Overview

Company Summary

DS+CO is an independent marketing agency on a mission for more. Our vision is to build brands for a better world. A certified Women Business Enterprise in New York State, we empower mid-sized companies to achieve growth through rich research, data-backed marketing strategy, and informed creative and media. Our team is highly skilled and works to deeply understand our clients’ consumers, business, culture and category. With 30+ years of work focused in verticals like B2B, financial services, education and telecommunications, we help our clients build not just profitable brands, but brands that leave a legacy for good. As a full-service marketing firm, we identify the touchpoints, strategies and messaging that will create relevance across diverse audiences through our core pillars of Intelligence (audience + market research, campaign planning, measurement + analysis), Strategy (brand planning + consultation, campaign creative development + content strategy) and Amplification (media planning + buying, public relations, video production + social media).

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Staff

Total Number of Employees

Office Employees: 51-100
Total US: 101-200
Total Worldwide:

Lauren Dixon
Founder + Board Chair
A culture champion, talent mentor and community advocate, Lauren is the heart and soul of DS+CO. She founded our agency in 1987 and built it into a team of go-getters 100 strong. But she’s most proud of the culture she’s cultivated—one that fosters creativity, collaboration and compassion. With Lauren’s unwavering dedication to putting people first, DS+CO has been recognized by Great Place to Work as the #1 marketing firm to work for in the country. Not once, but twice. And has made the list of the Best Small Companies to Work For 15 years running.

Lauren’s contributions to her community are countless. She’s a Rochester Small Business Person of the Year, member of the Rochester Business Hall of Fame, ATHENA Award and Gaudette Community Award recipient, and was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for community leadership. She has served on the boards of United Way of Greater Rochester, Monroe Community College Foundation, United Way Women’s Leadership Council, Thompson Health Foundation, Greater Rochester Enterprise, CMAC and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.

Mike Schwabl
Founder + Vice Chair of the Board
At the heart of every great story is a great storyteller. And Mike is one of the best. Because his passion is helping people and companies succeed by showing the world who they are. It’s how he’s helped grow DS+CO into the agency it is today. Mike believes in using your talents, time and treasure to help others, and that’s exactly the spirit he’s built into his team from day one.

The truth is, DS+CO wouldn’t be what it is if Mike wasn’t who he is: someone who gives his all back to his community. His involvement runs deep. Daystar Kids, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Ronald McDonald House Charities, United Way of Greater Rochester, Golisano Children’s Hospital, Monroe Community College and many more. Every single one lifting others up. Just like Mike.

Kim Allen
Chief Executive Officer
Kim puts our people front and center, building on empathy and quick decision-making that have served her teams well. She started her career at Mower and soon found her home with DS+CO, where she led our public relations team and expanded her skillset into consumer, B2B, telecom and human services. In 2020, she took the helm, guiding our agency into a new era. She’s a Forty Under 40 and ATHENA Young Professional, is DEI certified, and sits on the boards of the American Heart Association of NY, Mercy Flight Central, Alfred University and the RIT Advertising & Marketing Program.

Jessica Savage
President
Jessica is inspired by smart ideas, generosity—and the people all around her. At DS+CO, her leadership inspires doing good and doing good work. She sits on the SUNY Geneseo Foundation Board and is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council and Girls on the Run of Greater Rochester Advisory Board. She’s DEI certified, has led multiple award-winning client teams and is an Urban League of Greater Rochester Power Broker. And she’s fueled by curiosity, collaboration and co-creation, helping her teams elevate brands, break down barriers and leave a mark on our community.

David Lyttle
Chief Financial Officer
David’s been a grounding force at DS+CO for nearly 20 years, helping our teams see how their work lines up with the numbers side. Because he likes a challenge—finding new ways to stand apart in a crowded marketplace and accomplishing great results even on a limited budget. And David gives back, lending his support to Rochester Business Charitable Organization and the Canandaigua All Sports Booster Club.

Mark Stone
Chief Creative Officer
Mark’s creativity and energy inspire his DS+CO team to bring big ideas. And he believes that when talent is nurtured well, it’s time to get out of the way and watch it grow. With 25+ years in an industry that never stands still, Mark knows that mixing innovative ideas, strong copy, eye-catching design and the right technology results in creative that connects with consumers in meaningful ways. He’s worked with local and national brands, including Wegmans, Ford, Xerox and ESL, and has led teams to more than 100 major creative awards, including the D&AD Pencil, multiple ADDY Best of Shows, and district, regional and national ADDYS, as well as work that's been published in Ad Age, Print, PDN, Graphis, HOW Design and Communication Arts. Mark lends his time to Causewave Community Partners, an organization that helps nonprofits tackle issues throughout our community, and is a member of Causewave's WB Potter Society.

