NewGround | Press Releases

NewGround Research Study Says “New Normal” for Consumers Will Require Renewed Focus on the Branch Experience

St. Louis, MO —While recent economic conditions have shaken consumer confidence in the economy and their own personal financial situation, they remain optimistic about the future. However, consumers realize the future is likely to represent a “new normal,” and there will not be a return to the carefree spending lifestyle of the past decade.

A new research study conducted by the BAI and sponsored by NewGround shows how consumers preferences and behaviors, as well as the priorities and initiatives of financial institutions have shifted and been transformed by the recession.

Over the past six months, consumer confidence in the overall economic condition of the U.S. has risen 23 percent, and increased 21 percent in regards to their own personal financial situation.

Findings also show that the level of trust a consumer places in their financial organization has improved, although it still remains low at 65%, and these attitudes vary depending on the type and size of the institution. Consumer trust and confidence generally remains higher with community banks (82%) and credit unions (83%) than with larger national banks (53%) and regional banks (63%).

“Consumer confidence has dropped, but there is evidence that there are opportunities to increase customer loyalty and market share if financial institutions return to the basics of improved service and communication, and enhancing the customer experience,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround. “A key finding of the report is that consumers don’t feel that their financial institutions understand, or even want to understand, their financial concerns and needs.”

Only 43% of those surveyed said they were comfortable in discussing their finances at their primary financial institutions. A mere 35% of respondents said they felt their primary financial institution was concerned about their financial well-being, and 33% said their financial institution understood their financial goals.

According to NewGround, for those financial institutions that are serious about competing for deposits and customer relationships they will need to bring the customer experience center stage with a well-trained and engaged staff.

The report shows that staff education and communication could be improved industry-wide. Sixty-three percent of respondents said employees were accessible, while 56% would qualify staff as knowledgeable.

“Financial institutions will need to re-focus on the customer relationship and on the institution’s core strengths to meet a different set of consumer needs than was required before the recession,” said Blair.

Most financial executives (78%) realize that innovation will play a critical role in enhancing the customer experience and sustaining growth in today’s economic downturn. And yet, 70% of financial executives say they do not have a defined innovation strategy in place.

“Innovation and technology should be used in the enhancement of the customer experience to meet the new demands and emerging needs of consumers. The modernization of the customer experience can guide financial institutions back from the dismal conditions the industry has endured to the ‘new normal’ dictated by today’s marketplace,” said Blair.

To request a free copy of the white paper, call NewGround at 1.888.613.0001 ext. 453, or email kbertels@newground.com.

ADRENALINE Brands Loud + Clear with New Website and Blog

St. Louis, MO —ADRENALINE, Inc., a leading brand strategy and creative agency, today launched a redesigned website featuring expanded content, enhanced navigation, and a new blog. The new site can be viewed at www.adrenalineshot.com.

“The web is an integral part of our communications to our clients, prospective clients and the world. Seeking to ‘Brand Loud + Clear’, our agency’s redefined mantra, we’ve met that challenge by capturing online, the very core and soul of our agency and its unique business model. Indeed, the site accurately reflects who we are, what we do, and why we have established meaningful client relationships from coast to coast,” said Doug Strickler, President and Creative Director of ADRENALINE.

With a fresh, inspiring appearance, the new design and architecture highlights ADRENALINE’s expertise in seven areas: advertising, collateral, direct mail, environments, identity, packaging, and web. Each of these areas features ten examples of client work illustrating ADRENALINE’s creative force at play.

“In developing our site, we aimed to achieve the unexpected. Color, typography, navigation, music, and graphic content were designed to keep viewers guessing and engaged. The energy-infused site sparks the senses, bringing ADRENALINE’s Loud + Clear brand message to life,” said Gina Bleedorn, Senior Art Director, ADRENALINE.

Utilizing HTML, CSS, Flash, JavaScript and PHP, the site showcases ADRENALINE’s technical web skills, as well as their design abilities, and is highly search engine optimized. Traveling through the site, visitors are treated to animated graphics that come alive as a cursor moves over the images.

A notable addition to the website is Blog Out Loud, a social forum that can be accessed through the site. The blog will provide a medium for open discussion on timely marketing and branding topics, as well as other related campaigns and events from around the globe.

“We want to converse and interact with the public on trends and the innovative designs that are piercing our world and changing public perception. Good design is all about sound communication, bouncing creative ideas off one another, and taking the latest innovations to the next level,” said Strickler. “Our new blog and web site is a testament of that philosophy.”

About ADRENALINE
ADRENALINE was born a boutique design and marketing firm in 1998. From that avant-garde origin, we’ve since grown into one of the Southeast’s foremost full-service creative agencies. Now as then, our mission is to fuse the finest and most vital elements of commercial creativity. Innovative ideas guided by smart strategy. Purposeful design inspired by passionate artistry. And industrious media executions delivering hard results.

Because our work is unlike anything else in the marketplace, so are our clients’ brands.

In 2009, ADRENALINE was proud to become a company of NewGround. With our boutique roots firmly intact, we offer the independent spirit of a mid-size shop with the expanded capabilities of a big agency, drawing from a national network of talent, support and resources.

Top Industry Talent Joins NewGround

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading provider of growth solutions for the financial industry, today announced it has further bolstered its operations with the addition of a team of top industry talent, including: Ned Compton, William Bily, Eric Corti, Neil Kool and Rick Greve.

“NewGround is committed to attracting and retaining the industry’s top professionals. We are making strategic investments in our number one asset, our people, so our clients can benefit from today’s most creative solutions and strategies in building market growth,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround.

These appointments underscore NewGround’s commitment to broadening the company’s leadership to assure that the company is well positioned to take advantage of new growth opportunities ahead.

“We are excited that these industry leaders and innovators are onboard. They will further strengthen our core and position the company to rapidly accelerate as the market rebounds,” said Blair.

The new employees will join NewGround in the following positions:

Ned Compton, Senior Vice President of Community Business Development
Ned Compton will lead NewGround’s Community Business Development Team. With over 29 years of experience in the financial industry, Ned has guided hundreds of financial institutions to market success. Prior to joining NewGround, Ned served as President of DEI Incorporated.

Ned also has first-hand experience in running a financial institution. From 1989 to 1997, he served as President and CEO of Van Wert National Bank, a $130 million commercial bank in Van Wert, OH. When the bank merged in 1997 to become the $780 million Community First Bank & Trust, Ned continued to lead the organization as President and CEO until 2002. Ned’s strong background has given him valuable insight into the complete process of running a successful financial institution, and has allowed him to lead teams to create highly efficient and profitable growth solutions for clients.

William Bily, Vice President of Architecture
William Bily joins NewGround as Vice President of Architecture, providing design and project execution leadership for NewGround’s architecture team. Bill’s expertise lies in brand and retail design development. His unique design creations have captured the attention of consumers throughout his 20-year design career. Bill has worked on design projects for top retailers like Nike, Kmart, Disney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Discover Mills, Lotte Department Stores and Marriott’s Residence Inn.

Among his significant previous positions, Bill served as Vice President of Design and Development for DEI Incorporated, where he led the design staff in the development of financial institutions tailored specifically to represent their clients’ brand vision. Prior to this position, Bill served as a Design Director/Architect for FRCH Design Worldwide, providing hands-on creative services and design while working in close collaboration with clients in the retail, entertainment and hospitality industries. Bill holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. He is a registered architect in the state of Ohio, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Eric Corti, Vice President of Construction, Eastern Region
Eric Corti will lead the Construction Management Division. With over 20 years experience in the design and build industry, Eric is committed to providing the financial industry with the most innovative facilities and retail spaces that fully engage consumers. Prior to joining NewGround, Eric served as Executive Vice President of Construction at DEI Incorporated, where he managed departmental professionals in pre-construction, strategy, and project management.

Previous to this, Eric worked at WD Partners, helping top retailers and restaurants enhance customer experiences through strategy and design. Eric has worked on projects ranging from high-end retail stores to multi-million dollar commercial buildings. His thorough understanding of retail design and construction allows him to build retail spaces and environments that build upon and improve customer relationships. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Building Construction Management from Purdue University.

Neil Kool, Regional Vice President, Eastern Region
Neil Kool will lead NewGround’s Community Business Development Team in the Eastern Region. Neil is known for his tenacity in building new business and forging strong customer relationships. He has a long history of providing clients with results-oriented strategies. Prior to joining NewGround, Neil served as Vice President of Business Development at DEI Incorporated.

Neil has collaborated with a wide range of financial institutions on a variety of business challenges. His first-hand knowledge of the financial industry was secured by working as a commercial banker. In 2006, while serving as a Vice President for Park National Bank, Neil assisted in the acquisition of a $350 million community bank and managed the transition of the commercial loan portfolio and new staff members. From 1999 through 2005, Neil worked as a Vice President at Fifth Third Bank, where he led the International and Healthcare Banking Divisions. His wealth of experience provides his clients with unique and valuable insight on developing the right solutions to increase market share and improve efficiencies.

Rick Greve, Division Vice President
Rick Greve will lead business development for the Ohio Valley market. With 15 years of experience serving the financial industry and 22 years in sales management, Rick specializes in creating client-focused business solutions to support revenue growth and increase customer retention for his clients. Prior to joining NewGround, Rick was a Regional Vice President at DEI Incorporated. Rick also developed a strong background in the financial services industry as a Vice President of First Financial Bank, where he managed the Auto Lending Division. Rick’s proven approach to business development has helped his clients enhance customer service, while driving customer loyalty and increasing sales.

NewGround Expands Services into United Kingdom

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a design and implementation firm specializing in the development of growth solutions for financial institutions, announced today they are expanding their services into the United Kingdom.

“NewGround has introduced our Experience Retail Design to the UK market, which provides financial institutions with a platform of retail delivery that aligns an organization’s brand, place and culture into dynamic and differentiating retail environments. Our approach to the financial services industry is focused on providing consistent, total customer experiences, not just products and services,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround.

As an international solutions provider with clients in Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean, NewGround has been seeking to grow its client base in places like the UK and Spain, where financial institutions are underutilizing opportunities to build customer relationships.

“The UK is still using the one-size-fits-all approach to banking, employing traditional retail platforms that are no longer effective in meeting the demanding needs of the consumer today. As we’ve similarly experienced here in the United States, the top UK banks are finding this method no longer works with financial consumers. To build a successful customer relationship in this economy, financial institutions must provide a memorable, personable and customized experience,” said Blair.

As part of the UK expansion, NewGround has established client acquisition, design and support resources in London. Recently, the London team worked on integrating The Co-operative Group’s banks into their food stores.

The Co-operative Group is the UK’s largest consumer co-operative, with a group of businesses in Financial Services, Food, Travel, Pharmacy, Funeral Care and Legal Services. They partnered with NewGround to capture the interest of the thousands of shoppers that pass through the food stores each week. They needed an innovative in-store branch design to draw in consumers with a convenient and comfortable financial services channel for their loyal customers.

NewGround designed a branch prototype for The Co-operative Group that is centered on providing customers with a unique banking experience that exceeds their service expectations from an in-store financial institution.

“There is chemistry between culture, commerce and technology within The Co-operative Bank branches. We’ve taken the in-store experience to a whole new level,” said Blair.

Walking into the branch, customers are immediately welcomed by an employee at the Greeter Station, and directed to the area that best meets their needs. An ATM and Deposit Machine offer self-serve convenience and expediency to the customer experience, but customers are far from rushed to leave the branch. Instead, a Hospitality Bar stocked with Fairtrade Coffee and comfortable seating entices customers to linger and relax.

Employees engage customers in conversations and uncover their financial needs in this casual setting. For more discrete financial discussions, customers are taken to a Consultation Room where products and services can be explained in a more private setting. In addition, an Online Banking Station hosts laptops where customers can manage online accounts.

“Beyond the bank branch design, we also studied the total customer journey through the food store, from the moment customers entered the store until they exited, and identified unique Points-of-Experience (POE) within the store. At these Points-of-Experience, we then developed specific customer engagement activities where bank employees could connect with food shoppers, thus increasing the overall customer experience,” said Blair.

Taking the design implementation a step further, NewGround also developed a complete environmental graphics communications program to clearly inform customers on the bank’s offering, and a customized staff training program on how to engage customers within this new environment.

Staff was taught how to incorporate marketing and merchandising for financial services into the food store, and vice versa within The Co-operative Bank space. NewGround schooled employees on how to use customer Points-of-Experience, in-store promotional display and demos, and the public address announcement system as sales tools. In addition, employees were trained on how to effectively work the store aisles to build deeper customer relationships.

“At NewGround, we adhere to the philosophy that employees are your strongest asset. You can’t simply build dynamic retail environments and assume that you will maximize your return on investment. Instead, you must prepare employees to leverage the experience within these new environments through comprehensive employee development programs,” said Blair. “The success of a branch experience is heavily dependent on staff embracing the new retail platform and using it to its maximum potential.”

For images of the new Co-operative Bank in-store branch design, contact Kris Fortschneider at kfortschneider@newground.com or 636.898.8418.

NewGround Promotes Gandelman to Senior Vice President of Program Management

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading design and implementation company, today announced that Larry Gandelman, formerly Senior Vice President – Western Operations, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Program Management.

“Larry’s strategic vision, strong leadership skills, and his ability to develop successful processes that deliver consistent results positions NewGround for long-term success,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround.

In his new position, Gandelman will oversee program management, focusing on increasing operational efficiencies and synergies.

“I am excited to take on this new role. NewGround offers a unique 360-degree approach to growing and integrating all facets of our clients’ business. I am excited to lead the continued process of making this a seamless transition for our clients,” said Larry Gandelman, Senior Vice President of Program Management for NewGround.

As a 25-year veteran of the financial services community, Larry has proven his ability to coordinate and manage a team to transform a concept into reality, thus enabling many financial institutions and investors to realize their goals.

