Percy Bland for Mayor

1. OVERVIEW

Percy Bland, is a prominent figure in Meridian, Mississippi, with a rich personal and professional history. Born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, he has strong local roots. Percy Bland earned a degree in chemistry and a Master’s in Public Health before building a career that included work in public health and later in insurance.

He went on to become the first African American mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, serving two terms and serving as a pivotal role in community development, infrastructure improvements, and continuous growth of Meridian, Mississippi.

2. MISSION

Despite Percy Bland’s significant contributions to Meridian, ranging from infrastructure improvements to community programs. He faced a significant perception challenge. Percy was often disliked or misunderstood by a portion of the local population. Which led to him not getting re-elected for his initial third term. His goal in working with Maac Media was to reshape that public perception by showcasing his ongoing efforts and positive impact through well-crafted video storytelling.

3. SERVICES

To help shift public perception, we took a community-centered approach. We documented multiple local supporters who could authentically speak to Percy Bland’s positive impact. We also photographed Percy Bland in action at various events, showcasing his engagement with the city of Meridian and his dedication to those who are local. The resulting documentation told a compelling story of a leader who was deeply invested in improving the lives of Meridian’s residents.

4. RESULTS

The video campaign had a powerful impact. By authentically showcasing Percy Bland’s contributions and community engagement, the project helped reshape public perception.

Ultimately, this contributed to Percy Bland’s successful re-election as mayor of Meridian for a third term in 2025. It was a clear testament to how impactful storytelling can bridge the gap between a public figure and the community they serve.

Saucony

Repositioning Performance for the Everyday Runner

At Maac Media, , we believe brands don’t need to shout to be heard. They need clarity. Conviction. And a point of view worth following.

The Context

Saucony exists to inspire and serve all humans to live their best lives through running expanding access, celebrating self-expression, and contributing to a better world.

But even legacy brands face inflection points.

A shift in audience strategy, paired with declining engagement and softening sales, created urgency. Saucony needed to reconnect with the everyday runner. Not the elite athlete, not the aspirational extreme but the human being who simply wants to move.

The opportunity wasn’t to reinvent the brand.
It was to reframe it.

The Mission

Increase sales.
Increase awareness.
Reignite engagement.

And do it in a way that made Saucony feel accessible again. Not intimidating, not performance obsessed, but human.

The goal was to bring attention back to what Saucony stands for and who they serve: all humans who want to live better through movement.

Our Approach

We began with clarity.

Discovery

We immersed ourselves in who Saucony is. Not just historically, but culturally. We examined how they were being perceived versus how they wanted to be perceived. We identified the tension: performance brands often drift toward exclusivity, even when their mission is inclusion.

Strategy

We refined the target audience for this specific initiative.
Not elite marathoners.
Not niche subcultures.

The everyday runner.

The person who runs before work.
The parent who jogs around the neighborhood.
The beginner who just wants to feel better.

We helped establish a messaging framework grounded in a simple truth:

You don’t need perfect conditions to begin.
You just need to begin.

Concept Development

From that insight, we developed a 30-second commercial concept centered around lifestyle, not product specs.

We storyboarded the entire piece before entering production. Every frame, every beat, every emotional moment was mapped and refined. We presented the narrative to Saucony before securing crew, locations, or talent, ensuring alignment before execution.

Strategy first. Production second.

What We Made

We created a 30-second broadcast-ready commercial designed for television and web.

No specific shoe.
No technical breakdown.
No aggressive pacing.

Instead, we captured the lifestyle of Saucony’s daily users in environments that felt attainable and real.

The tone was relaxed. Motivational. Upbeat without being overwhelming.

The message was clear:

You don’t have to be in perfect conditions.
You don’t need a perfect location.
You don’t need perfect attire.

All you need is a good pair of running shoes and the willingness to move.

Visually, the piece emphasized authenticity over spectacle. The environments were natural. The movement felt human. The energy suggested that running is not punishment, it’s permission. Permission to feel better. To breathe. To improve.

The result was a film that felt less like advertising and more like encouragement.

The Outcome

Since the production and launch of the ad, Saucony has seen:

• Increased brand awareness

• Improved engagement

• Stronger sales performance

More importantly, the work helped reinforce Saucony’s positioning as a brand for real people, not just elite performers.

The campaign clarified audience direction internally while strengthening external perception.

Why This Matters

In a crowded performance category, brands often compete on technology.

But technology rarely builds loyalty. Identity does.

