Thruline Marketing owns and operates specialized education and employee recruiting businesses focused on employment verticals requiring specialized training or vocational licensure.
1989
Year Incorporated
Founded as PlattForm Advertising
700+
Clients served
Vocational & license-based industries
$2B+
Media Spend Managed
Accrued knowhow across ad platforms
20+
deals completed
M&A expertise across deal types
Our thesis: pair experienced operators and deep knowledge of performance focused media buying with AI and automation, and you build category-leading businesses systematically.
Across paid search, social, and programmatic, every dollar is judged on ROI delivered to clients, not on vanity metrics.
We stack our team with senior, experienced operators, not layers of junior support. We expect everyone to stay accountable and close to our clients.
We integrate AI and automation to scale capabilities, never as a substitute for seasoned judgment or hands-on client service.
We optimize for client outcomes even when it costs us short-term margin. That tradeoff creates long-term value.
We do the fundamentals exceptionally well, then push to get even better. That’s what sets us apart. Ultimately, performance is the only proof that matters.
01 · Driver Recruitment
Filling CDL driver seats for carriers and private fleets — sourcing and qualifying candidates who are ready to drive.
Owned & operated
02 · Enrollment Marketing
Owned & operated
03 · Automated Nurturing
A suite of AI powered tech-enabled lead engagement services for scalable lead conversion and qualification — turbo-charging recruitment teams’ results through outreach automation.
Owned & operated
The story doesn’t start with Thruline. It starts in 1989 with PlattForm Marketing, then later Keypath Education — a company that was integral to creating a vibrant Kansas City advertising industry.
Known as Thruline Marketing today, we honor our history and use everything we’ve learned to focus on the students, employers, and schools we serve.
Mike McHugh
CEO
Mike sets the direction for Thruline and leads how the company acquires and operates marketing businesses.
Justin Gill
COO
Justin manages how Thruline’s businesses operate day to day.
August 2026
Combining best-in-class transportation marketing businesses.
September 2025
Adding a marquee brand as a platform to broaden services scope for transportation clients.
October 2022
To focus on marketing services.
December 2019
To focus on organic student search and employer-sponsored career training.
January 2019
January 2019
Lydia Poon joins the leadership team.