EO/Leo Burnett Use Creative Prowess to Benefit Small Business Owners

THE LEOS™ Gives Entrepreneurs Opportunity to Join Leo Burnett’s Blue-Chip Roster

CHICAGO, November 4, 2009 – Leo Burnett USA is partnering with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global network of small business owners to launch ‘THE LEOS,’ an exciting new award that gives current U.S. EO members in good standing the opportunity to receive $250,000 in pro bono services from the same iconic agency that was named the second-most awarded creative network in the world last year.  

The lucky entrepreneur will have a team of Leo Burnett associates come together and develop a creative solution to address any issue that business owner faces, with the ultimate goal of helping expand the business and build a meaningful relationship between real people and a new brand.

“‘THE LEOS’ takes the incredible talent we have at this creative agency and makes it available to an up-and-coming entrepreneur with a vision, a plan and a whole lot of determination  –  the same things Mr. Leo Burnett started out with when he opened the doors in Chicago 74 years ago,” said Rich Stoddart, president of Leo Burnett USA. “Working with these entrepreneurs and establishing relationships through ‘THE LEOS’ will be personally rewarding for our people and it’s also a great way for Leo Burnett to bring on fresh and exciting clients.”

In a reversal of the usual process of pursuing new business, ‘THE LEOS’ brings potential future titans of industry to Leo Burnett’s door. A selection process will narrow down the top ten semi-finalists to the top three finalists, before a winner is announced. The top applicant is selected by a committee made up of Leo Burnett executives, including Sebastian Mueller-Soppart, the Leo Burnett senior vice president and creative director who developed the award.

The goal of ‘THE LEOS’ is not only to give these businesses access to world-class communications, but to help boost a very critical part of the economy. Leo Burnett recognizes that today’s entrepreneurs play a major role in America’s emergence from the recession, and creative thinking is an essential component to differentiate and position small businesses for success. Through ‘THE LEOS,’ Leo Burnett is channeling its creativity to help entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level and continue succeeding against the odds. 

Beginning today (Nov. 4) all U.S. EO members in good standing are eligible for ‘THE LEOS’ and can submit an application by visiting ‘THE LEOS’ Web site at www.registerfortheleos.com. Proposals are accepted through December 4, 2009 and the ultimate winner will be notified by February 12, 2010. Non-EO members interested in applying for the award need to join EO first by registering online at www.eonetwork.org.

“'THE LEOS’ award encompasses what the Entrepreneurs’ Organization is all about,” said Tim Young, vice president of Marketing at, the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. “We strive to give our members advantages to help them succeed, and ‘THE LEOS’ offers the unique opportunity to receive in-person expert counsel from top professionals and use those learnings to grow a greater business.”

For more information about the award, please visit the "Contact Us" section on the www.registerfortheleos.com Web site. To check out a recent clip promoting this opportunity, click here. 

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About Leo Burnett Company Inc -- www.leoburnett.com, www.arcww.com/us/
Leo Burnett Company Inc. is one of the world’s largest agency networks and the parent company of Leo Burnett and its marketing services arm, Arc. Leo Burnett is a HumanKind communications company. Our approach is simple and singular: we put a brand’s purpose at the center of our communications in order to truly connect with people. Then, we activate this human purpose to create what we refer to as “Acts, not just Ads.” In doing so, we make a life-long meaningful relationship between people and brands.

We believe when you create value, you create value for your clients. That’s why an impressive number of the world’s most valuable brands, including The Coca-Cola Company, Kellogg, McDonald’s, Hallmark, Allstate, Walgreens, Procter & Gamble and Nintendo work with Leo Burnett. Clients share our purpose-centered approach and, like us, they know that agencies don’t create great brands. People do.