By grounding Saucony in accessibility and everyday movement, we didn’t just produce a commercial. We helped recalibrate perception.

At Maac Media, we don’t create content for the sake of content.
We create alignment between brand intention and audience reality.

This project is proof that when strategy leads, creative follows, and performance improves.

If your brand is facing a shift in audience strategy, declining engagement, or a need to reconnect with the humans you serve, we’re ready.

Let’s build something that moves people.

Meridian Mutual Federal Credit Union

Welcoming a New Team, Strengthening a Community

Building belonging through baseball.

For more than seventy years, Meridian Mutual Federal Credit Union has served as a trusted financial partner for the people of Meridian, Mississippi. As a member owned cooperative founded in 1953, Meridian Mutual has always believed that strong communities are built through relationships, not transactions.

When a new chapter in Meridian's story began with the arrival of the Meridian Blues baseball team, Meridian Mutual saw an opportunity to do more than sponsor a team. They wanted to demonstrate what they have stood for since the beginning: everyone deserves a place to belong.

That's where we came in.

The Challenge

Meridian Mutual wanted to increase community awareness, strengthen trust, and establish itself as a visible advocate for both the City of Meridian and the newly formed Meridian Blues baseball organization.

The challenge wasn't simply to create another sponsorship announcement.

The challenge was to create an emotional connection.

How could Meridian Mutual communicate that they are more than a financial institution? How could they demonstrate their commitment to welcoming new people, supporting local organizations, and investing in the future of the community?

We believed the answer was already sitting on the baseball field.

The Insight

Every new beginning starts the same way.

Alone.

Whether you're moving to a new city, starting a new job, joining a new team, or opening your first account, there is always uncertainty before there is connection.

The arrival of the Meridian Blues represented more than baseball. It represented new faces, new relationships, and new opportunities for the city.

We realized the story wasn't about a baseball team.

It was about belonging.

Our Approach

Rather than leading with products, rates, or financial services, we focused on a universal human experience.

We developed a concept centered around Mickey, coach of the Meridian Blues, arriving at the baseball field alone.

The story opens in silence.

An empty stadium.

An unfamiliar environment.

A coach carrying equipment into a city that has not yet become home.

He walks to home plate and sends baseballs into the outfield. He moves to the pitcher's mound and tosses a baseball into his glove. The sounds echo throughout the empty field.

The environment feels quiet.

Isolated.

Uncertain.

Then everything changes.

As Mickey realizes he is standing alone, he is greeted by Meridian Mutual's owner and staff. What began as a solitary moment becomes a celebration of community.

The commercial concludes with Mickey surrounded by people who are genuinely excited to welcome him to Meridian.

The same message Meridian Mutual has been communicating to its members for generations.

You belong here.

What We Made

We created a cinematic commercial campaign that transformed a sponsorship into a story.

Our services included:

• Creative Direction

• Storyboarding

• Location Scouting

• Production

• Editing

• Color Grading

• Sound Design

• Commercial Delivery

To reinforce authenticity, we filmed the campaign at the same stadium where the Meridian Blues play their games.

The location itself became part of the story, grounding the narrative in a real place and a real community.

Visually, we leaned into contrast.

Empty versus full.

Isolation versus connection.

Uncertainty versus belonging.

The emotional journey mirrored the experience many people feel when entering a new environment, making the story relatable far beyond baseball.

The Outcome

The campaign successfully positioned Meridian Mutual as a champion of both the Meridian Blues and the broader Meridian community.

Following the commercial's release, community response was overwhelmingly positive.

The campaign generated increased awareness for the Meridian Blues while strengthening community trust and engagement around the organization.

Perhaps most importantly, it helped bring local residents to games, creating stronger connections between the team and the community they now call home.

The work demonstrated that meaningful community partnerships are most effective when they are built around people rather than promotions.

Why It Matters

Financial institutions often communicate through products.

Communities connect through stories.

By focusing on the emotional experience of arriving somewhere new and being welcomed with open arms, Meridian Mutual was able to communicate its values without ever having to say them directly.

The campaign reinforced a simple truth:

When people know they belong, they engage.

When they engage, communities grow stronger.

For Meridian Mutual, supporting the Meridian Blues was never just about baseball.

It was about showing an entire city what it means to be welcomed home.

Building trust isn't about telling people who you are.

It's about showing them.

And that's exactly what Meridian Mutual did.

Meridian Regional Airport

Fly Meridian. Fly Local.

Changing the way a community thinks about travel.

