Communications and Marketing Insights2025-10-02T14:47:13-05:00

Communications and Marketing Insights

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Equally adept in industries from entertainment to highly regulated verticals, we put the “fun” in sales funnel and know how to weave a compelling story for even the most daunting assignment. We’re experienced in developing and leading marketing and technology strategies for privately held companies and Fortune 500 brands with a strong passion driving growth through delivery of omni-channel engagements. See some of our accomplishments.

CultivatED Marketer Ep. 50 — From Radio to Public Safety: What Every Marketing Professional Can Learn About Trust, Storytelling, and Career Reinvention with Colleen Powell

July 12th, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 50th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – hosts Brent Bowen and Julie Masson are joined by Colleen Powell, the Strategic Communications Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Colleen Powell shares an extraordinary career journey that took her from more than two decades behind a radio microphone to leading communications for one of Iowa's most visible public service organizations. While her career path is certainly unique, the lessons she learned apply to marketers, communicators, nonprofit leaders, and public relations professionals in every industry.

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CultivatED Marketer Ep. 49 — Why Comfort, Joy, and Meaning are Critical in Modern Marketing with Samantha Scantlebury

June 29th, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 49th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – hosts Brent Bowen, Matt Tidwell, PhD, and Julie Masson are joined by Samantha Scantlebury, Senior Director of Brand Strategy at Signal Theory. Drawing from her early experiences in the field, Sam emphasizes that at its core, human decision-making is driven emotionally and rationally justified. Her perspective challenges marketers to look beyond technology and focus on something much more enduring: humanity.

CultivatED Marketer Ep. 48 — Why the Best Communicators Speak the C-Suite’s Language with DJ Jordan

June 29th, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 48th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – hosts Brent Bowen, Matt Tidwell, PhD, and Julie Masson are joined by D.J. Jordan, Senior Vice President at Pinkston, to explore challenges facing marketing and communications professionals today: protecting and strengthening organizational reputation in an increasingly complex world. Drawing on a career that spans political communications, national media, public affairs, corporate communications, and crisis management, DJ shares lessons learned from working with organizations navigating high-stakes situations, leadership transitions, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

CultivatED Marketer Ep. 47 — Why Human-First Marketing Wins in 2026 with Justin Ricklefs

June 8th, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 47th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – hosts Brent Bowen, Matt Tidwell, PhD, and Julie Masson are joined by Justin Ricklefs, founder of Guild Collective, to get his insights on brand strategy, leadership communication, company culture, and building meaningful customer relationships through authentic storytelling. Justin shares how his time with the Kansas City Chiefs shaped his focus on relationships and story-driven growth, and explains Guild’s “brand heartbeat” framework built on clarity, connection (inside and outside the organization), and creativity that evokes emotion.

CultivatED Marketer Ep. 46 — What Separates Visionary Leaders with Lacey Graverson

May 26th, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 46th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – hosts Brent Bowen and Julie Masson are joined by Lacey Graverson, Senior Manager of Brand and Strategic Communication at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Together they explore how to steward a major nonprofit brand through strategic alignment, clarity, and consistent messaging. Lacey shares her career path into PR and branding, highlights the value of discovery meetings to create shared direction, and explains how the foundation’s storytelling focuses on grantees, entrepreneurs, students, and community impact rather than the foundation itself. She discusses how brand stewardship requires organization-wide buy-in and message discipline, then details the Uncommon Leader Visionary Award.

CultivatED Marketer Ep. 45 —  How AI Is Transforming the PESO Model

April 27th, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 45th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – host Brent Bowen explores how AI is reshaping careers and redefining the PESO model (Paid, Earned, Shared, Owned). He lays out how AI is mediating distribution, accelerating content velocity, and shifting measurement toward predictive performance.

CultivatED Marketer Ep. 44 —  Sensorial Branding, Bold Identity, and the Future of Marketing with Mary-Catherine Reinert

March 31st, 2026|Episodes Sparkcade, Podcast|

In the 44th episode of CultivatED Marketer – your go-to marketing professional development podcast – hosts Brent Bowen, Julie Masson, and Matt Tidwell, PhD, are joined by Mary-Catherine Reinert, Founder of Fortissima, a firm specializing in multi-sensorial marketing for boutique hospitality and lifestyle brands. Packed with marketing career advice and marketing industry insights, this episode challenges conventional thinking of branding and delivers practical lessons from a marketing leader who built her career by breaking the rules.

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