Info

Integrate & Ignite | Marketing Insights to Inspire

The Integrate & Ignite podcast explores the nature of what it means to be at the helm of marketing decisions. Every episode is crafted to make people think, to spark some “aha!” moments, and to illustrate just how important a truly integrated marketing strategy and a solid, inspired brand presence is to success and longevity. Your host, Lori Jones, is the President & CEO of Avocet Communications, and she has over 30 years of integrated marketing experience. Lori has interviewed over 300 top business leaders on the show with backgrounds in B2B and B2C from brands such as General Motors, IBM, McDonald's, and Netsuite. It is the wisest and most successful of leaders that know the value of advice, that can listen, and that can also share their experiences with others. Whether you're a CEO, a CMO, Marketing Director, or an entrepreneur who wears many hats, this podcast is for you. For more information and Show Notes, go to www.avocetcommunications.com
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Integrate & Ignite | Marketing Insights to Inspire
2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: October, 2018
Oct 30, 2018

“Saying ‘I’m busy’ should not be a badge of honor.”

Bob Tipton, founder and CEO of Team Tipton and organizational transformation architect, has been working as an entrepreneur in professional services since 1986. He is a high-energy, innovative, and insightful transformational change architect, leadership facilitator, keynote speaker, and author. For over 30 years he has been refining Team Tipton’s innovative approach for guiding businesses through future-forward, results-focused transformational change initiatives. With a game-changing approach toward driving strategic growth and positive culture shifts, the Team Tipton model has been successful in sectors including government agencies, public works, utilities, nonprofits, healthcare, and education.

 

Listen And Learn:

  • The importance of recognizing the energy we all bring into situations.
  • The deep value of kindness.
  • How we have to be brave enough to challenge our own beliefs.
  • How to see the humanity in others.
  • The psychology behind the need some people have to “always be right.”
  • The power of the message in his book, What’s Right, Not Who’s Right.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ARC THRIFT STORES, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND BOB TIPTON ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 29, 2018

“The good thing about being strange is that it’s also memorable.” 

Patrick Scott rarely does anything halfway. As a sophomore at Harvard, he took a job as a deliveryman for a student-run laundry service; a year later I was elected president of the Harvard Student Agencies, the largest student-run business in the world with over 600 employees and $5 million in annual revenue. After graduating from college, he entered a training program at Kraft Heinz; a year later he had redesigned and managed the forecasting process for sales to their largest client, Walmart. Patrick now works at the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, an organization that his younger sister, Alex, founded, and that is now one of the largest pediatric cancer foundations in the country. In his role, he leverages data to drive the organization forward – managing the Foundation’s Search Engine Marketing, implementing new Customer Relationship Management software, and developing Key Performance Indicators to use for visual management. He is passionate about confronting new challenges, reconceptualizing systems, and applying data creatively.

 

Listen And Learn:

  • About the story behind the brand.
  • How he balances – and benefits from – multiple generational business perspectives in the nonprofit world.
  • How he has built the experiential components of the brand.
  • Ways to leverages NetSuite.
  • Orchestrating nationwide events to build brand awareness.
  • How he ties the brand’s value proposition to an experience.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND PATRICK SCOTT ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

 

Oct 25, 2018

“Our value proposition really has nothing to do with a specific delivery, but rather on the WHY and the HOW we deliver the service to (our customers).” 

Paul Duncan co-founded Pie Consulting & Engineering in 1999. As president and CEO, he is the managing partner and leads all aspects of the business including oversight of the corporate office in Colorado and regional offices in Minnesota, Texas, Florida, and California. He has consulted on projects nationwide with services on large commercial property, apartment complexes, specialized building performance testing, as well as large residential developments. Under his leadership, Pie has experienced an average annual growth of greater than 15 percent since 2010 including record performance in each of these years. He attributes the company’s strong performance to building a strong company culture based on values, and having an excellent technical staff and outstanding employees who share the same vision of making a difference for others.

