It’s a story of two college friends, who in their mid-20’s found no happiness in their chosen fields. They set out to start one of the first online, nightlife guides in the Philadelphia area. Over a decade later, and a quick lesson in “adapt or die,” Tony Kindness and Jake Much are proud to own and operate one of the Philadelphia Business Journals “top web design firms” – having a stellar reputation as one of the most prominent forces in innovative interactive development and design. Tony and Jake are responsible for over 1,200 websites, and have since cultivated long-term partnerships with monster corporations such as Anhueser-Busch, Green Mountain Coffee, Global Spectrum, and NBC news affiliates. With an office of 15, Tony and Jake have strived to cultivate a company culture of creative freedom, entrepreneurship, and family.
Tony Kindness is the Chief Operations Officer of AYC Media, and is responsible for creating and managing the vital project management system that has earned AYC Media a stellar reputation for project efficiency amongst its many clients. An exceptional team leader with a passion for taking care of his employees, Tony’s approach has allowed the companies project capacity to increase exponentially with the current staff; managing over 1,200 active websites. Beyond technology, Tony enforces a “Hug your Customer” policy, adding another key factor in the success and growth of the company. With a BA from the University of Delaware’s School of Tourism and Hospitality, and a natural entrepreneur spirit, Tony has successfully combined his knowledge of the hospitality industry with technology. Tony launched AYC’s first web development project in 2001, after a sales pitch for online advertising revealed an unanticipated obstacle, the need of a website. From there, AYC Media as we know it today was born.
AYC Media is the umbrella company that houses the award-winning creative agency AYCstudio, and local entertainment guides – including Aroundphilly.com and Heyphilly.com. AYCpower, the company’s service division includes streaming video production and editing, content management systems (CMS), newsletter and SMS distribution, and online concierge service. AYC Media has also reached well beyond the city of Philadelphia, having worked with many establishments in New York, Connecticut, D.C., Boston, Las Vegas, Arizona, Denver, and Chicago.
No stranger to community involvement, AYC Media has been creating fantastic internship opportunities for the surrounding college community for over 10 years. AYC has offered pro-bono services to charitable organizations such as Morris Animal Refuge, PatJoyce.org, and the Elitefoundation.org. AYC Media is also a proud sponsor of University City Dining Days.
To learn more about AYC Media, visit www.aycmedia.com.
Tony Kindness, COO of AYC Media, will be honored with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 28th annual Excellence Awards on November 18. The award is sponsored by the UPS. For more information or to register, click here.
