Woodruff Sweitzer Acquires Minnesota-Based Confluence Marketing

Acquirer

Woodruff Sweitzer, headquartered here, will acquire Confluence Marketing, an independent marketing and public relations firm in Red Wing, Minn., effective May 1.

“Eleven years ago, we set up shop in beautiful Red Wing on the edge of the Twin Cities metro area with the belief that a person’s environment and quality of life could inspire better thinking – better ideas. We see our company’s success today as proof that this philosophy was correct,” said Tim McKim, Confluence president and owner.

“This move to become part of Woodruff Sweitzer is a logical next step,” said McKim. “Like Confluence, it’s a company that has succeeded by valuing its people. The outstanding results Woodruff Sweitzer achieves for its clients through exceptional work are unquestionable. We’re excited and energized to be chosen to represent this up-and-coming powerhouse brand in the Upper Midwest.”

As part of the acquisition, Confluence Marketing will take the name Woodruff Sweitzer. All current Confluence employees will be retained, and new employees will be added. McKim will remain in a leadership position at the Minnesota office and will join the Woodruff Sweitzer executive team as executive vice president.

“This expansion supports the recent record growth seen by both companies,” said Woodruff Sweitzer president and CEO Terry Woodruff. “With record growth comes unique challenges and opportunities, and we’re excited to blend our companies to better serve the long-term goals of our clients and build growth opportunities for our employees.”

Confluence Marketing’s growth in digital work for existing clients and new client work created a need for a deeper bench strength of strategists, developers, project management and content marketing — all of which Woodruff Sweitzer has in place.

Additionally, Confluence has grown its public relations capability (particularly media relations). It has further strength in market research, digital, design and illustration, as well as journalistic and specialty writing for online and offline formats, all of which represent a growing need for Woodruff Sweitzer clients.

Over the years, Woodruff Sweitzer has answered demands from current and new clients, and the agency has grown from its original location based in Columbia, Mo. With the addition of this new office near Minneapolis/St. Paul, Woodruff Sweitzer now has offices in five cities across North America. In 2003, the agency opened a Calgary, Alberta office, and in 2005 a Kansas City location was established. It also owns an agency under a different name, Paradowski, in St. Louis, which was acquired in 2012.

Woodruff Sweitzer has been in business for 23 years. No matter where our 140 employees are located, teams work together to meet collective goals and achieve results. As such, all offices have been recognized for business success, including Paradowski that was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of America’s fastest growing companies and Woodruff Sweitzer being recognized as a 2014 Fast Track award winner as one of Missouri’s fastest growing businesses by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.