Marilyn Barnett

Marilyn Barnett (1933 - 28 March 2016) was a female entrepreneur in the advertising industry.

MARS Advertisings

Barnett established the MARS Agency in 1973 with $22,000, two telephones and three employees. Today it is the largest independent shopper marketing agency and has over 500 staff offering services to 11 branches in America as well as its presence in Canada and England. She was behind the launch of A&P’s Good Living publication in 1999.

Awards and recognition

Barnett was an inductee of the Adcraft Hall of Fame in 2007. She was also named Advertising Woman of the Year. She received the following awards:

1. Top Agency Management
2. Women in Communication's Headliner
3. Entrepreneur of the Year
4. Inforum Inner Circle Honoree
5. Outstanding Retail Marketing Executive
6. Outstanding Retail Woman of the Year
7. Michigan's Top 25 Women Business Owner
8. Oakland County Executive of the Year
9. The 2016 Effie Index’s 5^th Most Effective Independent Agency in North America
10. Governor's Recognition and Executive Women of America Award..

Education

Barnett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Communications from Wayne State University.