-- While most tech entrepreneurs fixate on disrupting global markets, Bob Bartosiewicz has built his business by looking closer to home. The founder and CEO of CGI Digital and Hellonation.com, headquartered in Rochester, New York, has spent three decades creating digital marketing solutions focused on strengthening local communities rather than bypassing them.
"Most platforms pull our attention outward to global connections," Bartosiewicz explains. "My ventures push it back inward to the local communities where we live."
CGI Digital has evolved from hand-drawn community maps to a sophisticated digital platform, guided by this philosophy, serving over 7,000 municipalities nationwide. Despite building what industry analysts value as a multimillion-dollar enterprise, Bartosiewicz measures success not by market capitalization but by community impact.
Vision Built on Experience
Individuals and organizations enhance community welfare by giving back to communities through their time, resources, and knowledge—a fundamental aspect of social responsibility. This concept encompasses various activities such as volunteering, charitable donations, supporting local businesses, and participating in community development initiatives.
However, Bartosiewicz did not take a corporate setting to see the impact of empowering local communities. His community-focused perspective traces back to Thomaston, Connecticut, where he observed firsthand how local businesses formed the backbone of small-town economies. His father, whom he says never missed a day at his factory job, and his mother, a dedicated nurse, modeled a work ethic that valued consistency and community contribution.
This foundation shaped his outlook on business development when he founded Community Graphics Inc. in 1989. He initially created illustrated promotional maps showcasing local businesses with their logos. When digital disruption emerged in the early 2000s, Bartosiewicz adapted by digitizing his community focus, launching video initiatives for municipalities as online video gained popularity.
Today, under Bartosiewicz’s leadership, CGI Digital has grown, with over 300 talents working together to elevate Rochester's status as the center for digital marketing talent. The agency’s work showcasing the best small to medium enterprises attracts investors who see the value of the balance between marketing and empowering local communities.
In an article announcing his recent win at the 2024 Global Recognition Awards, Bartosiewicz shares, “Staying rooted in upstate New York has been a conscious choice for us. We believe in giving back to our community and supporting local talent while fostering a sustainable business environment.”
Answering the Big WHY
When asked why he focuses on local communities, Bartosiewicz shares that he discovered their untapped potential. He witnessed that potential during his early days when he created illustrated maps for his hometown in Connecticut.
While making those early promotional maps in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he witnessed firsthand how businesses and residents responded when they saw their community celebrated and contextualized.
Bartosiewicz mentions, “What began as a practical business venture revealed something profound—each community, no matter how small, possessed a distinct character and compelling stories waiting to be shared.”
Through conversations with local business owners, civic leaders, and longtime residents, Bartosiewicz recognized that these communities were not simply geographical locations but living narratives shaped by their history, culture, and people.
This revelation resonated deeply with his own experience growing up in a close-knit town—which embodied the quietness and resilience of many small American communities. Bartosiewicz believed these authentic local stories held tremendous value in an increasingly homogenized world.
The New Go-To Experts in Town
Today, Bartosiewicz puts his vision into a much bigger platform through Hellonation.com, America's most comprehensive community competence platform. More than a marketing tool, Hellonation.com serves as a digital town square where local knowledge, community insights, and expert guidance converge to celebrate what makes each neighborhood unique.
"We believe every community has something special worth sharing," Bartosiewicz explains. "Our platform connects residents with their community's authentic voice through the true experts who shape it daily."
Hellonation.com uses a hybrid magazine format to spotlight community "go-to" experts, from police chiefs sharing safety tips to veterinarians and financial advisors offering local insights.
Bartosiewicz believes that these trusted voices create thousands of micro connections that strengthen community bonds while providing practical, actionable information residents can use daily. The US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities formalize these relationships through endorsements, giving Hellonation.com unparalleled access to community insights.
“For small businesses lacking sophisticated marketing resources, Hellonation.com’s "edvertising" slant provides a powerful alternative to traditional advertising,” Bartosiewicz points out. “Rather than interrupting consumer experiences, businesses share valuable capability that establishes credibility while naturally promoting their services.”
One Community at a Time
Bartosiewicz acknowledges the monumental task ahead but approaches it with determination and enthusiasm. "The work we're doing with CGI Digital and Hellonation.com is substantial, but that's precisely what makes it worthwhile," he reflects. "Expanding our platforms means more communities gain a voice; more local businesses thrive, and more connections form between neighbors who might otherwise remain strangers."
Although CGI Digital now serves thousands of municipalities across North America, Bartosiewicz believes they have only begun exploring what is possible when technology amplifies rather than diminishes local identity.
As Hellonation.com prepares for America's semi-quincentennial in 2026, Bartosiewicz looks forward to bringing these stories to life on a bigger scale—creating a reliable digital platform for American communities that celebrates their distinctive character and shared heritage.
"This isn't just about building a business," he concludes. "No matter where we go, I will always return to local communities, strengthening the connections that make them worth calling home."
Contact Info:
Name: Patrick McCabe
Email: Send Email
Organization: CGI Digital
Website: https://cgidigital.com/
Release ID: 89159272
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