PlattForm Advertising

Infobox Company
company_type = Privately Held
company_name = PlattForm, Inc.
| foundation = 1989 [http://www.plattformad.com Company Website] ]
location = flagicon|USA Lenexa, Kansas, USA
industry = Advertising
key_people =
num_employees = 350+ [http://www.thinkkc.com/2_partners/2d_corporate/profiles/bernsteinrein.htm ThinkKC.com] ]
homepage = [http://www.plattformad.com/ www.plattformad.com]

PlattForm, Inc. is a full-service advertising and marketing agency specializing in higher education. PlattForm employs more than 350 professionals and is headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas.

History

Founded in 1989, PlattForm began as a seven-employee organization located in the basement of owner and CEO Michael Platt’s house. Initially offering only media buying services, over time PlattForm expanded its services, offering production and non-traditional services to clients.

In May 2005, PlattForm purchased Target Marketing, a marketing firm located in Liberty, Missouri. In December 2005, PlattForm was purchased as a portfolio company by Arlington Capitol Partners, a Washington D.C. private equity firm focused on growth in education and other industries.

In July 2007, PlattForm acquired two firms: VentureDirect Worldwide, a New York based firm specializing in lead generation through integrated marketing, and Beauty Schools Directory, an information resource for prospective beauty school students. The acquisition of both entities resulted in $175 million in gross revenue, substantially increasing the scale for PlattForm.

Services

PlattForm now offers full-service marketing and advertising to organizations in the higher education industry. They bill more than $100 million annually to clients for creative work and other services, including:
*Direct mail

*Client services

*Media planning and buying

*Print design and production

*Video and radio production

*Web design and development

*Public relations

*Interactive technologies

*Admissions support

Clients

PlattForm has more than 2,600 partnerships with traditional colleges, universities, career colleges, proprietary schools and other postsecondary institutions. About 200 clients are fully represented by the agency, which manages everything from purchasing media to telemarketing. Some of PlattForms’s clients include:
*Corinthian College

*High-Tech/The Chubb Institute

*Kaplan

*Vatterott

*University of Phoenix

*ATI

*UEI & ACT

*Institute of Technology

*ECPI College of Technology

Awards

The company has received several national and international awards, including an Emmy nomination. PlattForm’s recent awards include:

*2007 Communicator Awards (International), Award of Excellence (1st Place)
*2006 Omni Awards (Regional), Platinum Best of Show (1st Place)

*2006 Aurora Awards, Gold Award - Best Cinematography/Videography/Photography, "Ross Medical Education Center"

*2006 Web Awards, Advertising Standard of Excellence, "Pinnacle Career Institute web site" and Education Standard of Excellence, "Pinnacle Career Institute web site"

*2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Michael Platt, Owner & CEO, PlattForm

References

External links

* [http://www.plattformad.com/ PlattForm Official Web Site]
* [http://www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com/ Beauty Schools Directory]