Anne Zizzo, President and CEO
Many have heard of Zizzo Group Advertising + Public Relations, but not many have heard the story of how it started.
Anne Zizzo, President and CEO of Zizzo Group, started her company in her basement after quitting her dream job because of family demands. Her little company continued to grow, thanks to Anne’s dedication to her craft and keen business savvy. After a year, Anne and her seven employees had $7 million in sales.
Now, her “Future 50” company, named as one of Milwaukee’s best places to work has a well-respected, national client roster, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Cellular, U.S. Bank Championship, and Marquette University. In 2007, Zizzo Group had $40 million in billings.
Anne’s secret is her motto – be fearless.
“At Zizzo Group, we’ve remained true to my entrepreneurial roots,” said Zizzo. “Our mission is to be the region’s most fearless, results-driven communications firm. However, fearless does not mean reckless. Being fearless means being entrepreneurial.”
To Anne, fearless also means having a sense of empowerment, openness to curious thinking, a belief that anything is possible, and that there are no boundaries for solutions the company provides as marketing counsel.
“It has been rewarding for me to fulfill my entrepreneurial dreams – I get to work with phenomenal staff, terrific clients and we’ve sustained double digit growth over the last several years in an extremely tough climate,” said Zizzo.
Another secret to Anne’s success is her commitment to being a full-service agency. Zizzo Group specializes in advertising, public relations, marketing, strategic media buying, consulting, Web design and interactive marketing, research and creative development.
“We execute a variety of deliverables, from branding, positioning and strategic planning to media buying, media relations and creative services,” said Zizzo. “We have some clients who access the talent in each of our areas of expertise, and others who rely only on one practice area. It is a great model that allows us to achieve results.”
But Anne’s commitment to her work extends beyond the walls of Zizzo Group. Active on several community boards, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, Marquette
University, and BizStarts Milwaukee, Anne is dedicated to giving back to the region in which she grew up and which has given so much back to her.
“I decided early on that even a small business like mine can lead by example, can make a difference and can give what we’re able to give to help promote this region and help the organizations that need it. That’s why I am committed to BizStarts Milwaukee and to growing our entrepreneurial base,” said Zizzo.