SmithBucklin Acquires The Townsend Group

June 8, 2015

SmithBucklin acquired The Townsend Group, a Chevy Chase, Md.-based advertising, exhibit and sponsorship sales and management organization for associations.

The announcement was made by Henry Givray, president and CEO of SmithBucklin, and Holly Townsend, founder and CEO of The Townsend Group. The addition of The Townsend Group will provide associations with more opportunities for non-dues revenue generation.

The Townsend Group will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SmithBucklin and Holly Townsend will continue as president, reporting to James McNeil, senior vice president at SmithBucklin and president and publisher of Information, Inc., a SmithBucklin-owned company that regularly collaborates with The Townsend Group.

"Each association has its own unique culture and goals, and I am excited to become part of an organization that recognizes that. SmithBucklin's mission — to achieve the missions of the client organizations it serves — is completely aligned with ours," Townsend said.

She added, "Being part of SmithBucklin will help us both identify and execute many more opportunities to help organizations increase non-dues revenue growth, offer industry-leading practices and deliver unique new services to our clients."

The Townsend Group’s services include print and online advertising, exhibition and sponsorship sales and strategic planning in publishing and media transformation.

"We are thrilled to welcome The Townsend Group to the SmithBucklin family," Givray said. "Together, SmithBucklin and The Townsend Group will be the largest provider of specialized event and publishing sales services to associations on both a full-service and outsourced basis."

"The Townsend Group has particularly strong synergy with Information, Inc., and we are currently working on several joint client engagements," McNeil said. "SmithBucklin and The Townsend Group are in an excellent position to provide complementary services to a variety of organizations."

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