Adhawks Advertising & Public Relations, Inc. 

The key to the successful combination of Adhawks Advertising and SCORE has been, as Adolfo (Ben) Ruiz, Jr. puts it, “Through monthly meetings with three SCORE consultants, Adhawks has been able to continue to ‘work ON the business, not just IN the business’ by implementing a new strategic plan, reworking a 5-year proforma, implementing a coaching process that will direct management along with the team members at the agency and also market the agency to new clients.”

SCORE counselor Tom Thompson put together a “Shadow Board” to help Adhawks, an organization that began as a practicum at the University of Louisville in 1984. Over the years, they have found its market niche in reaching out to large, community-focused organizations. Clients include Clark Memorial Hospital, Presbyterian Theological Seminary, The Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Kentucky Rehabilitation Professionals, and others.

When the Shadow Board began working with Adhawks, they had already tried some other business consultants. Sonia Ruiz, President and General Manager, decided that a fair question to ask SCORE was, “How much, now, fellows?” Thompson responded: “Not one red cent! We actually get compensated through the SBA, and what we are doing for you is at no charge!”

Adhawks is a minority-owned business and has been able to expand its expertise into multi-cultural marketing and advertising with the great diversity it offers. Multi-cultural initiatives include MSD’s Diverse Works, LG&E’s Diversity Program, El Enlace Latino’s Spanish Yellow pages, and Jewish and St. Mary Elizabeth Healthcare’s Hispanic marketing communications programs.

Ruiz says, “Adhawks recommends SCORE highly because they have helped counsel us on sales, management, and marketing decisions. They have impacted our human resources processes and have given us solid advice.”