The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston won in the category of Corporate Citizenship for their Steps for Students campaign, which is an annual 5K race to provide financial aid for inner city students attending Catholic Schools. Bullpen Marketing donated the design for posters, brochures, t-shirts, advertisements and more to spread support for the campaign.

The Co-Cathedral received the Promotional Product award due to their outstanding fundraising using carved stone crosses. The recent purchase of the old Federal Reserve building left the Co-Cathedral needing more funds to create an appropriate work space. Bullpen Marketing helped their fundraising efforts by creating crosses from the Co-Cathedral’s limestone surplus as limited, numbered memorabilia.

St. Pius X High School won the Outdoor Advertising category for their billboard which was displayed from December of 2009 to April 2010 off of 610 and San Felipe in the Galleria area. Bullpen Marketing collaborated with the high school in order to form the, “Start Here. Go Anywhere,” campaign and included it on an outdoor billboard display. Bullpen was also responsible for the photography, design and layout of the billboard. “We’re very proud to have been a part of all three of the winners’ campaigns,” said Colin Hageney, Bullpen’s president and CMO. “The best part was the sincere gratitude that each client expressed. It’s the ‘thank yous’ that keep us motivated and keep us wanting to do even better next time.”

The AMA Crystal Awards are judged on a series of criteria: challenge, objective(s), strategy, message alignment and results. Each of these criteria is scored upon by a panel of judges from outside of the Houston area. The AMA Crystal Awards recognize a collection of categories pertaining to marketing projects; those that win Crystal Awards have used an extraordinary amount of creativity to achieve outstanding results.

About the American Marketing Association: The American Marketing Association is the largest marketing association in North America. It is a professional association for marketing leaders, thinkers and doers and is the only organization that brings together Marketers, across all specialties, to collaborate and inspire one another. Through relevant information, comprehensive education and targeted networking, the AMA assists marketers in deepening their expertise, elevating their careers and ultimately, achieving better results.
American Marketing Association offers highly acclaimed Face to Face training and professional conferences focus on the immediate needs of marketers, as well as trends shaping the future. American Marketing Association’s website, MarketingPower.com, is the everyday connection to marketing data, articles, case studies, best practices and a robust job bank. Additionally, the American Marketing Association is the source for the field’s top magazines and journals, including Marketing News. Through local and collegiate chapters, American Marketing Association members are connected with the best people and the best practices.
For more information on the American Marketing Association please visit www.MarketingPower.com.

About Bullpen Marketing: Bullpen Marketing is a Houston-based marketing firm that offers many services ranging from print and web design to promotional products. As a fully integrated marketing agency, it specializes in helping companies and schools improve the way they promote the value of their products and services. Core areas of expertise include strategic planning, branding, academic and web marketing. Its clients range from elementary schools to Fortune 500 corporations. Founded in 1997, Bullpen is one of Houston’s fastest growing marketing and promotional products companies with both local and national accounts. Bullpen is the preferred supplier for the American Marketing Association. Other clients include the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, NACE International, and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bullpen is a member of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), American Marketing Association (AMA), Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). Learn more at www.bullpenmarketing.com.

“Creativity and effectiveness are key to winning this much coveted award,” said Steve Slagle, CAE, PPAI president. “As these winning programs illustrate, there is no limit to the application of a promotional products program.”

As a  winner in the “Not-for-Profit” category, Bullpen Marketing was recognized for a project it developed for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s Cathedral Centre — called “Co-Cathedral Crosses.” The Co-Cathedral Crosses project converted a problem of having excess building materials into much needed renovation funds. Leftover limestone from the construction of the Co-Cathedral was carved into 1,000 limited edition crosses. They were offered for sale to the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral parish and the public as a special reminder of the church. In addition, a small, unnumbered paperweight was sold at a lesser cost. Of the campaign, Gwenne Buck, Facilities and Project Coordinator of Cathedral Centre said, “The result of the project has been wonderful. People have purchased the crosses as keepsakes (not just for themselves but also to give as gifts for occasions such as graduations, baptisms and weddings). Interest has spread beyond the Houston area. We have shipped crosses to other cities and states.”

Bullpen Marketing has won in several categories over the past three years including “Goodwill” and “Tradeshows & Exhibitions.”

About Bullpen Marketing: Bullpen Marketing is a Houston-based marketing firm that offers many services ranging from print and web design to promotional products. As a fully integrated marketing agency, it specializes in helping companies and schools improve the way they promote the value of their products and services. Core areas of expertise include strategic planning, branding, academic and web marketing. Its clients range from elementary schools to Fortune 500 corporations. Founded in 1997, Bullpen is one of Houston’s fastest growing marketing and promotional products companies with both local and national accounts. Bullpen is the preferred supplier for the American Marketing Association. Other clients include the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, NACE International, and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bullpen is a member of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), American Marketing Association (AMA), Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). Learn more at www.bullpenmarketing.com.

“We work hard to provide the very best in Catholic education to the Houston area,” said Roz Hill, development director for the archdiocese. “It was time to further educate our community about the tradition and excellence involved in what our educators and administrators deliver each and every day.”

Catholic Schools: Educating Heart, Mind & Spirit was unveiled in February during Catholic Schools Week, a nationwide effort to bring communities in touch with their Catholic elementary, junior high and high schools. As part of this endeavor in Houston, Bullpen Marketing developed a brand and image program, and supported the Archdiocese with public relations.

“We are honored to be the first outside counsel hired by the Archdiocese in 158 years to assist with marketing and awareness issues,” said Colin Hageney, Bullpen Marketing president. “As a product of Houston Catholic schools, I understand the value and tradition at work on a daily basis. It imperative for parents in our community to recognize the importance of our Catholic schools, as well as the tremendous benefits Catholic-school educators and administrators give back to our society generation after generation.”

The creative team at Bullpen Marketing conceptualized a new logo for the Archdiocese, giving a fresh look to the essence of faith-based education by illustrating dedication and growth to each child’s heart, mind and spirit. Additional components of the program included media placements, a Web site launch (www.choosecatholicschools.org), bylined articles and media relations. Every element of the campaign underscored the Archdiocese’s commitment of focusing on the whole child, while providing an excellent academic education from a strong moral and value-based foundation.

“Houston-area Catholic schools have a legacy of successful alumni who are now living around the world and involved in industries too numerous to name,” Hageney said. “Our job was to bring the public in touch with academic and moral institutions that are second to none. I think we did that in a way that invites parents to consider Catholic schools for their commitment and excellence year in and out.”

About Bullpen Marketing: Bullpen Marketing is a Houston-based marketing firm that offers many services ranging from print and web design to promotional products. As a fully integrated marketing agency, it specializes in helping companies and schools improve the way they promote the value of their products and services. Core areas of expertise include strategic planning, branding, academic and web marketing. Its clients range from elementary schools to Fortune 500 corporations. Founded in 1997, Bullpen is one of Houston’s fastest growing marketing and promotional products companies with both local and national accounts. Bullpen is the preferred supplier for the American Marketing Association. Other clients include the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, NACE International, and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bullpen is a member of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), American Marketing Association (AMA), Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). Learn more at www.bullpenmarketing.com.