WHO WE ARE

You can’t fix stupid. – Ron White

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

29

ABOUT

Jeff is a 25+ year veteran of the promotional products industry. He has a passion for making his clients look great and simply getting the job done well. Our company motto (“We don’t say no unless everyone else say’s no – and maybe not even then”) originates with Jeff. He loves to deliver the unexpected and next-to-impossible (ask him about the Moon Rock). Of course we all shake our heads in bewilderment when he accepts some of these challenges but somehow he always manages to get it done.

He started his career in corporate sales and incentives for one of the world’s premier retailers. Later he became Regional Sales Manager for a top 10 promotional products distributor where he managed 22 reps and grew his territory volume 25% for 3 consecutive years to over $45 million in annual sales. Over the years Jeff has had significant successes but we like to remind him of the time (before Al Gore invented the internet) he passed on the opportunity to secure the URL for his corporate employer – he felt that “this world-wide web thing” would never take off.

Jeff was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and literally grew up in the business. His grandparents owned a print shop so his summers were spent learning the ins and outs of printing and promotions. Upon moving to Houston, he was an all-district soccer player, an Eagle Scout and then an honors graduate from Texas A&M with a degree in Marketing and Retail. Along the way he was VP of Entertainment Programs for A&M’s Memorial Student Center where he managed 5 direct reports and 8 committees (overachieve much?). Jeff and team executed more than 100 events each year including sell-out concerts like Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Jesus Jones.

In his spare time Jeff loves to golf, remodel houses and manage the Texas Rangers (look out Chris Woodward!). He lives with his wife in Dallas.

Life is 10 percent what happens and 90 percent how you react to it. – Charles R. Swindoll

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

22

ABOUT

If you are fortunate, the business life cycle takes you from “the two-guys-in-a-garage-company” to “a pretty substantial operation” and, if so, you’ll need an experienced business leader to help get to the next level. Jeff Erickson is that guy for Elevate Brand Marketing. He brings more than 20 years of strategy, forecasting, revenue growth and agency management experience having built new businesses from scratch and taking existing ones to greater heights.

Before coming over to EBM, Jeff spent 19 years at various Omnicom agencies, most recently as EVP Business Operations for The Marketing Arm, one of the top 20 promotional and experiential agencies in the US. Previously he was an early pioneer in digital marketing with Sixty Foot Spider, helped grow the Tribal DDB Dallas office and ultimately opened and ran Red Urban (a great way to be entrepreneurial using Omnicom’s budget!).

Jeff was born in Union City, Indiana, moved to Ohio and Arizona then finally settled in Mora, Minnesota during Junior High. He chased a football career and his girlfriend to Bemidji State University (go Beavers!) – unfortunately neither of those worked out – then took off to Louisville and Dallas.

Outside the office, Jeff plays softball, coaches his son’s baseball team and smokes an incredible brisket. He lives in Dallas with his wife and son.

This ain’t my first rodeo. – Joan Crawford

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

20

ABOUT

Mike is our switch hitter. After spending 15 years at interactive agencies (MC Communications and Improv) and online retailers (eSports Partners and LF Beauty) designing and activating advertising campaigns and ecommerce sites, he successfully transitioned into account management. Today he manages our Sales Support team, but we never let him forget his creative roots so he regularly has to switch roles and perform design support for our clients.

In the past Mike has been an all-star performer creating better online user experiences for NFL and NCAA online team shops that dramatically decreased shopping cart abandonment and increased sales to record levels. With Elevate he grew one client’s online e-commerce volume 300% in a single year.

Mike was born in Minneapolis and raised in Atlanta. In high school he was good enough to attend an MLB tryout camp where he got to meet Chipper Jones and Ron Gant. Even better, he impressed the scouts and, upon graduation, was drafted in the 16^th round by the Atlanta Braves. However the lure of fame and fortune in pro baseball wasn’t enough to pull Mike away from college (BS in Fine Arts from University of South Carolina) and an exciting career in promotional marketing – although he did spend two seasons with the Sioux Falls Canaries in the Northern League.

Outside of the office Mike loves a round of golf, a softball game and overseeing his burgeoning collection of 1980’s Transformer toys. Of course he can also be found coaching a select youth baseball team featuring his son – a future major leaguer. Mike lives in Frisco, Texas with his wife, son and Siberian Husky.

