History

They told us Phoenix didn’t need “another agency.” We agreed.

Instead, we set out to build a different kind of agency – one that solved the problems of its clients, rather than just sold ads to them. More than 10 years later, this is still the philosophy we stand behind – and it’s the philosophy that has allowed us to grow from two guys in a garage to nearly 50 advertising, marketing, interactive and PR professionals in a scenic, spacious office overlooking Tempe Town Lake.

We’ve come a long way, but our humble beginnings are very important to us – which is why we have a conference room with a garage door as its entry (and even a tennis ball hanging from the top). It's a continuing reminder of why we started the agency, and it ensures we stay true to our ideals and the unique agency culture we've created.

Here’s how it all happened:

“VC” Funding

Nope, not venture capital. Visa cards. That and a business plan was all we had back in 1998, when David Anderson and Roger Hurni started the agency in Roger’s garage. But that quickly changed with Off Madison Ave's first client, Integrated Information Systems.

Six months later our first employee was hired – which was even scarier than starting the company in the first place. After all, it’s one thing to go out on a limb. It’s another to take your employees with you. Thanks to great clients who recommended us to their friends and associates at other companies, Off Madison Ave grew quickly, reaching a staff of seven after just one year.

Moving On Up

By our second birthday, Off Madison Ave had a dozen staffers. Meeting in Roger's living room had become problematic (his wife, Joanne, had grown tired of her dining room table doubling as the company conference room).

So we moved into our first office space, located on Hayden Square in downtown Tempe. It was the second-scariest thing we ever did. The growth continued, and we were out of room within two more years. In 2002, we tripled our office space with a move to Hayden Ferry Lakeside (by then, we were over the scary thing).

Mighty Changes

In 2005, we shook things up again – this time merging with Mighty Interactive, Arizona’s number-one interactive firm, to offer more comprehensive online marketing and website development services to our clients. Today, we incorporate online tactics in nearly every campaign we create – and consider interactive marketing not just essential to our business, but a cornerstone of who we are.

Now in our eleventh year of business, we service clients in cities all over the United States – and around the globe. As the communications environment changes, so do we. As tactics shift, we adapt – promising even greater things to come for our clients in our second decade.

We hope you'll be a part of our future. Contact us to get started >>