If not, you’re not alone. Because regardless of their size, scope or objectives, many well-run businesses and nonprofits struggle to get their arms around marketing strategy and execution. In the absence of an overarching plan, marketing defaults to a series of loosely connected projects rather than a carefully implemented plan grounded in strategic thinking. It becomes more about hitting advertising deadlines and less about long-term, intentional positioning. Where no marketing framework exists, business owners, VPs, marketing managers and creative team members often feel like they’re having the same conversations time and time again, yielding little marketing traction.
Outsourced Marketing Support
Based in Burlington, NC, North Star Marketing is a team of marketing and advertising consultants, content developers, graphic designers, programmers and project support specialists. We help companies and nonprofits develop marketing infrastructure and execution strategies. Our clients come in all shapes and sizes and span multiple industries. North Star Marketing can deliver specific projects, such as brand and website development, or provide ongoing support for both online and traditional marketing.
For many of our clients, we are their “outsourced marketing department,” providing supplemental strategy and creative service on a retainer basis. For less than the cost of a full-time marketing director, we provide strategy, design, content development, marketing plan implementation and advertising management.
Regardless of the scope of our engagement, our goal is simple: to help our clients position their brands for success.
Because when you've found True North, you can move forward with confidence.
The Process
We begin most of our client engagements with a simple question: “What prompted your interest in this project?” Because we want to understand how this project fits into the overarching strategy. And where no strategy exists – where no marketing methodology drives the plan – we bring a framework to the table to start the process of intentional alignment for better long-term results.
That’s because we don’t think about what we do as “just a project delivery service.” Rather, we believe our engagements are opportunities to improve our clients’ marketing strategy and execution…to give them clarity, purpose, continuity and direction.
North Star’s three-phase marketing alignment process:
Strategy
The Discovery Process is all about the “why” behind the “what.” This methodology helps us avoid assumptions and gets us deeper into the positioning conversation. What we learn in this phase enables us to execute creative projects with a higher degree of effectiveness. It helps us speak to specific target audiences rather than broadcast one-size-fits-all messages. Simply put, strategy sets the direction for every subsequent marketing effort.
Creative Services
Nearly every marketing initiative translates into some form of tangible communications – a logo, a website, print collateral, direct mail piece, social media post, etc. Building on the Strategy phase, North Star’s in-house creative and technical services teams are well equipped to support a broad range of marketing projects, aligning the look, feel, message and functionality with the overarching plan.
Execution
Knocking down a punch list of projects isn’t marketing – it’s “meeting deadlines.” Implementing an informed strategic plan over time is marketing. Phase three of our process is all about execution – coming alongside our clients to help them implement the plan. We flow their online and traditional marketing initiatives into a web-based marketing calendar that tracks promotions, projects, tasks and budgets. This real-time platform fosters clarity and accountability.
Services
Services Framework
Whether you’re considering outsourcing a single project or engaging a long-term strategic partner for ongoing marketing support, North Star can help.
Single Projects
Many of our projects focus on a single deliverable – logo design, web development, brochure layout, search engine optimization, pay-per-click management, etc. However, even though we’re contributing to only one part of the marketing plan, we think carefully about how our project fits into and impacts the overarching strategy. Click through the services menu to learn more about our marketing project capabilities.
Retained Services
For our clients who want ongoing, fully integrated marketing alignment, we start by developing a strategic plan for their marketing. This often includes shoring up their marketing infrastructure (brand, web, print). We then develop a marketing mix that makes sense for them and flow the plan into a shared, web-based marketing calendar that drives execution. This service model is often implemented on a retainer basis, giving us a regular allotment of time each month to work on the account.
One Team
Marketing projects are handled by full-time North Star team members. We are not a decentralized, hub-and-spoke firm that depends primarily on freelancers to get our clients’ work done. We are a full-time team of marketing, creative and technical services professionals who collaborate closely on every project.
Brand Identity
A brand is more than just a logo. And “branding” is more than using consistent colors and fonts. Your brand identity embodies the persona of your organization; it sets the tone for your marketing strategy; it sets expectations and makes promises. Your name, your logo, your tagline, your colors, your typography should all work together to clearly establish a position in your market that is uniquely and authentically you.
Think about it. How many times will your brand be used and seen over the next 10 years? How many website impressions, email signatures, advertisements, brochures and business cards will pass in front of prospective customers and referral sources? The numbers are staggering. So it makes sense to get it right up front.
