• by Larissa Faw , June 8, 2015

“I’ve always said a seller should work at an agency at some point, and Commerce House is a seller’s dream,” explains Phyllis Cole McKnight of her decision to leave publishing and become Principal in Business Development at Commerce House, a Dallas-based agency with clients, including Samsung and Pizza Hut. 

In this newly created position, McKnight will focus on sales and marketing to expand the Commerce House's client base and reputation. She will oversee all marketing, PR and sales activities. 

"My key challenge is translating what makes Commerce House special -- the unconventional combination of passion, talent and teamwork that makes us an agency for forerunner brands -- into a no-brainer proposition for prospective clients that have not experienced the magic before," says McKnight. 

McKnight has developed profitable businesses for traditional media brands, start-ups and Internet leaders alike over the past 20 years.

As the former publisher of D Magazine, she helped to grow the brand from a local chronicle to a nationally recognized publication growing more than fivefold by launching more than 15 extensions, including magazines D Weddings and D CEO. 

She also worked as Chief Innovation Officer for Culturemap to help create sites for local online news and views in Dallas and Houston. Plus, she worked as VP/Sales for mobile shopper engagement provider Blue Calypso, and regional ad director The Wall Street Journal, where she sold advertising programs to some of the world’s largest brands.  

It wasn't an easy decision for McKnight to shift sides, she said. "A mutual friend introduced me to Mark [Denesuk, founder] two years ago over lunch. When a recruiter called and told me about the position, I said 'I know that guy. He’s great!' I figured I'd see what he had to say even though I didn’t think I would ever work at an agency. I was so impressed with his vision that I couldn’t say no. There is an entrepreneurial, high-energy creative vibe that permeates the agency. It’s an intoxicating environment." 

Founded in 2008 by CEO Mark Denesuk, a former Ogilvy and McCann-Erickson senior executive who envisioned a more cohesive approach to advertising, Commerce House has grown in recent years on work for national and regional brands -- including Samsung, Zico, Texas Health Resources and the Dallas Fire Department. The 45-staff agency eschews titles, with the exception of CEO and CFO. Every employee serves as a Principal and works across all accounts.  

“After producing amazing results for clients for years, it’s time for our reputation to catch up to our work,” said Denesuk, “Phyllis has succeeded across the spectrum of advertising and media, and she’s proven adept at accelerating growth companies. She gets what makes our agency special and meaningful, and will be a great advocate for our business.”