News & Press / March 26, 2006

ICOM Network to Meet in Miami for Annual Strategy Session

Growth and cross-border opportunities key topics; 50+ countries represented

MIAMI - Advertising, public relations and marketing communication experts from as far away as Russia and Australia will converge in South Florida March 26 – 29 to debate key industry issues and share global marketing strategies as part of the 2006 Annual International Management Conference of the ICOM (www.icomagencies.com ) network.

ICOM, one of the leading networks of independent advertising and marketing communication agencies, represents member agencies from more than 50 countries worldwide.  ViVA Partnership, ICOM’s international representative for the U.S. Hispanic market and a Miami-headquartered firm, will host the three-day event.

“ViVA is looking forward to welcoming our ICOM partners to Miami,” said ViVA CEO Linda Lane Gonzalez.  “Miami is fast becoming an important center for advertising, media and the creative arts.  As a nexus for international activity on many levels, it’s the perfect host city for this conference.”

This is the first time ICOM has selected South Florida as a meeting site.  A full agenda of activities is planned to facilitate networking and complement the professional forums, educational seminars and presentations. Leading the list of industry personalities and guest presenters are Trudi Bressner of T. Bressner Associates, New York, who will discuss New Business Best Practices and Chuck Porter, chairman, Crispin Porter & Bogusky, speaking on Managing the Hottest Agency on the Planet.

ICOM International management meetings are held in a different region of the world each year, providing members the opportunity to learn about key global markets first hand.  ICOM agencies are independently owned and operated, and conference attendees are senior level decision makers.  Most are agency owners and principals.

“The ICOM network extends our reach worldwide. Partnering on accounts gives us global clout equal to that of a multinational conglomerate agency while retaining the hands-on, custom client services of an independent,” adds Gonzalez. “We each operate locally, yet have access to local market expertise and thinking worldwide. It’s essentially having an office in 50+ countries, crossing all language and cultural borders around the globe.”

Most conference sessions, including those featuring Bressner and Porter, are open to the media.  For information on attending, or for more information, contact Clarice MacGarvey at 1-305-861-3157.

 

About ICOM: Rollinsville, Colo. (USA)-based ICOM is one of the world's leading global networks of independent marketing communications agencies, with US$2+ billion in billings and US$300 million in gross income annually. ICOM offers a full range of integrated marketing and media communications services and is an alternative to the huge and increasingly similar agency groups.

About ViVA Partnership: ViVA is a 100% woman/minority-owned and managed, independent, full-service advertising and integrated marketing communications partner for companies seeking to make an impact in U.S. Hispanic markets. The multilingual, multicultural professionals at ViVA specialize in strategic planning, branding, advertising, special events, marketing programs, promotions and public relations. ViVA also provides Latin America marketing expertise and is a member of ICOM, a global network of independent agencies representing 50+ countries.  ViVA clients include Verizon Wireless, Uniroyal, MeowMix, Entenmann’s, Dexatrim, Pfizer, and GMAC Mortgage, among others.

Available: Interviews, Background, JPEGS, Logos