PR Firm Celebrates 30 Years in Westchester

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — Thompson & Bender celebrated its 30th anniversary as one of Westchester’s leading public relations/marketing/advertising firms during a recent gala reception attended by clients past and present, friends and community and government leaders Tuesday at the Castle Hotel and Spa in Tarrytown.

Thompson & Bender began in White Plains in 1986 and since 1997 has been headquartered in an 1890 Victorian house in Briarcliff Manor. The partners are residents of Yorktown and Croton-on-Hudson.

In a press release about the anniversary, the firm’s principals — Geoffrey Thompson, Dean Bender and Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson — cited their work in the newspaper business, maintaining a diverse client base and community involvement as key elements in the agency’s success. T&B has weathered the economic ups and downs that have made it difficult for many small businesses to survive.

“We have been fortunate that our client-base has remained solid for all these years,” Thompson said. “Many have been with us for nearly our entire time in business. That’s something we’re very proud of. It’s a sign that you are doing things right. We have also had a remarkably stable, dedicated and loyal staff. You aren’t going to be successful in a highly competitive business like ours without a strong support team. We also have many vendors with whom we have had relationships from the start. Perhaps it’s a cliché, but when it comes to Thompson & Bender, there is a true sense of family. We know that’s special and we value it.”

The public relations arm of Thompson and Bender began with its two founders, Thompson and Bender, who spent 15 years working as reporters and editors for the Gannett Suburban Newspaper (now The Journal News and lohud.com.) Thompson served as Business and Real Estate Editor and Bender as Assistant Business News Editor. That experience provided them with an in-depth knowledge of local and regional business and real estate communities and provided a platform upon which their business was built.

Another alumna of Gannett, Bracken-Thompson joined T&B in 1990 as a partner bringing marketing, advertising and community relations expertise that allowed the agency to expand its range of services. While at Gannett, she was Vice President of Marketing for the then 10-daily newspaper group and she held special assignments including a role in the national launch of USA TODAY.

Thompson & Bender has worked on a wide range of public relations and marketing campaigns. Their many projects and clients include The Westchester mall, Westchester County Office of Economic Development, Westchester County Tourism & Film, NewYork-Presbyterian (all Westchester locations), Westchester Community College, the Business Council of Westchester, Cross County Shopping Center, Simone Development Companies, Fareri Associates, MacQuesten Development, Chappaqua Crossing, the French-American School of New York, the Food Bank for Westchester and ArtsWestchester.

A strong commitment to the community has also contributed to T&B’s success. Among her many volunteer roles, Bracken-Thompson served as Chairman of the Westchester Parks Foundation and currently serves on the board of The Hudson River Museum and the Business Council of Westchester. She has also served on the board of the American Red Cross of Westchester, and founding chairman of Go Red for Women at the American Heart Association in Westchester. Geoffrey Thompson has twice served as Board Chairman of The Teatown Lake Reservation, Westchester’s largest privately-owned environmental education center and nature conservancy, and is a noted leader in the area of open space preservation. Dean Bender currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Building Owners and Managers Association.

Thompson & Bender has been recognized by numerous organizations such as Junior Achievement of Westchester, Food Bank for Westchester and the Westchester Parks Foundation. T&B was also named to the Westchester Business Hall of Fame.

PHOTOS/ contributed

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino with Thompson & Bender Partners Geoff Thompson, Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson and Dean Bender during a celebratory 30th anniversary gala reception at the Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown.

Thompson & Bender Partner Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson stands in front of the digital sign at the Westchester County Center in White Plains that declared December 21 “Thompson & Bender Day."