Elevation is pleased to announce the acquisition of Fultz Marketing.

Founded in 1994 by industry veteran Barbara Fultz, Fultz Marketing has a longstanding reputation for excellence in producing a wide range of marketing and advertising materials. “We’ve been working with Barbara and her team since we launched Elevation in 2001,” said Frank Gilliam, Elevation’s co-founder and co-creative director. “Our strengths have always matched perfectly with theirs, so this is really a perfect marriage.”

Fultz has been named Senior Vice President of Elevation, where she will continue to provide leadership to accounts including Alcoa Architectural Products, Camp BowWow, Capital One, LeClairRyan and Marriott International, among others. All of Fultz Marketing’s staff will also join the Elevation team at its headquarters at 9 West Main Street in Richmond, effective January 1, 2012.

“Elevation’s clients will benefit from the added depth of production experience that Barbara’s team brings to us,” said Aaron Dotson, Elevation’s co-founder and co-creative director. “And Fultz’s clients will benefit from Elevation’s extensive strategic and creative capabilities. We’re very enthusiastic about the growth opportunities this creates, not only for our combined client roster, but for our staff, too.”

“Joining Elevation is going to be great for my clients and my staff,” Fultz said. “Frank, Aaron and I have created dozens of successful campaigns together over the last ten years, and the chance to officially join forces is very exciting for all of us. We look forward to creating even more great work together in the years ahead.”

Elevation was named the Small Business Greater Richmond Employer of Choice in 2011. Barbara Fultz was named Ad Person of the Year by the Advertising Club of Richmond in 1998. Aaron Dotson and Frank Gilliam were named Ad Persons of the Year by the Advertising Club of Richmond in 2009.

At the Employer All Star Awards breakfast on May 4th, Elevation was named “Greater Richmond Area Employer of Choice” in the category of small businesses, joining Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital and VCU Health System as the top employers in the Richmond region who embody a set of honored principles, a defined culture and have satisfied employees. Click here for news coverage.

The awards are sponsored by Richmond SHRM, the Greater Richmond Chamber, and The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Elevation was also honored to be a finalist for the Community Involvement award, which recognizes employers who demonstrate stewardship through volunteering significant time and/or resources in support of charitable organizations, educational organizations, community service groups, and/or significant community projects or programs.

AIGA Richmond’s 6th Greater Richmond Awards for Design Excellence were held April 28th. The show, which is held every two years, recognizes the very best design work done in central Virginia — and Elevation was honored to take home three of the show’s top awards:

- “Judge’s Choice Award” for for our print campaign for UsedCameras.com
- “Best of Category” in Advertising for our print campaign for UsedCameras.com
- “Best of Category” in Web/Interactive for our video for World Pediatric Project

In addition, Elevation won merit awards for our work for the First Tee Richmond, Sports Backers, St. Christopher’s and Belmont Butchery.

The Richmond Ad Club doled out its coveted Cannonball Awards at the Richmond Show on April 16, honoring the best work of 2009 in the city’s bustling creative community. Now in its 41st year, the Show honors agencies from across five categories: Advertising, Design, Interactive, Production and Student work.

Elevation was pleased to win four Silver Cannonballs:

- One for our television commercial for Butterflies LIVE! at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
- One for our television commercial for La Difference’s Perfect Seat Sale
- One for our television commercial for La Difference’s Sleep Sale
- One for our print advertising campaign for UsedCameras.com

In addition to these awards for our creative work, Elevation’s founders, Frank Gilliam and Aaron Dotson, were recognized as “Advertising Persons of the Year” by the Richmond Ad Club. Click here to read the associated article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. View the tribute video that was played at The Richmond Show below:

Elevation took home the top award for advertising in the GRADE Awards on March 20th. Sponsored by the Richmond chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Artists, GRADE (Greater Richmond Awards for Design Excellence) recognize the best creative work created in central Virginia over the last two years.

Elementary School Musical—a commercial Elevation created for the Virginia College Savings Plan—took the Best of Advertising award. Judges noted that the strength of the overall concept, saying “the lighting, the schoolroom piano and the smart editing make for an entertaining but eye opening spot.”

This is third major recognition for the commercial, which also took the Gold in the 2008 Richmond Show, as well as a Telly. The award marks the third time Elevation has won the best of advertising category in the GRADE Awards’ five-show history.

The Advertising Club of Richmond’s annual Richmond Show recognizes creative work from the region’s top firms. Competition is always stiff, particularly given the amazing work that’s always submitted by our friends at The Martin Agency and others.

That’s why we were so thrilled that our “Elementary School Musical” spot took home the gold cannonball for best television commercial this year. It’s a testament to great teamwork, both within Elevation and between our staff and the marketing team at Virginia College Savings Plan.