Chamber Recognizes Growth, Results Under CMA President’s Leadership
PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J.—December 6, 2021—Christian Amato, president at CMA, a full-service communications, marketing and association management firm, has been named 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber.
The Swedesboro resident was honored at the chamber’s Business Leadership Awards Gala last week at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton.
“CMA would not be what it is today without the support and help from every team member,” said Amato, who started his career at CMA in the ‘90s. “At CMA, we hire based on our core values, which include teamwork, excellence and accountability. It’s a mindset that will continue to lead us through any obstacle and drive us to new heights.”
“There are several good reasons why I hired Christian— twice,” said Jeffrey Barnhart, CEO and founder of CMA, who has mentored Amato throughout his career. “His entrepreneurial spirit is a catalyst for our unique company, which combines in-house marketing and communications along with association management, into a savvy go-to-market resource for the entire business community. He has turned the last two challenging years into a launchpad for long-term growth. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Since returning to CMA in 2015, Amato has modernized the company’s offerings, as well as its operations, to create a more profitable and sustainable firm. He invested heavily into the digital marketing arena to secure top skills in-house and created a more flexible work environment where team members can respond quicker to client requests, thanks to a company-wide IT investment.
Despite a global crisis in 2020, a revitalized CMA was able to grow because of Amato’s entrepreneurial spirit. Before COVID-19, Amato acquired a web development company, which brought websites, SEO and various forms of digital advertising in-house for the first time. He also upgraded the company’s technology to safeguard continuous operations by giving all employees the ability to help their clients remotely, which reduced response times and improved client service.
Unlike its competitors, CMA has invested in subject matter experts who lead diverse teams of marketing communications professionals under the same roof. This strategy shifts the burden of campaign management to CMA as opposed to clients, who often find themselves juggling various freelancers and contractors to complete a project. CMA’s unique value proposition means more efficient and cost-effective campaigns that get results with less client burden.
CMA has built its standing in the region and in the industry with various examples of excellence. According to NJBIZ’s 2021 Reader Rankings, CMA is the #1 public relations firm and #1 advertising agency in New Jersey. CMA had been second in PR and advertising/marketing in the state for the two previous years. Since 2018, the company has won 38 industry awards from several organizations, including N.J. Communications, Advertising and Marketing Association (NJCAMA). CMA delivered the “Best in B2B” marketing communications in 2019 from the Public Relations Society of America NJ, and it won “Best in Show” in all PR categories in 2020 from the N.J. Ad Club.
Overall, CMA has been recognized with more than 387 awards for client work in marketing and communications excellence. The firm has helped clients in various industries, ranging from financial services, health care, lighting, professional services and associations.
About CMA
CMA is a full-service communications, marketing and association management firm, which has provided its clients with award-winning and proven results for 35 years. To drive ROI, it utilizes its strategic solutions including branding, digital marketing, web and mobile app development, social media, public relations, advertising, collateral, association management, event planning, publications, and advertising sales. Through its proprietary discovery process, Marketecture™, CMA offers a strategic analysis to help clients understand how they can best be positioned in the marketplace. Community is central to CMA, with more than 3,000 hours dedicated to volunteering, fundraising and pro bono services over the past three decades. CMA embraces a workplace that fosters fun and creativity for its clients and staff, from summer BBQs and team-building activities, to a pet-friendly environment. Visit CMAsolutions.com and follow @CMAresults on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.