With systemic changes occurring in the way consumers and businesses learn about, shop for, and purchase goods and services, Encourage Marketing was launched in 2001 with a mission – to help clients gain competitive advantage through technology-enabled marketing strategies, and to conceive and implement integrated marketing programs leveraging the unique properties of the Internet as a communications platform. Using tactics such as viral email, grassroots awareness efforts, and promotions, Encourage helps marketers get their message out in ways appropriate to the medium – and with consequently greater ROI.

Encourage is part of Modus Partners, a network of leading companies with expertise in Internet marketing, public relations, promotional products, human resources, and print management.

About the Founder: Viral marketing may be fairly new, but Michael caught the bug early on. He is considered a pioneer in the field of viral marketing. Prior to his establishment of Encourage Marketing, he was a co-founder of Buzztone, a grassroots agency focused on helping movie studios, record labels and entertainment companies use the peer to peer nature of the Internet to market their brands online. Michael has helped best in breed companies such as Homestore.com, Realtor.com, Perrier, adidas, Hyundai USA, COMDEX, the NFL's Tennessee Titans, and Atlantic Records engage in effective digital marketing efforts.

Michael also pioneered online ticket sales as Vice President of Business Development for TicketWeb, helping to generate revenues of $20 million per year.  TicketWeb was acquired by TicketMaster in early 2000.  A Mandarin speaker, Michael spent five years in Asia handling business development for Masco Corporation and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.  Michael earned a B.A. in Economics from Boston University.