Element Advertising and Native Marketing enter into strategic partnership

Collaboration creates largest full-service agency in Western North Carolina

Element Advertising and Native Marketing have entered into a strategic business agreement that will bring the branding, marketing, creative and management talents of both agencies under one roof. The partnership unites some of the most respected advertising and marketing executives in the region, including Element founding partners Jack Becker, Rob Young and Matt Levin, and Native Marketing founder Craig McAnsh.

“The most successful advertising agencies have out-of-the-box thinkers who consistently deliver creative solutions that help clients build business," said McAnsh. “We now have 10 full-time creative minds collaborating under one roof to support our current and new clients with bright ideas."

This partnership is the next step in evolving the traditional agency model to better meet the integrated marketing needs and strategic business goals of local, regional and national clients like Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Travel and Tourism, HomeTrust Bank, North American Roofing and Turner Media Group.

“We’re seeking to be the surprise on the Western North Carolina advertising landscape,” said Becker. “This isn’t a regional hotbed for strategic or creative innovation. But it only takes one team of 10 crazy enough to think they can do it to change that perception.”
The combined agencies will build on a foundation of research and competitive analysis to bring brands to life through:

• creative strategy, implementation;
• brand strategy;
• media strategy, planning, buying;
• account service;
• graphic design, illustration, motion graphics; and
• public, media relations.

McAnsh launched Native Marketing in 2005. He brings over 25 years of client and agency experience driving creative and strategic direction for national and international clients like McDonald’s Corp., Turner Broadcasting, Comcast, Coca-Cola and Intel. Becker is Element’s principal brand strategist, creative director, and senior copywriter. His background includes more than 15 years of experience working with some of the most internationally well-known brands, including Intel, Sundance Institute, Sony PlayStation and MGM Motion Pictures. Levin, Element’s associate creative director, senior art director and Web designer, spent more than 14 years working for San Francisco ad agencies before moving to Western North Carolina. Clients include such well-known brands as PGA, eBay Motors, Grove Park Inn and Asheville Regional Airport. Young is Element’s media and research director. His experience includes more than 25 years of strategic media planning and execution serving clients such as Kellogg’s, Pennzoil-Quaker State and Chili’s restaurants.

Talent from both agencies will occupy a joint office at 1 Tingle Alley in Asheville. Element staff includes Kim McCarl, account director and public relations; MacKenzie Sedelbauer, project manager and traffic; and John Melton, designer and flash programmer. Staff for Native Marketing is Scott Kitchen, account manager; Megan Sinkinson Withrow, graphic designer; and Justin Rhodes, marketing coordinator.