As published in Toledo Business Journal - May 1, 2017
Thread Marketing Group has elevated Judy McFarland to chief executive officer and she is now the majority owner. Thread has been providing integrated marketing services to its local, regional, national, and international clients since 1986.
McFarland succeeds the company’s founder, Joe Sharp, who was named chief operating officer.
“With her more than 30 years of marketing and advertising expertise, McFarland is Thread’s cornerstone,” said Sharp. “Her vision, passion, and focus on client service will continue to create ample opportunities and a competitive advantage for the firm and our clients – now and into the distant future.”
Following McFarland’s transition to CEO, Thread received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Development Center – a certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Women’s Business Development Center is an involved process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women.
“We are thrilled to be officially certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise,” said McFarland. “When Joe started this business 30 years ago, he could have really used organizations such as the WBENC to complement his hard work, innovative strategies, and talent when competing for new business. By receiving the WBENC designation, we look forward to the many doors that certification will help open.”
By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations, and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier and vendor diversity programs, according to the firm.
Adding to her duties at Thread, McFarland also serves as a principal in the management of VIS Alliance, LLC, a management and marketing support company, which partners with Thread on select automotive industry projects. She also assists in the oversight of eMerge, an operating division and electronic records scanning and document management company, and she facilitates the administration of Thread’s Findlay-based, affiliate company, GoGrow Strategies.
Active in the community, McFarland currently serves as a board member to Humane Ohio, is the former chairman of the board of the Toledo Area Humane Society, and served on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Northwest Ohio and for the Advertising Club of Toledo, now the American Advertising Federation Toledo.