2004 Excellence Honoree

Joanne Harmelin is founder and chief executive officer of Harmelin Media, the nation’s sixth largest independent and Pennsylvania’s largest media services agency. The company has grown from one employee, one client and a few hundred thousand dollars in billings to the present 106-person staff with 150 clients and annual billings of over $250 million.

Harmelln refers to her significant community and charity work as being “other-directed,” a way of living first learned during her three years of service and Instruction In the Maryknoll Missionary order. Joanne Is a member of the American Management Association, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and The Forum (a women’s advocacy association comprised of Philadelphia’s leading professional women). She is a board member of Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Philadelphia Theatre Company, the Arden Theatre Company, the Walnut Street Theatre, the Philadelphia Police Athletic League, the Philadelphia Advertising Club, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Zoological Society, and the Lokoff Foundation, which sets standards for quality child care. She is a committee member of the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance for Sexually Abused Children, The agency sponsors a foster child in China, as well as sponsors a team In a local girl’s basketball league.

Her community Involvement both personal and through the auspices of Harmelin Media has been recognized through numerous awards Including:

  • 1996 Pennsylvania Small Business Person Of The Year
  • 1996 Inductee, Pennsylvania Honor Roll of Women
  • 1996 Recipient of Employer Advocacy Award presented by Montgomery County Association for Retarded Citizens
  • 1996 Recipient of Super Achiever Award presented by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
  • 1997 Recipient of Montgomery County Mental Retardation Programs Outstanding Employer Award
  • 1997 Arts & Business Council – Business/Arts Advocate Award
  • 1997 Pennsylvania Best 50 Women In Business
  • 1997 Advertising MVP as selected by the Philadelphia Ad Club
  • 1997 “Women Business Owner of the Year” as selected by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners
  • 1998 State Designee for The Blue Chip Enterprise Award
  • 1998 Women of Achievement Award presented by March of Dimes
  • 1999 Good Scout Award presented by Cradle of Liberty Council, Boys Scouts of America
  • 2001 Sarah Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, Philadelphia Chapter Association for Women in Communications
  • 2001 Working Woman Magazine (ranked among the top 500 women-owned businesses In the U.S.)
  • 2002 Paradigm Award
  • 2003 PAL Award
  • 2003 Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Salutee