Hodges Advertising Associates Celebrates 50 Years and Counting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

It was the mid 1970's. Young folks flaunted their flamboyant fashion. Real men ate quiche in 
secret. The Super Bowl was just reaching its first decade. And disco ruled the world, though many 
agreed, “How long can disco on!” It was also a time of significant business development and 
cultural transformation in greater Fayetteville. Enter Hodges Advertising Associates. The agency 
was founded in October 1974 by the late Jean Hodges, who believed there was great need for 
marketing, advertising and public relations services to support all that was happening in her new 
hometown. From a single-client, one-woman show, Hodges quickly grew to have a diversely talented 
staff serving clients with local, regional, national and international operations.

Today, as they like to say, Hodges Advertising Associates is still 'ad' it. “We're marking more 
than 50 years in business with a year-long celebration,” said Anna Hodges Smith, Jean Hodges' 
daughter and the agency's current owner/president. Hodges is now the longest-operating 
Fayetteville-based marketing, advertising and public relations firm still in business here. They've 
become a stalwart of our community for the creativity they bring and the marketing partnerships 
they've established with clients in the region. The agency has also provided countless hours of pro 
bono work for local non-profits, while the leaders and individual staff members have served on many 
boards and committees.

Commenting on the many changes the agency has seen over the years, Smith noted, “Even the design 
and art production at the ‘creative core’ of our business have become technology-driven.” 
Sophisticated computer programs allow the agency to work more quickly and easily make changes. 
Creatively, it allows them to do things they couldn’t even imagine in 1974! Web-based and social 
media marketing have opened a whole new realm for clients – which includes the ability to keep 
their message constantly updated and reach a wider audience, especially younger generations. 
“However,” Smith emphasized, “while evolving technology provides us with valuable tools, market 
savvy and creative inspiration are still the foundation for achieving clients' success.”

One final observation, Smith explained that in order to help clients with their marketing and 
advertising goals, the agency gets to know the client's business, in depth. “Over the years,” she 
said, “we've become 'experts' in welding and power tools, banking, utilities and city services, 
finance and accounting, real estate and construction, healthy hearts and bones, jewelry, textiles, chicken, pork
and turkey, and the list goes on.”

As the year progresses, through October 2025, Hodges Advertising Associates looks forward to
sharing their 50-Years-and-Counting celebration with news and stories, past and present, online
and through social media. Watch for more on Facebook and at hodgesassoc.com.