A small advertisement with a big typo brought Brian Bowler to Bend more than 10 years ago.

The Wall Street Journal advertisement listed the sale of Mandala Agency, an advertising, design and public relations services company in Bend.

”It said, ‘Successful ad agency in small, unattractive town in the Northwest,’ or something like that,” said Bowler, now Mandala chairman. ”That’s what drew my eye. I wouldn’t have bothered otherwise, I thought it was hilarious and I had to talk with the people who did that.”

The ad was supposed to have said, ”Attractive town.” The former Mandala owner who placed it was horrified by the mistake, Bowler said, but it brought him to Bend, where he purchased the company in 1994.

”I, like everybody else, fell in love with Bend,” said Bowler, who moved here from Reno, Nev. He had lived in England until 1989, when he came to America.

”It’s got a very appealing personality,” he said. ”It’s got no ego, no big chip on its shoulder.”

These characteristics have attracted a growing number of talented advertising representatives and businesses to Central Oregon, where technology allows them to connect to clients globally.

”Through the growth of the Internet, you don’t have to be 100 yards from your client,” Bowler said. ”You can live in wonderful places like this.”

Terry Rankin, president of the Advertising Federation of Central Oregon, or Ad Fed, said a lot of advertising talent exists in Central Oregon.

”Central Oregon is a mecca for creative people,” Rankin said. ”We pull in creatives from around the country who have huge advertising agency backgrounds.”

Mandala creative director Paul Grignon is one such ”creative.” Grignon relocated here from San Francisco in 2001 to raise his family, ski and work in a smaller city.

”The dream is to be able to do the same job without the 1 1/2-hour commute in the big city,” he said, adding that home prices also aren’t as steep in Bend.

From Bend, advertising creations can reach around the world.

Bend’s DVA Advertising recently launched an international advertising campaign for Lake Forest, Calif.-based Felt Bicycles. DVA completed print ads that will be used in international campaigns through Felt’s European offices in Germany, according to DVA Public Relations Director Justin Yax.

Those ads may be translated into five to seven languages, running in cycling publications throughout Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.

Mandala recently launched a campaign for the National Lacrosse League’s Portland Lumber Jax. Mandala’s national clients include Mobile, Ala.-based Teledyne Continental Motors and the Bay Area’s Mountain Hardware. International clients include Hacienda Pinilla, a resort in Costa Rica.

Central Oregon’s advertising industry recently celebrated its far-reaching talent at the annual Drake Awards, hosted by Ad Fed.

The awards were held Feb. 10 at Sunriver Resort and honored advertising excellence in all media groups.

This year, more than 50 different companies entered the competition, Rankin said.

The top award at the competition, ”Best of Show,” went to tbd advertising for its ”What if there was no river” brochure for the Deschutes River Conservancy.

Some of the regional clients represented by Drake Awards recipients include Deschutes Brewery, Oregon Chai, Bob Thomas Car Co. and Central Oregon Visitors Association.

The awards showcased what industry executives outside Central Oregon say is a rapid increase of talent migrating to the region from big cities.

”From my perspective on this side of the hill, I’ve always noticed that the (ad) agencies in the Bend market were capable of attracting a higher level of talent than one would suspect,” said Joe Radloff, senior account executive for Mandala’s Portland office.

Like Bowler, Radloff said the quality of life attracts professionals who tap the area’s growth and telecommunications infrastructure.

Central Oregon is fostering a group of young, creative industry professionals from California, Florida, the East Coast and Portland, he said. The advertising newcomers are providing an enviable market in Central Oregon.

”Bend is growing as a talent pool, which is a good thing for all of us in the (advertising) industry,” Radloff said. ”It’s good for all of us to tap into these talent pools and draw from it. It raises the competitive level and challenges us to be better. We need to be highly competitive, drawing the right talent for our clients and prospective clients.”

New Central Oregon professionals have an advertising expertise that will push the industry to higher levels of creativity and productivity, Radloff added.

”In Bend, you have an exorbitant amount of affluent, highly educated and talented people,” he said. ”You’ll continue to see that trend continue. You’ll see younger, more talented and creative people across the board in industry being drawn to the region.”

Paul Evers, managing partner and creative director of tbd advertising, agrees.

”The quality of work has increased significantly over the last 16 years,” Evers said. ”(The Drake Awards) is the biggest event for the Central Oregon advertising community, it gives us an opportunity to come together and see all the work other agencies and design firms have done throughout the year.”

Drake Awards winners will compete in the second level of the three-tiered competition, the District 11 competition. Those winners are eligible for the national American Advertising Federation competition in June.

The awards are a way to show off local talent, Rankin said. She expects Central Oregon to do well at the nationals.

”This is a pretty big deal,” Rankin said of the competition. ”Everyone from the small shop to the biggest agencies out of New York City will be there.”

Even Central Oregon’s smallest businesses have a fighting chance.

”Just because you’re a little (advertising) agency doesn’t mean you won’t win,” Rankin said. ”With the Drake Awards, we’re starting at the local level and now we’re working up to a national level.”