How did we become the leader in workplace communication?
In 1913 when Frank Kenna, Sr., a New Haven, Conn., entrepreneur founded a company to publish news pictorials, little did he know that his small business, Illustrated Current News®, would become a leading international workplace communications business — The Marlin Company.
Predating both radio and television, Illustrated Current News created posters for local businesses to display in their windows to attract potential customers. The company prospered as a local company serving New Haven businesses until the 1930s, when Mr. Kenna faced a problem: a manufacturing company he had purchased in 1924 was having safety concerns, and no one was paying attention to the safety posters he hung up. He had a brainstorm to put his news pictorials next to the safety posters to entice employees to read both. That was the genesis of a new product — and company. In 1942 The Marlin Industrial Division, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marlin Firearms, the manufacturing company also owned by Mr. Kenna, was launched. The company published materials on safety, quality and productivity, bundled them with news pictorials, and manufactured a bulletin board fixture for their display. The result was a product that was educational, yet engaging, and that helped improve workplace attitudes and behavior.
The company grew throughout the years, expanding its geographical reach across the county and to Canada and Mexico, and in 1987 was incorporated as a separate company, The Marlin Company. The name Illustrated Current News®, however, has remained to this day as part of The Marlin Company’s overall service, making it one of the oldest continually produced news publications in the country.
For over 90 years The Marlin Company has been under the leadership of the Kenna family. Today, Frank Kenna III, heads the company as both president and CEO.
Under Frank Kenna III, The Marlin Company has grown to serve tens of thousands of companies. It publishes separate editions of its content for nine vertical markets including: industrial, transportation, healthcare, business services, warehouse/distribution, hospitality, utility, sanitation and retail. It also offers Spanish language versions in certain industries.
The Marlin Company’s strong market position has always been based on the quality, relevance and professionalism of its content. Its materials are written and designed by a team of professional in-house writers, designers and photographers, including award-winning former journalists.