Three-year partnership will generate jobs,
introduce local students to new career opportunities in advertising
and marketing
Today, Quad/Graphics, Inc. (“Quad”) and the Quadracci family’s
Windhover Foundation are announcing a three-year, $1 million
commitment to The BrandLab, a non-profit dedicated to changing the
face and voice of the marketing industry by creating opportunities
for young people from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
This new partnership will enable The BrandLab to expand into the
Milwaukee community and bring together local agencies, corporations
and student interns who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of
Color (BIPOC), or who come from low-income families. Already
operational in Kansas City and Minneapolis, The BrandLab’s success
in bringing young, diverse voices into the creative profession
directly aligns with Quad’s decades-long dedication to creating a
better way.
“The BrandLab starts by exposing students to creative and viable
careers before they graduate from high school and then we stay with
them on their journey to their first full-time role,” said Ellen
Walthour, Chief Executive Officer of The BrandLab. “This is a
long-term solution that requires long-range vision from the
industry’s top leaders. Quad understands that our work not only
advances racial equity, but it makes the creative field so much
stronger.”
Quad’s partnership with The BrandLab will provide the
organization with a long-term foundation to begin operating in the
Milwaukee area and identify internship opportunities, through
support from local agencies and corporations, for students who
identify as BIPOC or qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The
interns will work among the region’s advertising and marketing
departments in roles that emphasize creativity and innovation, and
that will grow over time to permanent positions.
“I am such a huge believer in what The BrandLab has accomplished
and how much more impact is to come,” said Frank Crowson, Chief
Marketing Officer of Best Buy and member of The BrandLab’s Board of
Directors. “Quad’s support will be instrumental in pushing that
impact toward its full potential. I look forward to continuing to
change the face and voice of our industry together with Quad as our
partner.”
Since 2009, The BrandLab has exposed thousands of classroom
students to creative careers and placed more than 500 interns in
corporations and agencies, 90% of whom now have plans to pursue a
path in the industry. Dozens of alumni have secured full-time
positions in the creative field, and hundreds have been paired with
professional mentors who will help them navigate their professional
paths.
“I am thrilled to see The BrandLab launch its program in
Milwaukee. As we all know, fostering a more inclusive workforce is
a key priority for the marketing and advertising community,” said
Mat Lignel, CEO and President of Milwaukee-based agency Laughlin
Constable. “The BrandLab has proven, over time and in different
cities, that it can help drive a meaningful difference. Its focus
on high school students is the key to introducing a new generation
to our industry, and our team at Laughlin Constable is committed to
helping on that journey.”
According to research conducted by The BrandLab, 93% of
corporations and agencies say diversifying their workforce is
important to them, yet only 67% feel they have initiatives in place
to expand workplace diversity. Quad recognizes the role The
BrandLab plays in giving companies the tools they need to make
those goals a reality.
“We are committed to being a catalyst for change to advance
diversity and equity in the advertising and marketing profession,
because we know that our work is only our best work when it
reflects different voices, mindsets, experiences and perspectives,”
said Joel Quadracci, Chairman and CEO of Quad. “We have seen
first-hand through Periscope, our agency in Minneapolis, how The
BrandLab is building the infrastructure needed to bring a more
inclusive perspective to the field, and we are thrilled to support
this expansion into Milwaukee.”
Quad recently announced a contribution to the Brandcenter at
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) that will boost efforts to
foster equity and drive change. Quad’s partnership with the
Brandcenter will directly support the Brandcenter & Rising
Endowed Scholarship, which provides need-based assistance to
diverse students looking to make an impact in the fields of
advertising, marketing, branding and communications.
“This is just another step in what you will continue to see from
Quad as we work toward intensifying our commitment to achieving a
workforce that reflects the communities where we live and work,”
said Quadracci. “We can only be our best, do our best work for our
customers, and attract and retain the best talent when we are
intentional in making diversity, equity and inclusion a
priority.”
About The BrandLab
Founded in 2009, The BrandLab is a multi-market nonprofit
organization building a movement to change the face and voice of
the marketing industry. Our vision is a marketing industry that
thrives with the insights and creativity of people from diverse
ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. We reach these goals through
four core programs: high school; internship; college and beyond;
and fearless. To learn more visit www.thebrandlab.org/.
About Quad
Quad (NYSE: QUAD) is a worldwide marketing solutions partner
that leverages its 50-year heritage of platform excellence,
innovation and strong culture and social purpose to create a better
way for its clients, employees and communities. The Company’s
integrated marketing platform helps brands and marketers reduce
complexity, increase efficiency and enhance marketing spend
effectiveness. Quad provides its clients with unmatched scale for
client on-site services and expanded subject expertise in marketing
strategy, creative solutions, media deployment (which includes a
strong foundation in print) and marketing management services. With
a client-centric approach that drives the Company to continuously
evolve its offering, combined with leading-edge technology and
single-source simplicity, the Company has the resources and
knowledge to help a wide variety of clients in multiple vertical
industries, including retail, publishing, consumer packaged goods,
financial services, insurance, healthcare and direct-to-consumer.
Quad has multiple locations throughout North America, South America
and Europe, and strategic partnerships in Asia and other parts of
the world. For additional information visit www.QUAD.com.
About The Windhover Foundation
Established in 1983 by Quad founder Harry V. Quadracci, The
Windhover Foundation is a private foundation supporting
organizations dedicated to meeting a pressing, unfulfilled social
need. Named after “The Windhover,” a poem written by Gerard Manley
Hopkins, the foundation over the years has helped a wide variety of
groups and initiatives including homeless shelters, hospices,
women’s programs, libraries, playgrounds, parks and arenas, and
food pantries.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210218005625/en/
Claire Dailey Director, PR, Periscope 262-424-6143
cdailey@periscope.com
Claire Ho Director, Corporate Communications, Quad 414-566-2955
cho@quad.com
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