1976–2026
Five Decades Helping Organizations Tell Their Stories.
From print ads and lead generation campaigns to AI-powered marketing, the tools have changed—but the foundation of great marketing remains the same: creativity, strategy, and trust built over time.
Lempugh, Inc. is Founded
University of Maryland grad Sarah Pugh starts AdBag, an industry innovation that delivers ads and shopping inserts to consumers. As her business grows rapidly, she attracts partners and investors and Lempugh, Inc. is born. "Lem" was taken from the last name of her business partner at the time. She eventually bought him out, but the corporate name stuck.
Laurel Today is Launched
Lempugh launches new publications to reach the local community. Laurel Today, Bowie Today, and Columbia Today were born [etc.]
No Work from Home–Yet
The first “laptop” for commercial purchase, the Osborne 1, launches, weighing 24 lbs with 90 KB of storage.
Laurel Today is Acquired by Patuxent Publishing
Patuxent Publishing consolidates local media and acquires the tabloids created by Lempugh. Lempugh transitions to a full-time graphics shop Laurel Graphics, the beginnings of what will eventually become a full-service marketing agency.
Laurel Graphics
Lempugh becomes recognized for its design solutions, and expands its offerings. A new brand and name designed by Sarah herself, Laurel Graphics, meets the need for bold visual design.
Graphic Design Gets a New Tool
Adobe Photoshop 1.0 launches, exclusively for Macintosh computers. When polled, 59% of LMDers preferred Mac to PC!
New Office Building on the Fairway
LMD finds our home for 33 years overlooking the Patuxent Greens Golf Course in Laurel, MD.
Launch of Laurel Marketing and Design (LMD)
To encompass our expanding service offerings, Laurel Graphics becomes Laurel Marketing and Design.
LMD’s First Web Project
LMD takes on our first website project for the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM). It was a bold risk that paid off, with thirty years of web projects to follow.
LMD Rebrands (as LMD!)
We drop the full name and become LMD, positioned as brand architects and known for innovative creative.
A Site of the Times
Thanks to the Wayback Machine we were able to pull images of one of our earliest websites–we’ve come a long way since Flash and HTML! (It’s easy to get left behind–when’s the last time you refreshed your website?)
LMD Wins First Higher Ed Client
LMD wins our first higher education client, Capitol College (now Capitol Technology University). One of our first projects was photographing their state-the-art technology center for their new marketing materials!
LMD Starts on the GSA Schedule
LMD is awarded our first GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, beginning our journey into government contracting.
LMD Serves as Agency of Record for UMD Robert H. Smith School of Business
LMD serves as the agency of record for the Robert H. Smith School of Business for 10 years introducing the "Lead Fearlessly" campaign and starting the school on its digital/CRM journey. With many Terp alumni on staff, our University of Maryland work always makes us proud.
Apps Are on the Menu
Steve Jobs unveils the first iPhone. Currently, 82% of LMDers are iPhone users!
LMD Wins Our First (of Many) Federal Contracts
LMD wins the EPA Watersense contract. EPA would remain a client for another 13 years relying on LMD for web, content, campaign, and outreach services.
You Can Be LMD's Friend
We join Facebook! The decade would bring big changes in advertising and marketing with the rise of social media. For 51% of LMDers, this was their first social media–followed by MySpace (23%) and Twitter and Instagram (9% each). Pictured are two long-time LMD employees, Dan Croft and Scott Van Der Meid, with a combined 60 years of tenure at LMD!
LMD Launches DHS’ “If You See Something, Say Something®” Campaign
LMD leads DHS’ “If See Something, Say Something®” campaign for a decade, making it a well-known PSA nationally.
Karen Killian and Scott Van Der Meid Take Lead
Karen Killian, LMD partner since 2003, and Scott Van Der Meid, LMD partner since 1997, become President and Executive Vice President respectively. Karen’s strategic branding and marketing solutions and Scott’s expertise as a Creative Director lead the company into a growth period.
LMD Rebrands the U.S. Small Business Administration
LMD rebrands the SBA to position it for the entrepreneurs of the future. We continued the partnership with research, content development, stakeholder engagement, and video campaigns.
LMD Serves as Agency of Record for U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting
LMD leads the recruitment marketing for the U.S. Coast Guard.
LMD Becomes a Change Agency
LMD introduces our current branding with its signature green and inky black, and our specialty in “change”—be it a rebrand, expansion, new product launch, or any other organizational change.
LMD Rebrands OPM as “Champions of Talent”
LMD partners with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to rebrand the agency and leads the organizational change management program supporting technology modernization for the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
LMD is Acquired by Deb Rainford
Deb Rainford becomes the owner of LMD and brings expertise in recruitment marketing and events as a certified meeting planner. Deb has over three decades of business success in the DMV and serves as the Chair on LMD’s board.
LLM’s Kick-off for Public Use
ChatGPT launches and gains over 100 million users in two months.
Holly Huntley Becomes President
Karen Killian retires, and Holly Huntley is her successor. Holly helps LMD add offerings in strategy, leadership communications, and organizational change management.
LMD’s Growth is Recognized in the DMV
The Washington Business Journal ranked LMD Agency #4 on their list of Largest Advertising Agencies in Greater Washington, based on the company’s 2023 revenue and reflecting its tremendous growth in the federal marketing and advertising space.
LMD Makes a Move to Symphony Woods
LMD celebrates the grand opening of our new headquarters in Columbia, MD, in the Merriweather District.
New Credentials and Recognition
LMD adds OASIS+ awards to our federal contract vehicles and is recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal as a Best Place to Work.
LMD is a Best Place to Work
LMD placed Top 10 in the Small Business Category for the Baltimore Business Journal’s 2025 Best Places to Work, a credit to our strong culture and focus on our team!
LMD Turns 50
To celebrate half a decade is such an honor. As we look back on how rapidly the world has changed in just 50 years, we can’t wait to see what arrivals and advancements the next 50 mean!
