WitMark Group, a Santa Barbara-based communications agency marks its 20th anniversary in August, commemorating its work supporting area nonprofits and businesses.

The agency’s story began on Aug. 6, 2006, when founder Marjorie Large started Deco Marketing Group as a solo consultancy.

Large brought to the venture a background in marketing built through her work at a local agency and with other communications organizations, along with an MBA from Pepperdine University with a focus in entrepreneurship.

That entrepreneurship experience has remained central to her work, fueling a passion for partnering with businesses and organizations that share the same founder-driven spirit.

What started as an independent practice grew over the years, built on long-term client relationships and a reputation for strategic, collaborative work, Large said.

In 2017, Deco Marketing Group merged with another firm to form WitMark Group, expanding the agency’s capabilities and client base while preserving the personal, high-touch approach that had defined Large’s practice from the start.

“Twenty years ago, I started this agency to help regional businesses tell their stories,” said Large. “Two decades later, that mission hasn’t changed. WitMark is still a true partner to our clients, helping them make their mark.”

WitMark Group has since grown from its solo-consultancy origins into a full-service boutique agency with an office in downtown Santa Barbara and a small staff.

Along the way, the firm has partnered with many of the region’s most established organizations and built a client roster spanning nonprofit, lifestyle, healthcare, banking, and civic sectors, Large said

Investing in the next generation of local talent has also been a hallmark of WitMark Group’s growth. Over the years, the agency has employed numerous team members and provided hands-on internship opportunities to students from UC Santa Barbara, Westmont College, and Santa Barbara City College.

The internship program has shaped future marketers, giving them real-world, project-based experience working directly with clients.

For Large, she said her impact on young professionals and students alike reflects the philosophy that has guided the agency since its founding: to invest not just in client relationships but also in the people that are a part of her team.

WitMark Group continues to provide marketing, public relations, branding, and content strategy services to organizations throughout the Santa Barbara region and beyond. For more, visit www.witmarkgroup.com.