OUR COMPANY | History

Growth and expansion. In 1986, Mary VanNatta joined the firm as an Associate. Together with Fred's partner, Jim Irvine, they worked under the name VanNatta, Irvine and Associates. In 1990 Jim left to become national president of the Home Builder's Association and the firm changed its name to VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. The firm enjoyed interesting work during this period, especially with the National Basketball Association and the National Football League.

Harvey Gail joined the firm in 1994, coming to VPR with an MBA in Management and Marketing. He quickly began creating a niche in the marketing and public relations field for VPR as specialists in association public relations. The firm began working with a number of new association, corporate, and small PR accounts.

In 1998, having added account managers to its staff, VPR outgrew its 1400 s.f. office space on Union Street and moved to a 2000 s.f. office with more visibility on Liberty Street. In the Gatti & Gatti complex, the office was known for one of the most elaborate Christmas light display in Salem. "It was fun to have the children come by and look in the windows hoping to see Santa," Mary VanNatta mentioned.

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