2014 Dynamic Dozen No. 7: Marlin Network Inc.

Dennis Marlin, founder and CEO of Marlin Network Inc., sums up his multifaceted marketing firm in one sentence: “Talented people doing great work backed by an organization that values people.”

The Springfield advertising holding company’s 132 employees – 95 full-time and 37 part-time – serve in Marlin’s seven affiliates: Marlin Co., Deep, Food IQ, The Alchemedia Project, Marlin Network University, Star Awards and Marlin Network Consulting Group.

With a focus on food and beverage marketing, chief executive Marlin and other administrative personnel at the Marlin Network provide background support so the affiliates can be the stars.

“We can do the number crunching and all the accounting and everything it takes to make sure they’re getting the resources and staying profitable for the company and allow them to take their talent and focus on producing a product for our clients,” Marlin says. “Our basic philosophy is built around putting talented people first.”

Putting the talent up front has led to an impressive client roster, which includes the likes of Unilever, Nestle, Bush Brothers Beans, Starbucks and Tyson Foods.

Each affiliate has its own management team, and this year, the Marlin Network has broadened the services and deepened the staff of its Food IQ subsidiary.

Such moves are made to keep up with a constantly moving industry, and Marlin says last year the Deep subsidiary was shaken up on a management level to foster increased energy and new ideas. Marlin says no other subsidiaries are planned at this time, but he wouldn’t rule them out.

“We’re always looking to find the right opportunity, the right people to marry up and join with our organization,” he says. “Long-term, it’s continuing to add talented people, whether they be in the existing businesses or adding new affiliates to our organization.”

As the Marlin Network has added employees to its ranks – the company counted 98 in 2011 – its revenues have followed suit. In 2013, the company recorded gross revenue of $13.3 million, representing three-year growth rate of 40.4 percent. Marlin says the company is estimating 15 percent revenue growth in 2014.

Employees benefit directly. Via an employee stock ownership program established about two and a half years ago, as well as growth in the company’s 401(k) program, the combined increase in the vested value of the two programs has grown by more than $2.4 million.

To keep talented workers rolling in, the Marlin Network and affiliates bring in myriad interns to allow them to get their feet wet. One of the company’s subsidiaries, Marlin Network University, serves as a means to train green workers into skilled upfront employees.

On the holding company level, Marlin and some 10 other administrative employees continue to improve the network’s processes, something the founder sees as integral in its continued revenue growth.

“The key part is we’ve kind of matured in this holding company approach,” Marlin says. “You can find great people to run businesses, but they don’t always have all the skill sets to do all the other management functions.

“Being able to package those things and provide that as a service to our affiliates allows those managers and those teams to really blossom.”[[In-content Ad]]