By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–A new marketing and media company specializing in print, graphic design, web design and more celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 5.

Ovation Media, Inc. invited members of the Helena community to come check out its renovated space located at 2222 Shelby County 52, which is used to make vinyl graphics, custom signs, screen printing, embroidery, promotional products, vehicle wraps, marketing and branding and more for businesses and potential clients.

OMI President Mike Jones is also president and CEO of Event Operations Group, and because of his experience with EOG, that is what helped form OMI.

Jones said he was tired of being the middleman when it came to dealing with sign and banner companies for his work with EOG.

Jones gave an example of Alabama Game Day signs and the process and technology of placing signs and dealing with other sign companies.

“We’re constantly searching out companies that can provide those services,” said Jones. “What we found ourselves doing is we were training other sign companies on how to come in and do a sign plan. We went through at least 20 or 30 different screen-printing and merchandising companies. We went through just about anybody and they were either too small or too big and there was nobody who could provide what we needed. I decided, OK, we’re going to buy state-of-the-art screen printing and we’re going start printing our own stuff for our people.”

The company took off from that point forward and gained more clients until eventually, OMI needed its own building to accommodate the volume of work they were receiving.

Inside the OMI studio are examples of the company’s work, including a bar area to show examples for those in the restaurant industry, windows to view the actual screen printing and vehicle wrapping process, a stage and more.

Some of OMI’s clients include Black Market Bar, McWane Science Center, Rock the South Music Festival, Pelham and Helena Police Departments and Workplay among many others.

For more information on OMI and to view examples of the company’s work, visit Ovationmediainc.com.