Think Tank: Brand Strategy in The Digital Age

May 25, 2010

When:      Tuesday, May 25, Networking starts at 7:00 PM.  Program starts at 7:30 PM.
Cost:        FREE
Where:     Seattle University, Wyckoff Auditorium, Engineering Building, Networking in Wyckoff lobby located on first floor at the main entrance to the building.

Register Now!

Parking:Click here to download a map of the SU campus which will help indicate areas for parking. Visitors can park in the Murphy Garage or the Main Visitor parking area. Both of these parking areas have meters where guests can pay. The Murphy Garage’s pay station is on the 1st level only, but guests can park on any level of the garage.

A brand is – in its most basic form – a proper noun, a name. In fact, you are a brand. Your friends, colleagues, and clients all have a set of associations that they recall every time they see or hear your name. In business, the power of a brand is its ability to impact purchasing decisions. A strong brand can engage customers, attract new business, and set you apart from a sea of competition. In the digital age, where a post on Twitter or a review site can be seen by thousands, a comprehensive brand strategy requires more than a logo and a type face. Brand experts who are in the trenches working with companies to develop and maintain brands share their stories, expertise, and advice.

Ron Schott, Spring Creek Group Ron is a Project Lead and Agency Voice lead at Spring Creek Group, an interactive marketing agency focused on social media brand analytics and campaign services. He has handled marketing and PR efforts for industry-leading software and hardware vendors, as well as industry consortiums. Prior to joining Spring Creek Group, Ron was an account manager at Owen Media Inc.; a technology public relations agency. While at Owen Media he received the 2007 Interactive Media Award for computer software.

Jeff Barlow, Owner, Jelvetica
Jeff is the owner of the Seattle-based studio, Jelvetica. They specialize in helping their clients find their core ideas, then turn those ideas into strong brands. His strategic and design experience includes work for Expedia, The National MS Society, Seattle International Film Festival, WaMu, and Disney. He is also the President of AIGA Seattle—the professional association for design, and a typography instructor at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle.

Taddy Hall, Meteor Solutions
Ridgway "Taddy" Hall specializes in leading organizations through high growth - as well as tumultuous change -- on the road to success. Taddy began his career in the Venture Capital and Private Equity Industries, working for Advent International both in the US (3 yrs.) and Latin America (2 yrs.). He then transitioned from finance to operations, managing four venture backed businesses - three of them technology/internet related and one with retail, manufacturing, and real estate development business units. From 2003 until August, 2008 Taddy served as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) where his primary responsibility was to help senior executives meet growth objectives by making Marketing more effective and accountable. Taddy is a recognized authority in the fields of Marketing, Innovation, Branding, and Competitive Strategy.

Aydin Ghajar, Corhouse Branding
Aydin is Director of Product Management at MySpace, where he works on products that promote concerts and events on the web and on mobile devices. He transitioned to MySpace through the purchase of iLike, the number one music application on Facebook with over 60 million users. Aydin has worked with brands such as iTunes, Adobe, Motorola, Walmart, and Doritos to develop marketing campaigns on Facebook, MySpace, and other social platforms. In 2009, Aydin became a partner at Corhouse, a brand strategy and design firm that specializes in working with early stage companies to develop an authentic and effective brand identity.

Thank you to our Think Tank Sponsors: