VIA Group Founder Receives Maine Business School Award
Contact: Wendy Haehnel, 581-1926; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — The Maine Business School at the University of Maine recently presented its 2007 Achievement in Business Award to UMaine alum John Coleman, co-founder and CEO of The VIA Group advertising agency in Portland.
The award is given annually to an individual who demonstrates leadership and outstanding achievement in their field of endeavor, service to UMaine and the community, and commitment to and demonstration of lifelong learning. Coleman was selected by the business school’s Executive Advisory Board, composed of presidents, CEOs and senior executives of successful companies from Maine and throughout the region.
“We are proud to honor John Coleman with this important award. John and The VIA Group are an incredibly successful representation of the creative economy that Gov. Baldacci speaks about,” says Dan Innis, dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Health at UMaine. “John has raised the visibility of the state of Maine nationwide and attracted professionals to the state as both employees and business partners. He has created jobs that have helped to retain some of the state’s most talented individuals and has been a proud supporter of the University of Maine.”
VIA is one of New England’s largest independent advertising agencies, with 82 employees and offices in Portland, Boston and New York. Major clients include TD Banknorth, HP Hood, Monster, Uno Chicago Grill, Cleveland Clinic, Analog Devices, Maine Readiness Council/Kick Start, Dunkin’ Donuts, DuPont, Parametric Technologies Corporation and CBS RADIO.
Coleman, who co-founded the company in 1993 with Rich Rico, has extensive business-to-business marketing and sales experience, beginning as a sales and marketing executive at the Z