The VIA Agency Named Best Place to Work in Advertising & Media by Advertising Age

PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The VIA Agency, a full-service marketing, advertising and digital agency, today announced its inclusion in Advertising Age's 40 Best Places to Work in Advertising & Media. VIA placed No. 7 on the list due to the company's belief that cultivating a happy, fearless and fun-filled environment is a strategic investment in the quality of its work. VIA employees, who were among the 20,000 people surveyed by Advertising Age as part of the selection process, described the agency as a "haven" and a "truly inspiring" place to work.

"Our headquarters in Portland, Maine, physically sets us apart from the rest of the advertising world, but it is our unique corporate culture that enables us to create powerful, industry-leading work," said Leeann Leahy, President at The VIA Agency. "Engendering an environment in which all employees feel free to be themselves and produce their best ideas for the clients is a top priority for us, as we believe that a closed-off and unhappy environment cannot result in work that changes the world."

VIA is never short of company-wide initiatives to incentivize creativeness. One initiative that differentiates VIA from other agencies is its "Go Dos" – spontaneous, agency-wide diversions like dance parties and snow sculpture competitions designed to keep employees engaged and promote fresh thinking. VIA also offers longtime employees the opportunity to take a six-week sabbatical to learn or experience something that will enhance their lives and work. Most recently, VIA launched its Crumpled Ball series, in which touring musicians like Ingrid Michaelson, Andy Grammer and O.A.R. play a three-song set at VIA's office and pay tribute to the creative process. Other programs include Free Beer & Fiction, where employees can flex their creative chops and bond with colleagues by telling their own stories centered around a particular topic, and the VIA house band, which has put out its own albums.

"VIA believes in hiring happy people seeking amazing professional challenges, as well as a full and interesting life outside of work," added Leahy. "People come to VIA to expand their creative capabilities and consider it a valuable growth experience. On top of that, our many initiatives weave fun into our workplace every day, resulting in an openness to new ideas that allows us to produce our highest-quality work possible for our clients."

The submission process for Best Places to Work consisted of two surveys for employers and employees that were evaluated by Advertising Age research partner Buck Consultants LLC. The employer survey included questions about pay, promotions, health care and other benefits and hiring practices. The employee survey measured aspects of the workplace environment such as fairness of pay, vacation time, relationships with management and co-workers, career development and other workplace issues. Any agency, ad tech or media company with more than 40 full-time employees in the U.S. was eligible.

About The VIA Agency
The VIA Agency is an independent full-service marketing, advertising and digital agency that helps clients solve their most difficult marketing problems with creativity and innovation. Founded in 1993, the Portland, Maine-based VIA Agency offers a fresh perspective and distinguished record of creating the right ideas for clients and a legacy of reinvigorating brands. Named by Advertising Age and Creativity as 2011 Small Agency of the Year, The VIA Agency attracts national talent and blue-chip brands, and counts Unilever, Samsung; Welch's; Prestige Brand Holdings, Inc.; Friendly's; Romano's Macaroni Grill; People's United Bank; DuPont; Unum, and North American Breweries among its clients.

To learn more about The VIA Agency and its thought leaders please visit our website here.

CONTACT: Danielle Orsino, 949-365-6609, [email protected]

SOURCE The VIA Agency

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