Imagination sweeps in association clients, opens D.C. office

Imagination, a leading content marketing agency based in Chicago, has signed eight new professional associations as clients in the regional Washington, D.C., marketplace, while establishing a six-person office here to ensure and augment the highest levels of account and creative services.

The new Washington clients include the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association; American Council of Engineering Companies; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; Georgetown University School of Business; Association of Governing Boards; Educause; and American Association of Justice.

Professional associations have long been a stronghold for Imagination going back 18 years to one of Imagination’s earliest and current clients, the Project Management Institute. This recent sweep of new clients, including the signing of an organization based in Chicago, the International Interior Design Association, more than doubles the firm’s base in this sector.

“Washington has long been an important hub for the association world—some 3,000 are located in the wider region,” noted James Meyers, Imagination’s founder, president and CEO. “Market circumstances opened the opportunity to make new inroads, which we pursued successfully, and we’re excited that there are even more possibilities moving forward.”

Market circumstances also meant that Imagination was able to tap into the talents of Connie Otto, a well-known name in content marketing, to lead the Washington office as vice president and general manager. Otto previously had been a senior vice president with Manifest and with its predecessor firm, TMG Custom Media, since 1987.

Also joining Imagination in Washington are Chris Blose, vice president, content; Amy Fabbri, senior program director; and Melissa Miller and Jeff Kibler, both as senior art directors. All had previously been part of the Manifest organization.

The Washington staff will work closely with Imagination’s Chicago team of over 100 full-time staffers in managing the content strategies of the new group of clients.

Imagination’s new office is located at 1146 19th St., NW in Washington.

Meyers said that the scope of work for the new clients would be comprehensive and encompass print magazines as well as digital media. “While these associations have a strong legacy in print magazines, it’s important to note that they recognize digital as an important addition to a successful omnichannel communications strategy,” he noted.