“In a growing company, people can sometimes feel they should be told what to do. So, I like to remind them that they’re all leaders in an invention business — exploring, experimenting, creating, connecting and testing. To do so, they must employ and maintain a constant confidence and curiosity. Finally, I tell them, no matter their role, that everyone at Schermer has an obligation to think and act as an adviser — to each other and our clients.”

“We celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2017, and marked the occasion by taking a fresh look at our business. Along with an entirely new brand, website and office, we launched InsightDrive, our agile research methodology, and deepened our digital UX and marketing capabilities with new talent and clients, including ADP, Red Wing Shoes and Zillow. These efforts and events galvanized our team, renewed our confidence and passion, and set our path for another 20 years.”

“Although we’re a marketing agency, we’re typical cobblers’ children: no shoes of our own. So, I’ll be honest, my priority is setting free the incredible stories of how we lead B2B companies from relevance to revenue. From redesigning ADP.com into an entirely new buyer-driven experience, to helping 3M get the entire medical profession to Think Skin Deeper, to reenergizing GE’s entire Ecomagination brand, content marketing and social efforts. Not everyone knows us, but they will.”

“I’m optimistic, but always looking around the corner. Today’s economy feels similar to the period prior to the 2008 recession. Low unemployment, high spending, low home inventory, profitable companies with difficulty driving organic growth. With the increasingly erratic political environment, I fear a sudden downturn, coupled with quarter-by-quarter financial management, could affect our clients’ ability to think and act long term, which would restrict them, and their strategic marketing agency, from planning, investing and succeeding.”