Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – Asher Agency (KMBlu LLC) announced it received a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification on January 23 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and is now eligible for federal set-aside contracts and subcontracts.
Asher Agency, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, is a full-service advertising, marketing, and public relations agency founded in Fort Wayne, Ind. The small business has 43 employees in Charleston, W.Va., Washington D.C., Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Ind.
Asher’s Mountain State clients include Appalachian Beekeeping Collective, City National Bank, Concord University, Mister Bee Potato Chips, New River Gorge Regional Development Agency, West Virginia Hive Network, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association, and YWCA Charleston.
The federal government’s goal is to award at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year. Mike Fulton, Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy for Asher Agency, said, “The federal WOSB designation opens up new avenues of business for our clients and our agency. We are actively seeking interested parties to collaborate with us.”
Asher Agency President Kara Kelley said, “We serve clients in ways that positively impact their communities, their employees, and the overall economy – with the goal of always exceeding their expectations. Our team is anxious to bring this energy, creativity, and strategy to agencies of the federal government and their partners.”
Kelley and business partner Megan Bennett, who also serves as Asher’s Chief Financial Officer, took ownership of the agency in July of 2022. Asher became an Indiana Women’s Business Enterprise in 2023, which Bennett says reflects its priorities as an employer.
“Only one percent of U.S. advertising, marketing, and public relations agencies is women-owned,” Bennett notes, “and less than 10 percent of businesses make it to their 50th anniversary. We are proud to be among them, and to provide outstanding career and leadership opportunities.”
Kelly added, “We are dedicated – as we embrace the focus of this year’s Women’s History Month, being celebrated in March – to continue our commitment to be leadership role models and mentors to the next generation of women in business.”
Asher was founded by Fort Wayne native Tim Borne in 1974 as a provider of marketing, advertising, and public relations services. Today, Asher works with more than 100 clients throughout the U.S. Over the years, Asher has expanded its offerings to reflect today’s media environment, including digital, social media, and website development. While much has changed during the past five decades, Kelley says one thing has remained constant: Asher’s focus on providing world-class marketing services to its clients.
For more information on the WOSB certification, please see our website – www.asheragency.com – or contact Megan Bennett, CFO – MeganB@asheragency / 260.424.3373.
