Michael Stalbaum, CEO of Unreal Marketing Solutions in Narberth, has been named "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" by The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Stalbaum received the honor at the 21st Annual Small Business Excellence Awards on Friday, November 21, 2003. He was sponsored at the awards ceremony by the law firm of Blank Rome.

Stalbaum began his business career while in college by marketing music concerts, on-campus social events, and charitable fundraisers. In law school, this "passion” evolved into a small-business he named Unreal Marketing and Promotions. In 1999, Stalbaum recognized an opportunity in the burgeoning online arena and shifted the company’s focus from offline promotions toward online interactive advertising. The business was re-branded as Unreal Marketing Solutions and shortly thereafter he left his full-time law career and opened the corporate headquarters for Unreal Marketing Solutions in Narberth, PA.

Stalbaum graduated from The Pennsylvania State University's Smeal School of Business in 1995. He then attended Temple University’s Graduate School where, in 1998, he simultaneously earned a law degree and a Masters of Business Administration.

Despite Unreal Marketing’s rapid growth, Stalbaum also serves as Managing Partner of Mildenberg and Stalbaum, P.C., where he oversees the business affairs of the growing law practice, whose focus is on consumer law and predatory lending.

About Unreal Marketing Solutions:

Unreal Marketing Solutions is a full-service interactive advertising agency that specializes in Search Engine Marketing, Media Planning, and Online Direct Response Marketing. Founded in 1996 as a traditional marketing agency, the company focused on event planning and promotions. As the Internet developed, they switched their focus strictly to online advertising.

Unreal Marketing has recently been ranked as the Philly 100's 2nd fastest growing privately-held company in the region. Clients include The Howard Stern Ad Networks, L’Oreal, USA, Coldwell Banker Preferred and Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC). Offices are in Narberth, PA and Los Angeles, CA.

About The Small Business Excellence Awards:

For 21 years, the Small Business Excellence Awards has been a celebration of the incredible achievements of small businesses and small business owners, which are the backbone of the Greater Philadelphia business community. In 1982, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council, while identifying the needs of small companies, became aware of one of the most obvious and overlooked needs: recognition. To rectify this situation, the Chamber created the Small Business Excellence Awards to recognize the success, achievement, leadership and innovation of business with 100 employees or less. The 2003 Small Business Excellence Awards were sponsored by Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Blank Rome, CBS3, Commerce Bank, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Fleet Bank, Innovation Philadelphia, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., PNC Bank, Sovereign Bank and Wachovia Bank.

Posted 12/01/03

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