5by5, part of the 3LS Inc. family of employee-owned Changemaker companies, together with C.O.nxt and Jigsaw, the agencies of The Charleston Orwig Collective, announced today that the award-winning marketing and communications agencies will join forces. The deal unites more than 60 team members under one employee-owned organization, strengthening its capabilities across strategy, market research, creative, public relations, digital, media and video production—and creates a footprint that now stretches across the Midwest and Southeast.
“We weren’t necessarily looking to get bigger. We were looking to get better,” said Jen Wallace, EVP of Creative Services for C.O.nxt and Jigsaw. “Each agency brings something distinct to the table. Instead of standing still, we decided to stand together.”
The combination brings together decades of agency experience and deep industry knowledge. C.O.nxt has built a more than 30-year legacy serving food and agriculture brands like Merck Animal Health and McCormick Culinary. Jigsaw has earned a strong reputation for strategic and creative work in complex service industries including healthcare and destination management, serving clients including EVERSANA and Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (MOSH).
Named one of Nashville, Tenn.’s Largest Ad Agencies two years in a row by the Nashville Business Journal, 5by5 has helped changemaker organizations nationwide grow through strategy and research, video production, digital and media—and earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 List five times in seven years. Its clients span healthcare, education, financial services and nonprofits including Williamson Health, the Tennessee Department of Health, Show Hope, Oakworth Capital Bank and charity: water.
“Each of us—5by5, C.O.nxt and Jigsaw—shares a deep passion and commitment to both serving changemakers and employee ownership,” said 5by5 President, Josh Miller. “And we already believed the same things about doing good and empowering good. Now, our clients get more expertise, more innovation and more perspective from people who own the work. Together, we’re going to grow even more good.”
Over the coming months, C.O.nxt and Jigsaw will combine under the 5by5 name and their employee-owners will join 5by5 parent company, 3LS Inc.’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Every employee from C.O.nxt, Jigsaw and 5by5 is moving forward with the combined organization. Operationally, the move deepens the teams’ capabilities while clients keep the service teams and relationships they know and trust.
“Our industries move fast, and our clients’ needs evolve just as quickly,” said Brittany Steuer, EVP of Client Services for C.O.nxt and Jigsaw. “We’re all changemakers aligned around purpose. Now, we’ll have more brainpower to solve problems and a deeper bench to get the good stuff done.”
