WATERLOO - An advertising agency executive who has been involved in a number of high-profile community projects over the past 20 years is closing up shop.

Chris Harshbarger, chief executive officer of Ad-Fax Inc., said a drop-off in automotive and other advertising business, coupled with personal health issues within his immediate family are prompting him to close the agency at the end of December.

"2008 had been a difficult year for us personally, our family as well as a downturn in business, and the difficulty in moving forward in a tight economy forced the decision to close the business rather than go further into debt," Harshbarger said.

"After 20 years in this particular business, and so many community projects, it's a very sad time, and it is particularly stressful for those staff who have been with our company throughout the life of it," he said.

Harshbarger had been cutting staff through the year. He had 11 at the beginning of 2008; now there are six. The agency employed as many as 23, during the mid-1990s.

"We know as a work family there are many, many other people who have more difficult things to face," Harshbarger said. "I look to the community to help all unemployed find a place to land, and pray the employees who leave our company will find employment that takes advantage of their tremendous talent."

Harshbarger, the former executive director of the Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging, founded Ad-Fax in 1989. Over that time the company had been involved in a number of community endeavors, including a campaign for a skate park in the late 1980s; development of the MidPort America industrial park near the Waterloo Regional Airport in the early 1990s; and work with Jamco Inc., a group of road construction contractors which unsuccessfully bid to buy out the then-bankrupt National Cattle Congress in the mid-1990s.

Harshbarger and his firm also mounted a successful referendum campaign for Cedar Falls Utilities to establish a metropolitan communications utility in 1994. His firm also has published CFU's quarterly newsletter, which Harshbarger said will now have to be taken on by other parties. His agency clients have ranged from those in the automotive industry to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Harshbarger and his firm also helped prepare the Cedar Valley's proposal to bring a Micron, Inc. computer chip plant here in 1994, after Waterloo was named a national finalist for that facility. He also helped successfully oppose a 2002 referendum to re-direct local option sales tax money away from street repairs toward some Vision Iowa projects. Harshbarger and his firm also did a considerable amount of work with Covenant Health System and Peoples Community Health Clinic.

In 2006, Harshbarger was one of the first community leaders who helped make public the financial problems of the Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County and helped that agency to reorganize. In the 1980s he also served on committees which recommended successful mergers of the city of Waterloo and Black Hawk County health departments; as well as the city and county assessors offices. He also served on a county committee looking at county employee health insurance.

His company also worked on a number of political campaigns, including the successful 1993 election campaign of Waterloo Mayor John Rooff.

Harshbarger also is a past chairman of the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

"One thing I believe we developed a clear ability to do is to solve problems. We've proven that through this company and through my other endeavors in the market," he said. "I don't know what my future holds, but I think I can bring value to whatever I find myself invited to do.

"The natural inclination is to look at the business closure as a failure. I can't look at this as a failure, if I'm honestly considering all the things our company has been able to involve itself with," he said. "The kindness and overwhelming gestures from our vendors and our customers just leaves us without words to express our appreciation."

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1426 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourierlcom.