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15 Years of Marketing – for Good.
Graf-Martin Communications Inc. celebrates 15th anniversary
ELMIRA, Ont., November 20, 2023 – When Ellen Graf-Martin founded Graf-Martin Communications Inc. in 2008, she envisioned an agency that would use marketing for good, dedicated to strengthening organizations committed to hope, generosity and justice. That vision, inspired by a family history of advocacy and justice-driven marketing, continues to come to life. To date, the award-winning public relations, brand and marketing agency has worked with over 175 ministries, non-profit organizations and faith content creators across Canada and the USA.
“Beginning my journey as an entrepreneur was tough – not only because only 1 per cent of ad and marketing agencies are female-owned but because it was hard to find a like-minded values-driven business community,” said Ellen Graf-Martin, founder of Graf-Martin Communications Inc. “The good news is, I’m carrying out a generational calling, leveraging marketing skill and innovation in marketing for hope, generosity and justice. I’m grateful for a lineage that includes the father of modern marketing, Josiah Wedgwood, a vocal abolitionist and anti-slavery advocate, whose story has mentored me on what has often been a lonely path.”
Today, Graf-Martin Communications is celebrating its 15th anniversary by expressing gratitude for the clients and partners who have come alongside the agency, helping it to grow into the marketing partner of choice for many of North America’s largest and most impactful charities.
“It’s surreal to be celebrating 15 years and seeing how we’ve served hundreds of organizations and community-led initiatives with the world-class communications and marketing they deserve,” said Graf-Martin. “With fresh clarity and vision, we are well-positioned to continue to expand beyond our 10-person team and deliver marketing for good in new ways while remaining rooted in hope.”
Along with Graf-Martin’s commitment to providing compelling, impactful and accessible marketing solutions is her commitment to equipping and making space for the next generation of diverse female leaders.
Recognizing the unique value of a women-led agency, Graf-Martin Communications became Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certified in 2022, with the goal of helping to fill the gender gap in the agency and non-profit sectors. Graf-Martin’s passion for empowering and inspiring other female leaders and entrepreneurs has led Graf-Martin to serve as a hub for equipping the next generation of women to lead in marketing and communications. Together, they come alongside other female-led charities in the Waterloo Region that serve vulnerable and marginalized members of our community.
Earlier this year, championing underrepresented leaders and the causes they support resulted in Graf-Martin Communications being named 2023 Business of the Year (one to ten employees) by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. Graf-Martin was also recognized for her leadership as a communications entrepreneur this spring when she was inducted into the 2023 Canadian Marketing, Advertising, PR and Communications Hall of Fame and named a 2023 CANIE Awards finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year.
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About Graf-Martin
Since 2008, Graf-Martin has provided award-winning, excellent integrated brand strategy, publicity, social media marketing, and strategic marketing communications services to strengthen organizations committed to hope, generosity and justice. Graf-Martin’s team of skilled marketing and communications experts generously offer their skill, experience and robust toolbox to develop and implement strategic publicity campaigns, integrated marketing solutions, strategic branding and fundraising that connects. Visit grafmartin.com to learn more.
About Ellen Graf-Martin
Ellen Graf-Martin is the President and Chief Marketing Strategist at Graf-Martin Communications. The Waterloo Region-based marketing agency is a WBE Canada-certified, women-owned enterprise dedicated to equipping social enterprises and non-profit organizations to do more good. Ellen Graf-Martin’s journey as an agency founder launched in October 2008, in the thick of global recession. Beating incredible entrepreneurship odds, this fall the agency is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Having started her career by volunteering with an international charity, it was natural that the agency Ellen created would serve for the betterment of her community – locally and globally. Since 2008, the team at Graf-Martin has worked to strengthen organizations committed to hope, generosity and justice by providing integrated brand engagement strategy and implementation services. The Graf-Martin team calls that Marketing for Good. With less than 1% of North America’s creative, marketing, and ad agencies owned and operated by women, Ellen is a change-maker passionate about mentoring the next generation. She is dedicated to resourcing an under-resourced sector by thinking outside the box and developing inventive, impactful, long-lasting solutions.