Are you happy with your branding? Do you have three or four different logos, “slightly off” color schemes, inconsistent email signatures or a tagline with no teeth? Do you have a Brand Standards Guide that keeps your branding consistent and professional across your organization? If not, perhaps we should talk.
Web Development
In an age when most of your target customers carry the Internet in their pockets, expectations of websites have never been higher. Your prospective customers are on a self-guided tour of the web, skimming sites that might be relevant and pausing longer in places where they find valuable information. That’s why it pays to start your web project by thinking through the various types of users who will be engaging your site. Because it’s not about what you want to tell them…it’s about what they want to know.
Of course, understanding your audience is only the starting point. The design, functionality, content management systems and technical support behind your website are important, too – not just during the build, but long after the site has been live and managing traffic.
You know people make decisions about the quality of your products, services and team based on what they see online. So, what does your website say about your brand? If you need to establish a new site or revamp one that’s feeling a bit tired, we’d be delighted to start the conversation.
Print Collateral
The web may be the landing pad for most marketing initiatives, but many organizations have found that print is simply not going away. From business cards to brochures, sell sheets to posters, info packets to catalogs, print is alive and well. Most of our clients find that they need to round out their marketing infrastructure with some form of brand-aligned print collateral.
In our experience, companies and nonprofits need far less collateral than they used to. With real-time information available online, it makes no sense to overdo it in print. But, whenever you have face-to-face interaction, there’s room for print – a business card, a brochure, a view book, an information packet. The feel of paper, the clarity of the images, the tangible expression of the brand all add up to a classy, timeless link in the chain of communications that connect the prospect to the buying decision.
We do an awful lot of web development, so when a good print piece comes along, our designers love to roll up their sleeves, break out the Pantone color guides and anticipate the smell of fresh ink. We can conceptualize, write, design, and manage the printing for your next print collateral project, so give us a call to talk it over.
Online Marketing
This is the web-based component of your marketing mix. Search engine optimization. Pay-per-click advertising. Remarketing. Content marketing. Blogging. Press release distribution. Banner ads. Social media.
For our online marketing clients, we employ a balance of organic search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising through Google, Facebook and other outlets (also called “paid search”). Our aim is to determine the keyword mix that makes sense for you, then deploy a geo-targeted campaign that focuses on your target audience. Your brand shows up in front of prospective customers who are intentionally looking for what you offer. And best of all, it’s measurable.
The list of online marketing strategies goes on and on. Figuring out which inbound strategies to use can be time-consuming, confusing and just plain frustrating. North Star can help you evaluate the options, establish a budget and implement a strategy that has measurable ROI. Give us a call if you’re interested in raising your profile online.
Traditional Advertising
This is the offline part of your marketing mix. Direct mail, billboards, print advertising, trade shows, television and radio. Some organizations would like to think “traditional advertising” is outdated and irrelevant, but for most businesses and nonprofits, an effective marketing mix is incomplete without this part of the strategy. Online alone is simply not enough. Prospective customers need to see your brand in multiple places and from multiple angles for the “big idea” to sink in.
A word of caution, however, for those companies who have engaged traditional advertising for many years: it’s easy to fall into the habit of “obligatory advertising.” That looks like this: “Well, we do what we’ve always done and spend money on the same things we’ve always spent money on. Everybody in the industry does it.” That’s a formula for wasted marketing dollars.
If your marketing mix is scattered, incoherent, habitual or sporadic, let’s talk. Chances are you can reallocate some dollars to be more effective.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Marketing Calendar
Your marketing strategy is only as good as your capacity to execute the plan. This is where so many organizations lose their way. They drive marketing initiatives from their inboxes, whiteboards and PowerPoint slide decks rather than from a singular, web-based expression of the plan. Rarely is the information shared in real-time across the team. No one would know where to look if the CEO said, “Show me the marketing plan you’re implementing.”
North Star’s approach to execution is all about clarity and visibility. Our web-based marketing calendar platform provides a comprehensive overview of the promotions, projects, tasks and budgets that drive your marketing plan. It’s where the strategy moves off the page and into action. It’s real, it’s in motion, it’s transparent and it’s accountable.
If you’re ready to move your marketing plan out of the realm of theory and into reality, let’s talk about setting up a marketing calendar for your team.
