Partner, Identity, Bingham Farms
Employees: 22 Revenue: NA Education: Western Michigan University
Following several internships — including a six-month stay with The Detroit News — on her way to earning a journalism degree, Andrea Trapani received a call for a job interview from Identity, an integrated public relations firm in Bingham Farms. Starting out as an account assistant in 2004, she gained experience in each of the firm’s three practice areas: media relations and marketing, social media, and creative. At the start, Identity worked on a variety of real estate accounts around the country, mostly in the commercial arena, before adding such industries as architecture, technology, financial services, and retail brands. In 2012, Trapani was named a partner. “I share leadership and management responsibilities with Mark Winter, who is our managing partner, and we work today with more than 50 clients both nationally and globally on their strategic direction and assisting them in expanding and opening new markets,” she says. “I also launched our consumer practice group, which today has nearly a dozen clients.” The group includes Livonia- based Team Schostak Family of Restaurants, which owns and operates 64 Applebee’s and three Del Tacos in Michigan. Identity is helping Schostak roll out a series of renovations, in addition to better connecting with the communities they serve. Overall, Trapani says, Identity is on pace to boost revenue by 20 percent in 2014.
Look for the entire lineup of honorees on Monday.