“I am confident that Larry’s expertise and track record will serve him well in his expanded role and further strengthen NewGround’s standing in the marketplace,” said Blair.

NewGround Entices Esposito to Join Business Development Team
Jay Esposito, formerly of Brand Partners, joins NewGround

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm, announced today the appointment of Jay Esposito as Vice President of National Accounts. Esposito’s move to NewGround reflects the company’s continued focus on providing a high standard of service in meeting the needs of clients. Jay will immediately support NewGround’s growing portfolio of retail solutions and join in the development of new innovations to match market trends.

“Today’s marketplace is full of mixed messages and muddled communications. Financial institutions that want to get ahead must align their brand, place and culture to move beyond the clutter and reach out to their customers,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround. “Jay applies his extensive retail skills and strong background in integrated delivery to focus in on this challenge to create powerful client solutions. He will be a valuable asset to NewGround.”

NewGround will leverage Esposito’s 20 years of experience in the areas of strategic retail development, business management, and construction. Esposito is charged with all facets of business development, including overall strategy, new market segments and managing the existing national client base.

“Jay’s vast knowledge of the inner workings of the financial industry will quickly enhance our marketplace presence,” said Geoff Walters, Managing Director of National Accounts, NewGround. “His passion for uncovering effective client solutions and his superior management skills will elevate our service offerings. We are continually impressed with his contributions to the industry.”

“I am very excited to be part of the NewGround team. The organization’s vision and willingness to invest in the future of the financial industry is truly impressive,” said Jay Esposito, Vice President of National Accounts. “Their in-depth understanding of customer and staff engagement at the retail level is supported by the total integration of NewGround’s core competencies. When dynamic design solutions are coupled with the ability to deliver projects that have the power to move a company and its culture forward, the value to our clients is vast.”

Jay Esposito, Vice President, National Accounts
Jay has over 20 years of experience in the development of holistic retail communication platforms for the financial industry. He specializes in developing retail strategies that enhance the customer experience and in turn his clients’ bottom line. As Vice President of National Accounts, Jay works with clients to develop the design and implementation of prototype store applications, retail display integration, brand translation and content positioning. Working with a multi-disciplinary team of design specialists, his efforts have positively impacted thousands of retail locations nationwide. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of BrandPartners. Among other significant positions, Jay served for 10 years as a federally certified Quality Control Inspector in the nuclear industry where he reviewed engineering specifications for the construction of four major power generation projects across the United States.

NewGround Wins Awards of Distinction from Modular Building Institute for Two Bank Projects

St. Louis, MO —NewGround was honored by the Modular Building Institute (MBI) with two Awards of Distinction for its work on the Bank of Lancaster, in Burgess, VA, and the Bank of the Pacific, in Bellingham, WA, at the 2009 MBI Convention.

“We are once again thrilled to be honored by the Modular Building Institute. NewGround strives to provide clients with the most efficient techniques in design and build. Our Accelerated Development Projects illustrate that modular building provides the flexibility to accommodate the needs of a retail environment, while providing all the benefits of being time and cost effective,” said Joe Ijjas, Vice President of Accelerated Development, NewGround.

The MBI Awards of Distinction review and assess commercial modular building entries submitted by MBI member companies. Entries are judged in the areas of architectural excellence, technical innovation, cost effectiveness, energy efficiency and the length of time to complete.

NewGround was awarded First Place for the category of “Permanent Modular Buildings Under 2,000 square feet” for their work on the Bank of Lancaster in Burgess, VA. NewGround was challenged with space limitations when it came to building a new branch for the Bank of Lancaster. The 1,190 square-foot branch had to have maximum visibility, employ a work efficient design and engage customers. NewGround utilized factory-built construction to provide more functional space and areas to promote product and services, while maintaining an inviting décor. Interior soffits and varying ceiling heights were applied to create a more spacious environment. The design also features a greeter station and teller counter allowing for a more welcoming experience and efficient customer service.

NewGround also received an Honorable Mention award within the category of “Permanent Modular Buildings Over 2,000 square feet” for their work for Bank of the Pacific in Bellingham, WA. NewGround used a Craftsman-style motif to envelope the modular units used to construct this facility. Blending earthy sensibility with the reflected taste of the Bank of the Pacific, NewGround created a natural and relaxing setting for customers to contemplate their financial decisions and conduct transactions. Native stone accents on the interior and exterior of the building add to this definitive look and feel. The use of custom soffit features, curved flooring transitions, and angled walls give the facility a “stick built” look, while maintaining the key benefits of modular construction.

