The following is a detailed biography of Harry Hallman’s business career

Photo Communications Corp.
Hallman founded his first marketing communications company in early 1971, and quickly established it as one of Philadelphia’s leading marketing and event production firms. The firm began by creating 35 mm slides (a new technology then) for firms such as Honeywell, Sperry, Opinion Research, FMC, and many others. Within three years, PCC was the leading maker of 35 mm slides in the city of Philadelphia, mainly due to a process that Hallman had developed that allowed the images to be created for one fifth of the cost of that of his leading competitor.

In the mid 1970’s, a new technology was being developed that used multiple projectors to create large screen shows using 35MM images and audio. The term used in those days for the process was “Multi Image.” Several manufacturers created simplified computers to control the on, off, and advance of slides during these presentations. Hallman seized the opportunity, and, not only began creating shows using the technology, but also developed a division that designed and installed systems in fixed locations. Clients of this service included AT&T, C&P Telephone, and many others.

It was obvious that this new technology, wide screen presentations with the quality of 35 mm film, was ideal for business events. Hallman planned an initiative to begin producing events for large companies, including AT&T, Gino’s (an east coast hamburger chain), Sperry, and many others.

Seeing an opportunity in the Atlanta market, Hallman opened an office in this Sunbelt city in 1980. After six months of operation, it was obvious that the Atlanta office required a personal management touch, and Hallman decided to move to Atlanta to build the business. Part of this strategy was to sell his stake in PCC to his then partner, and to hand-pick several employees to move with him.

At the time when Hallman sold his interest in PCC, revenues were $1.6 million, and there were 30 employees, which included 4 salespeople. $1.6 million in 1981 is equal to approximately $4 million today, according to eh.net, using the relative share of GDP.

Corporate Media Communications
In 1981, Hallman founded Corporate Media Communications in Atlanta, Georgia, a company devoted to developing marketing communication programs, events and motivational programs for companies such as IBM, AT&T, BellSouth, Unisys, Siemens, Ore Ida, and others.

Corporate Media Communications was born on July 1, 1981, when Hallman left PCC and moved South with several ex PCC employees. PCC sales in Atlanta had been about $150, 000 annually when CMC was born. By the end of the first year, sales were $1,000,000.

One reason that the Multi Image process was so popular was that it was less expensive to produce than 35 mm motion pictures and video, and the video image quality when projected on a large screen was superior to the quality of a 35 MM slide. By 1983, video was starting to become less expensive, and, with, the proliferation of VHS players, video’s popularity was on the upswing. Hallman created a video production group as part of CMC’s offering, and invested in editing equipment and personnel. This proved to be an important part of CMC’s growth.

Since CMC was involved in many sales motivation meetings and had earned a reputation for understanding its audiences, it was natural for the company to gravitate to internal communications services, which included training and incentive programs. The company produced Innovation programs for Siemens Corporation and the then new BellSouth. In the late 1980’s, Hallman saw that large companies were interested in customer service programs, and, so, he created and wrote a program called Through the Customer’s Eyes. Through The Customer’s Eyes programs were tailored to meet the needs of Southern Company, AT&T, Harris Corp, Lanier, and others. This concept was later adapted to teach salespeople how to better understand the concept of consultative selling. Videos and a CD-ROM were created on the subject. IBM purchased over 3000 VHS tapes to distribute to its dealer network.

In 1986, Hallman had the opportunity to open a CMC office in Philadelphia, and hired several ex PCC staffers to run it. Within one year, that office was generating $1 million in revenue, mainly by producing business events .

In 1988, CMC hit its high point with sales of $4.7 million (in today’s dollars, that is $12 million), and maintaining a staff of 37 employees. Perceiving the potential rise of interactive marketing, Hallman established Hallman Electronic Publishing in 1992 as part CMC. In 1995, Hallman entered into a joint venture with Ray Block Productions to create an interactive marketing firm.

Executive Education and Management
In 1987, Hallman incubated a consulting firm under the leadership of Ed Jones, an ex AT&T executive and a former client of CMC. Jones headed a special customer education program that generated over $250,000,000 in sales for AT&T in a two year period. CMC created the communications materials used in the program.

Jones utilized his expertise in consulting to assist others who were interested in entering the field. Clients included MCI, Harris Corp., Lanier, BellSouth, and many others. Hallman provided business and sales and marketing consulting, as well as its physical location for EE&M. CMC was a stockholder.

Jones still operates his consultancy under the name of Constellation Communication Corp., and provides event marketing and business communications consulting and research.

Bill Hallman Inc.
In 1988, Hallman’s son, Bill Hallman, graduated from college with a degree in fashion design. He had designed and produced men’s fashions during his last year of college, and decided to begin his own firm instead of seeking employment in a large firm. Harry Hallman and Bill Hallman formed Bill Hallman Inc. The younger Hallman runs the organization, with consulting and marketing assistance from the older Hallman. In 1990, Bill Hallman Inc. opened its first boutique, and now has three stores in Atlanta. Harry Hallman developed an online store for the Bill Hallman, Inc., organized in 2004.

See website at http://www.billhallman.com/ Bio and news stores at http://www.billhallman.com/prinfo/index.htm .

Ray Block Productions(Later Caribiner Communications) Joint Venture
In 1995, Hallman decided to form a joint venture with Ray Block Productions, run by Bob Koors and Charles Perry, and he merged CMC into that venture. It was an opportunity to place his event accounts under Ray Block's banner (Block was mainly an events company), and then build a new company, specializing in interactive media. It was a three year contract.

