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Mower: Syracuse Agency, 100% Employee-Owned Since 2022

Mower is a Syracuse integrated marketing and PR agency founded in 1968, 100% employee-owned since 2022 and led by CEO Stephanie Crockett.

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Specialty

Regional & Full-Service

Updated

Oct 21, 2026

Desk

EPR Editorial Team

Firm summary

Mower is an independent marketing, advertising and public relations agency headquartered in Syracuse, New York. Eric Mower joined the firm in 1968, bought it in 1980 and renamed it Eric Mower and Associates, per Wikipedia. The agency shortened its name to Mower in 2018, per Wikipedia, and became 100 percent employee-owned through an ESOP in August 2022, per the Central New York Business Journal. Stephanie Crockett has been president and CEO since January 2023.

Originally published June 2026. Updated October 18, 2026.

Who founded and leads Mower?

Wikipedia says Eric Mower joined a three-person firm in 1968 and purchased it in 1980, when it became Eric Mower and Associates. The Central New York Business Journal reported that Stephanie Crockett was named president and chief operating officer in June 2021 and took the CEO title from Mower in a January 2023 announcement, with Mower moving to executive chairman. The agency told the same outlet it had no plans to fill the COO role. Wikipedia describes Crockett as the agency's first female CEO and says the company states that most employee owners are women.

ExecutiveRole at the August 2022 ESOP announcementSource
Eric MowerChairman and CEO; executive chairman from January 2023Mower; CNYBJ
Stephanie CrockettPresident and COO; president and CEO from January 2023Mower; CNYBJ
Doug BeanVice chairman and chief brand officerMower
Doug KampChief creative officerMower; Wikipedia
Rick LykeEVP and managing director, public relations and public affairsMower

What is Mower's history?

The agency began in Syracuse and grew from a small shop into a multi-city firm. Wikipedia dates the Eric Mower and Associates name to 1980 and the Mower rebrand to 2018, which marked Eric Mower's 50 years with the company. CNYBJ reported that the ownership transition began nearly a decade before the 2022 ESOP, when Mower first considered an employee plan as an alternative to an outside sale.

YearEventSource
1968Eric Mower joins the Syracuse firmWikipedia
1980Mower buys the firm; it becomes Eric Mower and AssociatesWikipedia
2018Rebrand to MowerWikipedia
June 2021Crockett named president and COOCNYBJ
August 2022Eric Mower transfers 100 percent ownership to an ESOPMower; CNYBJ
January 2023Crockett becomes CEO; Mower becomes executive chairmanCNYBJ

Who owns Mower?

Mower's employees own it. Mower's August 2022 announcement says Eric Mower transferred all ownership to employees through an employee stock ownership plan, which made about 150 employees owners at no cost to them, with equity in the business and an additional retirement benefit. Eric Mower said in that announcement that the ESOP lets the agency stay independent and keep its professional standards. Crockett said the plan would have benefits for clients as well.

What does Mower do?

CNYBJ describes Mower as a Syracuse-based marketing, advertising and public relations agency. The firm's 2022 leadership list included an executive vice president who managed public relations and public affairs, and its own announcement calls it one of the leading independent marketing communications agencies in the U.S. Mower won the Best B2B Agency Promotion award from The Drum Awards for its "Brand As Friend" agency website rebrand, per the Rochester Business Journal.

Which clients has Mower worked with?

CB Insights lists news items showing the Arthritis Foundation selected Mower to lead its 2023 awareness campaign, "We Journey Together," and that Northwest Bank tapped the agency for a brand campaign. Owler's news feed also lists a Chervon creative and strategy agency of record announcement. These are secondary summaries of Mower's releases.

What awards and rankings has Mower earned?

RecognitionYearSource
PRWeek Best Places to Work, midsize agency2022Rochester Business Journal
Chief Marketer CM200 list2023Rochester Business Journal
Ragan Top Places to Work2023Wikipedia
PRNews Agency Elite Top 1252023 to 2025Wikipedia
ANA B2 Awards, Gold for Midsize Agency of the Year, 12 awards2025CB Insights

How does Mower compare with other independent agencies?

Mower is a mid-sized independent integrated agency. Other independent firms with EPR profiles include Warschawski and Finn Partners. The PR agency profiles directory lists more firms.

Related: PR agency profiles, PR leaders, Warschawski, Finn Partners, 5W Public Relations

Mower: Syracuse Agency, 100% Employee-Owned Since 2022 FAQ

Is Mower independent?

Yes. Mower calls itself independent and has been 100 percent employee-owned through an ESOP since August 2022, per its announcement.

Who owns Mower?

Its employees own it through an employee stock ownership plan. Eric Mower transferred ownership to the plan in August 2022, per the Central New York Business Journal.

Who is the CEO of Mower?

Stephanie Crockett is president and CEO. She took the CEO title in January 2023 from Eric Mower, who became executive chairman.

When was Mower founded?

Eric Mower joined the Syracuse firm in 1968 and bought it in 1980, per Wikipedia. It was called Eric Mower + Associates until 2018.

Where is Mower based?

Its headquarters is at 211 W. Jefferson St. in Syracuse, per the Central New York Business Journal.

What does Mower specialize in?

Integrated marketing, advertising and public relations, per Mower and CNYBJ.

Editorial assessment by Everything-PR, based on public record and archive coverage. No firm-supplied marketing copy, no paid placement.

Tagsintegrated marketingagency-profile