What MDG does

MDG is a full-service event marketing and public relations agency serving associations, trade shows, conferences, and corporate clients. Founded in 1977, the company operates as a subsidiary of Freeman, a global experiential marketing conglomerate, and employs 100+ specialists across offices in Alexandria VA, Washington DC, Chicago, and Glasgow UK. Its service portfolio spans event strategy, association strategy, branding, digital marketing, content strategy and creation, social media management, video production, web development, communications/PR, international strategy, data/research/insights, organizational strategy, and AI Strategy & Enablement.

The agency's revenue model is professional services-based, generated through project fees, retainers, and service agreements. Direct enterprise field sales (consultation calls, discovery sessions, RFP processes) is the primary GTM motion, supplemented by self-serve packaged campaigns through the mdg Store for smaller clients and three-tiered social media subscriptions ($2K-$4K, $3.5K-$6K, and $7K-$10K+/month). The company has invested heavily in AI capabilities, launching in 2025 an AI Strategy & Enablement suite and previously developing proprietary agents including Apollo (Slack-integrated knowledge retrieval), Chat-E (digital influencer), Emma Reed (voice agent for clarity audits), and EDGEword (conversational agent). In March 2025 MDG acquired Tag Digital, expanding digital activation capabilities.

MDG's customer base spans 30+ named clients across associations (ASAE, ASIS International, American Bakers Association, World Pet Association, The Toy Association, National Confectioners Association, AUVSI, International Carwash Association), enterprise trade shows (IBIE, NAB, EBACE, SUPERZOO, National Hardware Show, California RV Show, Hearth Patio & Barbecue Expo), and nonprofit/enterprise clients (Society of Breast Imaging, Scottish EDGE, The MedTech Conference). Documented outcomes include 489% impressions growth and 789% video views growth for ASAE, 61% Instagram engagement increases for the National Restaurant Association Show, and attendance growth from 14,000 to 23,000+ for IBIE. Leadership includes CEO Nelson Camus (Owner, President & CEO) and a team of VPs, directors, and strategists across organizational strategy, communications, social media, and account management.

Name

MDG

Legal name

MDG

Website

https://mdg.agency

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MDG is a full-service event marketing and PR agency founded in 1977, serving associations, trade shows, and corporate clients with strategy, branding, digital marketing, AI enablement, and communications. A Freeman subsidiary with 100+ specialists across US and UK offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Marketing Services: Full-service marketing agency providing strategy, digital marketing, creative services, branding, content creation, web development, video production, social media management, and communications services to associations, events, and corporate clients. Revenue generated through project-based fees, retainers, and service agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

MDG is a full-service marketing agency providing strategy, creative, digital, communications, content, branding, and AI enablement services to associations, trade shows, conferences, and corporate clients. The agency delivers integrated marketing campaigns, audience acquisition, membership growth, branding, paid media, web development, social media management, and proprietary AI solutions including custom AI agents and LLM optimization.