Video Marketing
Have you noticed the increasing number of videos populating your social media feeds? Sure, many of them are of little to no interest, but every now and then, you see one that catches your eye, and before you know it, you’ve given away 15 seconds, 60 seconds…90 seconds. You just watched a trailer for a movie you’ve been wanting to see. You saw the buzzer-beater that clinched the title. Then you saw a how-to video for making an amazing dessert or a helpful tip for international travel.
Or perhaps you’re not really into social media. But you’re planning a fly fishing day trip, and you’re considering buying some new equipment. You turn to Google and find yourself on YouTube, watching a pro compare different brands of specialty lures.
Video has become one of the most effective tools for authentic brand-building. However, many companies have chosen to observe rather than participate, thereby conceding thousands, even millions of video impressions to competitors. Don’t sit this one out. The are numerous possibilities for integrating video into your marketing strategy: company overviews, brand roll-outs, product demonstrations, customer testimonials, project case studies, internal team training, social media content, and more. The NSM team can plan and produce your video, then deploy a targeted campaign to reach a specific audience online. If you’ve been considering how video fits in your marketing strategy, let’s talk.
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Brand Identity
A brand is more than just a logo. And “branding” is more than using consistent colors and fonts. Your brand identity embodies the persona of your organization; it sets the tone for your marketing strategy; it sets expectations and makes promises. Your name, your logo, your tagline, your colors, your typography should all work together to clearly establish a position in your market that is uniquely and authentically you.
Think about it. How many times will your brand be used and seen over the next 10 years? How many website impressions, email signatures, advertisements, brochures and business cards will pass in front of prospective customers and referral sources? The numbers are staggering. So it makes sense to get it right up front.
Are you happy with your branding? Do you have three or four different logos, “slightly off” color schemes, inconsistent email signatures or a tagline with no teeth? Do you have a Brand Standards Guide that keeps your branding consistent and professional across your organization? If not, perhaps we should talk.
-
Web Development
In an age when most of your target customers carry the Internet in their pockets, expectations of websites have never been higher. Your prospective customers are on a self-guided tour of the web, skimming sites that might be relevant and pausing longer in places where they find valuable information. That’s why it pays to start your web project by thinking through the various types of users who will be engaging your site. Because it’s not about what you want to tell them…it’s about what they want to know.
Of course, understanding your audience is only the starting point. The design, functionality, content management systems and technical support behind your website are important, too – not just during the build, but long after the site has been live and managing traffic.
You know people make decisions about the quality of your products, services and team based on what they see online. So, what does your website say about your brand? If you need to establish a new site or revamp one that’s feeling a bit tired, we’d be delighted to start the conversation.
-
Print Collateral
The web may be the landing pad for most marketing initiatives, but many organizations have found that print is simply not going away. From business cards to brochures, sell sheets to posters, info packets to catalogs, print is alive and well. Most of our clients find that they need to round out their marketing infrastructure with some form of brand-aligned print collateral.
In our experience, companies and nonprofits need far less collateral than they used to. With real-time information available online, it makes no sense to overdo it in print. But, whenever you have face-to-face interaction, there’s room for print – a business card, a brochure, a view book, an information packet. The feel of paper, the clarity of the images, the tangible expression of the brand all add up to a classy, timeless link in the chain of communications that connect the prospect to the buying decision.
We do an awful lot of web development, so when a good print piece comes along, our designers love to roll up their sleeves, break out the Pantone color guides and anticipate the smell of fresh ink. We can conceptualize, write, design, and manage the printing for your next print collateral project, so give us a call to talk it over.
-
Online Marketing
This is the web-based component of your marketing mix. Search engine optimization. Pay-per-click advertising. Remarketing. Content marketing. Blogging. Press release distribution. Banner ads. Social media.
For our online marketing clients, we employ a balance of organic search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising through Google, Facebook and other outlets (also called “paid search”). Our aim is to determine the keyword mix that makes sense for you, then deploy a geo-targeted campaign that focuses on your target audience. Your brand shows up in front of prospective customers who are intentionally looking for what you offer. And best of all, it’s measurable.
The list of online marketing strategies goes on and on. Figuring out which inbound strategies to use can be time-consuming, confusing and just plain frustrating. North Star can help you evaluate the options, establish a budget and implement a strategy that has measurable ROI. Give us a call if you’re interested in raising your profile online.
