In 2007 at the age of only 24, Brian Onorio started O3 with a computer and a plan to create great websites. The company quickly earned a reputation in the Triangle for outstanding web design and development, with nine awards to show for the business’ accomplishments. Since then, and especially over the past year, O3 skyrocketed its growth with expanded capabilities across digital marketing, including adding to its in-house expertise with more than 20 new team members. Recognizing and celebrating the evolvement this week, the company’s ninth anniversary, O3 is proud to announce a brand relaunch as Walk West.
The firm’s capabilities focus on a “digital first” approach and include discovery research, web design and development, social media marketing, SEO, SEM, and content strategy and marketing. With the new rebranding to Walk West, the company is also excited to announce a merger with public and government affairs firm Laurie Onorio, LLC. Laurie Onorio brings more than a decade of proven experience including a diverse portfolio of clients such as the Professional Engineers of North Carolina, Association of Global Automakers, North Carolina Orthopaedic Association, and the NC Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, among others. In her new role, she serves as partner and vice president of government affairs and is working with the integrated Walk West team to provide a fresh digital approach to issue advocacy and lobbying – leading a necessary and overdue shift in that industry’s long reliance on traditional marketing tactics.
The addition of government affairs and the firm’s relaunch mark the commencement of the new brand’s transition into a full-service digital marketing agency.
“Walk West symbolizes a unique way of doing business. We have a passion for understanding our partners’ goals from a marketing and legislative angle, while simultaneously applying our vast range of expertise to influence target audiences into action,” said Partner and CEO Brian Onorio. “We saw the need and opportunity for digital support in legislative and issue advocacy, so it was a very natural fit to merge with Laurie’s team. We know we can make a huge impact in both issue campaigns as well as our digital services that provide results to businesses of any industry with our digital first approach backed by research, strategy and analysis.”
Walk West prides itself on its capability to deliver impactful results to companies within any industry, and now to any issue. A sample of partners include North Hills, Stop Hunger Now, Brooks Bell, Bull Durham Beer, Eschelon Experiences, N.C. State University, and Inventure Civil. With the experience of the O3 team now combined with the expertise of Laurie Onorio in the government affairs industry, the Walk West team has the capacity to service a very broad range of industries.
“We selected the name Walk West for its active tense, which perfectly describes what we do. It also embodies visions of ambitious and imaginative American pioneers stretching the limits of the unknown to reach the Pacific. Just like these early settlers, we go beyond normal, beyond the expected, beyond conventional to produce extraordinary results,” said Partner and Vice President of Marketing Chris Austin.
In addition to the rebranding, merger and talent acquisition announcements, Walk West also just launched its new website to reflect the breadth and quality of work the new brand brings to its partners. It is also gearing up to relocate into a new office space on N.C. State University’s Centennial Campus. The new office location is strategic for the company as the campus exemplifies research, design, innovation and creativity – just like Walk West.
About Walk West
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Walk West is a full-service, award-winning digital marketing agency that works with brands in a wide variety of industries, including information technology and professional services, environmental services, institutions, computer software, construction, food and beverage, commercial real estate, nonprofits and associations. The privately owned company was founded in 2007 as O3 by Brian Onorio and today specializes in research discovery, web design and development, social media marketing, content strategy and marketing, SEO, SEM, and digital issue advocacy. For more information on Walk West, visit www.WalkWest.com.
