SYRACUSE — Cowley Associates Inc., a 40-year old advertising, marketing, and public-relations firm, is finishing up its first year in the agency’s new home at 407 S. Warren St. in Syracuse.

The business, which previously operated at 235 Walton St. in Syracuse, moved to its new location in January after spending the fourth quarter of 2014 searching for potential operating spaces. 

Cowley Associates previously was located in the building that is currently home to Galaxy Media, which operates radio stations in the Syracuse and Utica markets and organizes the annual Taste of Syracuse event in Clinton Square.

“I felt that the economic focus for the city was gravitating toward [South] Salina Street and [South] Warren Street,” says Gail Cowley, co-owner and executive VP of Cowley Associates. She spoke with CNYBJ on Nov. 30.

Cowley noted the work on the Pike Block building and the ongoing renovation work at the Marriott Downtown Syracuse, the former Hotel Syracuse. 

“We just felt that there was some new, creative energy that we needed to take advantage of,” says Cowley.

Christine O’Connell More of O’Connell More Consulting & Real Estate of Syracuse helped the Cowley firm find its new space.

The company has a five-year lease to operate in the same building that’s home to the Cerio Law Offices. Thomas Cerio is the firm’s landlord in that 2,200-square-foot space.

Cowley Associates employs eight full-time workers, including owners Gail and Paul Cowley. The firm is interviewing for a couple positions, but Gail Cowley couldn’t definitely say if the company plans to add any employees in 2016.

“This team has been in place for over five years now … it’s a young, energetic team and with Paul’s and my experience, we’re poised to really continue on the momentum that we’ve created this year and really carry it into next year,” says Cowley.

Besides the eight current employees, Cowley also has six “strategic partners” it can turn to, depending on the services a given project might require.

When asked about the firm’s annual sales, Cowley declined to disclose specific dollar figures.

Cowley Associates’ client base has included banks and credit unions, insurance companies, nonprofits, fiber-optic lighting firms, industrial laundry equipment manufacturers, and hospitals and physician practices.

“We’re problem-solvers. If you’re in the advertising business, you have to solve the problem. You have to solve it simply and powerfully,” says Cowley.