The joint venture was assumed by Caribiner Communications when they purchased Ray Block in 1996. Caribiner Communications was a venture funded company ($400 million), and was consolidating event production firms throughout the US and abroad.

The interactive joint venture provided both interactive media and web services to a variety of Fortune 1000 clients. Some notable projects included the first web site created for the promotion of events for BellSouth, the creation of a Cyber Café as part of an event held at an Atlanta high tech museum, a tour of a cyber playground for MCI as part of a large Smithsonian Museum tour, and an interactive sales training program for Galaxo Welcome.

During the year after Caribiner Communications assumed the joint venture, Hallman made several proposals for expanding the operation to take advantage of the then exploding web development industry. His efforts were to no avail because Caribiner could not see the future that Hallman envisioned. In 1997, Hallman was able to have his three year joint venture contract canceled, and he formed HIP, Inc., a company specializing in interactive and web development and marketing.

During his two year contract with Ray Block, and then Caribiner, sales of events and interactive projects attributed to Hallman were approximately $5 million ($7.5 million in today's dollars).

HIP, Inc.(www.hipinc.com)
HIP, Inc., officially known as Hallman Interactive Productions, specialized in the development of creative interactive marketing media from CD-ROM's to web sites to promotional Internet programs. HIP's clients included retailers, entertainment companies, real estate developers, product companies, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturers, including Cartoon Network, CNN, TBS, Red Bull, BellSouth, Siemens, Solvay, and many others.

Highlights of projects include the 20th anniversary CD-ROM for CNN, which included 100 video clips of stories aired from 1980 to 2000, a complex Disaster Recover planning program created for BellSouth, numerous promotional web sites created for Turner Broadcasting for movies such as “Austin Powers,” the game “Murder at 1600,” and many others. HIP also created a complex interactive sales presentation for three years running for Cartoon Network’s advertising sales staff to use during upfront and throughout the year. This is just a small sampling of the various projects that HIP was able to create during its nine year run.

As the interactive world came out of 2001, the Internet bubble burst. Hallman saw the beginning of the shift from traditional media to web and mobile media. He guided HIP to be a more market oriented agency. This is one reason that he decided to help incubate Trend Influence, a company that you will read about later.

In 2005, the market and conditions were ripe for a company that could provide the creativity that HIP had been known for, combined with a unique promotional capability. So, when Brandmovers' CEO Andrew Mitchell suggested that HIP be acquired by Brandmovers, Hallman agreed.

Trend Influence (www.trendcore.com)
During 2000, Hallman was approached by three young entrepreneurs who had the idea of creating an Internet portal which they called Umix.net, aimed at the 21 to 30 year old hip and trendy market. As an aspect of their new company, they also wanted to provide marketing services to companies seeking to sell to this demographic. Hallman helped to incubate the company, and he provided consulting, creative services, and some cash for stock in the company. HIP, Inc. and Trend Influence shared office space and worked on customer projects together. Umix.net was launched in 2001.

Trend Influence currently functions in three separate areas of marketing. The first is providing marketing strategy to companies such as Coca Cola, Timberland, and Durex. They also developed some unique technology used to build online communities such as Umix.net, and were using it to create web based applications for market research and commerce. The third area was online properties, which consisted of Umix.net.

After Hallman's company HIP, Inc., was acquired by Brandmovers, he suggested that Brandmovers consider making a bid for Trend Influence's Internet community property, Umix.net. It fit well into the Brandmovers strategy, and, with some needed changes, the property seemed to have great potential. After a series of negotiations between Brandmovers and Trend Influence failed, Hallman used his stock in Trend Influence to purchase Umix.net, and then sold it to Brandmovers under a performance contract. Umix.net will be explained later.

Brandmovers (www.brandmovers)
Brandmovers provides online promotions, advergames, and incentive programs to product companies, quick service restaurants, retailers, and service companies. Clients include FedEx, Dairy Queen, Mizuno, Coca Cola, Dannon, Emory Healthcare, Cox, Revlon, and many more.

Hallman joined Brandmovers as Chief Creative Officer when HIP, Inc. was acquired in September 2005. His duties include directing the efforts of the creative staff, as well as developing hard hitting creative online promotional concepts and programs for leading consumer companies. Hallman also supports the sales and marketing efforts with creative materials. He has been leading the company’s move to an expanded role and more services for online promotions.

Brandmovers had been interested in the development of consumer based social networks and the awarding of points for shopping through the network's affiliate stores. Hallman expanded the points for actions concept to include awarding points for clicking on ads, acting on email offers, taking surveys, and referring friends for membership. This opened up several new methods for increasing revenues and made it possible for Brandmovers to agree to the acquisition of Umix.net from Hallman and overhaul the community to include a very unique points system.

Hallman suggested hiring Brandon Sutton to run the new program, as he was one of the founders of UMIX and Trend Influence, and also was part of the targeted community. Within a two and a half month period, Sutton was able to supervise the complete redesign and implement the new Umix.net, which included adding a much more sophisticated program for points awards.

Hallman & Associates (www.hallman.com)

After leaving Brandmovers (once and entrapperhuar always one) Hallman formed Hallman & Assocites a business consulting firm. After a one year non compete contracxt was completed he joined Octane Interactive, LLC as a Prinicipal along Brandon Sutton.

Octane Interactive, LLC (www.octanecorp.com)