HAMILTON COUNTY OHIO - BUSINESS: History of Stockton, West, Burkhart, Inc.
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                        The History of
                   Stockton West Burkhart, Inc.
               Advertising Agency - Cincinnati, Ohio
                   written by C. Thomas Martin 1982


Because of the emphasis placed on retirement at age 65 by the government and 
followed by many companies, Burkhart considered it time to plan his 
retirement.  Martin therefore, began sharing more management duties and 
responsibilities and
Nelson more responsibility for account development, new business and contact 
procedures.

In 1955, Burkhart sold his stock to the company and became Chairman.  Nelson 
was elected President, Martin, Executive Vice President and Treasurer.  West 
was made Senior Vice President, Creative Director and R. McDowell, Vice 
President of Research.  Shortly thereafter Burkhart resigned from the agency.

This shift in ownership meant very little in the day to day activities of 
each, with the exception of added responsibility for Martin and Nelson.  Of 
significance however, was the unanimous agreement to abolish the Division 
compensation method of remuneration. That concept assumed each division head 
would staff his division with sufficient manpower to anticipate growth.  In 
reality, this should be the responsibility of the officers of the company 
working together to decide where investments in manpower should be made...or 
subtracted.   The company and its stockholders collectively profit or lose.

The first year, under Nelson's presidency, no new accounts were added or 
lost.  All accounts were growing and wherever possible, operations were 
simplified and streamlined to make more profit for the company.  The Jergens 
account was growing but the bulk of their advertising was now handled by the 
Robert Orr Agency in, New York.  At this time, for reasons never disclosed, 
Andrew Jergens decided to pull out of the Orr agency and offered the entire 
Jergens advertising business to Nelson.  This was a sudden, seven million 
dollar account windfall that SWB was unprepared to handle immediately.  A 
further factor was Andrew Jergen's insistence that the account be handled in 
New York where he lived most of the year.  Since this change
was the result of a personal disagreement with Robert Orr, the quick solution 
of SWB buying or merging with the Orr agency was out of the question.

Another solution was to open an office in New York, and handle the work in 
Cincinnati, while working out a solution, but this could only be done at the 
expense of other clients.  In fact, too much - too fast.

Nelson and Jergen's Advertising Vice President selected Cunningham and Walsh. 
 To merge SWB with Cunningham and Walsh, did not offer sufficient advantages 
to West and Martin, so early in 1957, Nelson resigned, moved to New York and 
joined Cunningham and Walsh.  His stock was acquired by the company.





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