Five Decades of Specialized, Results-Based Marketing and Award-Winning Campaigns

PITTSBURGH, PA… BLD Marketing, a results-based, digital-first, full-service strategic marketing agency serving the building materials category exclusively, proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of delivering impactful marketing campaigns for brands throughout North America and abroad.

Founded in 1976 as Hawbaker and Associates, the agency became LarsonO’Brien Marketing Group in 1998 and shifted to an exclusive focus on the building materials industry in 2010. In 2019, the firm rebranded as BLD Marketing.

“Fifty years is a meaningful milestone in an industry defined by constant change,” said David Sladack, president of BLD Marketing. “While the agency’s name, leadership, and capabilities have all evolved over time, our mission has remained the same: to create impactful, effective marketing that drives client growth.”

Today, BLD applies a data-driven, digital-first approach consistent with how the building and construction industry now reaches and engages buyers. The agency represents a range of clients – from established, global brands to emerging challengers – with a focus on strategic planning and constant campaign measurement and optimization to deliver the best results. BLD Marketing has a national footprint of clients and global capabilities as members of thenetworkone, a group of more than 1,600 of the best-in-class agencies across 120 countries.

“Five decades in business is a reflection of thousands of thoughtful decisions and rich learning experiences,” said Garrett Andrae, creative director at BLD Marketing. “With that legacy comes the responsibility to embrace what’s next. For us, that means continuing to invest in the people and technologies that will help us move the needle for building materials manufacturers nationwide.”

BLD Marketing’s 50th anniversary comes on the heels of a dozen industry accolades earned over the last year, including three NYX Awards, four Viddy Awards, four MarCom Awards, and a PRSA Pittsburgh Renaissance Award.

The agency will host a company-wide celebration to mark its 50th anniversary later this year.

For more information on BLD Marketing, visit www.bld-marketing.com.