About MBI
Founded in 1983, the Modular Building Institute is the only, international, non-profit trade association serving non-residential modular construction. Regular membership includes wholesale manufacturers, direct manufacturers, and dealers of commercial modular buildings, while MBI’s associate members are companies supplying building components, services, and financing to the industry. It is MBI's mission to grow the industry and its capabilities by encouraging innovation, quality, and professionalism through communication, education, and recognition. MBI also administers an educational foundation. For more information, visit modular.org.

NewGround Expands Significantly in IT/Mission Critical Sector

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm, announced today a significant expansion of its IT/Mission Critical resources. This expansion will enable the company to better serve its growing client base with additional technical and executive talent. The IT/Mission Critical team joining NewGround will leverage technical planning and design skills with NewGround’s existing core strength in design and build, program management and consulting service offerings.

“Data technology will continue to expand exponentially over the next 10 years, and critical infrastructure will have to be expanded to support this growth” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround. “Growing our technical capabilities across the various sectors in the IT/Mission Critical space ensures that NewGround is well positioned to take advantage of the many new growth opportunities ahead.”

NewGround’s expanded IT/Mission Critical team has a wealth of experience in the consulting, planning, design/build and program management of IT/Mission Critical facilities for companies such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Bank One, Northern Trust, First Chicago NBD, and other large corporate and public sector clients such as the Chicago Board of Trade and the GSA/IRS.

“We have assembled a team of leaders with a successful history of innovation and insight to build our IT/Mission Critical group, complementing our core company expertise,” said Blair.

Joining the NewGround team are:

Thomas Stratford
Tom Stratford joins NewGround as a nationally recognized planner in the IT/Mission Critical sector for over 25 years. He has served a large client base of both financial institutions, as well as corporate clients, nationwide. He specializes in the consulting, planning and design of data centers, operations centers, communications facilities, network centers, co-location operations, call centers and other IT/Mission Critical facilities. Tom is well regarded for program/criteria development, work process analysis, infrastructure planning and design, redundancy/reliability/maintainability planning, power planning and hardware planning.

Tom spent the majority of his career at Austin/AECOM, formerly McClier, where he was Vice President and Director of Information Technology. Additionally, Tom served as the lead member of the IT/Mission Critical team at the Facility Group. Throughout his career, he has worked with large corporate and institutional clients such as Wells Fargo, Digital Realty Trust, Comdisco, BankOne, TransUnion, etc. Tom holds an undergraduate degree from Marquette University and is a registered architect.

Alan Belohlavik
Alan Belohlavek joins NewGround as an architect and senior project manager. He has worked in the IT/Mission Critical industry for over 25 years, and for 12 of those years, Alan has worked in partnership with Tom Stratford. He specializes in space planning, workflow and material handling, technology infrastructure design, systems design including redundancy/reliability/maintainability, architectural/mechanical/electrical peer review, contract and lease negotiations, property management, interior architecture, furniture, fixtures and equipment selection, and project coordination/management.

Alan also spent over 10 years managing large scale IT/Mission Critical projects at Austin/AECOM, formerly McClier. He has also held the position of Corporate Architect with Sempra Energy/Southern California Gas Company and Saunders Development Corporation. Alan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Southern Illinois University, is a registered architect, and a certified Facility Manager.

Hope Alexander
Hope Alexander joins NewGround with more than 25 years of proven experience in marketing and sales of technically sophisticated facilities worldwide. She has been a leader in selling management consulting, architecture, engineering, design/build and program management services throughout her career and will focus on the IT/Mission Critical sector.

Hope has worked with this executive team for over 20 years starting her career in consulting and design/build as Vice President at McClier Corporation where she was instrumental in its rapid growth. More recently, Hope was Senior Vice President at The Facility Group. Hope holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s Degree in Manufacturing Management from Northwestern University.

Grant McCullagh
Grant G. McCullagh, Chairman of GIBS, Inc and formerly Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President of AECOM, will join NewGround’s Board of Directors and serve as the company’s Vice Chairman.

In addition to a deep and broad design/build background, Grant, with experience in multiple niche markets, will assist in leading NewGround’s IT/Mission Critical initiative. He is a highly regarded leader in the engineering and construction industry, serving the infrastructure, environmental, and facilities sectors, and will draw upon his strong background in the global and financial markets to aid NewGround clients in the development of strategic operations platforms.

Prior to his tenure at AECOM, Grant co-founded McClier Corporation, a leader in integrated consulting, engineering and design/build services, which specialized in a variety of technical niche markets, including IT/Mission Critical.

“I’ve known Grant for 40 years and have seen his growth and expertise advance the architecture and infrastructure of the IT/Mission Critical world. I’m very excited to have someone of his caliber join our team,” said Ted Golitz, Chairman of NewGround.

Grant holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the AIA College of Fellows.

