In this episode, celebrity spokesperson, Mike Rowe chats about honesty and authenticity in business and life in general. From promoting skilled trades to working with Caterpillar, hear Mike’s take on why transparency is the key to connecting with people.
Mandar Dighe: Brand Evolution at a Historical Company
In this episode, the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at The Knapheide Manufacturing Company shares what it’s like to be part of a tight-knit executive team, focused on evolving a brand that has sustained through six generations of family leadership.
Portia Mount: Philosophies on Marketing, Leadership and Life
In this episode, Portia, Vice President & Global Leader Strategic Marketing at Trane Technologies (Ingersoll Rand), talks about her greatest marketing successes and challenges, plus what insights about leadership she’s learned along the way.
Andy Montgomery: Five Brands Become One
Andy Montgomery, Brand Manager at LG Seeds, is a sales and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry. Andy explains his recent year-long journey serving as leader of a brand integration effort across a wide geography, with several legacy brands coming into one.
Brand Love with Nicole Ertas
Lovers, Lords, Hackers and Hawks – Great brands consider them all. Listen in to learn this model and how to apply it in your next campaign.
Rebranding a Branding Agency with Ali Mahaffy
Discover how a marketing agency with the sole purpose of building brands decided it was time to rebuild their own. Spoiler alert: they came out the other side a stronger brand with a refreshed outlook and a higher employee engagement rate.
Building a Brand from the Inside Out with CMO Tracy O’Brien
Join us as we talk to the CMO of Turner Mining Group about building a brand that appeals to both employees and customers. Find out how she strives to create a feeling of “One Team” and why it’s important to have a marketer at the table.
The Mystery of the Cult Brand with Chris Kneeland
Brand consultant, Communo co-founder and owner of the agency Cult Collective clues us in on what it takes to be a cult brand. Chris breaks down some of the pitfalls brands fall into and why his out-of-the-box strategies work for companies both big and small.
Become a Brand in Demand with Tim Williams
Agency guy turned business consultant shares the secret on creating demand for your brand. World renowned speaker and author, Tim Williams, sheds light on why businesses need to find their niche (and then say no).
Against the Grain with Bob Hoffman
Agency leader turned author offers us a different perspective on the podcast today. Find out why Bob is a skeptic of the advertising industry and how understanding his viewpoint can help you become a better marketer.
Purpose, Passion and People with Katie McCord Jenkins
President and chairperson of Illinois Mutual Insurance covers all things from modernizing a 110-year-old company to work-life balance to women in leadership. And she does it all with a people-first mentality.
From the Board Room to the Rodeo with George Taylor
Former VP and Chief Marketing Officer of Caterpillar joins us to discuss his extraordinary career path, what it takes to be an effective leader and his Midwestern values. Tune in for a masterclass in business acumen with George Taylor.
The Evolution from Branding to CX with Tim Van Hoof
VP of Marketing at COUNTRY Financial discusses the company’s marketing journey from branding to customer experience. Tim is a strong advocate for putting people first and then bringing that connection and personalization to digital marketing.
Think Outdoors with Rick Robinson
An out-of-home marketing expert joins us to chat about how creativity and strategy help to bring brands to the public, whether with digital screens or cutting-edge experiential efforts.
Marketing and Branding a City with Joshua Gunn
The charismatic Joshua Gunn, President and CEO of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, joins us to discuss his early music career, passion for economic development and vision to grow Peoria into the upper echelon of Midwestern cities.
The Evolution of Digital Healthcare with Jennifer Junis
Senior Vice President of OSF OnCall, OSF Healthcare’s digital health entity, shares what it was like to build a hospital without walls to connect people with care 24/7, as well as a B2B division that serves physicians, rural hospitals, employers and more.
Evolving the Brand of a City with Dr. Rita Ali
Mayor of Peoria, IL Dr. Rita Ali made history in 2021 as the first woman and first African American to be elected mayor of Peoria. She joined us to discuss her top initiatives to lead the city toward recovery, renewal and revitalization.
Positioning Strategy & Organizational Design with Brian Kessman
Lodestar founder and principal consultant explains how he helps agency leaders refine their positioning strategy and redesign their operating model to balance the needs of their clients, employees and the business.
Using Brain Science for Business with Diana Lucaci
A pioneer in the field of neuromarketing, Diana Lucaci explains how brain and biometric data is collected and used by brands to help improve their products, marketing and the overall consumer experience.
