A Look at Simantel’s History
Chris Moehn, Executive Creative Director has been a Simantelite for 34 years. He’s the key to Simantel’s history and has played a foundational role in building the legacy of the agency. Born and raised right here in Peoria, Chris thought he would have to move to Chicago or St. Louis to find the type of high-level design work he wanted to be involved in. But then he saw an ad in the newspaper for Simantel and, as they say, the rest is history.
From the early days working directly with founder Jim Simantel, when the designers wore many hats, to our evolution to a full service CX agency, Chris has been there through it all.
Jim instilled a desire in his employees to put their all into their work to make every project, big or small, as successful as possible. That passion and drive, as well as his leadership style and mentoring approach to help people learn and grow, is part of the legacy that has been passed down through the generations of ownership. It’s what helps make Simantel, Simantel.
In this interview, you’ll hear about that and more as Chris shares some Simantel history, a look at the creative department today and what’s on the horizon. A consummate designer, Chris also shares a bit about some of his favorite projects from the office remodel to brand work to designing trade show experiences.
We’re excited to kick off this very special season celebrating Simantel’s 40(ish) anniversary by talking with the man that ties us back to our roots. Enjoy!
“It’s exciting…to see where we’ve come from then. It’s very humbling … and I’m just super proud to be a part of it and hopefully some people have learned a few things from me over the years.”
Chris Moehn
Bonus Clip: Chris Narrates His Story
About Chris Moehn
Chris’s passion for design dates back to his earliest childhood memories. This could be the reason he found his home at Simantel so early on (as employee #008). He’s been bringing our clients’ visions to life for 34 years in our creative department, which he now oversees as Executive Creative Director. He excels at providing creative insights for both strategic concept development and creative execution for all channels including digital, video, print, trade shows and much more.
And his creativity doesn’t stop outside Simantel’s doors. In his free time, you can find Chris designing and building outdoor patios and built-in bookshelves or refinishing furniture (he’s even to thank for our recent office redesign). He is also an active board member of VK Haiti, a nonprofit organization focused on creating sustainable opportunities for people in Haiti. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.