Services
Creative Direction • Storyboarding • Location Scouting • Production • Editing • Color Grading • Sound Design

Industry
Transportation & Aviation

Location
Meridian, Mississippi

Overview

For years, many residents in Meridian Mississippi have followed the same routine before a flight.

Wake up before sunrise.

Drive hours to an out-of-town airport.

Navigate crowded parking lots.

Wait in long security lines.

Rush from one checkpoint to the next.

It had become normal.

But normal isn't always better.

As Meridian Regional Airport prepared for the future with plans for a new terminal and continued investment in the passenger experience, they faced a perception challenge. Many local travelers still believed that larger airports offered a superior experience, despite the additional time, stress, and inconvenience.

The airport needed a demonstration that challenged those assumptions.

Not with statistics.

With a story.

The Challenge

Meridian Regional Airport wasn't competing against another airport.

They were competing against habit.

Many residents automatically chose to drive to larger airports in neighboring cities without considering the true cost of that decision.

More driving.

More parking.

More waiting.

More stress.

The airport needed to reposition itself as the smarter, easier alternative while increasing local awareness and improving public perception.

At the same time, leadership wanted to highlight the advantages that already existed:

• Fast security screening

• Convenient parking

• Minimal wait times

• Easy access

• A hometown travel experience

The challenge was finding a way to communicate those benefits without sounding like an advertisement.

The Insight

Travelers don't choose airports.

They choose experiences.

Most people aren't actively looking for longer drives, crowded terminals, or stressful mornings.

They're looking for a smoother journey.

We realized the campaign wasn't about promoting an airport.

It was about highlighting two completely different travel experiences.

One filled with stress.

One filled with simplicity.

The audience already understood the problem because they had lived it themselves.

Our job was simply to show them another option.

Our Approach

Rather than talking about airport amenities, we decided to dramatize the contrast between flying out of town and flying local.

The commercial follows the same traveler through two very different mornings.

In the first experience, he wakes up late and immediately falls into a downward spiral.

He rushes to get dressed.

Rushes to brush his teeth.

Rushes to gather his belongings.

In the chaos, he spills hot coffee on himself.

He races to the airport only to realize he forgot his luggage.

His trip is effectively over before it begins.

The second experience tells a different story.

The traveler wakes up rested.

He has time to enjoy his morning.

Coffee in hand and luggage ready, he leaves home knowing he only has a short drive to Meridian Regional Airport.

No unnecessary stress.

No long lines.

No frantic race against the clock.

Just a smooth beginning to his journey.

What We Created

We developed a 30-second and 15-second commercial campaign designed for:

• Television

• Social Media

• Digital Advertising

• Web Distribution

The campaign centered around a simple but powerful message:

Fly Meridian, Fly Local

Instead of relying on feature lists or promotional language, the commercials focused on emotional relatability.

Every scene was designed to reinforce a simple truth:

Flying local doesn't just save time.

It changes the entire travel experience.

Key Creative Elements

Handheld vs. Controlled Camera Movement

The first half of the commercial was intentionally filmed with handheld camera movement.

The instability places viewers inside the chaos and anxiety of the situation.

Every rushed movement feels amplified.

Every mistake feels stressful.

As the story transitions into the Meridian Regional Airport experience, the camera becomes calmer and more controlled.

The visual language itself communicates relief.

Stress vs. Simplicity

Every creative decision was built around contrast.

The rushed morning.

The spilled coffee.

The forgotten luggage.

The frantic drive.

These moments create emotional tension that is immediately resolved by the second experience.

Lighting & Pacing

The first experience feels rushed and overwhelming.

The second feels open, bright, and relaxed.

By slowing the pacing and improving the overall visual tone, viewers experience the emotional difference rather than simply hearing about it.

The Outcome

The campaign helped Meridian Regional Airport reposition itself as a convenient and practical alternative to larger regional airports.

Following launch:

• Awareness of Meridian Regional Airport increased

• Public perception improved

• More travelers chose to fly through Meridian

• The campaign reinforced excitement around the airport's future growth and new terminal development

Most importantly, the work helped local travelers reconsider a long-standing assumption:

That bigger automatically means better.

The Takeaway

Good marketing doesn't create demand.

It reveals value people have overlooked.

For Meridian Regional Airport, the challenge was never about building a better airport.

It was about helping people recognize the advantages that already existed.

By transforming a common travel frustration into a relatable story, the campaign reframed what flying local can feel like.

Less stress.

Less hassle.

More time.

A better way to travel.

Fly Meridian. Fly Local.