If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten. – George Carlin

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

31

ABOUT

Dave is our “corporate” guy. He spent over 25 years working in Consumer Behavior, Marketing Consulting and Brand Management at places like Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, The Nielsen Company and TM Advertising. He was also an early adopter of Consumer Neuroscience (no, seriously), the practice of using brainwaves to improve marketing strategy, TV and print advertising and package design.

He’s fond of reminding us that he received a Gold Effie from the American Marketing Association for the “Make 7 Up Yours” advertising campaign. Of course he leaves out that he was also such a genius that he passed on the opportunity to lock in 7 Up as an original sponsor of a new TV show saying, quote “that’s the stupidest idea for a show ever” – Survivor has now been on the air more than 20 years.

Born in Bogalusa, Louisiana and raised in Baton Rouge, Dave has lived in 4 countries, 7 US cities and has visited more than 20 other nations. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Dave loves to cook, play softball and soccer, fly small planes and recite ridiculous trivial facts – especially regarding obscure 70’s bands. He currently lives in Dallas, Texas with several plants.

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up someplace else. – Yogi Berra

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

31

ABOUT

Russ is remarkably knowledgeable in all things sourcing and contract manufacturing. Before following his entrepreneurial itch, he worked at UPS for more than two decades becoming an expert in operations, distribution and global logistics.

Upon tiring of “working for other people,” Russ became a small business builder successfully creating an investment group from the ground up, then an adult sports league/social events company that eventually had over 10,000 members. Then it was on to open and run the global sourcing division of Elevate Brand Marketing. 

His business successes are easy to see but some of Russ’ other pursuits make him our renaissance man. In addition to being a US Coast Guard veteran and an avid golfer, he’s an artist and an accomplished musician having played in a professional jazz band for years.

Russ was born in San Diego and grew up in Middleton, Idaho where he got his love of the great outdoors. He went to Boise State and BYU before graduating from DeVry Institute with a Computer Science degree and has since completed graduate studies at LeTourneau University.

When not working unbelievable hours (a byproduct of living 12 time zones away from colleagues and clients) Russ enjoys travel, sports and reading. He currently lives in Shenzhen, China and runs our global operations from there.

Be true to your work, your word, and your friends. - Henry David Thoreau

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

35

ABOUT

Todd is a sales lifer building a career representing the client's interest all the way. From print to packaging to promotional products, Todd has been instrumental in building business by integrating with client brand and marketing teams to deliver on-strategy marketing materials that drive awareness, interest and ultimately purchase.

Before joining Elevate Brand Marketing, Todd was responsible for packaging and marketing production at Southern Graphic Systems successfully growing sales across multiple company verticals. Before SGS were stints at Vertis Communications in Dallas and Color Control in Redmond, WA where he built and managed multi-million dollar portfolios.

Todd was born in Orange, California and raised in Anaheim. He cites his professional accomplishments as the many long-term relationships he's developed with clients over the years. Todd studied Economics at Cuesta College and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

When not selling, Todd loves to fish and garden but his real passion is overhauling vehicles. He has two grown sons and lives in Plano, Texas with his beautiful wife.

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. Vincent Van Gogh

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

30

ABOUT

Running a unit focused on warehousing, kitting and fulfillment requires a special skill set. It requires the ability to hire and train a wide variety of employees, manage client relationships and keep an eye on every little detail. It’s hard to find all of that in one person but we did it.

James is a guy who has seen it and done it before.  He has more than two dozen years management experience in retailing and distribution.  Among other warehouse operations James most recently managed the distribution and logistics at Neiman Marcus’ Clearance Division. During his twelve-year stint with Neiman’s he learned the value of high end customer service and maniacal attention to detail – both of which he brought to our warehouse operations.

From college to now, he has moved twenty-four times across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi – although he is quick to point out that those were promotions not career changes. 

James was born in Stuttgart, Germany, the son of a military man, and spent his childhood in Mississippi. He went to Mississippi College where he played football and helped the Choctaws win a Division II national title. He completed his education earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Texas at Arlington.

He has been married for thirty-four years to his high school sweetheart and currently has three children all in college at the same time – as the great actor, Mr. T once said, “I pity the fool”. James enjoys the BBQ pit, even once owning his own BBQ restaurant.  He says it was the best 80-hour-a-week, no-pay job that he ever had.