"If you have a choice between being a great marketer or a great technician, be a great marketer — you can hire any number of technicians to do the work for your many clients."
Mark Merenda, President, founded Smart Marketing in 1994, after leaving a post in corporate America as president of a $17 million-a-year software company. Since that time he has built Smart Marketing into one of the country's premier marketing firms for financial professionals and attorneys.
You can visit Mark's blog at:
http://smartblog.typepad.com
BA, Bennington College
Bennington, VT
"In life, perception is reality and in marketing perception is reality. Ensure your marketing projects your best possible image — it will come back to you ten-fold in the long run."
Lesley Blaine, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since December '01, has been working in the marketing field for over 15 years. Her areas of specialty include direct mail, list research, copy writing and marketing plan development. With prior positions in small to medium-sized, privately-owned companies, she understands the entrepreneurial spirit and what it takes to "make it happen."
BA, University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI
“To observe the creation of a masterpiece from beginning to end and to experience it's profitable outcome is what makes my job so rewarding."
Tina M. Holmes, Director of Client Relations, brings to Smart Marketing seven years of experience in the finance industry where she was licensed in Life, Accident and Health insurance as well as studied for Series 6 and 63. She worked as a Marketing Specialist for a large computer software company for several years, where she was cultured in the world of graphic design and printing. She has worked for such corporations as Fifth Third Bank, American Express Financial Advisors (Ameriprise Financial), TM Incorporated and Hurley Medical Center. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2000 from
"I like the challenge of doing the market research, finding the appropriate marketing mix, and coordinating our clients’ promotional program, whether it’s direct mail, advertising in the newspapers and on radio, or other methods."
Vanessa Harris, marketing manager since March ‘06, was born and grew up in England (Shropshire, near Wales) and was graduated from Madeley Court School. She came to the U.S. in 1995 and became a U.S. Citizen in October 2005. Vanessa serves in a number of roles at Smart Marketing, including marketing plan development, business development, market research, and event planning.
Madeley School
Shropshire, England
"I enjoy event planning because it taps into my passion for organization and detail, and because I am a 'people person.' It also gives me a chance to interact personally with financial professionals and their staff from all over the country."
Sarah Marshall, Events Manager since September '01, holds a degree from Auburn University, and learned her craft working for RDV Sportsplex in Orlando, Florida, home of the Orlando Magic. She has planned over 500 events, and is the past Director of Education for the Greater Orlando Area Chapter of Meeting Professionals International. It is not unusual for Sarah to be planning upwards of 40 seminars in any given month for Smart Marketing clients.
BS, Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Diane Scire, Graphic Designer, came to Smart Marketing in September '04 from a background in fine arts and theater. Her 15 years of graphic design experience includes stints in the publishing, real estate, and fashion industries — and has worked for such well-known companies as Disney and MTV.
BFA, West Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
“Graphic design makes you look at the things around you in a different way. I feel I come to know our clients through the work I do for them. Each project calls for a different approach. ”
Anne Daré, graphic designer, joined Smart Marketing in July 2006. A native of France, her role as designer combines life-long passions for artistic design and computers. In previous jobs, Anne has been a professional librarian and French teacher. She is an advanced brown belt in karate, currently pursuing her black belt.
“Professional services are invisible. And when the ‘product’ is invisible, the ‘package’ is the product. That means image is crucially important for our clients. Their brochure, corporate identity, web site — all must make a statement and position our client as among the best in their field.”
Julia Darocha, Graphic Designer with Smart Marketing since April '03, graduated from Santa Fe Community College with a degree in graphic design. She has extensive experience in both print and web design.
AS, Sante Fe Community College
Gainesville, FL
“The Internet is the direction in which all marketing is moving. This is only the beginning, and it’s easy to imagine that soon the virtual marketplace will equal or surpass that which takes place in real time and physical reality. I enjoy being constantly forced to learn new and better ways of doing things and being on the cutting edge of the technology that is transforming our society.”
Dave Meehan, Internet Marketing Specialist and Web Developer since November ‘06, has been working in Information Technology for almost ten years. His areas of specialty include website development, application development, database design, and hardware infrastructure and security.
“Before the advent of the Internet I worked in desktop publishing, I developed a feeling for what is balanced, functional, and attractive that I have been able to carry over into website design. I like taking all the elements, using my ‘creative eye’ and turning those elements into a finished product. The hours fly by. I love every minute of it.”
Terry Lamar, Internet Marketing Specialist and Web Developer since January ‘07, has been working in new media and Internet marketing for over ten years. For the past eight years, he was website/multimedia designer for a daily newspaper in the Scripps Howard chain.
“The key to success in advertising, marketing and public relations is striking an emotional chord with the target audience. You have to know what motivates potential clients, create work that speaks to them on an emotional level, and never lose sight of what it is that differentiates you from your competitors.”
Don Meier began his career as an advertising copywriter in 1988. He has worked on a wide range of accounts at some of the largest and most respected agencies in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Prior to moving to Naples and joining Smart Marketing in 2006, he was a freelancer specializing in business-to-business communications.
“Establishing a bond with your most important audiences takes a strategic approach built on understanding what messages will resonate and what campaigns will position you as a thought leader in your industry.”
Anna Yoffe , Director of Business Development since August 07, was previously an in-house Director of Business Development for a Southern California law firm. Her experience covers a wide range of business development activities, including creating and promoting sponsored presentations, developing niche marketing campaigns, facilitating marketing and buzz campaigns through newsletters and blogs, as well as placing quotes and articles in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, local papers and trade publications.
B.A., California State University, Northridge
“If your clients can easily navigate your web site, read and understand your content and do so from any browser on any computer then I have been successful”
Christy Sobolewski brings over 10 years of experience in managing and designing successful web sites.
Her experience includes setting up and managing large content management systems and dynamic content driven web solutions. Christy is most notable for her efforts in customizing content solutions like the community forums at her local newspaper during hurricane Charley in 2004.
Prior to joining Smart Marketing Christy was the webmaster for NeoMedia Technologies. While at Neo Media she was instrumental in the launch of their flagship product’s international web presence.
Christy also served as operations manager for The News-Press for more than 5 years where she was responsible for all maintenance and operations on a variety of web products and advertising solutions.
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