More Than 300 Guests Celebrate Thompson & Bender’s 25th Anniversary As Westchester’s Leading Public Relations/ Marketing/Advertising Firm

Diverse Client Base and Giving Back to the Community Play Key Roles In Agency’s Continued Strength

Briarcliff Manor, NY (March 3, 2011) — Thompson & Bender celebrated its 25^th anniversary yesterday as Westchester’s leading public relations/marketing/advertising firm at a reception for more than 300 invited guests including clients past and present, friends, community and government leaders and representatives from the media  The event was held at 42 The Restaurant in downtown White Plains.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino was one of many VIPs who joined in congratulating Thompson & Bender.  He also presented a proclamation to the firm’s three principals: Geoff Thompson,  Dean Bender and Liz  Bracken-Thompson. Proclamations were also presented by Ken Jenkins, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators and Don Scott, representing the office of Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (R-19^th CD). White Plains Mayor Tom Roach also addressed the audience in congratulating the firm.

The offices of New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35^th District) and New York State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (D-90^th District) also submitted proclamations. Thompson & Bender was also notified by the office of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo that a proclamation is forthcoming. Other VIPs included  members of the County Executive’s administration: Kevin Plunkett, Westchester Deputy County Executive; George Oros, Chief of Staff; Larry Gottlieb, Director of Economic Development; Ned McCormack, Communications Director; Billy Mooney, Senior Assistant and Christine Sculti, Assistant; Tim Idoni, Westchester County Clerk; County Legislators Peter Harkham, John Nonna, Michael Kaplowitz and Bill Burton;  White Plains Common Council member Ben Boykin; Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young; Ossining Town Supervisor Catherine Borgia; former Westchester County Executive Andy Spano; former White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino; Marsha Gordon, President of the Business Council of Westchester and Bill Mooney, President of The Westchester County Association.

Thompson said: “It sounds trite but it’s the truth: the success we have enjoyed is because of our clients. Many have been with us for a very long time. Simply put, without our clients, we wouldn’t be here with all of you right now.”

The principals cite their work in the newspaper business along with maintaining a diverse client-base as key elements in the agency’s on-going success.  Another hallmark of the agency is its commitment to giving back to the community.

One proof of the soundness of the formula has been the ability of T&B to weather the economic ups and downs that have made it difficult for many small businesses to survive.  The agency has worked with more than 125 clients as it focused on being a regionally-oriented player.  “Our goal was to be the experts, the leaders in the market we serve.  We know our market and we know it well.  I think it’s safe to say that we have accomplished that goal,” commented Geoff Thompson.

“We have been fortunate that our client-base has remained solid for all these years,” Thompson said. “Many have been with us for nearly our entire time in business.  That’s something we’re very proud of.  It’s a sign that you are doing things right.  We have also had a remarkably stable, dedicated and loyal staff.  You aren’t going to be successful in a highly competitive business like ours without a strong support team.  We also have many vendors with whom we have had relationships from the start.  Perhaps it’s a cliché, but when it comes to Thompson & Bender, there is a true sense of family.  We know that’s special and we value it.”

The public relations arm of Thompson and Bender began with its two founders, Thompson and Bender, who spent 15 years working as reporters and editors for the Gannett newspapers (now The Journal News and lohud.com.)  Thompson served as Business and Real Estate Editor and Bender as assistant business editor.  That experience provided them with an in-depth knowledge of local and regional business and real estate communities.  That knowledge-base served as a platform upon which their business was built.

Another alumna of Gannett is Ms. Bracken-Thompson who joined T&B in 1990 as a partner in the firm bringing extensive marketing, advertising and community relations expertise that allowed the agency to greatly expand its range of services.  While at Gannett, she was Vice President of Marketing for the then 10-daily newspaper group and she held special assignments including a role in the national launch of USA TODAY.

Thompson & Bender has worked on a wide range of public relations and marketing campaigns and has earned them a reputation for handling major public relations strategies and challenges and the launch of many new products. The many projects and clients include the grand opening of The Westchester mall and the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, the opening to the public of Kykuit, the John D. Rockefeller home at Pocantico Hills, public relations and marketing for White Plains Hospital, Trump Tower, Trump Plaza and Trump Park, Grand Central Terminal shops and stores, the grand opening of New Roc City in New Rochelle, marketing for The Buick Golf Classic at Westchester Country Club, the grand opening of the Container Store in White Plains, PR and marketing for Westchester County Office of Economic Development, Westchester County Office of Tourism,  NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Westchester Division), Iona College, Westchester Community College, Cappelli Enterprises, Simone Development, Blythedale Children’s Hospital, The Community Preservation Corporation and the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District to name a few.

A strong commitment to the community has also contributed to T&B’s success.  Bracken-Thompson currently is Chairman of the Friends of Westchester County Parks, serves on the board of The Hudson River Museum, the board of the Business Council of Westchester and the nominating committee for the United Way of Westchester.  She has also served on the board of the American Red Cross of Westchester, and founding chairman of Go Red for Women at the American Heart Association in Westchester. Geoffrey Thompson has twice served as Board Chairman of The Teatown Lake Reservation, Westchester’s largest privately-owned environmental education center and nature conservancy, and is a noted leader in the area of open space preservation.  Dean Bender currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Building Owners and Managers Association.

T&B has a tradition of working with its clients to identify charitable organizations to be the beneficiaries of grand opening events. For example, to herald the grand opening of The Westchester mall in White Plains, the agency identified Historic Hudson Valley as the beneficiary of the opening gala. At the Trump Tower opening in White Plains, T&B arranged for White Plains Hospital to be the beneficiary of the $1 million that was raised, the largest such donation in the hospital’s history.

With annual billings in excess of $4 million, T&B has expanded its range of services to meet the needs of clients, small and large. They include:

• Media relations
• Public affairs and media management
• Government relations
• Crisis management
• Special events
• Community relations
• Political consulting
• Strategic marketing plans
• Social media
• Print, radio and TV advertising
• Direct mail
• Collateral material
• Graphic design
• Outdoor advertising
• Promotions

Thompson & Bender and their partners have won numerous professional awards including: 24 Gold Awards from the Advertising Club of Westchester, Junior Achievement of Westchester “Overachiever of the Year 2008” award, “Best of Public Service Award 2007” from Advertising Club of Westchester, Food Bank of Westchester 2010 Hunger Heroes Award and they were inducted into the prestigious Westchester Business Hall of Fame in 2003.

Looking back over the past 25 years, Geoff Thompson said: “It’s amazing how much our business has changed. When we started the FAX was the most advanced technology yet.  The internet, iphones, social media?  No one could have imagined anything like them.  But despite the massive changes, one thing has remained constant throughout these 25 years:  the relationships we have with our clients, leaders of the community and government and the news media. Liz, Dean and I like to think that our firm’s tagline best expresses our success: respected and connected.”

Thompson & Bender began in White Plains in1986 and since 1997 has been headquartered in an 1890 Victorian house in Briarcliff Manor.  The partners live in the towns of Yorktown and Croton.

At the 25th anniversary celebration of Thompson & Bender, Westchester's leading public relations/marketing/advertising firm, were (l-r): Geoff Thompson, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Dean Bender and Liz Bracken-Thompson. Mr. Astorino was one of many VIPs who congratulated the partners of Thompson & Bender on their achievement and presented them with a proclamation.

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