 

Listen And Learn:

  • His insights into working across multiple generations in the marketplace.
  • The company’s four core values.
  • The four topics his team addresses in every daily huddle.
  • How he has integrated a business development staff across all boundaries within the company.
  • How he deploys Emotional Intelligence and Competitive Intercept™ to build brand loyalty.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PIE CONSULTING & ENGINEERING, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND PAUL DUNCAN  ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

 

Oct 23, 2018

“I.T. needs to look at things horizontally; we cannot operate in a vertical because I.T. touches all the departments.”

 

Rick Gemereth is the chief information officer and senior vice president for Lionel, the iconic American designer and importer of toy trains and model railroads, based in Concord, NC. Rick provides corporate technology leadership and oversees many of the company’s business processes, including ERP and financial systems integration, as well as many other technologies used to streamline the business. Rick’s core focus at Lionel is aligning information technologies with the culture of the workforce in pursuit of the business vision. He is a proven manager who orchestrates solutions that improve the productivity and quality of life for the employees and the customers, and ultimately have a direct impact on the financial success of the organization.

 

Listen And Learn: 

  • How he continues to market the I.T. department inside the organization so he can extend its reach.
  • Ways he has kept a multi-generational, nearly 120-year-old brand relevant and vibrant.
  • The importance of focusing on the memories the brand creates.
  • How technology has reinvigorated the Lionel brand.
  • Why it’s important to “simplify and standardize.”

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIONEL LLC, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND RICK GEMERETH ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 22, 2018

“Visual search has become table stakes.”

Ted Mann is the CEO of Slyce, the market leader in image recognition and visual search. Slyce has created the first computer vision system for visual product search and has led to customers like Macy's, Home Depot, JC Penney, Neiman Marcus, Best Buy, and Urban Outfitters to deploy image recognition in their apps. Before Slyce, Ted founded SnipSnap, the first mobile app to let consumers save printed coupons to their smartphone and redeem in store. At the time SnipSnap was acquired, it was profitable and the app had five million users, who redeemed more than 250 million coupons. Prior to starting SnipSnap, Ted was digital development director at Gannett, where he led the development of the company's first hyper-local network, daily deal websites, and blog operations, in addition to managing the core news websites.

Listen And Learn:

  • How he has differentiated Slyce’s technology in a noisy and very competitive marketplace.
  • Visual search and its impact on human behavior.
  • How even small retailers can adapt and incorporate a visual and voice search strategy that works for them.
  • It’s more than the technology; it’s about solving customers’ problems.
  • How product recognition technology is transforming the whole self-checkout, scan-and-go experience in grocery stores.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SLYCE, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND  TED MANN  ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 18, 2018

“Brands should have character. Brands should stand up and take a stand and be human.”

 

Erik Reynolds, vice president of product marketing and communications for Loot Crate, is an 18-year veteran of the video game, tech and entertainment industries. Erik has worked with some of the most impactful brands and talent to help them craft the public story of their IP, and deliver those narratives in an engaging and audience-friendly manner. From executive producing an hour-long special about 50 Cent and hip-hop’s influence on video games for Spike TV to scripting and shooting BTS materials for dozens of games, Erik has leveraged every channel for storytelling to get the job done. Previous collaborators and represented brands include 50 Cent, Katy Perry, Mr. Miyamoto, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, and more than 100 other games/IP launches supported in his career generating billions in revenue for the companies he’s represented. 

  

Listen And Learn:

  • The one question that should guide all business decisions.
  • How brands can “put currency back in the trust bank” and create loyalty and affinity with customers.
  • The importance of defining the character of your brand.
  • The elements of impactful crisis communications.
  • How the company has grown to have over 500,000 subscribers around the world since 2012.
  • How to take a holistic approach to e-Commerce.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LOOT CRATE, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND ERIK REYNOLDS ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 16, 2018

 “Give your teams time to be thoughtful.”

 

Erika Eklund is director of communications at HGA Architects and Engineers, a national multi-disciplinary design firm rooted in architecture and engineering. The company has more than 850 people in 10 offices from coast to coast and works to make a positive, lasting impact for clients in healthcare, arts and culture, community, corporate, education, government, and energy markets. In her role Erika oversees firm-wide internal and external communications, including brand strategy and media relations. She has an extensive communications and external relations background with creative organizations, and previously served as business developer for HGA’s Arts, Community and Higher Education Practice Group.

