Dear Friends,

The year 2012 marks Risdall’s 40^th anniversary.

Since 1972, we have outgrown and outlived more than 6,000 Minnesota advertising agencies. Out of more than 700 advertising agencies currently in business, we are the sixth oldest, according to the 2011 Business Information Guide. In addition, the Business Journal has ranked us the seventh largest Minnesota advertising agency, the largest web developer and the sixth largest PR firm.

Our revenues and billings continue to flourish, and we have created an insanely large body of great work for our clients, helping them create, build and benefit from their brands.

Our current structure and platform—Risdall Marketing Group, embodied by Risdall Advertising Agency and a wide variety of integrated practice areas—offers clients a wide range of possibilities. You can come to us for work in one discipline, such as strategy or web development, or we can provide an integrated package of services on a project or agency-of-record basis. Two things always remain intact: our ability to generate creative ideas and our ability to deliver those ideas to our clients’ customers and prospects in the most relevant and economical way.

Here are a few of the people and accomplishments we’re proud of:

• Ongoing leadership in the areas of e-commerce and web development, led by agency president Ted Risdall, director of interactive planning Frank Grubbs and CTO Joel Koenigs. We continued our streak of placing first, second or third in the annual Web Marketing Association WebAwards competition, placing third in 2011 with 21 winners. Other advertising agencies try to copy our vision and strategic partnerships in this area.
• Two 2010 CLIO Healthcare awards—we were the only local ad agency to win a CLIO of any stripe in 2010.
• Exciting work for clients like Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union has enhanced the reputation of our creative department, now led by Risdall veterans Tina Karelson and Pete Fabian.
• Cindy Lord, president of Risdall Strategic Consultation and head of account planning for Risdall Advertising Agency. Cindy’s previous stops include Martin Williams, JWT, Ogilvy and Euro RSCG. With Risdall, that’s five of the world’s top agencies.
• Risdall Online Marketing Group, a rapidly growing practice area that encompasses search marketing and more, from a team including Jennifer Risdall, Josh Dahmes and Chris Peterson.
• Our public relations team, led by Joel Swanson, delivers Results That Matter™ to more than 100 clients.
• A hardworking account services group, led by Tom Wilson, a veteran of Fallon, Martin Williams, Campbell Mithun, Gage and Russell & Herder.
• Continuing leadership in the B2B and industrial categories, led by VP/Account Supervisors Sara Dziedzic, Tim Dillon and Kevin Deshler.
• A healthy presence in the consumer, financial services and health care sectors, led by VP/Account Supervisors Glenna Dibrell and Melissa Holte.
• Our Arts & Entertainment division, led by Blake Bensman, includes clients such as the Ivey Awards and the independent restaurants of Twin Cities Originals.
• The fundraising and development group, led by Jerry Seppala, continues to deliver amazing results.
• Risdall Sandstrom Media Works, led by the dean of Twin Cities media directors, Jim Sandstrom, continues its wizardry online and in traditional media.

As one of the 25 largest independent advertising agencies in the U.S., we are proud of the work we do and the positive impact it has on our clients’ sales, profits and reputations. They enjoy the unfair advantage of focused, creative advertising. So can you. Call us today and let us show you some innovative and profitable new ideas that can help your organization in 2012 and beyond.

Sincerely,

John Risdall		Ted Risdall		Tom Wilson
Chairman/CEO		President		President - RMG