T3 Toasts 15 Years of Success

Scattered among five traditional historic homes near downtown Austin is a thriving marketing solutions company, T3 (The Think Tank), where babies and dogs are warmly welcomed and results-oriented campaigns are created.

"As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, I want to thank our clients, vendors and staff who have supported our vision and helped make our success possible," said Gay Warren Gaddis, T3 president and founder. "Back then, who would have thought a grand idea, $16,000 borrowed from an IRA rollover and a $79 typewriter would accomplish so much?"

T3 is now one of the fastest growing privately held agencies wholly owned by a woman with more than $115 million in capitalized billings, an all-star staff of 125 and a successful New York office that opened two years ago.

As a working mother who understands firsthand the needs and challenges of working parents, Gaddis works hard to create "a home away from home" environment where parents can bring their young children to work and utilize fellow T3-ers to help out during meetings and phone conferences with clients.

"It is so rewarding to be able to watch Ryan grow and learn new things while continuing my career," said Michele Arceo, T3 account executive. "With the T3 and Under childcare program, I definitely get the best of two worlds."

And in a productivity-driven economy that demands speed, agility and round-the-clock commitment, pets are an important part of the T3 team, too, made possible with the Who Let the Dogs In? program.

"When we are cranking out the work, it's nice to have Joe [a Queensland Red Heeler] around to bring everyone's stress level down a notch or two," said Steve Knight, T3 copywriter. "You've heard a bark is worth a thousand words, right?"

Client relationships are nurtured as well with relaxing weekend getaways to the Gaddis Double Heart ranch located eight miles between Marble Falls and Burnet. Clients enjoy outdoor barbeques, tractor-pulled hayride ranch tours, picking homegrown veggies from the garden for dinner, and being introduced to the longhorn cattle the Gaddis's raise.

T3 works with a range of clients including Dell, Inc., Marriott International, Inc., JCPenney, Baker Botts, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Spheris, Despair.com and i3 Research and has experienced an average 26 percent growth in annual billings.

"T3 is a terrific partner for us as their business model fosters a unique, results-driven approach that is highly effective in quickly and successfully responding to our marketing needs," said Bruce Horner, Nortel Networks director of global branding and advertising.

About T3

T3, an agency with offices in Austin, New York and San Francisco, specializes in innovative marketing campaigns that cut across all media channels. As a collaborative think tank, T3 works with clients including ConocoPhillips Lubricants, Facebook, Intel, JCPenney, John Deere, JPMorgan Chase, Livescribe, Microsoft, Oriental Trading Company, Universal and UPS.

Founded by CEO Gay Gaddis in 1989, T3 is independent and the largest advertising agency wholly owned by a woman in the United States. T3 ranks among ADWEEK's Top 100 Agencies and Advertising Age's Top 100 U.S. Marketing Services Agencies lists.