New statistics published by Advertising Age indicate Innis Maggiore Group, the regional advertising and public relations firm representing Rainbow Rentals, is the fastest-growing agency in Ohio.

"Advertising Age," the industry's leading weekly, published its annual ranking of ad agencies in its April 21 issue. The four-page listing reports that Innis Maggiore's 2002 revenue, as compared to 2001, was up 38.4 percent, a growth rate higher than any of the 12 Ohio agencies listed.

In terms of size, Innis Maggiore ranked 311th in the nation, based on 2002 figures, compared to 349th a year earlier. Of the 310 U.S. agencies larger than Innis Maggiore, only 15 grew at a faster rate, and only two of those were in the Midwest.

"We enjoyed an excellent year in 2002, thanks to a dedicated group of clients and a growing team of associates that love to go the extra mile," said Dick Maggiore, president and chief executive officer. "We attracted a long list of new clients in 2002, ranging from Microsoft, the Seattle-based software giant, to the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, which provides quality public housing. We believe our strategy-first approach provides value even in difficult economic conditions."

Last year marked the fifth year of strong growth at Innis Maggiore. The agency's billings quadrupled in size between 1997 and 2002, a period in which many agencies have downsized or struggled to maintain their size.