I recently took part in a discussion on LinkedIn, “Do ideas have value?” I thought it was a really intriguing question. So many others did too that the string had well over 500 posts by the end of the day. Opinions varied widely, but the crux of the debate seemed to focus on two things:
1) How is “value” defined, and …
2) Does what happens to the idea somehow determine the value of the idea? (more…)
No, this is not another Man vs. Food challenge. Nope, not an Andrew Zimmern Offal Feast Fest either, though it may soon be a Throwdown to my children at the dinner table.
“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you
the rest of the day.”
— Mark Twain
“Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy is a valuable resource in my library (yes, creatives do read) that offers 21 useful ways to address the challenges that we each face regarding time management and overall productivity. (more…)
The Air Force Reserve has taken me literally around the world…and then some. My most recent trip was a quick jaunt down to Haiti the week following the Jan. 12 earthquake to escort a reporter from a national Web-based news agency. Although I was only on the ground for about two hours, and in the middle of the night, the experience was certainly memorable.
As a public affairs specialist, I always welcome the opportunity to tell the Air Force story. So when the chance to share my experiences in Haiti arose recently, I put on my uniform, grabbed my photos and headed off to face a rather inquisitive bunch – my daughter’s fourth-grade class at Franklin Elementary in West Allis, Wis. (more…)
It’s good to get in front of a student audience periodically to gauge the state our own hubris. You know the value of a good Ishakawa diagram and the business end of a sincere communications plan. Now try explaining that in English.
The gaze of 20 blank faces trying to digest their first exposure to anything associated with the concept of Six Sigma is akin to attempts at explaining away a speeding ticket to a state trooper on a 90-degree day. In the first instance, nothing has prepared this audience for the discussion because it’s a manufacturing concept (and they’re in the school of communications) and in the second case nothing you have to say is of interest to the target. And both situations are your fault. (more…)
“Strategic marketing communications—it’s at the core of everything we do. It’s what gives our work real and added value.” Dean has spent his entire professional career in the marketing and communications industries, working as a client-side senior marketing executive, an agency producer and writer, and as an account service professional.
From an early start in television broadcasting, audio & video production, and creative copywriting, to several years in sales, sales management, marketing management and account supervision, Dean has amassed a broad portfolio of practical, hands-on experience, which benefits all our clients on a daily basis.
Experience on both the client and agency sides of the business has given him a greater understanding of the challenges marketers face every day. It has provided insight into the account planning, creative and production processes, as well as solid answers to the “how’s” and “why’s” of strategic, results-oriented marketing.
A business owner since 1997, Dean understands what it takes to build a business from scratch and manage consistent growth—even through tough economic times. He also believes in giving back to the professional community. He is an active board member of SMEI (Sales & Marketing Executives International)-Greater Milwaukee, and has served as their president from 2005 to 2006.
“It’s not enough to have just a great creative idea anymore,” says Dean. “That idea must work in the whole context of our client’s marketing and branding plans. It needs to fit the strategy, convey the core message and, above all, it should help make the cash register ring.”
All of LePoidevin Marketing’s people are senior level talent. “That’s intentional. We catch on fast and have immediate impact. We’re a group of people who love what we do, and it shows.”
Dean and his wife Ruth live in Lisbon, WI. They have three sons — Elliot, Alec and Zachary.
Throughout our day, we have interactions with various companies or brands. Most of the time, it’s so routine that we may not even think about it – whether it’s pumping gas, grabbing a bite to eat, running an errand or getting a cup of coffee. And when something positive happens, you can’t help but to re-evaluate that experience and be refreshed when you think a company has gone above and beyond to make your day. That’s exactly what I experienced the other day. (more…)
When it comes to getting involved in a lot of things all at once, Rosalind Elliott is a star.
As an assistant account executive at LePoidevin Marketing, Rosalind works as a project coordinator, media coordinator and research assistant for clients involved in everything from aggregate mining to animal health products. In the course of a day she does a little of this and a little of that, but always learning how clients think and responding to their needs.
Before joining the team, Rosalind was a media assistant and office administrator at a leading Milwaukee agency and an advertising and public relations assistant for a local retailer.
Rosalind is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/mass communications. Her discipline emphasis was advertising/public relations.
When she’s not plying her craft, Rosalind likes to travel, having logged miles across most of the continental U.S. Although she’s spent time on the beaches of California and the southeast, she looks forward to exploring the coasts of Greece and Thailand.
If you can’t find Gregg behind a grill with a cool drink, he’s hard at work sparking creative ideas for our clients.
As senior art director at the LePoidevin Marketing, Gregg develops and manages comprehensive brand communication strategies for the agency’s B2B clients. He is involved in the creative process from start to finish, turning ideas and concepts into deliverables that communicate our clients’ key messages.
If it were up to Gregg there would always be a horror movie in the DVD player at home; however with two young boys — Kai (age 3) and Miko (age 1) — you’re more likely to find Cars, Ratatouille, Speed Racer, or The Peanuts. Gregg also enjoys listening to music of all genres, but his lifelong membership in the The KISS Army is proof that he is ready to “Rock and Roll All Nite, and Party Every Day” … and yes, he has attended shows in full make-up.
When he’s not marching with The KISS Army, Gregg enjoys training for and participating in the sport of triathlon. In fact, he and wife Michaela participated in the 2005 Ironman Wisconsin competition and lived to tell the tale.
Gregg and his family live in West Allis, Wis. with their cat Clover and dog (The) Regal (Beagle). He grew up in McFarland, Wis., before moving to Milwaukee to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
He manages account services, he seeks new communications solutions and he jumps modest-sized buildings in a single bound. But when it comes to market research, Judson Luke is simply the man with the plan for our clients.
Judson is responsible for managing agency services, including advertising and other offerings, for a variety of clients in business-to-business and consumer markets. Additionally, he’s responsible for qualitative and quantitative research for clients and oversees the company’s proprietary interactive intelligence tool, Peabody™.
Prior to joining LePoidevin Marketing, Judson was a research analyst and marketing account executive at Brown Deer, Wis.-based Metavante Corporation where he conducted market analysis for the company’s various internal stakeholders and later managed the marketing efforts for one of Metavante’s largest business units.
Judson is a 1993 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 1996 he earned an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Additionally, he has served as adjunct marketing faculty at Bryant and Stratton College, Milwaukee.
Judson is a current resident of Wauwatosa, Wis., where he lives with wife Sara, step-son Evan and daughter Georgia. He is a native of Pewaukee, Wis.
When he’s not on the research trail, Judson enjoys Tae Kwon Doe (he’s a green belt) and golf—a great combination.
You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers.
You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
—Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian novelist and Nobel Prize winner
When it comes to good design, you need a combination of advanced technical skills and precious “intangibles” to be successful. And Julie’s got that—in abundance.
As a graphic designer/production coordinator at the LePoidevin Marketing, Julie’s charged with managing print and Web design projects for varied agency clients.
Prior to joining the team, Julie worked as a graphic designer at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) where she served as art director of US Youth Bowler, USBC’s
600,000-circulation flagship publication for youth members. In addition to her magazine work, Julie designed a variety of membership and collateral pieces for trade shows and other association events.
Julie is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in English.
In addition, she has completed additional training at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and
Design (MIAD).
In addition to being a fine designer, Julie is an avid tennis player. She lives in Milwaukee with her two cats, Isabella and Mani.
To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.
—Georgia O’Keefe
