David Warschawski is out of room in his company?s trophy case. No, really.
In the past eight years, Warschawski, a marketing and public relations firm based in Baltimore, has raked in more than 150 industry awards, including its top three honors last year. Now the firm is one of four finalists for PR News? Small Firm of the Year Award, to be announced in October.
“We?ve gotten to the point we don?t display all of our awards because we don?t have enough room,” said Warschawski, company founder and chief executive officer. “That?s a very wonderful problem to have.”
After winning honors as the country?s best boutique agency, last year Warschawski was named the Small Agency of the Year by industry resource The Holmes Report. But Warschawski said the company decided not to attempt a repeat, and would move on to a new competition and a shot at a new honor, the PR News award.
Warschawski said the decision to compete for new awards and honors each year is born not out of arrogance, but the company?s desire to face new challenges.
“We figure we?ve proven our mettle in different forums, let?s compete in new areas,” he said. “We want to compete and break new ground. We see ourselves as one of the major national agencies, and we want to compete in national events.”
Paul Holmes, editor of The Holmes Report, praised the company?s innovation, growth and dedication to its employees as reasons for its success. In the past three years, Warschawski has seen net revenues grow 335 percent, according to company data.
“Baltimore is not exactly the center of the PR universe, and it?s hard for any firm in a midsize market to break into the national consciousness. Warschawski has done so to a greater extent than any other local firm,” Holmes said. “Having said that, like anyone who tries to differentiate himself from ?typical? PR agencies, David has probably irritated some of those ?typical? firms who question whether there is quite as much difference between his approach and theirs as he would like to believe.”
Awards aside, Warschawski said he still enjoys working with clients on their marketing problems.
“They?ll come to us and tell us their problems, and within a couple hours of having that meeting, we?ll lay out solutions,” he said. “Just seeing the lights go on in a client?s eyes ? those moments, as a marketing professional, get me really excited.”
