Congratulations to the Martin Agency for being named National Agency of the Year by Adweek!

The Shockoe Slip advertising firm was named the top U.S. ad agency of 2009 by industry publication Adweek. The designation is one of the top honors in the industry — and the first time Martin has received the honor… Adweek cited Martin’s aggressive growth last year, particularly in a difficult economy. [via]

Shockoe Slip’s nationally ranked advertising firm, The Martin Agency, announced that it laid off 24 people this week, about 5% of their workforce. [via]

In announcing Martin Agency’s #3 spot in Advertising Age magazine’s 2008 ranking, Tobacco Avenue gives it a spin in Martin Agency receives award; 942nd so far this year:

Trade publications consistently rank Martin as one of the best agencies in America, along with such distinctions as having the second-most comfortable sofa in a U.S. lobby, No. 4 most hottest graphic designers in the nation and having the third most-bounciest ping-pong balls on a table tennis set located in the northern hemisphere.

November’s Virginia Business Magazine has a long profile of the Martin Agency. With a $580 million account for Wal-Mart and a $100 million-plus campaign for Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, and responsible for the Geico cavemen, the Geico gecko and the UPS Brown ads, Martin is one of the nation’s top-ranked agencies.