Jan 5, 2015 3 min read

Two longtime Washington County businessmen have teamed up to start a full-service communications agency.

John Swiatek and Mike Melone have announced the formation of the Swiatek Melone Group, a strategic marketing, communications and public relations practice.

The two men said in a press release that over the past several years, each collaborated with clients, most notably Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, The Mylan Classic, the Arnold Palmer “Tribute to the King” charity event and several research projects.

It was this project’s work and collaboration that allowed them to get to know each other, understand each other’s capabilities, experience, styles, and joint passion for achieving success for their clients, Swiatek said.

The other intangible they bring to their clients is real world operator experience,when “we were the client, and now we’re on the other side,” he added.

The Swiatek Melone Group said it will offer clients individualized attention from the two principals, who will take the time to get to know their clients’ business and to become an integral part of the team.

Melone said he believes ideas are born in small towns and for the last 30 years he has been proving that through his work for his clients from his office in Canonsburg. He has strong creative presence in advertising, collateral, interactive, broadcast, identity and art direction. His client list includes All-Clad, Chef Emeril, Community Bank, Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, Washington Chamber of Commerce, Cookson-Peirce Investments, Krups, PONY League World Series, Energy Capital of The East, Rowenta Beauty and others.

Swiatek is a 30-year veteran in the sports, entertainment, hospitality, tourism and racing/gaming industries. Through various advisory, management and ownership roles, his extensive network of clients include resorts, minor league baseball (he co-founded Washington Wild Things), horse racing associations and regulators. Swiatek, who also co-founded of The Mylan Classic Web.com golf event, also has worked with Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, sports media, universities and state and local agencies.

His early career includes extensive work in the horse racing, gaming and leisure industries. He was the top ranking executive for Labroke/USA, which owned and operated three world class racetracks (including The Meadows Racetrack and Golden Gate Fields), off-track wagering and dining facilities, a racino, a card club and three full-service casinos. From marketing and management to business start-ups and all aspects of marketing and public relations, Swiatek has addressed every key role expected of a leading advisor.

“It is our intention to take on a limited number of clients so that Mike and I can provide individualized attention to each client so we can assist them with the execution of the strategic plans,” Swiatek said in a statement. “Our goal is to live the details and make a difference for each and every client.”

The Swiatek Melone Group industry experience and expertise includes sports, resorts, entertainment, tourism, horse racing/gaming, banking/financial services, restaurant/food industry/culinary, energy, colleges and universities, nonprofits, health care, construction/development and business to business.

Services offered by the agency will include: strategic and communications planning; branding and marketing; creative services; Web, mobile and social media development; video production; media planning and buying; public relations and public affairs; sponsorship and naming rights development and sales; event development, planning and operations; and research/feasibility studies.

For more information, contact John M. Swiatek at john@swiatekmelonegroup.com or 412-298-2716 or Mike Melone at mike@meloneadvertising.com or 724-746-5165.