Thomas Samuels
Thomas Samuels, also from GIBS, will join NewGround as a Senior Vice President focusing on the IT/Mission Critical Sector. He brings a strong and successful background in design/build/finance of these and other technically sophisticated facilities in both the private, as well as the growing public sector. During a 30 year career in the engineering and construction industry, Tom served as Executive Vice President of Higgins Development Partners, where he led the Public Sector and Institutional Division. He was responsible for public/private partnerships and DB Finance initiatives across the IT/Mission Critical, Life Sciences, and more complex and technical corporate projects.

Tom received his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard University Graduate School of Business. He also received a Master’s Degree in City Planning as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development National Fellow. Tom is also a member of the AIA College of Fellows.

Time is Right for Financial Institutions to Plan and Design
NewGround Report Shows Materials, Construction and Real Estate Have Hit Record Lows

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm, today released a report indicating that the ideal time to plan and design for future building initiatives is now. Industry data collected by the firm shows materials, construction, and real estate have hit record lows.

“Material prices are dropping, worker availability is abundant, and land is cheap,” says Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround. “Owners should take advantage of these market conditions before the market turns.”

Construction industry experts are predicting the market turnaround to happen in the next 10 to 12 months due to the economic stimulus package and constrained market demand. NewGround says owners should plan now if they want to take advantage of the market’s bargain pricing.

“Common thinking is: ‘I’ll get in before the prices start going up again.’ But, the reality is if you don’t have plans and designs already underway when the upturn happens, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to take full advantage of the bargain prices created by this depressed market,” said Blair.

According to NewGround, space programming, conceptual design, mechanical, electrical and structural drawings must all be completed before materials can be bought and construction started.

“It’s prudent for owners to plan now because it can take anywhere from 6 to 10 months to plan and design a facility correctly,” says Blair. “If design documents aren’t finished before the market turns, it will hinder the owner’s ability to take advantage of the market’s bargain pricing.”

To request a free copy of the White Paper, call NewGround at 1.888.613.0001 Ext. 8453, or email Kayce Ansell at kansell@newground.com

NewGround Promotes Tom Auer to Senior Vice President of Architecture

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm, announced today the promotion of Tom Auer to Senior Vice President of Architecture.

“Tom has demonstrated remarkable leadership in our industry, while advancing NewGround’s client relationships and driving design and operational excellence,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround. “We are fortunate to have someone in this role with Tom’s credentials and creativity in design.”

Tom will continue to be responsible for the overall management of NewGround's Architectural and Engineering division, including design oversight and guidance on all projects. Tom has over 20 years of experience in areas as diverse as corporate architecture and retail design to owning his own architectural firm.

“NewGround designs and implements solutions that engage both customers and employees. It’s a great privilege to work with a team that is dedicated to creating great architecture and delivering strategically driven solutions,” said Tom Auer, Senior Vice President of Architecture.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Ohio State University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas. He is also a registered architect in all 50 states and is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB). Tom is also a LEED Accredited Professional.

Lights, Camera, Action! NewGround’s 2009 Short Film Festival

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm serving the financial services industry, announced today they are hosting a short film festival contest to showcase aspiring film directors’ views on “This is NewGround”.

It’s easy to participate. Anyone can submit an entry…employees, vendors, clients, family members, the general public, etc. The top five short films will be selected and viewed before a live audience on May 6, 2009 at Chesterfield’s YMCA Community Theatre. And the best part, contest winners will be awarded a Director’s salary of $1,000 (this salary is for the director and team/cast). Second and third places will be awarded an aspiring Director’s salary of $500 and $250. All contest entries will be available for everyone to view on YouTube.com.

If you think you have what it takes to be the next Martin Scorsese, or you secretly aspire to be like Stephen Spielberg, then let NewGround’s 2009 Short Film Festival be your big break. Gather your crew, bring out the story-boards, and start filming!

For more details, please contact Kevin Dulle at kdulle@newground.com or 636-898-8109.

DOWNLOAD a PDF of NewGround's 2009 Short Film Festival Submission Guidelines

DOWNLOAD a PDF of NewGround's 2009 Short Film Festival Submission Form

NewGround Promotes Vince Winkeler to Vice President of IT

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm, announced today the promotion of Vince Winkeler to Vice President of Information Technology. He will have the primary responsibility of overseeing NewGround’s IT Operations, including Support Services, hardware and software systems, and data integrity functions.

“Vince’s work with the management team to significantly expand our IT and communications capabilities has been exceptional,” said Skip Zaegel, CFO of NewGround. “His expertise and ability to anticipate and understand the implications of the latest technologies and integrate them successfully into NewGround’s network systems is invaluable.”

