ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Minneapolis-based creative agency Gabriel deGrood Bendt (GdB) will join Clear Night Group (CNG), a marketing services holding company and subsidiary of Evening Post Industries. This is the first of many considered acquisitions by CNG, which plans to build a collection of premier marketing companies from around the country that will deliver strategically sound, creatively inspired solutions to clients of all sizes and industries.

Under the terms of the deal, GdB will retain its name, leadership team and downtown Minneapolis office space, where it employs a staff of 35.

CNG is based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was founded in December 2012, as a subsidiary of Evening Post Industries (EPI), one of the most storied and well-respected communications and media organizations in the country. The Charleston, South Carolina, family-owned company tapped John Hyduke, a Minnesota-native and media and marketing communications veteran, to lead the creation of the CNG agency network as president and CEO.

“Think about the intense changes we have seen in marketing and advertising, just in the past five years,” Hyduke said. “Clear Night Group is all about meeting clients’ marketing needs and keeping them ahead of those changes. We believe GdB and future acquisitions will make the path clear and position CNG as an industry leader.”

Founded in 1997, GdB is led by CEO/Creative Director Tom Gabriel and Creative Director Doug deGrood. The agency has produced creative and thought-provoking campaigns for clients big and small including 3M, Anytime Fitness, Crystal Farms, Red Wing Shoes, Summit Brewing Co., and Zebco.

“We’re excited to be part of the CNG launch, and look forward to providing our current clients expanded services, and giving our staffers increased opportunities,” Gabriel said. “We’re also excited about the cultural fit with the parent company. They share our values, especially in the areas of integrity, risk-taking and ‘people-first.'”

In evaluating agencies to join its network, CNG appraises several areas including agency culture and leadership. The network will add agencies from a variety of disciplines – advertising, marketing, public relations, research/data and digital services – to deliver best-in-class solutions under one umbrella.

To learn more about Clear Night Group, visit ClearNightGroup.com, and visit GdBagency.com to see how GdB is Always Thinking.

About Clear Night Group
Clear Night Group (CNG) is a marketing services holding company based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Evening Post Industries (EPI), one of the most storied and well-respected communications and media organizations in the U.S. Founded in 2012, CNG will acquire agencies in a variety of disciplines with the purpose of delivering strategically sound, creatively inspired solutions to clients of all sizes and industries, from regional to global. To learn more about CNG, please visit www.ClearNightGroup.com.

About Gabriel deGrood Bendt (GdB)
GdB is a Minneapolis-based marketing services agency, offering expertise in brand strategy and communications – including advertising, interactive, public relations and stuff not invented yet. The agency is a two-time winner of the American Association of Advertising Agencies’ O’Toole Award. For more information on the agency, visit www.gdbagency.com.

Contact: Kaitlin Corner
704.770.6901
kaitlin@mcfarlandcommunications.com

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SOURCE Clear Night Group