About Hitchcock Fleming & Associates (hfa)

THE DETAILS

Founded in 1940, hfa is still going strong almost 75 years later, creating groundbreaking work and delivering results for our clients.

Charles M. Abraham

Managing Partner/CFO

For nearly 25 years, Chuck has been guiding hfa's operations, client affairs, contractual relationships and fiscal management with an uncompromising dedication to integrity and creativity. His straightforward, frank approach to problem-solving helps bolster our ability to effectively provide the best possible service for our clients.

A member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and previously with a “Big 4” accounting firm, Chuck is now active in numerous organizations including the 4As finance committee and Leadership Akron. He is also the former president of the Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation Board and former chairman of the Walsh Jesuit High School Board of Directors.

Shirley Shriver

Partner/Strategy & Insights

Shirley's marketing, research and account planning experience coupled with her naturally inquisitive nature makes her an ideal leader of hfa's Strategy and Insights department. She also heads up the agency's initiative for mega-collaboration across research, media, PR and interactive disciplines and is a driving force behind the agency's digital marketing services.

  • SKILL SET
    • Strategic planning
    • Account planning
    • Research design and implementation
    • Brand positioning development
    • Market plan development and stewardship
    • Digital and social strategy development

Keith Busch

Partner/Client Development

Keith prides himself on bringing an imaginative game plan to the client’s business. The team relies on Keith as a client partner to identify critical implications and help find effective solutions. A highly strategic marketing communications executive, Keith has more than 20 years of experience in helping clients achieve critical growth goals, key metrics and ROI objectives.

  • SKILL SET
    • Strategic planning
    • Brand positioning development
    • Brand campaign development/management
    • Shopper marketing
    • New product launches
    • Digital, broadcast development
    • Media strategy implementation
    • Event marketing
  • ACCOUNT HISTORY
    • Akron General Health System
    • AkzoNobel (LIQUID NAILS Adhesive, Glidden Paint)
    • The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
      (Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Goodyear Commercial Truck)
    • KraftMaid Cabinetry
    • Simonton Windows
    • Greater Akron Chamber

Tracy McCutcheon

Partner/Executive Creative Director

Tracy is an energetic and enthusiastic creative director with over 15 years of advertising experience, during which she has amassed an encyclopedic knowledge of digital branding, online strategy, web design and concept development. She is dedicated to fostering results-driven creative solutions and uses her passion for the industry to both lead and inspire our Creative team.

  • SKILL SET
    • Digital strategy and brand experience
    • User-centered design methodologies
    • Interactive marketing
    • Concept and strategy development
    • Multi-channel strategies
    • Team work and thought-leadership
    • Product launches

Dale Elwell

Partner/Client Services

Dale is focused on making things happen. His strong communication and leadership skills help maximize team performance to obtain results for our clients. From product launches to brand positioning, Dale has a broad experience base that allows him to be versatile and adaptable in helping clients reach their marketing and communications goals.

  • SKILL SET
    • Brand strategy and positioning development
    • Brand leadership and stewardship
    • Traditional and interactive communications
    • Creative vision
    • New product launches
    • Strong business-to-business background
  • ACCOUNT HISTORY
    • The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    • Dunlop Tires
    • Kelly Tires
    • Simonton Windows
    • Choice Hotels International
    • IBM
    • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Maggie Harris

Partner/Client Services

Maggie's diverse knowledge and keen insights are instrumental to her clients' strategic planning efforts. With more than 25 years' experience, she has worked in a variety of marketing communications categories including Automotive After Market, Home + Building, Healthcare and Travel/Tourism.

  • SKILL SET
    • Product launches
    • Interactive development
    • Broadcast production
    • Creative development
    • Shopper marketing
  • ACCOUNT HISTORY
    • Akron General Health Systems
    • Zimmer
    • Medical Mutual
    • The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    • Glidden Paint
    • LIQUID NAILS Adhesive
    • Devoe Paint
    • Flood Wood Care
    • KraftMaid Cabinetry
    • BlazeMaster (Lubrizol)

Kevin Kinsley

Partner/Client Development

The son of a custom home builder and an avid DIYer, Kevin likes to build things. So he understands the relevance of a strong foundation when building solid client strategy, campaigns and programs. The results of Kevin's well-conceived blueprint? Stronger brands and success in the marketplace. With more than 20 years' experience in account management and client services, Kevin puts himself in the customer's shoes every time.

  • SKILL SET
    • Expertise in home improvement and building products categories
    • Brand planning
    • New product launches
    • Strategy development
    • Campaign and channel planning
    • Regional and direct marketing programs
  • ACCOUNT HISTORY
    • LP Building Products
    • Icynene Spray Foam Insulation
    • Carter Lumber
    • Therma-Tru Doors
    • Simonton Windows
    • LIQUID NAILS Adhesive

Matt McCallum

Partner/Talent Development

The growth and development of all agency associates comes under Matt's capable leadership. Previously part of hfa's client services team, he additionally oversees agency recruitment and training programs. Passionate about northeast Ohio, Matt is a member of Leadership Akron Class 29 and a former President of Torchbearers, a leadership development organization for young professionals. He has served on several non-profit boards and benefit event committees including the Greater Akron Chamber, CANAPI and the American Advertising Federation of Akron. He also currently serves on the Akron Art Museum's external affairs committee.

  • SKILL SET
    • Talent development
    • Human resource management
    • Agency operations and workflow
    • Team and organizational development
    • Organizational leadership

MEET OUR LEADERS

Together, the hfa leadership team has in-depth expertise about every aspect of marketing. Each with many years of experience, the team members are diligent about keeping up with changes, trends and current best practices in both the marketing industry and the industries of our clients.

WHAT WE DO

  • ACCOUNT STEWARDSHIP
  • CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
  • INTERACTIVE DESIGN + PROGRAMMING
  • MEDIA STRATEGY + BUYING
  • BRAND STRATEGY
  • SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
  • RESEARCH + PLANNING
  • PUBLIC RELATIONS

WHAT GOES ON HERE

hfa hums with energy. We recruit and nurture bright souls with a shared passion for insight and creativity. Anyone who has worked with our associates can attest to that. All of it stems from a unified vision. We're not a cult. We're a culture of fun people and ingenious thinkers. It's bright in here, and it keeps getting brighter.

hfa CORE VALUES

Integrity

We believe in being fair, straightforward and honest in all of our dealings.

Loyalty

We are proud of our long-term relationships. We go to extra lengths for our clients and for each other.

Teamwork

We believe success is a group effort. We work as one, and everyone prospers.

Innovation

We are leaders of change. Our business is the business of ideas. We never stop thinking.

Fun

We need to have fun in our work and experience the joy of our accomplishments.

EXPLORE THE SPACE

hfa’s office began its life as a windowless brick warehouse. Over the years, generations of creative influence have reshaped out space into a brightly lit, multi-level hive of activity. Overall, our office is an accurate reflection of the employees who work there: energetic, vibrant and creative.

GIVING BACK

It is in our DNA to care about the community and to contribute to its well-being. That's why hfa consistently reaches out to local charities and causes to bring joy to the community in any way we can. Here are some of the organizations we've helped:

  • The Akron Art Museum
  • The Akron Civic Theater
  • The Akron General Medical Center Women's Board
  • The Akron Rotary Club
  • The All-American Soap Box Derby
  • The American Cancer Society
  • The Arthritis Foundation
  • Battered Women's Shelter
  • Community Support Services
  • Jackets for Jack (named for our former CEO)
  • The Red Cross
  • The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • The United Way