REJ Produces "Land of Opportunity" Photo Campaign for TBC, Inc. and MD DBED

Baltimore, MD (September 2, 2010)

REJ & Associates, Inc. (REJ) is currently working on a new series of photography for TBC, Inc. and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development’s “Land of Opportunity” campaign. REJ Senior Producer Jennifer (Jen) Comotto is in charge of production and works hand in hand with photographer Nicholas McIntosh to bring images of real people to life. She also works collaboratively with Art Director Brad Meerholz and Account Directors Krista Capurso and Stephanie Betteker of TBC, Inc. Jen says her main objective is to plan and keep things on schedule and on budget while also ensuring that the creative vision is captured for the agency and for the client.

Photography for the campaign features artistic portraits of successful Maryland business owners captured in their natural work environment. The first ad of the new campaign features Paul Reed Smith of Paul Reed Smith Guitars (left & below), the 3rd largest guitar manufacturer in the world. Smith’s manufacturing plant and studio is based in Stevensville, MD. “Transforming this dusty, working factory space into something beautiful that could be photographed was definitely a challenge…and the room we shot in was pretty small too. But we focused on Paul’s incredible guitars, flanking him on both sides, and the shot really turned out incredibly nice” states Jen. “It speaks to the value of his business and craftsmanship.” In conclusion, Jen feels that “this campaign serves as an amazing showcase of the best in business in the state of Maryland. Hopefully, it will inspire anyone looking to start a business here that Maryland truly is without question ‘the land of opportunity.’”

The print, internet, and outdoor ads will run locally and regionally beginning this fall. Click to enlarge ads.

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REJ Awarded Federal GSA Contract

Baltimore, MD (August 9, 2010)

After a year of intense work on proposal development, REJ & Associates, Inc. (REJ) was awarded two federal GSA Multiple Award Schedule Contracts today. REJ is a qualified and experienced provider of print, broadcast, film and video, internet and still photography services that advertise, inform, entertain, educate and otherwise drive consumer demand for customer products and services.

“We are extremely optimistic that these contracts enable REJ to have greater access to federal contracts, and subsequently strengthen our federal government sales,” says REJ President and CEO Elliott A. Wiley. “In a sense, going through the GSA Schedule process is similar to getting pre-approved credit. We have been vetted. This is also the ideal vehicle for us to have a fast and easy way to sell our services across a broad range of Federal agencies,” concludes Wiley.

GSA Schedules are the buying method of choice for Federal Agencies. Under the GSA Schedules program, GSA establishes long-term, government-wide contracts with firms that provide direct delivery of state-of-the-art, high-quality commercial products and services at volume discount pricing. Government ordering offices also have the opportunity to meet small business goals while receiving the “best value and cost.”

REJ is approved for the following GSA contract schedules:

Schedule 541: Advertising & Integrated Marketing Solutions (AIMS).

Contract GS-07F-0588W for Small Business Set-Aside SIN numbers:
541-3: Web-Based Marketing Services;
541-4F: Commercial Art and Graphic Design Services; and
541-2000: Other Direct Costs.

Contract GS-07F0589W for SINS: 541-1:
Advertising Services;
541-2: Public Relations Services;
541-4B: Video and Film Production Services; and
541-1000: Other Direct Costs.

Click here to link to REJ’s catalog file in the GSA E-Library.

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REJ Produces New Photo Campaign for TBC, Inc. and MD Office of Tourism (DBED)

Baltimore, MD (June 30, 2010)

REJ & Associates, Inc. (REJ) recently worked with photographer Helen Norman to complete a series of still photography shoots for TBC, Inc. and Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development’s Office of Tourism. The photos are being used as part of a print and internet campaign that promotes Maryland as a vacation and tourist destination and blends lifestyle with landscape imagery.

The images captured for the campaign include a couple dining at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor; a family kayaking in Western Maryland; two children having fun on the beach in Ocean City; a girls night out in the Maryland suburbs of D.C.; a couple shopping in Easton; a family enjoying a crab feast in Solomon Island; and a boy and his grandmother touring a world class museum.

Jennifer Comotto, REJ’s Senior Producer, planned and coordinated all production for the 7 photo shoots throughout the state of Maryland, from Baltimore to Solomon’s Island in Southern MD, Chevy Chase, MD in the Capital Region, Deep Creek in the West, and Ocean City and Easton on the Eastern Shore. Pulling off all seven shoots was part luck and part careful planning. According to Jen, “the biggest worry was the weather (none of the shoots got rained out), but the biggest challenge was securing the right elements in the background for each shoot.” At Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, “we were able to get a ship moved from our background just minutes before the shoot. In Easton, the crew was told that it would “take an act of Congress to close the main street leading out of town, but in the end two wonderful police officers and mayor made it happen.” Jen says that while it is sometimes stressful, making the impossible possible for REJ customers adds a sense of enjoyment to her job. Jen worked with Art Director Brad Meerholz, Account Directors Krista Capurso and Stephanie Betteker of TBC.

