Equals Three Communications, Inc.

Equals Three Communications, Inc. was founded under the name Global Exchange in 1978. Equals Three Communications, Inc is a strategic communications agency built on the ideals, methods, and principles of social marketing.

Equals Three Communications, Inc.

Key Information


Type: Communications Agency
Founded: 1978
Headquarters: Bethesda, MD
Areas Served: United States and International
Key People: Eugene M. Faison
Industry: Advertising, Social Marketing, Public Relations
Website: equals3.com

Overview

The agency’s unusual name supposedly stems from an Aristotelian thought that was expanded by Gestalt psychology in the earlier part of the 20th century, namely, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts or 1+1=3.

Based in Bethesda, MD, Equals Three is a member of a number of industry associations including Worldwide Partners, Inc. (WPI), American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Equals Three also has a number of long term relationships with numerous media entities.

Equals Three was awarded “Top Public Relations Firm” in 2003 by the Washington Business Journal and was honored by PR Week magazine for its creative use of broadcast as well as its work on public sector campaigns. In 2007, Equals Three ranked 15th on Black Enterprises’ Advertising Agencies list. (see references)

In its 26-year history, Equals Three has provided communication and marketing for such clients as Johnson & Johnson, Food and [...] Administration (FDA), The World Bank, Pfizer, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and The Smithsonian National Museum for African American History & Culture. Equals Three is a full service agency that offers:

  • Quantitative and Qualitative Research
  • Strategic Planning, Marketing Planning, and Communications
  • Advertising and Brand Development
  • In-house, Creative Design and Development
  • Partnership Development and Management
  • Website Design and Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Full-service Direct Response
  • Public and Media Relations
  • Conference/Event Management
  • Grassroots Mobilization and Community Outreach
  • Educational Program Development and Training
  • Web-based Presentation and Modular Learning Tool Kits
  • International Marketing and Project Management
  • Social and New Media

Direct Marketing Capability

Equals Three also includes a direct marketing arm known as Equals Three Direct. Equals Three Direct provides direct response marketing. Equals Three Direct is active on all cable networks, major broadcast markets and have created proprietary response tracking software and online media reports on demand. In direct response, Equals Three Direct has worked with clients in various sectors including Fund-raising, Financial, Music & Entertainment, Retail, Health Care & Insurance, Travel & Tourism, Branding and General Agency experience, among others.

International, Multicultural and Diversity Outreach

Equals Three has work experience in more than 50 countries around the world. With its leading partners Equals Three also claims to have the capabilities of adopting and translating communication materials in over 450 languages and their major dialects through the agency's extensive partnerships.

Equals Three Research

As a fact-based entity Equals Three focuses on research to develop its content. Besides its online and field research methodologies and tools, Equals Three’s office is outfitted with an in-house focus group testing facility. The facility features a conference room that seats up to 15 people; to permit observation, one wall is a one-way mirror. The observation room seats 6 to 7 people and has audio taping equipment to record each session.

Equals Three Communications Inc. Foundation

Equals Three Communications Foundation aims to "build capacities for younger individuals in the United Stated and around the world, change their lives, and improve their communities" by providing grants to initiatives that focus on:

  • One Advancing arts and culture
  • One Developing enterprises and livelihoods
  • One Innovating technology and medical sciences

Equals Three Communications Foundation was established to fund research, programs, and individual change-makers dedicated to the development of young people and creating opportunities to communicate the added value of those initiatives in areas that are listed above.

Equals Three Communications Foundation is part of the Community Foundation (CF) network which is a tax-exempt, public charity made up of funds established by individuals, families, corporations and other organizations. The Donor Advised Fund of Equals Three Communications Foundation is built within the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, one of the largest philanthropic foundations of any type in the United States.

History (Timeline)

  • 1978 - Equals Three Communications can trace its roots to a non-for-profit known as the International Enterprise Development Center. The non-for-profit was dedicated to developing industries around the world. The center was teaching producer groups how to standardize their products for retail in the United States.
  • 1983 - The non-for-profit became a private company called Global Exchange. Global Exchange specialized in international product development and international business.
  • 1984 - Under the Grey laws Global Exchange became an 8A.
  • 1986 - The Department of Transportation commissioned Sue Morris to circulate the “just say no” campaign. It was then that Global Exchange teamed with Sue Morris’ SW & Morris Company to promote domestic and international contracts.
  • 1991 - Global exchange succeeded in both the domestic and international realms and as a result, expanded in to the events planning, the public relations and the full service research areas. Global Exchange began Doing Business As (DBA) Equals Three Communications, Inc.
  • 1999 - The Company receives the first Great Places to Work Award (distributed by Montgomery County's Work/Life Alliance). The company receives nine more times.
  • 2002 - The company lost 8A status and as a result some contracts with it. However, the company still continued in a manner of controlled growth. With this success the company changed its name to Equals Three Communications to underline the importance of the client in the branding process.
  • 2003 - The contract for The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was lost. This loss marked the beginning of a short-lived time of hardship.
  • 2007 - Equals Three was awarded a number of new contracts with government and private industry.
  • 2008 - Equals Three continued thrive and grow with new contracts in the health, technology and government sectors.
  • 2009 - Equals Three’s work was recognized at the annual Addy’s awards for creative excellence. Equals Three was also recognized for a superior workplace by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence.

References