In his previous position of Director of IT, Vince was responsible for the implementation of a new VoIP phone system for all NewGround offices throughout the United States and Canada, which converged voice mail and e-mail together to work with the company’s Enterprise Blackberry Server. He also played a critical role in the development and execution of a disaster recovery off-site back-up system for NewGround, and managed the Enterprise Wide Area MPLS Network. In addition, Vince is currently co-leading NewGround’s new enterprise software implementation.

Vince has over 20 years of experience in information technology, including six years with NewGround. He holds multiple accreditations, including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer plus Internet, Microsoft Certified Professional, International Organization for Standardization (ISO 9001), Trainer and Instructor.

1st Financial Building Corporation Wins 2008 Masonry Design Award for Innovation Credit Union

1st Financial Building Corporation was honored by the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute with the Award for Excellence in Architecture for its work on Innovation Credit Union, in Swift Current, SK.

The Masonry Design Awards recognize owners, architects, engineers, designers and builders for their use of masonry work in producing projects that give testimony to the elegance of masonry.

The Innovation Credit Union financial center in Swift Current is an example of how stonework can play an integral part in the design of a building. The facility’s masonry is a definitive element of its architecture, and its distinguishing quality helps the building stand out in the market.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute for our work with Innovation Credit Union. We chose to incorporate Tyndall Stone and Canadian Brick into the design to combine an earthy sensibility with the reflected taste of the credit union. It adds character and individuality to the facility,” said Greg Ward, President of 1st Financial Building Corporation.

NewGround Obtains Industry’s Premier Creative Team
Douglas Strickler, Gina Bleedorn, Courtney Flanegan and Gisella Klekamp Join NewGround

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm serving the financial services industry, announced today that with the recent acquisition of the advertising agency Adrenaline, they have also acquired its top creative talent. Douglas Strickler, Gina Bleedorn, Courtney Flanegan and Gisella Klekamp have joined NewGround.

“This team’s creativity and experience elevates our client offering to the next level, providing clients with top-notch advertising and marketing communications, and a greater depth in brand strategy and campaign management,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround.

Adrenaline’s creative team has worked closely with NewGround for more than five years and has contributed to some of their most compelling brand campaigns for financial institutions, including the brand and retail development for Ascend FCU, Amplify, Xceed Financial, Park National Bank, Grow Financial and BB&T.

“Our alignment is a natural fit. We’re excited about this combination because we’ve worked together for many years, and we’re proven we can offer clients a stronger and more comprehensive resource by pooling our talent,” said Doug Strickler, President of Adrenaline.

The acquisition of Adrenaline’s creative team emphasizes NewGround’s dedication to provide clients with the best in class when it comes to providing high quality service and innovative solutions.

Doug Strickler, President of Adrenaline
With over 20 years experience in marketing, Doug has been charged with all facets of business development for Adrenaline, and will continue to serve in this capacity. Doug also directs and manages brand strategy development, client campaigns, market communications and advertising resources. Beyond business development, Doug is an industry leader in the conception of strategic brand and marketing solutions. Before forming Adrenaline, Doug worked in senior management roles across the country, but always in the agency world. He was Sr. VP with THINK New Ideas in Atlanta, VP of Marketing with Bright+Associates in Venice, CA, and a brand marketing consultant in Boston and Farmington, CT. Doug stays personally involved with every client project, insistent that the work produced and delivered is superior in its ideas and its results. Doug is a graduate of The College of Wooster.

Gina Bleedorn, Senior Art Director
Adept in both traditional and interactive design, Gina has delivered outstanding creative and web design for retailers around the country, some of Atlanta’s finest restaurants, technology corporations, and other diverse clients and industries. Gina also focuses on keeping the company’s creative efforts strategically aligned with client goals and expectations. Concepting, messaging, graphic delivery, and production of communications from logo marks and collateral systems to web sites and ad campaigns all fall within the scope of her expertise. She is a cum laude graduate of Furman University in Greenville, SC.

Gisella Klekamp, Senior Art Director
Gisella is the studio’s Senior Art Director and guides much of the creative. Before joining Adrenaline in early 2001, she gleaned wisdom from agencies across the region — and the globe. Originally educated with a BFA in design from Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota, she also earned an MFA in design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and an MA in Integrated Marketing and Communications from Emerson College in Boston. Gisella is a multi-lingual professional, and constantly tapped for insight into European and Latin American markets.

Courtney Flanegan, Senior Designer & Art Director
Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the creative table for all clients ranging from local to international. Courtney has done work for multi-billion dollar financial institutions, top of the line luxury vehicles, and a vast array of retail clients. Her strong background in retail allows her to not only turn out strong creative, but give clients the tools they need to successfully reach their target market. Courtney came to Adrenaline from South Florida where she worked in retail advertising for Zimmerman and Partners Advertising. She graduated magna cum laude from Auburn University with a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and a B.S. in Marketing.

