Today the Franco firm remains the agency of choice for major national corporations, professional firms, associations, government agencies, entrepreneurs and other types of organizations.  Franco’s strength derives from a history of achievement that helped set the standard for public relations effectiveness regionally and nationwide. 

Tony Franco established the firm in Detroit in 1964. In 1969, Franco signed a landmark client for the firm, the Stroh Brewery account.  Eventually as many as ten account staff were assigned to Stroh’s to carry out a range of media relations, events and publications activities.  Also among its clients over its first five to ten years were Ziebart and Touche Ross, later Deloitte & Touche.  Deloitte remains a client today, after more than 30 years. 

Franco became the agency of record for the new Renaissance Center in 1977 and represented the center and its hotel over the next two decades until it was purchased by General Motors and became GM’s headquarters.  Franco was among the first Renaissance Center tenants, and today the firm still is headquartered there. 

Another major client came on board in the early 1980s—Domino’s Pizza.  Franco helped guide the communications effort for one of the world’s most recognized franchise organizations as it grew from a few stores to the dominant player in its industry. 

In 1990, Ross Roy Group acquired 100 percent of Anthony M. Franco, Inc. and a period of change was initiated.  Continued excellence in the profession was signified by a rare third Silver Anvil (the Oscar of the PR profession) awarded by the Public Relations Society of America to Gerald Lundy, Franco’s senior vice president and director of research.    

In 1993, four top executives of the firm purchased Franco from Ross Roy Group and renamed it Franco Public Relations Group.  The buyout was led by Dan Ponder. 

A hallmark of the firm’s work in the late ‘90s was its selection as agency of record for the North American International Auto Show in 1998.  Over four years, Franco helped the show become a true international event, covered by 6,000 journalists from across the globe. 

Ownership of the firm was reshaped again in 2000 when Dan Ponder, CEO welcomed Maria Leonhauser Rosenau and her husband Pete to the company’s management and ownership.  Maria became President of the firm and Pete became Chairman. Ponder and the Rosenau’s each own 50% of the company. 

In 2003, nearly 40 years after its founding, Franco remains one of the leading forces in public relations for Southeast Michigan and for the nationally renowned clients it represents.  Today, Franco represents a broad range of more than 35 clients focused on community, regional and global marketplaces. Many of Franco’s clients strive to be leaders in their respective industry segments.  Several of its larger clients include American Escape Systems, Autoliv North America, Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Deloitte & Touche – Great Lakes Region, Exhibit Enterprises, International Transmission Company, Solutia North America, and Yazaki North America.  

For nearly four decades, Franco has been a major player in defining public relations for the region and companies continue to turn to Franco for confidence in communications results.