  

Listen And Learn:

  • The unique challenges of creating a communications strategy for a professional services company.
  • The “rings of influence” that help build a brand.
  • Tips for aligning sales and marketing to grow your brand’s top of mind awareness.
  • Why it’s important to deliver the unexpected along the way.
  • Her strategies for selling expertise and thought leadership” rather than on selling a product.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HGA ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND ERIKA EKLUND ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

 

Oct 15, 2018

“People don’t buy from companies, they buy from people.”

As chief marketing officer and chief operating officer at Steiner Sports, Kelvin is at the intersection of sports marketing and finance. A CPA, former CFO, and business owner, he utilizes his extensive experience in business consulting to help businesses grow and profit by identifying and leveraging sports, athletes and major events with a constant eye on the bottom line. Kelvin helps companies – from new startups to Fortune 500s – monetize their marketing spend by determining what sports marketing strategy will benefit the company the most, providing access to the right athletes and properties at the right time, negotiating contracts for the best deals, and measuring and analyzing results to ensure ROI.

Listen And Learn:

• How small and large brands can benefit from sports marketing.
• The benefits to smaller brands of using event marketing to earn implied endorsements.
• Using sports marketing to build audience affinity.
• His recommendations for integrating a sports marketing approach your marketing mix.
• How the power of sports marketing can enhance any product or service.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STEINER SPORTS, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND KELVIN JOSEPH ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 11, 2018

“I don’t want to lose ourselves and I never want to take the easy path just so we can pick up a little bit more business.”

 

Daniel Alarik is founder and CEO of Grunt Style, a highly motivated group of veterans and patriots who love three things: “PT, freedom, and bacon.” For Daniel, what you wear is more than just a necessity to be clothed. It's about attitude! Daniel and his team have taken the American fighting spirit and instilled it in everything they do. His mission is to deliver the highest quality, most patriotic apparel on the planet, straight to your front door.

 

Listen And Learn:

  • How his love of patriotism guides his vision.
  • His definition of leadership.
  • His strategies for positioning, differentiating, and growing top-of-mind awareness for the brand.
  • How a social media strategy is “the fastest, most inexpensive way of reaching people.”
  • How he reaches 4-to-6 million people every day through the company’s social media platforms.
  • Why he would “rather have ten raging fans than 100 associates.”

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GRUNT STYLE CLICK HERE.

TO FIND DANIEL ALARIK ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 9, 2018

“When a customer gets a personalized treatment, they tend to buy more.”

 

As CEO of Brightpearl, Derek O’Carroll is responsible for the overall company strategy and for delivering on Brightpearl’s mission to automate retail. Brightpearl is a scalable cloud platform designed especially for high-growth multi-channel retailers wishing to automate and integrate their e-Commerce and accounting operations. He has spent his career developing a highly successful track record of creating value to IT companies in EMEA Specialties including building exceptional teams and creating winning environments, simple messaging, zero ambiguity, and a train for excellence. In 1994 he founded Adnet, Ireland’s first online advertising agency building database driven websites and offering SEO services. In 1999 he founded Vordel, which became a leading provider of XML security solutions and was sold to Axway in 2012.

 

Listen And Learn: 

  • Why 91% of retailers have an omnichannel strategy but only 8% feel they have mastered it.
  • Ways to create personalized experiences across all channels for your customers.
  • The number one characteristic of a company that is nailing omnichannel.
  • The importance of understanding and merging data to drive sales.
  • How to learn from Amazon to change your internal game.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BRIGHTPEARL, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND DEREK O'CARROLL ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 8, 2018

“Don’t be afraid to over-communicate.” 

