E. Morris Communications Named Advertising Agency Of The Year At Public Relations Advertising Marketing Excellence Awards

E. Morris Communications (EMC), capping off a year of unprecedented growth due to a host of savvy advertising and promotional campaigns, captured double honors at the Public Relations Advertising Marketing Excellence Awards (PRAME), including Advertising Agency of the Year and Best Television Advertisement.

Agency Chairman and Founder Eugene Morris accepted the gold statuettes at the Eighth Annual PRAME Awards, which is held in recognition of the Best Black marketing professionals and campaigns targeted to Blacks. The event was held at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia.

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Chicago-based EMC received the agency honor in part because of its $30 million in billings in 1999, reflecting a more than 50 percent increase over 1998 and a 150 percent increase over 1996. The agency staff also tripled in size in 1999 with continued growth projected into year 2000 and beyond.

EMC received the TV advertisement honor due to its eye-catching Oldsmobile campaign, "Unexpected," for the company's newly-designed Intrigue sedan. The commercial features a Black professional cruising along the streets of outer New York in his new Intrigue only to emerge from the vehicle with dread locks resting on the top of his well-tailored business suit.

Morris, whose "Total Marketing Concept" has established his company as one of the most powerful Black-owned advertising agencies in the nation, says he continues to be awed by EMC's recent opportunities and accomplishments.

"The PRAME Awards seemed to crystallize all of our successes in 1998 and 1999 in terms of growth, creative development and commitment," said Morris. "The reality is that we've worked hard at EMC since our doors opened in 1987, but our current client roster has given us additional opportunities over the past two years to really push the envelope in terms of new ideas and diversity of marketing disciplines."

EMC's current client portfolio includes Oldsmobile, Alberto Culver, Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Phillip Morris, American Family Insurance, Nestle, Ralston-Purina, City Colleges of Chicago and South Shore Bank.