FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 1, 2010) – Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations and m.creative have joined forces to provide clients with a more comprehensive range of services. m.creative principal Melinda Isley, APR, has become a partner in Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold, joining principals Amy Gravina, APR, Laurel Smith, APR, Tina Matte and Sharon Arnold.
Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold has specialized in developing long-term, results-oriented marketing and public relations programs for Southwest Florida’s leading businesses and organizations since 1983 and has been recognized for expertise in community outreach, issues management and strategic marketing programs. m.creative has provided a full range of public relations services including media relations, graphic design, advertising and social media programs since 2000.
“We’ve long admired Melinda’s creativity, professionalism and the results she has generated for her clients,” said Gravina. “The merger benefits our combined client roster and allowed both firms to expand services.”
“From the day I moved back to my hometown, this was the firm and these were the professionals I tried to model myself after,” said Isley. “Our principles, ethics and goals are well aligned and I could not be happier to be their partner.”
Gravina, Smith and Isley hold bachelor’s degrees from University of Florida’s College of Journalism and are accredited by the Florida Public Relations Association, which named them Public Relations Professionals of the Year in 1987, 1988 and 2004 respectively.
Isley also studied graphic design at the Southeast Center for Photo/Graphic Studies in Daytona Beach. She served as creative director and public relations manager for Southwest Florida companies before launching m.creative in 2000. Some of her clients include Barbara B. Mall Performing Arts Hall, Community Cooperative Ministries Inc., Harbour House at the Inn, accounting firm Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA, attorneys Osterhout, McKinney & Prather, and The Veranda restaurant. Isley serves on the board of directors for the local American Cancer Society, chaired the 2008 Cattle Barons Ball and was selected as one of Gulfshore Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2007.
Gravina has been active in the marketing and public relations field in Southwest Florida for more than three decades. She serves on the boards of directors of the FPRA Counselors Network, Hope Hospice and Florida Gulf Bank and, in 2008, was inducted into the Junior Achievement Lee County Business Leadership Hall of Fame.
Smith, who joined Gravina in 1984, is an alumna of Leadership Lee County and serves on the board of United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades.
Matte, who holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and journalism from the University of South Florida, joined Gravina, Smith & Matte in 1999 and was named partner in 2001. She is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Lee County and Leadership Florida, Class XXVII, and a member of the Florida Public Relations Association. Matte serves on the board of directors for Floridians for Better Transportation and The Salvation Army. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush, she served two terms on the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.
A graduate of the University of West Florida, Arnold joined Gravina, Smith and Matte in 2001 and was named partner in 2005. She serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, Water Enhancement & Restoration Coalition and Southwest Florida Watershed Council, and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Florida Public Relations Association.
A sampling of Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold’s client list includes BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company, Bell Tower Shops, Bonita Bay Group, Bonita Springs Utilities, Celebration of Reading, Hope HealthCare Services, McCaw Wealth Management Group, Naples Winter Wine Festival, Southwest Florida Transportation Initiative (SWFTI) and The Immokalee Foundation. The firm is headquartered in Fort Myers at 1520 Royal Palm Square Blvd. For more information, call 239-275-5758.