Continuing the Legacy with Chris Moehn
Executive Creative Director, Chris Moehn learned a lot from the agency’s founder. He’s played a pivotal role passing those values down through the generations and continues to help guide the direction of the brand and mentor many creatives along the way.
When Work Gets Personal with Kelly Luttinen
Kelly Luttinen, Associate Content Director shares what it was like to help create a video for the OSF Healthcare Foundation to support fundraising efforts for ALS after losing her dad to the same terrible disease.
Authenticity in Marketing with Jake Beyhl
Creative Director, Jake Beyhl is all about authentic storytelling. His passion for truth in advertising and pushing the envelope, along with a healthy dose of client trust, helped make the Caterpillar Dealer Technician Recruitment campaign a success.
Developing an Interactive Tradeshow Experience with Alan Wilson
Senior Web Developer, Alan Wilson’s Point of Pride came early on in his time at Simantel when he helped develop a live, interactive user experience for attendees at CONEXPO 2020. But when challenges hit last minute, the team had to get creative with their roll out plan.
More Than Work: Building a Community with Jason Brown
Insights Director, Jason Brown, shares with us a story about creating an identity for a joint venture with our client Knapheide. But more importantly, the moment he realized that Simantel is more than just coworkers – they’re a strong community.
Creating an Aligned Messaging Framework with Van Burnett
Consistency, alignment in messaging and digital marketing is especially challenging for highly matrixed organizations. In this episode Creative Director, Van Burnett, shares how the Take a Closer Look framework helped Caterpillar resolve that issue.
Creating an Impact for Future Generations with Pam Aiello
Senior Communication Strategist, Pam Aiello, was hired by Jim Simantel as the agency’s first writer. She’s made her mark on many people and campaigns during her tenure here, not the least of which was her own daughter and the City of Peoria’s “Don’t Shoot” campaign.
Challenging the Status Quo with Sara Ingles
Director of Experience Strategy, Sara Ingles has poured her creativity into many projects at Simantel, but one really stands out: the Dozer Pride rap video she co-directed. It went viral, and six years later, it still resonates with operators today.
Celebrating the Agency’s Anniversary with Alicia Ruemelin
Marketing and Brand Director, Alicia Ruemelin led the planning and execution of Ish Fest, Simantel’s 40(ish) anniversary celebration in the fall of ‘22. It took a ton of work, but in the end, the event went off without a hitch(…ish).
Marketing Industrial Brands with Misty Dykema
Misty Dykema becomes a guest on her own show—interviewed by her 9-year-old daughter, Myah. She shares stories of her work solving challenges for industrial brands and what she’s learned about leadership as a woman working with male-dominated industries.
Workforce Innovation with Amy Volz
Workforce innovation is a true calling for Amy Volz of Trane Technologies. It allows her to combine her passion for marketing and brand strategy with her love for helping to unlock the potential of women and create opportunity for all.
Leading in Agriculture with Aryn Drawdy
Aryn Drawdy, Corporate Communications Director at AGCO, knows the heavy industry. She started her career in construction, embraced being a woman in a male-dominated field, and seamlessly transitioned to her leadership role in agriculture.
DEI and Renewable Energy with Keally DeWitt
Keally DeWitt, VP of Marketing and Public Policy at GAF Energy has been an environmentalist and feminist since she was a little girl. Today, she cultivates a DEI-centered organization through servant leadership and celebrating diverse perspectives.
Engaging the Business Community with Laura Cullinan
Laura Cullinan, President of the Gilmore Foundation is a driving force behind Choose Greater Peoria. By facilitating collaboration among community leaders, she’s carrying out Bob Gilmore’s legacy to improve the livability of Greater Peoria.
Leading a Museum and Inspiring a Community with John Morris
John D. Morris, CEO and President of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, talks about leading his hometown’s museum and about his commitment to growing Greater Peoria’s wealth of activities and resources.
Supporting Community Growth Through Integrated Health Care with Bob Sehring
Bob Sehring, Chief Executive Officer of OSF HealthCare, shares why “the closer to home you can receive care, the better.”
Leading a Health System with Dr. Keith Knepp
Dr. Keith Knepp, President of Carle Health Greater Peoria, talks about growing up in Central Illinois, serving in his hometown as a physician and how he transitioned to leadership to make a wider impact on health care and the region he loves.
Ensuring Charitable Donations are Well Invested with Jennifer Zammuto
Jennifer Zammuto, President of the Heart of Illinois United Way, shares how her organization determines the best way to allocate charitable donations to maximize return on investment and the impact that has on the whole community.