AUBURN — Business partners Catherine Creighton and Matthew Kovacevich of Thalo Blue Design recently returned from the Maine Governor’s Conference on Tourism with a coveted tourism marketing and promotion award.

The award was for their work in rebuilding the brand identity of the Kennebec and Moose River Valleys tourism region of Maine.

Each year the Maine Governor’s Conference on Tourism comes together to identify the best work produced during the previous year; work done by the companies and people who strive to make tourism stronger and, in doing so, bring more visitors to the state. In addition to marketing and promotion, awards are given for creativity and innovation, and for individual performance.

During 2012, the Thalo Blue Design team revived the Kennebec and Moose River Valleys image by strengthening the regions’ market positioning, adding vibrant visuals and captivating language. In addition, the duo built a well-structured marketing program featuring updated printed materials, widespread social media and a brochure distribution program that put the Kennebec Valley visitor guide in thousands more hands than ever before.

Thalo Blue Design, based in Auburn, is a design and marketing studio with clients in tourism, banking, nonprofit and law. For more information, go to: www.thalobluedesign.com