Meridian Communications has merged with the Jordan-Chiles Group forming a regional super-agency to be known as Meridian-Chiles. Meridian founder Mary Ellen Slone is president with Larry Chiles stepping into the role of Chairman. All employees of the two agencies are being retained.
"It's been discussed over the last three years and never reached any conclusion. We finally sat down about four months ago, Larry and I, and talked about what as a merged entity we could offer this market and markets beyond us could not offer," said Slone from her new office off Winchester Road. The combo, she said, creates a powerhouse. "We will be able to offer in-house, strategic planning; branding; marketing; advertising; multi-faceted creative design; public relations; crisis management counseling; integrated wed development; search engine marketing; video and audio production; printing expertise; and special events planning and execution."
Jordan-Chiles' assets include post-production facilities. "We can do our own production now," said Chiles, who along with Jim Jordan formed Jordan-Chiles in 1988. Chiles bought out Jordan 6 years ago. "The largest percentage of the commercial video production is in-house, so by merging these two big companies it gives us sales expertise second to none, creativity that is second to none. It gives us the ability, with what they (Meridian) offer with all the branding and with the medical and image commercials and fast-food along with our heavy retail and political there's not one service that can't be accomplished."
Chiles said the merger moves the firm into the top five agencies in the region along with Creative Alliance, Doe Anderson, Sheehy and Red 7e of Louisville. "It's going to give us the ability to compete even in Cincinnati and other larger markets," he said.
Chiles said current market conditions added impetus to the move. "You're seeing it with banks and other major industrial firms. It just makes a whole lot of sense. You cut out a lot of duplication and expenses so you have a lot more money with which to do services, giving you a more competitive edge. Certainly there is nobody in Central or Eastern Kentucky who can come remotely close to what we now offer."
Slone, who launched her business as MER Communications in 1975, moved her staffand operations from downtown Lexington to the Jordan-Chiles complex on Beasley Street last weekend. Slone owns and will now lease the vacated space on the third level of Triangle Center at the corner of Main Street and Broadway.