Van Fossan & amp; Associates, Pontikos Advertising to merge

YOUNGSTOWN -- Van Fossan & amp; Associates, an advertising and marketing firm based in downtown Youngs town, has announced a merger with Pontikos Advertising and Design, also of Youngstown. Terms and conditions of the merger were not disclosed.
Michael Pontikos, former owner of Pontikos Advertising and Design, is joining Van Fossan & amp; Associates as an account executive. He also will be responsible for graphic design and Web site design and development.
"Bringing in Michael opens up additional marketing opportunities to our clients," said John Van Fossan, president of VFA. "Pontikos' knowledge and creative abilities in Web design and e-commerce create a decided edge in providing these services to VFA and its client base."
Van Fossan said Pontikos' former clients will benefit from the merger. "Our diversified staff will allow his clients to take advantage of our full range of services including marketing, public relations, graphic design, multimedia and media plan ning/buying," he said.
A Girard resident, Pontikos has a bachelor's degree in international business from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in marketing from Youngstown State University.
In 1996, he opened Image Works Marketing, a Web site design firm, and in 1998 he expanded the business to offer additional advertising and marketing services and renamed it Pontikos Advertising and Design. He has industry experience in the business-to-business, retail and steel sectors.