Kuhn & Wittenborn ad agency merges into Trozzolo

Kuhn & Wittenborn Advertising, founded in 1978, has merged into Kansas City-based Trozzolo Communications Group, the companies said Thursday.

Whitey Kuhn, who formed his namesake company after a stint at Hallmark Cards, said the merger was a difficult decision, but it allows him to retire at 66. He began looking for a new home for clients and employees last December and settled on Trozzolo.

“Culturally, we both have a lot of things in common and it just felt right,” Kuhn said. “It’s something that came along at the right time.”

Kuhn & Wittenborn has 20 associates, and at least five will move over to Trozzolo with the merger. There will be assistance for those who don’t transfer.

Julie Robinson, senior vice president at Kuhn & Wittenborn, will become senior vice president/account group director at Trozzolo. The combined operations will be at Trozollo’s Kansas City headquarters.

Trozzolo, which began in 1989, has 55 associates. President and CEO Angelo Trozzolo said the merger would increase the company’s adjusted gross revenues by between 15 and 20 percent. The adjustment strips out media costs that inflate the firm’s revenue total.

“We’re excited. This is a significant amount for us,” Trozzollo said.

The firm, founded by Trozzolo’s father, who remains executive chairman, has grown through a number of mergers. It added Blades & Associates in 2003, Corporate Communications Group in 2008 and Prairie Dog, which is a national hospital marketing firm, the same year.

As with its prior mergers, Trozzolo will expand its board. Kuhn joins Becky Blades, who founded Blades & Associates; David Westbrook, who started Corporate Communications; and Phil Smith, founder of Prairie Dog, on Trozzolo’s board.

Kuhn & Wittenborn’s clients include the Government Employees Health Association, Kansas Speedway, the Vanguard Group, Assurant Employee Benefits and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Kuhn & Wittenborn ad agency merges into Trozzolo."