Feel Great, Do More

Royal Caribbean’s ongoing dedication to helping its teammates live better, healthier lives led to some big changes in this year’s annual wellness fair. Fresh, bold creative set the tone and let staff know at a glance that this was one not-to-miss event.

Contine Reading

Bombardier Invite Flies High

Celebrating the Legend of Learjet and the Living Legends of Aviation has been cool fun, baby. We had the privilege of helping market these two highly exclusive, invitation-only events. GG brand director Ashley Bowen Cook even provided onsite support. Not that we’re jealous or anything. What’s so special about sipping cocktails at the Beverly Hilton with the likes of John Travolta, Kurt Russell, Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman? OK. Let’s just say Ashley’s still walking on air.

See the campaign.
Living Legends of Aviation
Legend of Learjet

GG Digital Brand Manager Jazzes Up the Joint

When Jared Brickman moved to Wichita a few years ago, he found a surprisingly robust arts and entertainment scene. But no easy way to find out about them. He set out to correct that by creating an organization that intelligently leverages the power of social media. Almost instantly, ROK ICT became the city’s go-to source for art and music. It popped on our radar because of its clever aviation reference (ICT is Wichita’s airport designator). Plus we like to know where the cool stuff is showing.

Jared’s a self-professed geek (how many folks do you know who played with PowerPoint as a kid?), an accomplished jazz pianist and an absolute whiz at harnessing digital media for effective promotion. As he puts it, he tempers his inner nerd with a solid business background and strong creative vision. Jared’s quick to see patterns and combinations in seemingly unrelated data. He connects the dots to identify strategic opportunities in social media, mobile and other interactive technologies. Keeping our clients on the cutting edge of the constantly changing digital scene.

You really need to Google yourself on a regular basis. Not you – your brand. It’s not about ego. It’s about keeping your brand top-of-page when people go looking for that particular service or value you provide. If your sites are coming up on top – great. Nice job. But don’t get complacent. The web is constantly in motion. And if you aren’t where you’d like to be, it’s time to take the offensive. On our blog, we recently explored some common search-engine battle tactics and how best to approach them.

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This year the Kansas State Fair and Greteman Group have raised the bar on crazy – again. Sheep Thrills and Raving Bull will soon charge a TV screen and billboard near you. It’s your deep-fried, cotton-candied, chain-sawed, goat-ropin’, big-buckled, mutton-chopped and mulleted masterpiece of Midwestern cultural experience – on a stick.

This year’s campaign builds upon our past quirky barnyard critters,reminding fairgoers to head to Hutch for outrageous, one-of-a-kind fun. Traditional channels – broadcast, print, outdoor – form a foundation for the fair’s increasingly effective social-media campaign. A blog, Twitter and Facebook target teens and young adults with regular updates, contests and requests for feedback. The International Association of Fairs and Expositions named the 2009 campaign best in its use of social media.

See the full campaign.

Smart and Effective

Sophisticated yet inviting. Elegant but functional. Signature Flight Support’s new digital efforts perfectly reflect the company – the world leader among fixed-base operators that nevertheless makes each visitor feel right at home. Drop your airstairs at any of Signature’s 102 locations and you’ll think they’ve been waiting just for you. And people are taking notice. Aviation International News’ annual survey recently identified Signature as one of the world’s best FBOs.

Exceptional Service
Visit the website, you’ll immediately find what you need – as though they knew you were coming. Moving aggressively to increase market share, Signature has been expanding its digital presence, while scoring a series of hits with fun, smartly aimed evites producing outstanding turnouts for promotional events at the NBAA International Operators Conference, EBACE and other targeted aviation functions. For those on the go, Signature’s dynamic new mobile site lets pilots quickly access everything from locations to up-to-the-minute news.

Rethinking the Modern Community Hospital

How do you market the hospital of the future? That’s now here? Working with Via Christi Health, we covered all bases: digital, outdoor, print and broadcast. We started with an attention-getting :15 teaser and, once we could shoot inside the hospital, followed that with a :30 TV spot and longer-form video featuring key staff and people eager to have this great new resource. We still haven’t decided whether the retired couple or expectant parents were the most excited. Check out the videos at left and tell us what you think.

At WATC, It’s All About Jobs

Training for a high-wage, high-demand career is now easier than ever to find. Our recent rebranding for WATC (pronounce each letter separately and proudly, please) does more than reposition and elevate the college. It captures your attention and compels you to take the next step. Learning more.

The new identity instantly communicates that this isn’t the Wichita Area Technical College of years past. The academic crest suggests a prestigious college, not a low-tech vo-tech. Wing shapes personify the school’s commitment to “Give your career lift.” WATC’s an open book, offering real-world knowledge and hands-on learning to those on a quest to achieve more.

The recently launched website’s savvy navigation, bold graphics and tell-it-to-me-straight messages guide you through key program areas. Interactive features prompt two-way communication and support WATC’s mission. To not just provide an education. But a lifetime of career success.

Marathon Brand Manager

When Jennifer Szambecki joined Greteman Group she described herself as a “compulsive joiner.” So, we have to assume she’s here because she really, really wants to be and not just responding to an involuntary impulse. Actually, Jennifer came in eyes-wide-open, having crossed paths with us many times since 2000 in a career that’s involved fundraising for a couple of our favorite organizations: Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Jennifer spent two years in Boston for another leading nonprofit. This avid runner lived happily on mile 24 of the Boston Marathon just down the street from Fenway Park. But Wichita called her back, and we’re glad it did.

First-Name Basis
About the time she become our newest brand manager, Jennifer announced she was getting married. Part of our jubilation was the thought that now we wouldn’t have to learn how to spell Szambecki. Then we find out she’s going the hyphenation route. Szambecki-Benninga. Thanks, J. Much better.

This young professional has no “off” to her “on.” She has a handshake to rival a campaigning politician’s and builds relationships as deep as they are plentiful. The Rotary Club of Wichita, Young Professionals of Wichita and her church all benefit from Jennifer’s big-hearted enthusiasm and electric personality.

A BA in psychology helps Jennifer probe the mind of the consumer. And she can tell if you’re telling the truth by the way you hold your mouth. At least, she says she can. Mostly her interest in human behavior and thought processes translate into a deep desire to understand her clients’ needs. Her favorite concept from Take a Stand for Your Brand is the call to serve as a vigilant brand guardian. Indeed, her clients can see this brand manager’s halo from miles away.