Ad firm up for award

Ad firm up for award

The Syracuse, N.Y.-based parent company of one of Sarasota's largest advertising firms is a finalist for a major industry award.

The firm, Eric Mower and Associates, is nominated for recognition in PRWeek magazine's annual Agency of the Year contest. EMA, which has 14 employees in its Sarasota office, is one of four finalists in the small PR firm category. The magazine plans to host an awards banquet in March.

EMA's public relations and public affairs unit, the impetus for the nomination, was a bright spot for the firm during the 2009 industry-wide downturn. Revenue in that division increased 13% last year.

EMA has seven offices nationwide, including four in New York and its Sarasota branch, which it bought in 2008. The firm was featured in the Review's Jan. 15 issue for its work with men's grooming company Remington. (http://www.review.net/section/detail/cut-it-close/.)