Besides these four team members, NewGround will be keeping all staff that was working for Adrenaline previous to the acquisition.

About Adrenaline
Founded in 1998, Adrenaline excels at brand strategy, creative ideas and execution, interactive, and full-service brand communications delivery to client industries including: automotive, beverage, financial services, health/beauty, hospitality, housewares, retail, sports, and technology.

Adrenaline was created to fuse the artistry of a gifted design firm with the strategic expertise of a marketing communications company, while crossing big agency capabilities with the independent spirit of a mid-size shop. It is these intersections of strategy and creativity, capability and culture that define Adrenaline’s genesis and on-going vision. It is why we excel, and it’s what makes us different.

Adrenaline, Inc. is based in Atlanta, GA. To learn about Adrenaline, call 404.252.9995, or visit www.adrenalineshot.com.

NewGround Acquires Adrenaline, Inc.
Acquisition of Advertising Agency Enhances NewGround’s Retail and Brand Services

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm serving the financial services industry, announced today an agreement to acquire Adrenaline, Inc. a leading brand strategy and advertising agency headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

“Adrenaline brings to NewGround a greater depth of brand strategy and development, campaign management, marketing communications, and advertising resources for our clients. In today’s market, on-target brand messaging plays an integral role in customer loyalty. We’re strengthening our strategic solutions in this area to benefit our clients,” said Kevin Blair, President and CEO of NewGround.

NewGround currently provides an integrated core of services in the areas of brand, consult, design, build, retail and culture. Adrenaline will enhance NewGround’s offering of brand strategy by building on internal resources in the creation and execution of brand naming, logo and corporate identity development, and brand communication packages; creative content development, including collateral systems, point-of-sale and in-branch merchandising; web and interactive design; and traditional creative agency services.

Adrenaline has worked closely with NewGround for more than five years and has contributed to some of their most compelling brand campaigns for financial institutions, including the brand and retail development for Ascend FCU, Amplify, Xceed Financial, Park National Bank, Grow Financial and BB&T.

“We are continually impressed with Adrenaline’s ability to deliver high quality creative services,” said Blair. “And we have a shared commitment to our clients in providing them with the strategically driven solutions to help them advance and grow in today’s shifting market, which makes our alliance that much more powerful.”

“We are very excited to formally align ourselves with NewGround,” said Douglas E. Strickler, President/CEO of Adrenaline. “Both companies share the belief that 21st century retail is about engaging customers in meaningful and relevant ways which result in increased sales and greater customer loyalty. I believe this alignment will launch us further in the market and open up new opportunities we couldn’t have achieved by remaining independent. Today, we now have more than 200 people supporting our strategic and creative efforts in six offices in North America. That’s pretty cool.”

About Adrenaline
Founded in 1998, Adrenaline excels at brand strategy, creative ideas and execution, interactive, and full-service brand communications delivery to client industries including: automotive, beverage, financial services, health/beauty, hospitality, housewares, retail, sports, and technology.

Adrenaline was created to fuse the artistry of a gifted design firm with the strategic expertise of a marketing communications company, while crossing big agency capabilities with the independent spirit of a mid-size shop. It is these intersections of strategy and creativity, capability and culture that define Adrenaline’s genesis and on-going vision. It is why we excel, and it’s what makes us different.

Adrenaline, Inc. is based in Atlanta, GA. To learn about Adrenaline, call 404.252.9995, or visit www.adrenalineshot.com

NewGround Says Going Modular is a Good Way for Financial Institutions to Go Green

St. Louis, MO —NewGround, a leading international design and implementation firm serving the financial services industry, says that modular building offers financial institutions an alternative method to traditional sustainable building.

“Modular building is becoming a popular green solution because of its inherent eco-friendly construction process,” says Joe Ijjas, Vice President of Accelerated Development for NewGround.

According to NewGround, Modular Building minimizes on-site waste, and provides less site disturbance. The modular structure is constructed off-site while foundation and other work is being done, reducing the time and impact on the surrounding environment.

“Essentially, modular building has less construction time, resulting in less energy spent. Modular construction can provide you with a facility built to the same local codes, with construction quality as a comparable site built building, in much less time,” said Ijjas.

Modular structures can also be designed and adapted to include green features and conservation practices like solar photovoltaic panels, daylighting, and rainwater harvesting.

“It is a common misconception that modular building limits options for the implementation of green strategies. The complete opposite is true. Modular buildings possess a unique flexibility for sustainable design,” said Ijjas.

In addition, when needs change for a business, a modular building can be disassembled and the modules can be relocated, refurbished, or sold for their next use. This reduces the demand for raw materials and the amount of energy expended to create a building to meet new needs.

NewGround is a provider of both traditional built sustainable designs and modular solutions.