Howard Buford, CEO of Multicultural Ad Agency Prime Access, Receives Prestigious Moss Kendrix Marketer Award

NEW YORK, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Howard Buford, president and CEO of Prime Access, received the 2011 Moss Kendrix Marketer Award from the National Alliance of Market Developers (NAMD). Buford received the honor at the group's Marketing Awards Luncheon at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem on May 6.

Named for Moss Kendrix, a public relations pioneer who counseled Coca-Cola, Carnation and Ford, his work and influence left a lasting and major imprint on the way African Americans are portrayed through the power of advertising.  The Moss Kendrix Marketer Award is bestowed annually by NAMD, a non-profit organization that pioneers the research, development and economic insights into the Black consumer market.

"Howard Buford was recognized for his excellence in reaching a variety of multicultural consumers," said Clyde Allen, executive director of NAMD. "His unique  approach  in advertising, marketing communications, and media services to reach African-American, Hispanic, and Gay consumers is reflected in the outstanding advertising campaigns developed for his clients including Hyatt Hotels, Merck, Pfizer and Chase."

Buford launched Prime Access (www.prime-access.com) in 1990 with the vision of being an African American owned agency that would include a variety of multicultural targets.  A pioneer in the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender) advertising market, Prime Access is now in its 21st year and is a leading communications and marketing firm specializing in African American, Hispanic and GLBT marketing segments. The agency had $70 million in billings in 2010.  

"It's especially gratifying to receive this award from the NAMD," said Buford. "It recognizes that an African-American owned agency like Prime Access reaches beyond one target audience and does so innovatively, with the latest digital technology.  We are multicultural, multi-dimensional and multi-media."

The Moss Kendrix Marketer Award recognizes an individual or organization that has: demonstrated excellence in reaching consumers; established a new marketing concept; presented positive images of African Americans; significantly contributed to brand growth and profitability and been forthcoming in sharing knowledge about marketing with others.

Past award winners include:  McGee Williams Osse & Fay Ferguson, co-CEOs of Burrell Communications;  Donald A. Coleman, chairman and CEO of GlobalHue; and Charlotte O. McKines, vice president of global marketing communications at Merck & Co., Inc.

The theme of this year's 59th NAMD annual conference at the Schomburg Center was "The Future of Black Advertising."  The annual conference offers participants information on cutting-edge trends and tactics in marketing as well as the opportunity to build strategic alliances.

About Prime Access:

Prime Access creates customized marketing programs targeted to Hispanic, African-American and gay (GLBT) consumers. This includes managing social media and producing advertising for its clients' brands to appear in traditional, digital and other new media. Prime Access and its award-winning campaigns have been featured on CNBC Business News and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Advertising Age. For more information, please visit the company website at: www.prime-access.com.

About The National Alliance of Market Developers, Inc.:

The National Alliance of Market Developers, Inc. (NAMD) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization established in 1953 by Black marketing specialists. It pioneered the research, development and economic insights into the Black consumer market. We remain dedicated to promoting the value and impact of the Black consumer market and fostering business growth for African Americans by serving as a conduit for learning, teaching and networking for success.  For more information on the NAMD 59th Annual Conference, contact Clyde Allen, Executive Director 908-561-4062 or visit our website at www.namdntl.org.

SOURCE Prime Access