SSG - SSG News Releases

SSG News Releases

Two New Hires Help SSG Marketing Expand Sponsorship Solutions and Public Relations Offerings

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - June 17, 2008 - SSG Marketing (SSG), a sponsorship analytics and marketing services firm in Ann Arbor, Mich., added Senior Analyst Niki Grifka and Account Executive Rebecca Wagner to its staff. The start-up company’s employee count has increased from two to five during its first year of operation.

SSG uses the data-driven Six Sigma process to measure the return on investment (ROI) and return on objectives (ROO) for marketing activities such as sponsorships, events, direct mail and public relations campaigns. Grifka will manage client ROO and ROI analyses, and Wagner will handle public relations and marketing services.

“We are excited to add Niki and Rebecca to our growing team at SSG Marketing,” said President Steve Seyferth. “They both bring us valuable, diversified experience and have demonstrated a commitment to high-quality client service.”

Niki Grifka comes to SSG from the digital marketing agency Organic, Inc., where she was responsible for Web site traffic analysis and strategy development for the Chrysler brand.

Prior to her work at Organic, Grifka advanced from senior analyst to vice president and manager of analytics at Wunderman, the direct marketing arm of global marketing agency Young & Rubicam. At Wunderman, Grifka managed strategic planning and execution for all owner direct mail and e-mail programs for Ford Motor Company, Lincoln and Mercury.

Previously, Grifka was a research analyst at R.L. Polk & Company of Southfield, providing ROI analyses to leading automotive companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Michigan State University.

Before joining SSG, Rebecca Wagner was an account executive at Eiler Communications in Ann Arbor, Mich., managing communications programs for multiple clients.

She was responsible for the strategy and execution of media relations and executive media training, blog development and professional writing.

Previously, Wagner worked at Airfoil Public Relations of Southfield, Mich., primarily providing media relations support for Microsoft. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from John Carroll University.

Marketing and Sponsorship Analytics Firm Marks First Year with
Client Wins and Staff Promotions

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - May 14, 2008 – SSG, LLC (SSG), a marketing and sponsorship analytics firm in Ann Arbor, Mich., scored seven client wins in its first year of operation: AT&T, Marco’s Franchising, LLC (Marco’s Pizza), The Ambassador Bridge, The Related Companies, Barker’s Performance, BranditTV and AVAcore Technologies, Inc. Additionally, SSG was awarded project work by leading advertising agencies Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam.

SSG uses the data-driven Six Sigma process to measure the return on investment and return on objectives for marketing activities such as sponsorships, events, direct mail and public relations campaigns.

“SSG provides reliable ways for marketers to measure the effectiveness of their strategies with rigorous, Six Sigma-based processes,” said SSG President Steve Seyferth.

Seyferth has more than 25 years experience in executive marketing and media positions with blue-chip companies including AOL Time Warner, Young & Rubicam, Sports Illustrated, DDB Needham and Foote, Cone & Belding Communications. He has guided marketing for brands such as Gatorade, Lincoln-Mercury, Coors, Wheaties, Kraft, Domino’s Pizza, Kemper Insurance and launch of the Visteon brand.

SSG’s clients have enlisted the firm to provide a myriad of services:

Sponsorship analytics for AT&T’s Global Customer Events Management (GCEM) division
Public relations for the Marco’s Pizza franchise chain and The Ambassador Bridge
Sponsor valuation and matching recommendation for two commercial properties of The Related Companies, a commercial and mixed-use real estate developer
Media buying for Barker’s Performance, manufacturer of motorsports products
Media metric valuation analysis for San Diego-based BranditTV, an out-of-home television network developer
Brand positioning strategy and coordination of marketing materials development for AVAcore Technologies, manufacturer of a thermoregulation product for athletes

SSG has grown quietly over the past year, establishing an office on 333 Parkland Plaza Drive in Ann Arbor. Further demonstrating that growth, SSG Vice Presidents Bruce McLaughlan and Terry Millis were recently appointed firm partners.

“Bruce and Terry have managed client projects since SSG’s inception,” said Seyferth. “As our staff continues to grow, their experience and leadership are integral to the success of our firm. I’m pleased to announce their firm partnerships.”

McLaughlan was a journalist for 18 years, 13 with The Detroit News. He served on a task force at the News to bridge the gap between editorial and promotions. McLaughlan later joined WPP Group, providing public relations services for such clients as Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover and Shell Oil. McLaughlan also was a contributor and editor for Sponsorship’s Holy Grail, a landmark manual for applying measurement techniques to sponsorship marketing practices.

Millis has more than 16 years of marketing communications experience in the Web, direct marketing, retail and events arenas. Previously, she held management roles with Young & Rubicam and Time, Inc. Custom Publishing, providing analytic evaluation insight to leading brands such as Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Xerox, HSBC, Volvo, Coca-Cola, Visa and Samsung. Both McLaughlan and Millis oversee strategic and sponsorship solutions for client accounts.