DCC Marketing

What DCC Marketing does

DCC Marketing, LLC is a privately held, family-owned integrated marketing agency founded in 2000 by Kara Demirjian Huss and headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. The firm operates additional offices in Chicago, Illinois and Encino, California (launched 2025), and is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise at both the state and national (WBENC) levels. It is SAM Registered and GATA Certified for government procurement.

The agency delivers end-to-end integrated marketing services across six pillars: Brand Strategy & Research, Creative Development, Media Planning & Buying, Experiential Marketing, Public Relations, and Multicultural Marketing. Its differentiator is a behavior-change methodology grounded in behavioral science (psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics) combined with public-sector fluency. Core technology stack includes HubSpot CRM, Google advertising platforms, SEMrush for SEO, generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot) for content production, and proprietary systems for proposal production, RFP coordination, and performance modeling. The firm is investing in GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), structured data, and API infrastructure under a dedicated AI/technology strategy led by Evelyn Demirjian Fratzke.

DCC Marketing generates revenue through professional services contracts (project-based and retainer) with government agencies, higher education institutions, healthcare providers, and enterprise clients in manufacturing and clean energy. Anchor engagements include Illinois Department of Transportation (It's Not a Game roadway safety campaign with documented 10.3% fatality reduction), Illinois Department of Human Services (988 crisis and firearm violence prevention), Illinois DCEO (LIHEAP energy program), and SNAP-Ed/University of Illinois Extension (EAT.MOVE.SAVE). Distribution is direct via government RFP/procurement and enterprise sales, supported by partnerships with HubSpot, Google, SEMrush, The Brandr Group (NIL), and academic/workforce partners. Channel presence spans LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, paid search/social, OOH, radio, and conference speaking.

Name

DCC Marketing

Legal name

DCC Marketing, LLC

Website

https://dccmarketing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DCC Marketing is a WBENC-certified, women-owned integrated marketing agency specializing in behavior-change campaigns for government, manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and higher education clients, primarily across Illinois with a 2025 California expansion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Integrated Marketing Services: Full-service marketing agency providing integrated services including brand strategy, creative development, media planning/buying, experiential marketing, public relations, and multicultural marketing. Revenue generated through professional services contracts with government agencies, enterprise clients, and organizations requiring behavior change and public awareness campaigns.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

DCC Marketing is a certified Women's Business Enterprise integrated marketing agency delivering behavior change campaigns and integrated communications services for government agencies and enterprise clients. Its offering spans six core service pillars: Brand Strategy & Research, Creative Development, Media Planning & Buying, Experiential Marketing, Public Relations, and Multicultural Marketing. The agency combines public-sector fluency with private-sector precision to drive measurable outcomes in civic engagement, roadway safety, suicide prevention, health, sustainability, and workforce development.