Product overview

MDG is a strategy-driven marketing agency providing comprehensive marketing solutions to association, event, and corporate clients. The agency offers a unified portfolio of services organized around strategic planning, creative execution, and digital marketing. The core offering includes AI Strategy & Enablement (AI audits, training, custom agents, GPTs, and video production), Association Strategy, Branding, Communications, Content Strategy & Creation, Data/Research/Insights, Digital (paid media, email, web), Event Strategy, International Strategy, Organizational Strategy, Social Media, Video, and Web services. The mdg Store serves as an add-on offering quick-launch pre-packaged digital campaigns. The agency has also developed proprietary AI agents including Apollo (internal Slack integration), Chat-E (digital influencer), Emma Reed (voice agent), and EDGEword (conversational agent).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communications Strategic communications services including PR, influencer marketing, storytelling, crisis management, community relations, and holistic communication strategies for event and association clients.
• Content Strategy and Creation Content strategy services including persona development, buyer journey mapping, content mapping, SEO-optimized articles, lead generation, editorial management, and video production.
• Data, Research and Insights Quantitative and qualitative research services including audits, competitive analyses, focus groups, pre/post-event measurement, market sizing, member satisfaction surveys, and pricing analyses.
• Digital Marketing Digital marketing services including paid media across search, social, display, and programmatic platforms; email marketing; web and landing page development; content creation; and marketing automation.
• Event Strategy Event strategy services including strategic planning, performance modeling, tactical execution, participant acquisition, lapsed participant reengagement, and VIP programs.
• AI Strategy and Enablement AI consulting and implementation services including AI audits, training, custom AI agents, custom GPTs, AI video production, and LLM optimization for associations and event organizers.
• mdg Store Quick-launch, pre-packaged digital campaigns for events and associations offering proven paid media packages with clear deliverables and rapid deployment for smaller shows or fast-turn needs.
• International Strategy International marketing services including global strategy development, buyer delegation programs, visa support, market research, strategic partnerships, and internationalization of marketing assets.
• Social Media Management Social media marketing services with three subscription tiers (Momentum, Dynamic, and Growth Packages) covering content creation, scheduling, audience interaction, influencer partnerships, community management, and performance analysis.
• Video Production Video production services for brand storytelling, explainer videos, thought leadership content, and campaign assets using AI-generated and traditionally produced video content.
• Web Development Web development and UX services including custom administrative solutions, development, information architecture, SEO, and systems integration.
• Association Strategy Association strategy services including campaign audits, membership acquisition and renewal campaigns, volunteer development, and member benefit engagement strategies.
• Branding Branding services including branding strategies, concept creation, content development, logo creation, messaging, and signage design.
• Organizational Strategy Organizational strategy consulting including scenario planning, change readiness assessment, product portfolio evolution, and strategic prioritization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Attendance growth from 14,000 to 23,000+ for IBIE
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FreemancoreOthersMDG is a Freeman Company. Freeman is a global leader in events and experiential marketing, providing MDG with organizational backing and resources. Freeman was honored with a top spot on Forbes' list of America's Best Employers for Women.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sparks: Sparks is also a Freeman Company, delivering event marketing, experiential design, and trade show services. Direct sister-company peer sharing the same parent and overlapping in trade show marketing, brand experience, and event strategy for associations and corporate clients.
• Opus Agency: Opus Agency is an event marketing and brand experience agency serving enterprise technology and association clients with strategy, creative production, and digital services. Closely overlaps MDG's event strategy, content, and digital service lines.
• Cramer: Cramer is a brand experience and event marketing agency offering strategy, creative, content, digital, and event production for B2B brands and associations. Directly comparable service portfolio and customer base to MDG.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: GPJ is one of the largest event marketing agencies globally, serving enterprise B2B and association clients with strategy, creative, content, and digital. Comparable to MDG in serving large trade shows and corporate events, with broader global scale.
• SmithBucklin: SmithBucklin is the largest association management company in the US, providing management, marketing, and event services to professional associations. Overlaps with MDG on the association marketing segment with shared clients in membership and event strategy.
• Wpromote: Wpromote is a large independent digital marketing agency offering paid media, SEO, content, and analytics for mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable to MDG on the digital, paid media, and social media service lines, though less association/event focused.
• Jack Morton Worldwide: Jack Morton is a global brand experience agency offering event marketing, experiential campaigns, and digital content for brands and associations. Directly comparable to MDG in scope (event strategy + creative + digital) and customer base (enterprise + associations).
• MKG: MKG is a marketing and events agency specializing in experiential marketing, live and virtual events, and brand strategy for B2B clients. Comparable to MDG in event marketing focus and full-service delivery model, though MKG leans more corporate.

Broad incumbents

• Freeman: Freeman is MDG's parent and a global leader in event and experiential marketing services, including event production, AV, logistics, and marketing. Operates as the broader incumbent ecosystem MDG plugs into; not a direct competitor but sets competitive context.

Emerging players

• Rallio: Rallio is a social media management and content platform built for franchises, dealers, and associations. Comparable to MDG's social media package tier offering, with a software-led delivery model that represents a potential disruptor to MDG's agency-led social services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MDGsocial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MDG