In its first iteration, Postern operated for decades as Jean Peterson Design–a firm focused predominantly on traditional design work.
As the Frederick business climate rapidly grew and evolved, so did the marketing needs of the business owners and nonprofits in our community. This stirred the imagination of Emily Dorr–then a long-time employee of JPD–as she recognized the necessity of a comprehensive marketing service to ensure local businesses remained competitive and successful.
Emily believed that, with the right team, the right skills, and a bold measure of passion, the company could transform into a full-service agency functioning as a much needed marketing resource in Frederick County and beyond. In 2017, Emily purchased the company from her predecessor, renamed it Postern, and built a talented, multi-disciplinary team to bring her vision to fruition. With its mantra of “Community by Design” guiding every step, Postern has emerged as a trusted community partner providing effective marketing solutions for businesses and nonprofits throughout the region.
Rick Weldon, President and CEO of the Chamber shared this about Postern, “One of the best aspects of my role as Chamber President is “cheerleading” for Frederick County. That activity brings me close to the creative teams who help design brands, craft messages and communicate the values of all that we hold dear. Postern, since it’s inception, has been one of the most effective storytellers for Frederick, the State and the region. No matter what they do, you can always spot a Postern product, mostly because of their consistently outstanding work effort, but also the creativity and passion they pour into their client engagements.”
We invite you to get to know Postern and their work through this brief interview.
Member of the Month: Postern
Tell us about Postern and the work you and your team do.
Postern is a highly impactful marketing agency consisting of skillful creatives and thoughtful strategists passionately driven by the desire to bring their clients’ visions to fruition through meaningful collaboration. Based in Downtown Frederick, Postern has evolved its services from that of a long-time design firm into an effective full-service agency, affording clients in the Greater Frederick area and beyond access to a holistic marketing approach. Their services include, but are not limited to, strategic consultation and marketing plan development, branding, public relations, communications and messaging, content creation, digital and traditional design, media placement, advertising, social media management, and publications.
Have you seen Maryland Road Trips?
It’s Postern’s travel site and it is a great place to find all of the hidden gems in and around Maryland!
What makes Postern unique in your industry?
Beyond the scope of our services, one of the more unique aspects of our business is that we are averse to transactional relationships–meaning we don’t want to simply make a widget and cash the check. Instead, we want our clients to feel like they’ve not only invested in a service, but that they were invested in as a client. We believe at the heart of great marketing is a partnership characterized by honest communication, thoughtful questions, and a truly collaborative dynamic. We love when clients say things like, “We just feel like you’re part of our team,” because that’s the level of integration and immersion we want clients to experience with Postern.
What do you want to be known for?
Our mantra “Community by Design” was crafted with great intentionality, because the vision of Postern was to be a company that not only supported area businesses but also a company that used its talents, resources, and partnerships to amplify the efforts of those striving to build a stronger Frederick. We want Postern to be known for its commitment to the Frederick community, particularly our nonprofit partners that have long trusted our team to raise awareness and strengthen the impact of life-changing services being delivered throughout the county.
What do you like most about being a business owner in Frederick?
The best part of being a business owner in Frederick is the spirit of collaboration between the many organizations that call this amazing community home. There is this connective thread that seemingly winds throughout and pulls together nonprofits, for-profits, and public entities in a way that is both wonderful and uncommon. It results in this powerful network of people that simply share a common vision–to see Frederick succeed. When you walk through Frederick, Middletown, Brunswick, Thurmont, or any other municipality in the county, you find yourself surrounded by the familiar faces of people who are more than just owners and employees of businesses. They’re the people who have become some of your closest friends and staunchest advocates.
How is Postern involved with the local community?
We are privileged to provide marketing services to incredible organizations such as the Heartly House, Community Foundation of Frederick County, The Religious Coalition, Literacy Council of Frederick County, Frederick Health, and the Downtown Frederick Partnership. Being integrated with these nonprofits provides us with the distinct advantage of understanding the day-to-day needs of these organizations. So, with that understanding, we often facilitate collaborations where we connect our nonprofit and for-profit clients to help meet practical community needs. Additionally, many of our team members have committee and board-level involvement with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County, American Advertising Federation of Greater Frederick, Friends of Baker Park, and Rotary Club of Carroll Creek.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.