Our history...

In 1984 while directing a practicum with University of Louisville students, Ben Ruiz joined the graphic design studio that his wife, Sonia, had started. Together, the students and Ben created public service and advertising campaigns for Louisville area non-profit and charitable organizations. The UofL practicum group named themselves Adhawks, which was adopted for the business when it evolved into a full-service agency.

In its first years, Adhawks started laying the foundation for what ultimately would become its market niche: marketing communications for large community-focused organizations. This niche started with non-profit healthcare clients such as Clark Memorial Hospital and continued with the Presbyterian Theological Seminary as well as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Adhawks expanded its client base with additional healthcare and related organizations by adding five more clients to its base: the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky, Lakeview Rehab Hospital, Pathways Rehabilitation, Kentucky Rehabilitation Professionals, St. Christopher East Neuroscience Center and Humana Inc.

In 2001, Adhawks relocated its offices to the heart of eMain and added several large clients to its roster: the Kentucky Association of Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors; the American Jr. Red Cross; Humana Military Healthcare Services; Fifth Third Bank; and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky.

As a minority-owned* business enterprise, Adhawks has expanded its expertise in multi-cultural marketing and advertising with the diversity marketing initiatives it has designed for various clients, including Humana, MSD’s DiverseWorks, LG&E’s Diversity Program, El Enlace Latino’s Spanish Yellow Pages and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Elizabeth Healthcare’s Hispanic marketing communication programs.

*Kentucky Minority Business Council Inc. (KMBC) Certification Number 11-06-AAPR-R renewable on 11/14/2007.