The parent company of The Durango Herald, Ballantine Communications Inc., is now working with Mountain Motion Media, a marketing and advertising company specializing in the automotive industry.

Mountain Motion Media was started in Dallas and serves clients all over the country.

Ballantine Communications and Mountain Motion Media recently reached an asset licensing agreement that will allow both companies to expand.

“The combination of our two business made a much more powerful entity,” Ballantine Communications CEO Doug Bennett said.

Mountain Motion Media will remain a separate company and continue to serve its existing national clients, but following the agreement it will start serving companies in the Four Corners.

By working with Ballantine Communications, Mountain Motion Media clients will be able to offer more advertising agency services

Chris Wiman, the owner of Mountain Motion Media, left his position as the general manager of a car dealership to start the company in 2012. Wiman moved to Durango in February before starting negotiations with Ballantine Communications.

Dale Martin also left his career in information technology to join him, and Wiman attributes the company's success to Martin's talent.

“I don't think either of us really ever planned to grow this fast, but Dale's skill set and passion is what's been the key tool in it,” Wiman said.

Recently Martin was featured by The Drive, a Time magazine publication, and called the most prominent truck photographer in America, although he will shoot anything on wheels.

Under the Ballantine Communications umbrella, Dale Martin will continue his work in photography, but he will also do some training for other photographers.

Wiman will be focusing on acquiring new clients and photography talent.

“My job here is to build an all-star team,” he said.

Both Wiman and Martin found the area offers world-class options for photography.

“You can drive down the street here and find a location,” Martin said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com