(tba), ND&P Merge To Form Big Agency

Thomas Becher

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett (ND&P), a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency, today announced plans to acquire The Becher Agency (tba), creating one of the largest firms in the Roanoke Valley.

“We are delighted to grow our locally managed office with the acquisition of a well-respected and well-connected agency with particularly strong capabilities and award-winning results in public relations,” said Todd Foutz, executive vice president of ND&P.

“Our combined staffs,comprising some of the most talented and recognized advertising professionals in the region, will provide clients with unprecedented expertise in creative services, online interaction, social media, public relations and other communications that help businesses and organizations succeed.”

Thomas Becher, owner and president of The Becher Agency, will join ND&P as senior vice president, leading the combined company’s public relations and crisis communications practices. “We'll have seven full-time staff, including me, Chris Turnbull, Ariel Clark and Chris McAdams joining ND&P,” says Becher.

“One position was duplicate.” One of the primary reasons for the merger is simple, says Becher: “I'd like to spend more time with my children and being a business owner has made that increasingly difficult.”

“We look forward to bringing our expertise to a larger team of professional communicators to better serve a variety of organizations,” Becher says. “Both firms share a great deal of respect for each other, and we have previously worked together to provide outstanding service to mutual clients. We look forward to continuing to provide local, strategy-based creative solutions to a variety of clients in our region and beyond.”

The Becher Agency has offices at Warehouse Row, 119 Norfolk Ave., in downtown Roanoke and the Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg. Upon the transaction, Becher Agency employees will move into ND&P’s office at 410 S. Jefferson St. The combined company will retain the Blacksburg office to serve clients in the New River Valley.

Once the acquisition closes, ND&P will have 54 employees in Roanoke, Richmond, Chattanooga, Tenn., Charlotte and Durham, N.C., and Tampa, Fla. The combined entity will total 17 full-time positions in Roanoke office. The transaction is scheduled to be effective Sept. 1. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.