If you've visited our new website, maybe you've wondered where the P in CPV went? We didn't plan it this way, and we wish it weren't so, but Kirk Phillips is officially retiring at the end of June. So, we're celebrating "Kirk Week" on our social channels! 

There is no exact place to start – or end  – in honoring Kirk's 40-year storied career in the advertising business. But we can ALL say we're honored and very fortunate to have been on the journey, Mr. P.

We’re sharing just a few of our favorite stories gathered along the way…

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After a nearly 15-year relationship, one of CPV’s statewide clients was acquired by a national firm. As a courtesy, CPV was provided the opportunity to pitch for the business, but the writing was on the wall. Everyone on the client side knew the account would go to the existing national agency, despite CPV’s experience and local knowledge. But Kirk and the CPV team made every effort to convince them otherwise. At the conclusion of the pitch, the original marketing manager led Kirk and his colleagues out of the conference area and to a dusty, dark storage room on another floor. From a cardboard box tucked in a corner, he mysteriously produced a bottle of champagne and wine glasses. After filling them, he raised his glass in toast: “Here’s to the best damn agency in Ohio. Those idiots upstairs don’t even recognize it.” 

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“Time!”

A single word yelled from the back of the room as Kirk was wrapping up a presentation for the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority account. That’s it, Mr. Phillips, time is up. But we’re not finished. Sorry. Your 90 minutes are history.

We’re not sure which was funnier. That there was a dude with a stopwatch in the room who had no role other than to make sure none of the competing agencies had even one second of extra time, or the look on your face when you realized that, with that one-word outburst, our presentation was over.

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Attention to detail and organizational skills were never more apparent than during the famous CPV road rally. The rally was organized with the precision of a commander storming the beach at Normandy. Kirk mapped out the course through at least two counties, drove it numerous times to get the timing right, and created questions that teams needed to answer at various stops along the way. Afterward, he had everyone back to his house for a cookout where mileage was tallied up, the time it took to drive the course, and of course, the correct answers to the questions, so the winning team could be identified. (At one point, things got a little competitive and Kirk had to arbitrate a disagreement, too!)

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During an interview in 1987, Kirk stressed the importance of good creative. He said, “At Conrad Phillips Vutech, even our coupons are creative.” It was true. CPV won lots of awards for Ritzy’s and Daddy-O’s and, yes, even the coupons were creative.

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We had just had presented some pretty creative work to a new client. We sat in the conference room back on Park Street on a call listening to the client’s feedback. It was pretty clear from the start that it wasn’t going well. We had showed some pretty edgy (for the industry) concepts and they were more looking for “BUY NOW!” and “AS SEEN ON TV!” garbage. Kirk kept trying to get them to see the value in being different and doing something that was more brand focused as opposed to offer focused, but they just weren’t buying. Literally, in the middle of the call, Kirk stopped them mid-sentence and simply said, “I’m not sure this is going to work out” and proceeded to resign the account on the spot.

Basically, Kirk is a bad ass.

He’s also very dedicated. To his work, his colleagues and the community.

He has spent countless hours that could add up to years contributing to organizations and initiatives like Ad Fed, the American Marketing Association, 4As Diamond Forum, probonolink.org, Leadership Columbus and so many other worthy organizations and causes.

And in just the last five years, he produced 300 blog posts for brandstoke.com and generated over 100,000 downloads of 9 Criteria of Brand Essence.

Oh, the list goes on! But we’re going to stop for now and enjoy Kirk’s presence for the rest of the week.

We know Kirk finds the most enjoyment in this business when people come together around a common goal and exceed expectations (even their own) in achieving them. We know he won't stop seeking these opportunities and neither will we. 

Please join us in wishing Kirk well. And if you're ever wondering "Where's Kirk?," your best bet is to check out his travel blog at YearTripper.com. It's sure to be another incredible journey.

And to Kirk: All the best to you, good friend!