McGarrah Jessee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Advertising |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Founders: Mark McGarrah, Bryan Jessee |
| Website | www.mc-j.com |
McGarrah Jessee is an independent brand development and integrated marketing agency based in Austin, Texas. The firm, named “Small Agency of the Year: Gold” by Advertising Age in 2017,[1] is known for building cult brands[2] and for its broad definition of brand development, which includes retail design,[3] packaging, merchandise, nontraditional and digital executions in addition to advertising.[4]
McGarrah Jessee has a reputation for working with cult brands.[5] Longtime clients include: Frost Bank (23+ years),[6] Whataburger (17+ years), and Costa Sunglasses (12+ years).[7]
History
The agency was founded in 1996 by Mark McGarrah and Bryan Jessee, who were colleagues at The Richards Group and GSD&M.[8] Early clients included Seiko and Gatti's Pizza.[9] The following year, McGarrah Jessee became agency of record for Frost National Bank.[10] By 2000 the firm had added seven more clients and grown to 27 employees.[6]
Over the next several years, McGarrah and Jessee broadened the agency's capabilities by launching a business planning group[11][12] and a design studio,[13] initially as independent partner agencies, which were later folded into a single multi-disciplinary agency.[10]
In 2009 the company began restoration of the historic American National Bank Building, one of the exemplars of mid-century modern architecture in the state of Texas. The building, which features a mural by 20th-century artist Seymour Fogel and interior design by international style architect Florence Knoll, became the firm's new home in November 2010.[14] The McGarrah Jessee Building, as it is now known, has received honors from the American Institute of Architects.[15]
In 2012, McGarrah Jessee acquired boutique digital agency Exopolis, deepening its in-house digital capabilities.[16]
In 2014, the agency celebrated hiring its 100th employee.[17]
In 2015, the agency added an in-house film production studio called Rabbit Foot, helmed by film and commercial director Jeff Bednarz.[18]