Check out the finished photos below. The print, internet, and outdoor ads run locally and regionally beginning August 2010. (Click to enlarge).

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REJ Newsbrief

Baltimore, MD (February 24, 2010)

Trey Fales, REJ’s agency producer, is headed back to the studio to produce new TV and Radio for GKV and the Maryland Lottery. This time its for Lucky Times Twenty, two commercials promoting one of the Lottery's newest Scratch Off Tickets. Trey is working with GKV Associate Creative Directors Brian Burkhart (Art Director) and Dave Broscious (Copy Writer) and is excited to be managing this unique creative project that is driven by graphics, animation, music and narration. REJ is utilizing the editorial services of Baltimore based Producers Video for postproduction.

This is the seventh TV and second radio in a series of spots for the Lottery's "1,000 Ways to Win" retail campaign, which began late last year and includes the following:

REJ & Associates, Inc. Receives HUD/FHA Webinar Contract

Baltimore, MD (November 1, 2009)

REJ & Associates, Inc., a provider of integrated marketing andcommunications services for private and public sector institutions, has been awarded a federal government contract for up to 20 Webinars for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Philadelphia Homeownership Center (HOC). TheseWebinars, using software provided by REJ strategic partner Onstream Media, enable the FHAto expand its outreach to industry partners on FHA programs and services.

Elliott Wiley, the president of REJ, says this initiative represents an important milestone for his company as it expands its IT service offerings. Webinars and Webcasts "are a cost effective way for government agencies and other institutions to bring people together for meetings, seminars and training events” continued Wiley.

Live web based meeting technology is rapidly evolving, and “REJ and its strategic partner Onstream Media offer FHA Webcast presenters and attendees the best available state of the art access to audio, video and digital transmissions.” In addition to the Onstream Media webcast software platform, REJ is providing project management, training, help desk support, notifications, archival services and event coordination for this series of Webinars.

REJ & Associates, Inc., an African American owned Maryland Corporation, is certified by the federal government as a Federal 8a and SDB (Small Disadvantaged Business). In business since 1991, REJ’s customers include WBAL Television, The Maryland Lottery, Maryland Public Television, GKV Communications, TBC Advertising, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture and Morgan State University.

The REJ team is committed to success for its clients and has a superior past performance customer rating when it comes to web based, broadcast and print applications. REJ’s corporate headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland.

“We are excited to be working with FHA’s Philadelphia Homeownership Center as it continues its mission of increasing homeownership, supporting community development and increasing access to affordable housing” concludes Wiley. This initiative is designed to make FHA’s industry partners more aware of the benefits of FHA insured mortgage products.

For more information, visit our website at www.rejassociates.com.

Elliott A. Wiley Recognized For Business Excellence

Baltimore, MD (October, 2009)

The Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (OMA) and The Daily Record announce that Elliott A. Wiley, President and CEO of REJ & Associates, Inc. in Baltimore, is one of Maryland’s Top 100 Minority Business Enterprises for 2009. This program is designed to salute the best minority and women business owners in the mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

REJ & Associates, Inc. is a full service, award-winning communications and consulting firm that provides customers with advertising, film and video broadcast production, print and photographic, and web content and design services. Incorporated in December 1991, REJ is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise in the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, and as an 8A/SDB firm by the federal government.

In selecting Wiley, a panel of distinguished government, civic and business leaders noted his demonstrated outstanding achievements in four key areas: business development, client satisfaction, professional affiliations and community outreach.

Wiley says that “Being in business is challenging, risky, rewarding, and is based on establishing and keeping good relationships with customers as well as having the right strategic partners. Our business motto is ‘On time and on budget,’ and we have built a company whose values include quality work and added value to our customers.” REJ & Associates clients include the Maryland Lottery, GKV Communications, WBAL Television, Northern Virginia Visitors Consortium, the Federal Housing Administration, Maryland Public Television, Morgan State University and Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

REJ owns fully equipped offices in the Mt. Vernon area of Baltimore City and has 8 employees.

For more information about the Top 100 MBE awards, visit www.Top100MBE.com.

REJ Provides Still Photography Support to The AAFB for Advertising Week

Baltimore, MD (September 2009)

The American Advertising Federation, Baltimore Chapter recently held a week of activities in celebration of advertising week in Baltimore. REJ provided, in kind, photographic services to document the many events and celebrations occurring around Baltimore.

