About Hollis Thomases

Hollis Thomases is president and founder of Web Ad.vantage, Inc. A graduate of Cornell University, Thomases founded Web Ad.vantage in 1998 when the web marketing was in its infancy and most businesses were primarily focused on building web sites. Realizing that “if we build it, they will come” was not enough, Thomases recognized the secret to true Internet success was in generating qualified web site traffic and converting those leads into sales. For each tactic her agency offered, she established efficient, outcome-focused strategies and processes, ensuring client success and her agency’s growth well after the Internet boom and subsequent bust. She has also built a reputation as one of the industry’s most pragmatic and insightful online marketing gurus.

In March 2007, SBA awarded Thomases “Small Business Person of the Year” for the state of Maryland. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs for their contributions to the nation’s economy and for their personal achievements based upon staying power, employee growth, sales increases and financial performance, service innovation, response to adversity, and contributions to their community.

Today Web Ad.vantage’s core competencies include online advertising, search engine optimization, paid search campaign management, and Internet strategy. Thomases has cultivated an impressive client roster including Nokia USA, Johns Hopkins University, Zurich North America, Nature Made Vitamins, Blair Corporation, Pointsec, the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association, Connections Academy and Connecticut Plastics.

Thomases was named to Baltimore’s “40 Under 40” 2003, was the sole recipient of the 2002 Bush Declaration Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit and the 2000 Aetna Smart Solutions Award. Thomases was also a finalist for the 2007 Athena Award for women’s leadership. Web Ad.vantage has been recognized by Smart Woman magazine as a “Best Place for Business Women to Work.”

Thomases authors a popular bi-weekly column, "Online Media Buying Agency Strategies," as contributing expert columnist for a top Internet marketing resource site, ClickZ (.com). Thomases has appeared on television (area ABC, NBC and PBS stations, TechTV's "Working the Web," and in such publications as the Advertising Age, Success Magazine, and DM News. She frequently speaks at industry conferences for such diverse organizations as The Kelsey Group, the American Marketing Association, ClickZ/Search Engine Strategies, The Newsletter and Electronic Publishers Association, the Laboratory Products Association, and Vocus’ Worldwide Users Summit.

Thomases is also member of the CEO Club, the Greater Baltimore Technology Council (GBTC), and past member of YEO. She has also participated in several advisory boards: Association for Interactive Marketing’s Online Promotions Council; Maryland’s Governor’s Workforce Investment Board: Information Technology Industry Initiative Organizational Steering Committee; Maryland Business Roundtable for Education’s Teen Web Project; Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board; and Harford County’s Small Business Development Center. She co-founded the Digital Bridge Initiative, a philanthropic outreach venture between the GBTC and the non-profit community and has been a member of the giving circle, The B’More Fund. She resides in Delaware with her husband and enjoys the company of felines, friends, fitness, dance, dining of any kind, and reading (when she can find the time).

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