer electronics, managed services, healthcare, telecom and supply chain management and logistics. Industry leaders, including AMD, CoreLogic, Dell, McLane and Sybase have relied on SicolaMartin for innovative marketing solutions. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands. For more information, visit http://www.sicolamartin.com.

As marketing and advertising agency SicolaMartin enters its 25^th year, founder and CEO Steve Martin today announced that he will be stepping down as CEO but will remain at the agency as non-executive Chairman, working on special assignments and serving as a senior advisor. He is succeeded by Cherie Cox, a 17-year veteran of the agency, who was chosen by both Martin and co-founder Tom Sicola in 2008 to be the agency’s President. As such, she has already been leading day-to-day operations and business development since that time in partnership with Diane McKinnon, EVP and Executive Creative Director.

“I feel both pride and excitement about SicolaMartin’s next chapter. Tom Sicola and I shaped and built this agency over the years. But it is up to the next generation to carry it forward,” said Steve Martin. “We have carefully planned for this day and Cherie is not only prepared and proven, she is a gifted natural. She’s going to be fantastic,” he added.

Mrs. Cox joined SicolaMartin 17 years ago. Prior to her promotion to President two years ago, she was most recently the agency’s SVP, Managing Partner.

“We deeply appreciate the incredible commitment and influence that Steve has had at SicolaMartin and for our industry, and we are excited about the future. We have a strong and creative agency with great people, great clients and an amazing corporate culture,” said Cherie Cox.

Steve Martin has been a leading figure in the Austin advertising and business community for many years. Through his leadership, the agency has received countless creative and industry awards. In 2001, he was named Austin’s Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Supported by his personal commitment to a strong culture, SicolaMartin has made Texas Monthly’s list of Best Companies to Work for in Texas for the past 5 years. He has chaired or served on multiple boards and his pro-bono activities have included the American Cancer Society, the United Way, Austin Children’s Shelter, the Go Texan Program, Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas, and many others.

“This is the perfect way for me to continue to support the agency while allowing me time to focus more energy on pro-bono efforts and several special projects that I am extremely passionate about,” Martin added.

Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency that turns marketing complexities into compelling ideas. For more than 20 years, the agency has created powerful connections between brands and their customers in industries such as enterprise technology, consumer electronics, managed services, healthcare, telecom and supply chain management and logistics. Industry leaders, including AMD, Blu-ray Disc, McLane, SAP, Sybase and Dell have relied on SicolaMartin for innovative marketing solutions. For the past five years, SicolaMartin has been voted one of Best Companies to Work for in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands. For more information, visit http://www.sicolamartin.com .

SicolaMartin – a full-service marketing and advertising agency entering its twenty-fifth year in Austin – saw the opportunity to create a more modern space and roll out a brand positioning and new visual identity for the agency. The agency had been in the Austin Centre since relocating from the Arboretum in 1999. SicolaMartin will be on the 18th floor and share state-of-the-art production and IT facilities with other Y&R Brands and WPP network companies. “We have a contemporary, yet warm space that is able to reflect the personality and culture of the agency, as well as provide the best facilities for meeting the evolving needs of our clients,” said Cherie Cox, President of SicolaMartin.

The new space is an open environment, making communication and collaboration much easier for an agency that provides an integrated portfolio of services. “Art directors, account service, web developers, writers, media planners – they all sit in close proximity to one another in order to engage at a fundamental level and deliver the kind of innovate marketing solutions our clients have come to expect from SicolaMartin,” said Steve Martin, CEO of SicolaMartin.

One of the goals set by the agency at the beginning of 2009 was to examine how they presented themselves and make sure they provided a clear vision and value to clients, prospects, partners and employees. The agency fielded research with current and former clients and partners to better understand their perceptions of SicolaMartin and what they needed going forward. The agency has taken these insights along with other data and created a clearer articulation of what they provide for clients. “We needed to communicate our ability to tap the strength of our technology heritage and the diversity of our client portfolio, along with the amazing opportunities afforded by the spectrum of marketing channels available today. Turning marketing complexities into compelling ideas is what we do,” said Cherie Cox.

Along with a new expression of SicolaMartin’s value proposition, the agency saw the move as an opportunity to update its visual identity in a way that reflects the culture that has been a hallmark of the shop for many years. The new look incorporates colorful elements that represent the “Martian” culture of SicolaMartin – a fun, creative and unique way of looking at the world that focuses employees on taking their work seriously without taking themselves too seriously. “We have been named one of the Best Places to Work in Texas by Texas Monthly for the past five years and we feel that our culture is a huge part of that recognition,” said Steve Martin. From the graphic wall decals of Martian characters to the conference rooms named for planets to an expansive view of the Capitol, the space reflects the vision of a local agency with a reach well beyond its proud Austin roots.

SicolaMartin’s first assignment—to develop a communications strategy and advertising campaign around the launch of the new St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas—began running in print ad publications last month. The St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas is a brand new, $83-million dollar facility, and the region’s first hospital designed specifically for women. Connected via a sky bridge to the second floor of the main St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, the facility offers the highest level of maternity and newborn services with Level I, II, and III nurseries. Ultimately, it will include physician offices of various specialties for women’s services, women’s imaging services, and a Breast Cancer Resource Center, among others.

Utilizing sophisticated, duotone images of a women and child as well as architectural and design details of the new facility, the new print ad beautifully and simply explains to readers that, “It’s for Her.” It goes on to explain that the new facility is… “A place of health, warmth, comfort and safety. Where experienced staff and state-of-the-art technology go hand in hand. Where great minds choose to practice because of their shared commitment to exceptional care. Where women’s services, needs, and treatments aren’t simply the most important things. They’re the only things.”

The sentiment, “It’s for Her”, was quickly embraced by the leadership at St. David’s HealthCare. “We were so impressed with the firm’s ability to quickly grasp the attributes of the center and to bring them to life in breakthrough creative approaches,” Mark Clayton, Senior Vice President, said, when referring to SicolaMartin’s initial presentation to win the business.

As for SicolaMartin, the opportunity was exactly what the agency was looking for. With an ongoing effort to broaden its portfolio into more consumer-focused accounts, the agency was elated to add St. David’s HealthCare as the latest in a long line of non-hi-tech clients. But that’s not the only reason. According to Cherie Cox, President of SicolaMartin, “It is so exciting to work on such a significant launch for St. David’s HealthCare in Austin. As a woman and a mother, I could instantly relate to the unique qualities that the center has to offer.”

About St. David’s HealthCare

In 2008, St. David’s HealthCare received the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Texas based upon world-class quality measures. With a total of 21 sites across Central Texas, St. David’s HealthCare includes six of the area’s leading hospitals: St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, St. David’s South Austin Hospital, St. David’s Medical Center, St. David’s Georgetown Hospital and St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital. In addition to its full-service rehabilitation hospital, St. David’s provides rehabilitation services at its acute-care facilities and at 15 outpatient rehabilitation clinics across the region. For more information visit http://www.StDavids.com

What makes us so unique? We work hard. We love what we do. We “get it,” many of our clients say. We also have Summer Fridays, Kick Butt awards, growth opportunities and we strive for a healthy environment where people can balance both their work and family commitments, for starters.

The rankings are determined by a third party, and are  based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey.

The Best Company to Work for in Texas program is a partnership of the Texas Association of Business, TEXAS MONTHLY and The Society for Human Resource Management – Texas State Council. The full listing of companies will be published in the February issue of TEXAS MONTHLY.