Mad Genius CEO Chip Sarver (and family!) helped create over 100 Build A Bear Teddy Bears, and then delivered the bears to children at the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital. It touched the hearts of all the volunteers to see the children’s faces light up as they embraced their new, furry friend! Check out the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page to see all the wonderful photos!

In addition to the merger, Mad Genius is announcing a realignment of leadership. Owner Rick Moore is stepping down as President, to focus on new business opportunities in the world of filmmaking and entertainment. Moore will remain among the Mad Genius leadership as Chief Executive Officer. Replacing him as President is Chip Sarver, a founding partner of Mad Genius, who formerly served as Chief Operating Officer. Another founding partner, Rob Bridges, is being promoted to Senior Vice President of Branding and Strategy. Billy Tinsley is being promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance. Creative Director Eric Hughes will become Vice President of Creative.

“We are so proud to announce this merger,” says Sarver. “It reflects both hard work and partnership. Mad Genius remains true to our core values of innovation and commitment to our clients, and we’re looking forward to all that lies ahead.”

Mad Genius and Mad Genius Tampa Bay offer a full-range of services, including branding, advertising, web design and interactive strategy, media planning, video production, post production, animation, special effects and more.

9 - GETTING REAL WITH FARM BUREAU

We started the year off right: in January 2009, Mad Genius officially became the agency of record for ten Southern Farm Bureau Insurance states. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year; in that time, the Genius has developed an Toolkit utilized by Farm Bureau agents throughout the region, created an eye-catching series of webisodes called “New to the Crew” at Joe Gibbs Racing, produced commercials such as Phone Tree and Call Center, developed campaign and promotional materials… and this is only the beginning.

8 – AN EMMY, SOME ADDIES, AND BEST OF JACKSONS… OH MY!

In 2009, it seemed like you couldn’t swing a lab coat anywhere in this office without hitting another award. We’re proud of our animator Wade Acuff, whose work on Between the Lions earned our team another Emmy. Between the Lions is produced in Mississippi, and the Eyevox (now Mad Genius) animation department plays a critical role in bringing the show to life. Mad Genius was also well-represented at the American Advertising Federation of Jackson’s annual awards program, the Addies, bringing home multiple awards, including a Gold Addy in the Interactive category, for our work on the MMI Hotel Group website. Oh yeah, and the Jackson Free Press also honored our minions with several awards: Beth Kander won Best Jackson Writer, Opie Cooper won Best Jackson Filmmaker, and Eyevox was named one of the metro area’s top locally-owned businesses. Not too shabby, Team Genius.

7 – A PRESIDENCY COMPLETED

2009 marks the completion of Mad Genius Chief Operating Officer Chip Sarver’s term as President of the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is instrumental in keeping the Ridgeland business community strong, and Chip has been glad to serve… but the Genius knows the truth: Chip’s only completing his run as Chamber President so he can pursue his next title, President of Everything in This Universe and Six Others.

6 – COMING TOGETHER TO REMEMBER HEATHER

Some of the work we’re most proud of here at Mad Genius is when we partner with organizations working to make a difference. Heather’s T.R.E.E. was founded to honor the memory of Heather Spencer and eradicate domestic violence. Mad Genius designed the poster, VIP pass and press materials for the 2009 Heather’s T.R.E.E. “Soulshine” Memorial Concert, which was an important and touching tribute.

5 – DID YOU HEAR “Z” NEWS?

Z-Line Designs, one of the top five manufacturers of ready-to-assemble home office and entertainment furniture in the United States, selected Mad Genius to work on Z-Line brand strategy and interactive development. Z-Line Designs is based in San Ramon, California, and offers a broad range of furniture styles to suit a wide array of lifestyles. Z-Line Designs furniture is available through a number of online furniture retailers and major retail outlets, including Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, Sears and Staples. Z-Line choosing Mad Genius is a win for Mississippi!

4 – IMAGINATION EDUCATION, INC.

Mad Genius has an arts and education initiative called Imagination Education, Inc. Though still brand-spankin’ new, Imagination Education took some giant steps this year. We were selected as a teaching artist group featured in the Mississippi Arts Commission Artist Roster, and were also chosen by Parents for Public Schools for inclusion in JumpstART. We’re working with Casey Elementary, we taught at Millsaps College for the second summer in a row, we served as instructors for the Canton Young Filmmakers Institute, and we’re working on launching several other projects, including Yeah, Write Whatever (a snarky project that tackles literacy through creative writing). We’re feeling the momentum – stay tuned for further ie developments!

3 – THE SHED GOES MAD!

Talk about rocking and rolling – Mad Genius recently became the agency of record for The Shed Barbeque and Blues Joint, a FamilyFoodDrinkery.™  Headquartered in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with franchises expanding throughout Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, The Shed serves a full-scale barbeque menu in their unique, fun-loving restaurant environment. Named one of the Top Forty Fastest Growing Businesses in the State of Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2008, The Shed is a regular award winner at the Memphis in May International Festival’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and has been featured on Live! with Regis and Kelly and Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on The Food Network. Now, The Shed’s gone Mad… and the Genius loves getting Saucy with The Shed!

