Shennum Green Successfully
Communicates for 10 Years

2.28.07 - East Bay ad and PR agency
continues trend of annual growth

Shennum Green, Inc., an award-winning and widely respected East Bay advertising and public relations firm, celebrates a decade of service this month. With total billings of $5.4 million in 2006–an increase of more than 40 percent from the previous year–and a modest staff of 11, Shennum Green has established a loyal client base by adhering to a refreshingly humble approach, which continues to be its model for doing business: More substance than flash; more relationship oriented than self important.

Shennum Green’s humble beginnings consisted of the dizzying dedication and workaholic tendencies of James, the creative side of the shop, and the strategic marketing and business savvy of Nancy, the marketing side of the shop, both of whom are founding principals. When James Green left his job at the world-renowned advertising firm of Goldberg Moser O’Neill of San Francisco in 1997, he had no idea the freelance work he’d be doing out of the den of his home would evolve into “the biggest small agency and smallest big agency” around.

While Nancy worked in a high-level marketing position by day, and helped out with the budding home business by night, James tenaciously pitched new clients, designed ads on his Mac Performa and helped grow Shennum Green into the one-stop shop that it is today. Juggling a new business and a new baby, James and Nancy landed their first big clients, Dutra Realty followed by Delco Builders and Developers, both relationships that still exist today.

So, as the work rolled in and responsibilities piled up, Nancy, at the not so gentle nudging of James, resigned her full time position, offering instead to take on her former employer as a client. Leisure Sports agreed, and became the second company to be added to Shennum Green’s growing roster.

Soon, the boutique agency would top the $1 million mark and work its way on to the East Bay and San Francisco Business Times’ Book of Lists for fastest growing communications agencies and woman owned businesses, along with winning impressive creative awards along the way. ”We produce work that goes eight rounds with the big guys because at the end of the day, we are still in the service industry and our product is only as good as our people,” says James Green.

The agency soon welcomed an eclectic mix of clients, including Jamba Juice, Cost Plus, Prudential California Realty, The Transamerica Pyramid, Hexcel and Sunsweet.

Returning to her roots in the homebuilding industry, Nancy was able to attract mega clients, such as KB Home, Shea Homes, The Olson Company and SelectBuild to join the family. And even amidst a challenging housing market, the agency continues to create provocative solutions for homebuilders, helping them achieve success where others in the industry struggle.

The agency strives to continually diversify the client base and areas of expertise while fostering current client relationships. “At peak times, we’ve even had to make the tough decision to turn away new business to ensure we’re taking care of our current clients,” says James.

In addition to celebrating the company’s decade of service, Shennum Green recently was awarded several honors from leading Bay Area organizations: The Home Builders Association of Northern California’s prestigious G.R.E.A.T.S. Service Provider Award; a spot on the San Francisco Business Times 2006 Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses list; and a top 5 ranking in the East Bay Business Times as a leading Communications agencies. Additionally, Shennum Green has acquired dozens of awards in the fields of both public relations and advertising, including a number of international awards for their creative work.

“It’s been a wild ride,” says Nancy Green. “If someone would have told me in 1997 that we would be overseeing one of the leading Bay Area communications agencies, I wouldn’t have believed them. It’s fulfilling to see that hard work, good ideas and a commitment to doing the right thing can bring about success.