Product overview

DCC Marketing is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and integrated marketing agency providing a comprehensive suite of services centered on driving behavior change, accelerating adoption, increasing consumer education, and growing markets. The agency combines public-sector fluency with private-sector precision across six core service pillars: Brand Strategy & Research (audience mapping, focus groups, message testing), Creative Development (copywriting, graphic design, video production, website/app development), Media Planning & Buying (digital/social media, traditional placement, influencer partnerships), Experiential Marketing (event marketing, interior branding, trainings), Public Relations (media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications), and Multicultural Marketing (community engagement, content localization). The agency specializes in serving government, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, higher education, and transportation sectors with campaigns focused on civic engagement, roadway safety, suicide prevention, health and well-being, sustainability, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Strategy & Research Strategic consulting services including brand strategy, audience mapping, focus groups and surveys, and creative and message testing to help clients streamline objectives and grow their brand.
• Creative Development Strategy-driven, user-minded creative campaigns including copywriting, graphic design, video production, and website and app development that authentically connect brands with diverse audiences.
• Media Planning & Buying Media placement and buying services spanning traditional media, digital and social media, influencer partnerships, and measurement optimization to maximize client budget and reach.
• Experiential Marketing Immersive brand experiences through event marketing, interior branding, trainings and seminars, and recruitments that drive engagement and create lasting impressions.
• Public Relations Strategic communications services including media relations, stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and event coordination to help clients build reputation and amplify impact.
• Multicultural Marketing Culturally resonant campaigns prioritizing underrepresented perspectives through market research, community engagement, trusted messenger strategy, and content translation/localization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10.3% reduction in Illinois traffic fatalities since IDOT campaign launch, largest decrease in region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The Brandr GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDCC Marketing and The Brandr Group partnered with IDOT on the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) effort to promote highway safety through the It's Not a Game campaign. College athletes participated as influencers to reach Gen Z audiences with safe driving messaging.
• Illinois State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with Illinois State University MKT 233 students on real-world campaign projects. DCC leadership visits classrooms, provides campaign expertise, and students develop campaign strategies for IDOT and IDHS initiatives. Featured in ISU news coverage.
• TCCI ManufacturingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNate Baguio serves as strategic advisor to TCCI Manufacturing supporting net zero initiatives, technology commercialization, industry collaboration, and global partnerships with researchers, government agencies, and OEMs. Kara Demirjian Huss serves as Senior Vice President at TCCI while also serving as President of DCC Marketing.
• Richland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in workforce development through the Illinois CE Innovation Hub. Richland Community College leads Decatur's Recompete Plan addressing workforce barriers in underserved communities. DCC supports marketing for clean energy workforce training programs.
• ADMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the EnRICH training model and workforce development ecosystem for emerging EV and precision fermentation sectors. Collaborates on scalable workforce transformation in Central Illinois.
• PrimientminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the EnRICH training model and workforce development ecosystem. Supports manufacturing pathways and workforce training for emerging sectors in Central Illinois.
• University of Illinois ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for SNAP-Ed programming. DCC Marketing developed messaging, outreach, and promotion for EAT.MOVE.SAVE campaign targeting SNAP-eligible families throughout Illinois. Materials provided in English and Spanish.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fors Marsh Group: Research and marketing agency serving federal government clients on health, defense, and public policy campaigns. Comparable to DCC in mission, behavior change orientation, and reliance on government procurement, with similar mid-size positioning.
• SKDK: Public affairs and advertising agency with strong government, corporate, and advocacy clients. Comparable to DCC in providing integrated brand, creative, media, and crisis communications, particularly for policy-aligned and corporate clients.
• Hattaway Communications: Strategic communications firm focused on public interest, nonprofit, and foundation clients. Comparable to DCC in purpose-driven orientation, integrated service offering (brand, message, audience research), and behavior-change campaign methodology.
• Spitfire Strategies: Public interest communications firm specializing in strategy, messaging, and campaign design for nonprofits and foundations. Comparable to DCC in behavior change orientation and integrated communications offering for mission-driven clients.
• GMMB: Integrated marketing agency specializing in public sector, issue advocacy, and behavior change campaigns. Highly comparable to DCC in mission, client mix (government, nonprofits), and integrated service offering spanning brand, creative, media, and PR.
• Bully Pulpit Interactive: Public affairs and behavior change marketing agency serving progressive causes, nonprofits, and government-adjacent clients. Comparable in its emphasis on measurable outcomes and influence-driven campaign design, similar in mid-size agency positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Weber Shandwick: Global communications network with public affairs, healthcare, and corporate practices. Comparable in providing integrated PR, brand, and digital services to government and enterprise clients, though with vastly greater geographic and resource scale than DCC.
• Edelman: Largest global PR firm with established public sector, health, and brand practices. Competes for the same government RFPs as DCC and provides integrated services spanning PR, brand strategy, creative, and digital, though at a much larger scale.
• Burson: Global public relations and communications firm formed from the BCW merger, with significant public sector and corporate affairs practice. Overlaps with DCC's PR, stakeholder engagement, and behavior change work but operates at far greater scale and breadth.

Emerging players

• ideas42: Behavioral science nonprofit applying insights from psychology and economics to social problems. Comparable to DCC's behavioral science-led approach to behavior change campaigns, though operating primarily as a research/consulting partner rather than full-service agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dccmarketing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dccmarketing
• Facebookfacebook.com/dccmarketing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dcc-marketing
• Instagraminstagram.com/dccmarketing

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about DCC Marketing