Ryan DeWard is president and CEO of Unique Truck Equipment, a Michigan-based company that serves the Heavy Duty Trucking industry by providing safety products and tools to help drivers and mechanics work more safely and efficiently. As the company’s leader, Ryan’s responsibilities include strategic planning, sales and marketing, human resources, budgeting, accounting, contract negotiations, and vendor relations. Over the years Unique has grown into a multi-million dollar company and has become proficient in multiple channels including e-Commerce, catalog salesgovernment sales, and manufacturing/distribution. Under Ryan’s leadership, Unique has positioned itself as a market leader in diagnostics, product knowledge, vendor relations, customer service, pre-sale consultation, and personalized custom solutions.

 Listen And Learn:

  • The communications tips that connect his sales-driven vision with the creative components of the company’s marketing strategies.
  • The importance of online customer reviews.
  • How he integrates “old school” marketing strategies with online, e-Commerce solutions.
  • How he monitors the competition to better engage with his customers.
  • Creating powerful customer service interactions.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNIQUE TRUCK EQUIPMENT CLICK HERE.

TO FIND RYAN DEWARD ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 4, 2018

“You might think you know what the customer wants and needs. But, sometimes as marketers, we have to get off our high horse and ask the consumer what they think. You might realize that you don’t know.”

 

Erin Dwyer, vice president of digital at the skincare brand, Drunk Elephant, is a dynamic marketing executive with a 15-year progressive career and unique blend of experience that bridges gaps at the intersections of digital marketing, strategy, product, and technology. She is a confident strategist with a contagious passion for harnessing online landscapes, web platforms, social sites, and emerging apps and technologies to reach and engage audiences. Her industry experience includes entertainment, CPG, sports, software, gaming, and technology.

 

Listen And Learn:

  • How to use your social community to test and confirm messaging.
  • Why she recommends starting with an owned approach, followed by earned, paid, and shared.
  • Why all marketing “starts with who you are.”
  • How to execute quality and a brand’s aesthetic.
  • The need to prioritize lower funnels vs. upper funnels when implementing a marketing strategy.

 

TO LEARN MORE DRUNK ELEPHANT CLICK HERE.

TO FIND ERIN DWYER ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 2, 2018

“Embrace the change. Be the change.”

Justin Sessink is director of digital shopping and e-Commerce at Meijer, a regional American supercenter chain with its corporate headquarters in Walker, Michigan. He is responsible for leading cross-functional teams to develop and execute Meijer’s overall digital shopping strategy, including technology, operations, fulfillment, and other key aspects of omnichannel offerings. Justin also leads the site merchandising and product teams that support digital shopping. His team crafts the customer experience for Meijer.com as it relates to curbside pickup and home delivery. Justin also served as product manager for e-Commerce technology advancements developed through the Scaled Agile Framework.

 

Listen And Learn: 

  • About building customer loyalty by focusing on the customer experience.
  • How he educates his consumers about the company’s innovative digital offerings.
  • The importance of price and value, assortments, and service and experience in the supermarket industry.
  • Why it’s important to not spend too much time trying to perfect something.
  • His strategies for encouraging customer adoption and understanding of the learning curve when it comes to digital shopping.

 

TO LEARN MORE MEIJER CLICK HERE.

TO FIND JUSTIN SESSINK ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

Oct 1, 2018

“If you’re ‘binge listening,’ but then not actually implement anything that you’ve learned then what have you gained?”

Kevin T. Payne is founder of kevintpayne.com and a growth and content marketing consultant. He helps early-stage startups implement growth marketing campaigns to increase their inbound leads, increase website traffic, and speed up their sales cycles by using marketing automation software. He is the creator of Growth Driven Marketing For SaaS Startups, a 12-week online intensive course for SaaS founders that teaches them how to double their leads, become influencers, and gain their investors’ trust. He also writes for several online publications including HubSpot, BlackEnterprise, Blavity, and Creativelive.

 Listen And Learn:

  • How the power of digital marketing comes from integrating many different strategies.
  • The importance of creating buyer personas in order to understand your audience.
  • How to become an influencer in your industry.
  • How to gain valuable insight into your customers by simply listening.
  • How not to be overwhelmed by all the amount of information and social media channels to choose from.

 

TO LEARN MORE CONTENT MARKETING CONSULTANT CLICK HERE.

TO FIND KEVIN PAYNE ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

1