Jordan Dixon
Managing Director, Procurement
Jordan has built his expertise in operations and procurement on years of workflow and production management, giving him unique insight into DS+CO, our clients and our projects. He’s a graduate of Dale Carnegie, is certified in DEI, earned his master’s degree in strategic marketing, and gives his time and expertise to the boards of ARC of Monroe Foundation and Ontario County Habitat for Humanity.

Connor Dixon-Schwabl
Managing Director, Studio Production
Connor tells stories that spark genuine human connection, and in his 10+ years at DS+CO, he’s nurtured our studio team into ADDY and Telly award-winning storytellers who make an impact. His work reflects his personal and professional approach to solving problems, creating opportunities and making a difference. Connor earned his master’s degree in strategic marketing, has built two successful local businesses, is a Forty Under 40 honoree and sits on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, where he helped found the organization’s Red Tie Society.

Nadine General
Managing Director, Communications
Nadine’s expertise in executive and crisis communications, strategy, and reputation management helps her lead our PR team. She joined DS+CO from the American Red Cross, where she deployed to national disasters to support disaster and crisis communications. She’s certified in HubSpot inbound marketing and holds degrees from St. John Fisher University and Monroe Community College. She lends her talent as past president of the Public Relations Society of America Rochester Chapter, and is on the diversity committee, she’s a Forty Under 40 recipient and a Rochester Business Journal Woman of Excellence.

Malorie Benjamin
Managing Director, Media
Malorie knows media inside and out. Since joining the marketing world, she’s made it her mission to stay on top of the latest advancements and advocate for how people are interacting with technology—no matter the channel or media type. It’s part of her deep love of data, which she knows is key to a successful campaign. But her real source of pride comes from building the media team here at DS+CO into a curious group that, like her, is committed to evolving with the market and using their expertise to influence sound strategy.

Shane Grant
Managing Director, Operations
Shane is a problem solver by nature. Whether she’s developing a new workflow tool, exploring opportunities for team growth, or untangling a web of deadlines and demands, she’s in her element whenever a problem is presented. It’s an art form she’s mastered throughout her 30-year career in marketing—and one she shares with the community as a member of the Farmington-Victor Kiwanis Club Board of Directors. If there’s a better way to do something, you can count on Shane to find it.

Marshall Statt
Managing Director, Creative
Marshall has been a builder his entire career. He built his way up at DS+CO, starting as an intern before earning his path to executive creative director. He’s built award-winning creative, receiving a D&AD Pencil, Graphis Silver Award and three National American Advertising Awards in the process. He’s developed a tightly knit team of talented and kind creatives, inspiring them out of their comfort zones to create boundary-pushing work. But most importantly, he’s built a family he loves—a family that inspires him to keep building, no matter the project at hand.

Rosi Statt
Managing Director, Strategy + Accounts
Rosi knows a solid strategy is the foundation for marketing that works. What drives her, though, is how that foundation is built: by digging into the research and uncovering insights that unlock inspiration for creative that moves people. Her strategic thinking has led to award-winning work, including national ADDY awards and best in show at the Rochester PRisms. But for Rosi, the real win is knowing she’s made a difference for clients. When she’s not leading her team of strategists, she can be found on the sidelines of Victor’s soccer fields, coaching her sons and their teammates.

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Clients and Brands

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Billings & Revenue

Billing / Revenue Ranges	Number of Clients

Total Gross Media Placed by this Office

Allocation Percent of Media Placed by this Office

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Types of Services

Service Offering	Revenue
Advertising - General Market/ Traditional	0
Business-to-Business	0
Corporate Communications	0
Creative Strategy & Development	0
Direct Marketing	0
Media Buying	0
Public Relations	0
Social Media	0
Brand Consulting	0
Design	0
Content stategy & development	0

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Industry Experience

Business-to-Business (B2B)
Education
Financial services | Banking - Consumer
Telecommunications
Recreation & Sports | professional sports
Non-profit, associations & public services
Energy | Electric/Renewable/Alternative
Professional Services (accountants, consultants, lawyers)

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