KGI Design Group Of Farmingdale Celebrates 30 Years With 'Fulfilling' Eye Toward Charity

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“After all of these past lives, I have brought my passions, my earliest dreams, my entrepreneurial spirit and my many inspirations, along with my years of experience and expertise and combined them to create KGI Design Group in 1994,” she said.

Poulos said it was scary to not have a “job,” but with a baby at home, and her mother-in-law’s encouragement, she quit her 9 to 5 job and “just went for it.”

KGI Design Group specializes in impactful advertising, memorable branding, strategic marketing campaigns, and graphic design for collateral. The group different mediums, from traditional print to video and digital. KGI works with large and small businesses in fields varying from construction to pharmaceutical, aerospace to insurance, real estate to sports networks and cable TV entertainment.

The business also works with private companies, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies such as NYC Department of Environmental Protection and NYC Department of Correction. It also works with major engineering firms to support projects and community outreach for the NYS Department of Transportation, the MTA, and more.

The business offers solutions in print, social, digital, video, branding, collateral, direct mail, presentations, logos, advertising, social media, e-mail marketing, infographics, website development, high-end 3D modeling, rendering, animation, and strategies that focus on where a client is now, where they want to be and who they want to reach.

The business has come a long way. When Poulos first founded Kimberleigh Graphics, she and her husband had just purchased their first home in Levittown. She ran her business out of the front bedroom of their home. She could fit three people in a row, side-by-side, in the bedroom.

“We could actually use each others computer mouses we were so tight,” she said.

The couple then moved to Farmingdale, and her office was in her basement.

“It was perfect when my kids were young,” she said. “But eventually they grew up and the basement had a negative vibe. Plus, even though I have been working for many years and had MSG Network as a client, I never felt ‘real.’ So I decided I would find an office.”

She took her chance in February 2012 and rented an office at 280 Main St., Suite 34, Farmingdale.

“Now we are here 14 years and seven rooms later,” she said.

KGI Design Group also aims to consistently engage with nonprofit organizations, providing both pro bono design services and financial sponsorship.

The group has been working with the American Cancer Society for past eight years. It has worked with other charities in the fields of childhood illness, to animals in need, and especially U.S. veterans.

Poulos recalled that in 1996, her group was asked to work with the International Rett Syndrome Association (IRSA). Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that affects one in 10,000 females — and even more rarely in males — and begins to display itself in missed milestones or regression at 6 to 18 months. Rett syndrome leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of life: ability to speak, walk, eat and breathe easily. The hallmark of Rett syndrome is near constant repetitive hand movements while awake.

Poulos worked directly with the association’s founder, Kathy Hunter, as Hunter’s daughter, Stacie, was the first girl diagnosed with Rett syndrome in the United States, she said. The IRSA needed design work for them to tell their story, create a brand, be cohesive and recognizable while boosting awareness, Poulos said.

“It became near and dear to my heart – IRSA was changed to the IRSF when Kathy retired and the went in a different direction,” Poulos said. “However, to do this day, we still work with the New Jersey Rett Syndrome Association and have been an honoree at their gala.”

Poulos said when her business was just starting, she was excited to simply create and develop brands — she says her group gave the IRSA its definitive purple color theme it is now know for. Poulos, the mother of two boys, had never heard of Rett syndrome.

“I felt God gave me this gift and it is my duty to do the best with it for the most people that I can that really need it,” she said. “So if at 2 a.m. I was working on a logo or brochure, big deal —these parents were up dealing with an adult child in diapers, or up all night with a child that had so much stomach pain or would never walk. How could I not do something to help them?”

As KGI Design Group grew, Poulos realized how much this work fulfilled her and her team in “so many ways,” and how her staff was “grateful to create something meaningful” by reading people’s stories, creating videos, meeting cancer survivors, and attending events where money is being raised to change lives.

“It’s very fulfilling,” Poulos said. “And that we can do all of this and maybe help a cancer patient get a free stay at American Cancer Society Hope Lodge — well, that just brings me to tears.”

Poulos said her advice to other business owners looking to help charities is “just get involved.”

“There is a charity for EVERYTHING, and no give back is too small,” she said. “And you don’t need to let it overwhelm you — you can keep it under control fiscally and time wise. Giving back opens up opportunities to network and meet people out of your usual industry, offers content for promotion and social, it inspires your staff and could change a life.”

Poulos said her favorite part of the past 30 years is soaking it all in and realizing what she’s accomplished.

“Well I can’t believe I did this? Like what?” she said. “It has and continues to have challenges. But 30 years? Even I am shocked. I think my favorite part is for our 30-year celebration — yet to happen — I asked our office manager to pull out all of our employee/consultant files — and it was a stack! How many young designers and college and HS kids have come through our doors – some have stayed and some have moved on but still so many come back. I love that.”

Poulos likes to walk down Main Street, look at logos and say, “oh, we did that!” Or she’s in the city looking at Madison Square Garden, and a 100-foot poster is up, and a passerby asks her why she’s taking a photo of the poster.

“And you say, ‘We did that,'” Poulos said. “…I am basically a 5-year-old proudly showing my stick figure drawing.”

Some of KGI Design Group’s higher profile clients it has had include Rainbow Media and its stations at the time, including American Movie Classics, Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, American Sports Classics, the Romance Network, MuchMusic, according to Poulos. It worked with MSG Network for many years where it created ads on a daily basis for the Islanders, Rangers, Knicks, Libtery, Red Bulls, and more.

Poulos said her business quote is “My least favorite part of business is the business of business!”while her inspirational quote is, “If you are invited to a pool party … swim!” Both are copyrighted by Poulos.

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