2 – RICK MOORE NAMED SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

We were busting our buttons* when CEO Rick Moore was named Mississippi’s Small Businessperson of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Rick traveled to DC for Small Business Week, convening with other statewide SBA award winners. We think Rick himself put it best: “It’s both humbling and inspiring to represent my home state, and show the rest of the nation that even in this troubled economy, there is positive, innovative work happening right here in Mississippi.” Well said, Rick. We hereby name you Genius of the Year, too. For good measure.

1 – THE MERGER: EV f/v + MG a/c = Creative Fusion

And of course, the biggest event of 2009: Mad Genius’ merger with Eyevox Film and Video Production. In the summer of 2009, these two innovative companies became one media powerhouse, under the single name Mad Genius. Being able to offer start-to-finish creative and promotional services, as well as a signature style of outside-the-box-thinking, makes Mad Genius a regional standout. Since the merger, we’ve made great strides. We were excited to launch our swanky new logo, and also launched our all new website, complete with a virtual portfolio, client testimonials, an introduction to some of the Genius’ minions, and more.

So there you have it. It’s been quite a year. But we’re even more excited for what 2010 has in store. From all of us to all of you … have a Genius New Year!

The two companies involved in the merger are Eyevox Film & Video Production and Mad Genius, Inc. Eyevox was established more than a decade ago, and became the largest full-service production company in the state of Mississippi, while Mad Genius, Inc., has operated since 2005 as a groundbreaking creative and advertising agency. The two companies often collaborated on cutting-edge projects; now, they will capitalize on the creative benefits of their alliance by entering into a formal merger, under the single brand name Mad Genius.

The innovative advertising and creative services provided by Mad Genius will be augmented by the full-service, in-house capabilities that made Eyevox a production powerhouse. Integrating the insight, strategy and creative vision of a trendsetting advertising agency with the high-end work of an award-winning production company is the Mad Genius recipe for success.

The merger makes good business sense, according to Mad Genius President and CEO Rick Moore. “Our client list just keeps expanding,” says Moore. “We’re proud to have a strong base of local clients, and in the past few years, we’ve also seen our regional and national opportunities grow. By bringing these two companies together, we can provide more streamlined, efficient and comprehensive services, enabling us to better serve all of our clients.”

Mad Genius serves a range of clients, representing a wide cross-section of industries, from health care, insurance, and banking to gaming, entertainment and colleges. With more than thirty employees, whose skill sets encompass all areas of advertising, media, web and creative production, the new Mad Genius is designed to take client projects from concept all the way through post-production, promotion and public relations. Clients’ brands are conceived as a whole throughout the entirety of the creative process. The agency refers to this process as “creative fusion.”

“We don’t just think about an ad, or just a video, logo, website, or radio spot. We think about fusing all of those,” says Mad Genius Creative Director Eric Hughes. “That’s why Mad Genius is uniquely equipped to provide limitless ideas to progressive organizations who want to expand their brand relevance. Because we can seamlessly fuse creative and production in so many formats, we can achieve that in truly surprising ways. We help our clients build real momentum.”

Being able to offer start-to-finish creative and promotional services, as well as a signature style of outside-the-box-thinking, makes Mad Genius a regional standout. “We see this merger as a way to open new doors and bring more business to the area,” says Chip Sarver, Chief Operating Officer at Mad Genius. “That’s why we’re so excited. Moving forward, we’re poised to continue expanding our services and pursuing new prospects.”

Mad Genius is now located at 279 South Perkins Street in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

View a video commemorating our union over at our Vimeo Channel.

Z-Line Designs, one of the top five manufacturers of ready-to-assemble home office and entertainment furniture in the United States, has selected Mad Genius of Ridgeland, Mississippi, to work on Z-Line brand strategy and interactive development.

Founded in 1995, Z-Line Designs is based in San Ramon, California, with international offices and manufacturing facilities in China and Taiwan. Z-Line Designs offers a broad range of furniture styles to suit a wide array of lifestyles, including high-technology users, Gen X and Gen Y consumers. Z-Line Designs furniture is available through a number of online furniture retailers and major retail outlets, including Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, Sears and Staples.

“We’re very excited to work with the team at Z-Line Designs. They are well-known for their pioneering furniture designs, and we look forward to helping them take their company to the next level in the interactive realm,” says Chip Sarver, Chief Operating Officer of Mad Genius.

Mad Genius will produce a new corporate website for Z-Line Designs that will include an additional racing area dedicated to their NASCAR and Indy racing sponsorships.

Jim Sexton, President, CEO and company founder of Z-Line Designs expressed his excitement: “We’re a sponsor of Joe Gibbs racing, and it’s through Joe Gibbs that we were introduced to Mad Genius. We saw what Mad Genius did for Farm Bureau Insurance and Farm Bureau Insurance Racing, and we have since learned about the momentum-building ideas they produce. We’re looking forward to the partnership.”