Triangle Business Journal

Renee DeGross

Who’s Who In Advertising & Public Relations

David Chapman: CEO 919 Marketing Company

Chapman's claim to fame is his unique approach to starting a business. Not only did he quickly land a $12 million phone card account, but his creative "staff" is a network of 50 professionals from around the country with whom he contracts.

"It's the anti-agency agency," he said. While working on the client side and with advertising agencies, he noticed a growing dissatisfaction with traditional ad agencies. He left his Vice President position with Durham's West &Vaughan to start his own business in 1996. Billings are currently around $13 million. The firm's five full timers tap the network to help clients like Bali, Caterpillar, Duke Medical Center, Kooler Kraft, SME, TRG and Nationwide Homes.

The Winston-Salem native received his undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University and attended Wake Forest University’s Executive MBA Program. He likes working with clients who have a vision. "(I prefer) a client who has done their homework, who has good idea of where they are and where they want to go. We can start on a more advanced level, get better results faster than starting from scratch."