-
Traditional Advertising
This is the offline part of your marketing mix. Direct mail, billboards, print advertising, trade shows, television and radio. Some organizations would like to think “traditional advertising” is outdated and irrelevant, but for most businesses and nonprofits, an effective marketing mix is incomplete without this part of the strategy. Online alone is simply not enough. Prospective customers need to see your brand in multiple places and from multiple angles for the “big idea” to sink in.
A word of caution, however, for those companies who have engaged traditional advertising for many years: it’s easy to fall into the habit of “obligatory advertising.” That looks like this: “Well, we do what we’ve always done and spend money on the same things we’ve always spent money on. Everybody in the industry does it.” That’s a formula for wasted marketing dollars.
If your marketing mix is scattered, incoherent, habitual or sporadic, let’s talk. Chances are you can reallocate some dollars to be more effective.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
-
Marketing Calendar
Your marketing strategy is only as good as your capacity to execute the plan. This is where so many organizations lose their way. They drive marketing initiatives from their inboxes, whiteboards and PowerPoint slide decks rather than from a singular, web-based expression of the plan. Rarely is the information shared in real-time across the team. No one would know where to look if the CEO said, “Show me the marketing plan you’re implementing.”
North Star’s approach to execution is all about clarity and visibility. Our web-based marketing calendar platform provides a comprehensive overview of the promotions, projects, tasks and budgets that drive your marketing plan. It’s where the strategy moves off the page and into action. It’s real, it’s in motion, it’s transparent and it’s accountable.
If you’re ready to move your marketing plan out of the realm of theory and into reality, let’s talk about setting up a marketing calendar for your team.
-
Video Marketing
Have you noticed the increasing number of videos populating your social media feeds? Sure, many of them are of little to no interest, but every now and then, you see one that catches your eye, and before you know it, you’ve given away 15 seconds, 60 seconds…90 seconds. You just watched a trailer for a movie you’ve been wanting to see. You saw the buzzer-beater that clinched the title. Then you saw a how-to video for making an amazing dessert or a helpful tip for international travel.
Or perhaps you’re not really into social media. But you’re planning a fly fishing day trip, and you’re considering buying some new equipment. You turn to Google and find yourself on YouTube, watching a pro compare different brands of specialty lures.
Video has become one of the most effective tools for authentic brand-building. However, many companies have chosen to observe rather than participate, thereby conceding thousands, even millions of video impressions to competitors. Don’t sit this one out. The are numerous possibilities for integrating video into your marketing strategy: company overviews, brand roll-outs, product demonstrations, customer testimonials, project case studies, internal team training, social media content, and more. The NSM team can plan and produce your video, then deploy a targeted campaign to reach a specific audience online. If you’ve been considering how video fits in your marketing strategy, let’s talk.
Portfolio
Culture
We talk a lot about culture at North Star, specifically, our core values: character, attitude, aptitude and fit. These guiding principles impact how we hire, how we serve our clients and how we interact with each other. Yes, North Star Marketing is a group of talented, full-time consulting, creative, technical and project support professionals. But we’re more than that. We’re parents, coaches, counselors, hobbyists, sons, daughters and friends. And we believe one of the greatest joys of work is creating relationships that matter. That’s why we make culture a priority.
Andy Lynch
Marketing Consultant, Principal
With the ink barely dry on his college diploma, Andy started North Star Marketing in 2000, converting a corner of his parents’ basement into a makeshift office. The idea was simple: help businesses communicate more effectively. Not much has changed since then. Yes, North Star has a few more people (who do not work from Andy’s parents’ basement), and the range of services has evolved substantially, but the “big idea” is still the same: use our God-given creative talents to help our clients advance their missions through developing communications that are clear, attractive, reliable and timely. When not tending to NSM “stuff,” Andy’s usually busy doing something with these folks.
Rob McDorman
Creative Director
Rob is one of those rare people who is good at lots of things…like soccer, photography, theology, eating gummy worms, etc. He has a unique gift for envisioning a brand and, before it’s even been designed, seeing how it will be implemented on a website, a billboard, a direct mail piece, and a bumper sticker (or, for our clients in the Northeast, “bumpah stickah”). He’s also an inspiring soccer coach, an optimistic gardener, and a way above-average husband and father. Spend a day on a photo shoot with him, and you’ll see why North Star and our clients are blessed to have this guy on the team.
