Erwin Penland President Named to Prestigious 4A’s Foundation Board of Directors
January 12, 2012
Ad industry group focuses on improving diversity, attracting future talent
GREENVILLE, SC – January 11, 2012 – Joe Erwin, president and co-founder of Erwin Penland, a full-service marketing firm with offices in Greenville, S.C., and New York City, has been named to the board of directors of the charitable arm of leading advertising industry trade association the 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies).
The primary function of the 4A’s Foundation is to grant scholarships to multicultural students studying advertising at the college and graduate school levels to increase diversity among the country’s advertising agencies. Through its cornerstone scholarship program, Operation Jumpstart, the 4A’s Foundation works with creative portfolio schools to identify aspiring art directors and copywriters of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Since 1997, more than $2 million in scholarships have been awarded to more than 150 students, nearly all of whom have gone on to obtain jobs in the advertising industry.
“It’s a privilege to serve with other leaders in our industry to identify and enable tomorrow’s advertising talent,” said Erwin. “Our agency embraces the challenge of developing a culture where people from all walks of life feel welcomed and valued, and I look forward to helping continue the fine work already done by the 4A’s Foundation.”
Erwin is joined on the board for 2012 by Mary Baglivo, Saatchi & Saatchi chief executive officer; Jo Muse, Muse Communications chairman and chief executive officer; and Ed Wax, Saatchi & Saatchi chairman emeritus.
The agency’s work in the area of diversity and inclusion is personally overseen by Erwin, and he recently spoke about the company’s success in that area as part of a panel during “Advertising Week” festivities in Washington, D.C. The 400-person company’s initiatives are driven by its Diversity & Inclusion Council, believed to be the first of its kind among advertising agencies headquartered in the South, which strives for economic inclusion through supplier diversity while planting seeds to ensure the marketing and advertising workforce of tomorrow is reflective of an increasingly diverse population.
Erwin Penland was recognized last year as one of “Best Places to Work” by Advertising Age , by PR News as one of the “Best Places to work in Public Relations,” and by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce as one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina.” The firm also earned a Diversity Leadership Award from the Richard W. Riley Institute at Furman University and the Excellence in the Workplace Diversity Award from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Diversity Council.
The agency, which celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2011, has won numerous creative awards for its work and now boasts nearly 400 employees in Greenville and New York offices serving some of America’s leading brands, including Verizon, Denny’s, Michelin, Lockheed Martin and General Motors.
About Erwin Penland
Erwin Penland creates interactions that inspire action. One of the largest full-service advertising agencies based in the South, with offices in Greenville, S.C., and New York, the firm offers integrated advertising, strategic planning, media, digital, experiential, direct marketing, design and public relations services to a wide range of clients including Verizon, Denny’s, Lockheed Martin, BI-LO Supermarkets, Cross Pens and Advance America. Renowned for its commitment to growth, integrity and customer service, Erwin Penland has received numerous awards for marketing effectiveness and creative excellence, and in 2011 was named one of the “Best Places to Work” by Advertising Age.
