SHREVEPORT, La. — KSM Marketing Agency is marking 40 years in business in 2025, reflecting long-term continuity in an industry known for rapid turnover and constant technological change.
Founded in 1985 as Louie Lewis Designs, the firm evolved through several iterations before becoming KSM Marketing Agency following a brand revision in 2024. Over four decades, the agency has worked with a broad range of local and regional businesses across retail, restaurants, automotive, professional services, construction, health care, sports and nonprofit sectors.
President and owner Cindy Smith joined the firm in 1995 as media director, when it operated as Kalmbach Advertising. She has spent 30 years in the business, including 23 years leading the agency. Smith purchased the firm in 2002 with business partner Andy Meadows, later assuming sole ownership in 2010.
Smith said long-term client relationships have been central to the firm’s model. “When we are truly able to partner with a business and become an extension of their team, there is no limit to what we can achieve together,” she said. She noted that some family-owned, generational businesses have remained clients for two decades, a rarity in the marketing sector.
The firm’s early growth was shaped by founder Lewis Kalmbach, who led the agency from 1985 until 2002. Kalmbach expanded operations beyond northwest Louisiana by opening a satellite office on Market Street in San Francisco and was involved in creative work for local festivals and organizations. He also founded Artport, a revolving art gallery at Shreveport Regional Airport, which was recently relaunched after a 10-year hiatus under the leadership of Abigail Simmons, KSM’s business development manager and Smith’s daughter.
KSM’s leadership points to its adaptive service model as a differentiator, focusing on tailoring strategy and creative work to individual clients rather than maintaining a uniform design style. Smith’s experience as a co-owner, with her husband William Smith, of two HoneyBaked Ham franchise restaurants in Shreveport and College Station, Texas, has also influenced the firm’s approach to marketing strategy and return on investment.
The current KSM team includes Brian Ledoux, media director; Danielle Wallis, lead graphic designer; Simmons; graphic designer Marley Caruth; and William Smith, business consultant. Several team members have been with the firm for more than a decade.
“I couldn’t be prouder to lead such a talented group of individuals,” Smith said. “Running a marketing firm feels like an uphill battle most of the time because of the nature of the business, but when you have people like this who understand your vision, support each other and care about their clients like they are friends or family, that uphill becomes a little less taxing.”
As the agency enters its fifth decade, Smith said the firm’s focus remains on long-term partnerships rather than short-term campaigns. “After 40 years in business, I’d say the real difference isn’t in what we do—it’s in who we are,” she said. “Our longevity comes from a genuine commitment to helping others reach the pinnacle of their success.”