Advertising Week was kicked off in style at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. The evening started with a reception of food, drink and social networking. Following the reception, a formal program featured awards to former Board President Jim Astrachan, Board Member Ariel Maraguglio and Hal Donofrio (Lifetime Achievement Award). Perhaps the highlight of the evening though was "Chaos", a presentation of the state of our industry by noted author Bob Garfield.

A number of events at the Hyatt Regency featured receptions of food, drink and social networking, industry workshops and seminars. Members and friends also received valuable information on ways to stay in good standing with federal and state tax authorities at the Village of Cross Keys Inn.

REJ president Elliott Wiley is a member of the AAFB Board of Directors and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee.

To view photos from the events visit aafb.rejassociates.com.

For more information about the AAFB go to website.

REJ Executive Produces Radio and Television spots for American Classics Campaign

Baltimore, MD (May 2009)

REJ & Associates, Inc. recently completed a series of radio spots (At Bat and American Music), as well as two TV commercials ($3 or Less and Timeless Baseball) for advertising agency GKV and the Maryland State Lottery. The campaign advertises the Maryland Lottery’s scratch-off ticket, American Classics. As agency producer, REJ supervised and managed the entire project from pre-production through post-production.

For REJ, this effort is but the latest in a series of advertising efforts the company has undertaken with strategic partner GKV Communications. The REJ team worked with GKV's creative and account team to produce one television film commercial, one HD video spot and two radio spots.

The HD video spot marked REJ's first venture into using the RED camera. REJ Producer/Editor Trey Fales says that "the RED camera does not have the depth of film, but the images generated are quite impressive and represent the best HD video he has seen."

For more information on the ticket and promotions, visit http://classics.mdlottery.com and check out the TV spot below!

"American Classics" :30	"Timeless Baseball" :30

REJ & Associates Receives
"Bridging the Gap" Achievement Award

Baltimore, MD (October 2008)

REJ & Associates, Inc. was named one of the winners of the Greater Baltimore Committee’s 2008 Bridging the Gap Awards. The awards were presented during October 8, 2008 ceremonies honoring minority-owned and women-owned firms for achievement and others for their efforts to strengthen minority business development. The awards event was held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

REJ & Associates received the 2008 Achievement Award for "outstanding contributions to the growth and expansion of the minority business community in the Greater Baltimore region."

The awards program is part of Bridging the Gap, a minority business development initiative of the Greater Baltimore Committee, the region’s most prominent organization of business and civic leaders. Bridging the Gap is one of the GBC’s top priorities because it relates directly to the GBC’s mission of improving the business climate of the Greater Baltimore region by organizing its corporate and civic leadership to develop solutions to the problems that affect the region's competitiveness and viability. The region’s competitiveness would receive a significant boost if full participation of M/WBE's in the regional economy were to be achieved. A study conducted by the Sage Policy Group found that fully engaging M/WBE's in the region’s economy, would generate as much as $5 billion of additional sales revenue and 32,000 new jobs.

"It is important to shine the spotlight on successful minority-owned and women-owned companies and alliances and to recognize others for their efforts to strengthen opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs," said GBC President and CEO, Donald C. Fry. "Through their commitment and success, all of these winners are building a stronger business community in the Baltimore region.”

Award winners were selected from nominations submitted by businesses, civic organizations, employees, customers, elected officials and government agencies.

More information about the Bridging the Gap initiative is available on the GBC website, www.gbc.org.

For the countless Marylanders set to tailgate at professional and college football games this fall, watch the games unfold on television or listen to radio, the Tailgating Etiquette campaign features rules to follow when enjoying pre and post-game food and fun. The TV film spots, "Hyena Boy" and "Be Patient," were directed by Neil Tardio. Creative Director Jeff Millman, Writer Dave Broscious and Assistant Creative Director Brian Burkhart were the creative team who developed and brought this series of ideas to life.

As Executive Producer, REJ & Associates managed and was responsible for all aspects of production for this major advertising initiative. The REJ team developed production schedules, triple bid directors, put together production budgets and kept the projects on time and on budget. As facilitator, coordinator, troubleshooter, collaborator, and financial manager, REJ provided all resources including personnel, management, supplies, services, materials, equipment, facilities and transportation necessary for successful completion of the project. Working closely with agency account executive David Blum, REJ convened and attended all pertinent pre through post/production and presentation meetings; managed the film shoot and radio record session; advised and collaborated with the creative team throughout the process; and hired and coordinated the production company, talent, casting, and post-production facilities.

Watch the completed spots below!

Hyena Boy (:30)		Be Patient (:30)