Empower MediaMarketing

Empower MediaMarketing, also referred to as Empower, is an independent advertising and marketing agency in the United States. The agency was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1985 by Mary Beth Price. Its business is positioned within the advertising-agency and broader marketing-services sector, serving organizations that require strategic marketing support rather than selling consumer products under its own brand. Public reference material identifies the agency as having a broad marketing mandate, although the available sources do not provide a detailed breakdown of its service departments, client portfolio, revenue, employee count, or geographic footprint. The agency’s early identity was tied to Cincinnati, where it was established and developed before later being headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The move or establishment of Chicago as its headquarters places Empower within one of the major United States centers for advertising, media, and marketing services. Its independent positioning distinguishes it from agencies that operate as subsidiaries of large publicly traded advertising holding companies, although the available material does not identify a formal parent group or wider agency network. A significant ownership transition occurred in January 2023, when the agency was acquired by Ashlee Clarke, its chief executive officer, together with Chris Clarke, who became or served as executive chairman. The transaction made leadership ownership a central feature of the agency’s recent corporate history. The available reference material does not disclose the transaction value, financing, changes to the workforce, or post-acquisition operating strategy. Empower’s typical scope is marketing and advertising services. Such work may include campaign strategy, media-related planning, brand marketing, and other agency support, but the supplied sources do not establish a sufficiently detailed official service list. Accordingly, the agency is best described conservatively as an independent marketing and advertising-services provider rather than assigned narrower specialties that are not documented in the reference material.

Empower MediaMarketing was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1985 by Mary Beth Price. From its creation, the organization operated as an advertising and marketing agency, placing it in the professional-services portion of the communications industry rather than in consumer-goods manufacturing or retail. The available historical material does not document the agency’s initial capitalization, first clients, early campaigns, staffing development, or specific changes in its service model. Cincinnati was the agency’s founding location and an important part of its early identity. The agency is now identified as headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, a major United States market for advertising, media, and marketing businesses. The supplied sources do not specify when the headquarters changed or describe the organizational steps involved in that transition. They also do not provide a complete account of branch offices, international operations, client sectors, or annual performance. The main documented turning point in the agency’s recent history came in January 2023. Empower was acquired by Ashlee Clarke, who was serving as chief executive officer, together with Chris Clarke, identified as executive chairman. The transaction transferred ownership to members of the agency’s leadership and represents a management-led ownership change. The available sources do not report the purchase price, the identity of any seller, financing arrangements, employee effects, or a detailed strategy following the acquisition. Empower remains described as an independent marketing agency. Its documented business category supports a broad description covering advertising and marketing services, while the public reference material supplied for this entry does not support a definitive inventory of specialist practices, named proprietary products, major campaigns, or international subsidiaries. Its historical record is therefore clearest on its founding in Cincinnati, subsequent identification with Chicago, and 2023 acquisition by Ashlee and Chris Clarke.

1. 2023Leadership-led acquisition

   In January 2023, CEO Ashlee Clarke and executive chairman Chris Clarke acquired the agency.

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2. 1985Agency founded in Cincinnati

   Mary Beth Price founded Empower in Cincinnati, Ohio, establishing the business as an advertising and marketing agency.

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Independent marketing and advertising agency

• Advertising and marketing servicesProfessional services

  Empower provides advertising and marketing support as an agency rather than offering a standardized consumer product. The available reference material identifies the company at this broad category level but does not publish a detailed service catalog, named technology platform, or specific proprietary offering.

• 2023Management-led acquisition of EmpowerM&A

  Empower had operated as an independent advertising and marketing agency founded in Cincinnati in 1985. In January 2023, its chief executive officer and executive chairman acquired the business.

  What changed. Ashlee Clarke and Chris Clarke completed the acquisition, with Ashlee Clarke identified as CEO and Chris Clarke as executive chairman.

  Aftermath. The acquisition placed ownership with the agency’s senior leadership. The available sources do not disclose the financial terms or detailed operational consequences.

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• 2023Empower acquired by CEO Ashlee Clarke and executive chairman Chris Clarke

  Empower was acquired in January 2023 by Ashlee Clarke, the agency’s chief executive officer, and Chris Clarke, its executive chairman.

  M&ALeadership change
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1. Empower (agency)