Sarah Koudelka
Project Manager
Sarah is the epitome of the “duck on the water” analogy. Gliding across the water, it looks effortless. Just below the surface, however, the feet are paddling hard. That’s Sarah. She manages our operations and helps all of us swim more efficiently. Without her, we’d pretty much all pack up and go home. She’s also a mom with two remarkable children. In fact, we have already signed contracts for both of them to work at North Star when they grow up…and they’re not even out of elementary school yet.
Ryan Cardwell
Developer
Have you ever seen a programmer sing karaoke? If so, it wasn’t Ryan. While he’s not necessarily the “out-in-front” kind of guy, he’s been doing an awful lot behind the scenes since 2002 to make the tech stuff happen when it’s showtime. His remarkable knowledge of web technologies is staggering. And he likes cats. And he married up. Now, isn’t that a lethal combination?
B2B Marketing Manager
Could this be you?
With an emphasis on online marketing, the B2B Marketing Manager position is all about taking care of North Star clients and implementing strategies that get results. It’s a high-energy blend of client interaction, team coordination, creative brainstorming and hands-on project execution.
Clark Morgan
Online Marketing Director
We actually have video footage of this guy staring at his screen without blinking for 6 hours. We posted it to YouTube, but it went viral and crashed their servers. The good news for North Star’s online marketing clients is he’s working on strategic planning for their accounts. With a strong background in direct marketing and lead generation, Clark’s considerable expertise enables him to speak to both traditional and inbound strategies. When he’s not knee-deep in Google Analytics, you can likely find Clark on the receiving end of round house kicks and knuckle sandwiches from his black-belt teenage daughter.
Tyler Olson
Project Manager
This North Star project manager is one part philosopher (“It’s not the arrow, it’s the indian…”), one part amateur golfer (reference the golf shoes at the office and the weekend score card in the 70’s), one part aspiring photographer (note the ever-changing wallpaper on his Mac), one part neat-freak (you won’t find a paperclip out of place on his desk) and one part humorist (“How does he keep a straight face?”). There’s a lot going on here, which is what makes Tyler such a strong project manager. He moves from project to project, conversation to conversation with an easy-going style that works like a trusty seven iron.
Micah Fox
Solutions Advisor
“Has anyone seen Micah?” We love it when Micah’s not at the office. Because it means he’s out working with current and prospective clients on new projects (and, contrary to popular speculation…NOT on the golf course). Chances are if you call North Star about a new project, you’ll speak with Micah along the way. Having worked with a wide range of clients on hundreds of projects, he does an excellent job guiding the engagement process through the scoping phase and into production. Micah also does a mean impersonation of Barney Fife. He frequently reminds us that his “whole body is a weapon,” and it’s illegal for him to put his hands in his pockets without a concealed carry permit. There it is.
Education Marketing Manager
Could this be you?
With an emphasis on online marketing, the Education Marketing Manager position is all about taking care of North Star’s education clients and implementing strategies that drive enrollment. The person in this high-energy position will work with preK-12 schools and colleges across the nation, helping them develop marketing infrastructure, launch marketing campaigns, and track ROI. The Education Marketing Manager is engaged daily in client interaction, team coordination, creative brainstorming, and hands-on project execution. Experience in school marketing, admissions, and/or development is essential for this position. Click here for a full description.
Bryan Ickes
Creative Strategist
Bryan is our resident artist/theologian/botanist/philosopher/musician; however, his official title is creative strategist. Bryan connects front-end strategy to the creative process. In other words, he brings together the various team members contributing to a client’s campaign and makes sure they’re all rowing in the same direction. Bryan is a natural teacher at work and at home. In fact, he’s turned the creek running through his backyard into an outdoor classroom for his four children, with regular lessons in biology – including frogs, fish, and slithery snakes!
Kyle Smith
Creative Services
Kyle currently holds the record for the tallest guy at North Star. But don’t let the “gentle giant” exterior fool you. Inside, he’s a branding grizzly, web design monster, a print powerhouse. Give him a kickoff meeting and a creative brief, and get out of the way. When he’s not manhandling a Mac, you’ll find Kyle and his wife hiking, paddling or camping…outdoorsy stuff. In fact, some days he even wears hiking boots to the office in anticipation of getting outdoors.
Matt Gordon
Creative Services
Every business needs a Matt. He’s the guy who can step into any design project and do what it takes to get it across the finish line. All you have to do is ask, and he’s on it. From website graphics to print file finishing to illustration (and even sculpture), Matt’s unique skill set helps our projects move forward. And, if you happen to speak Urdu, (Pakistan’s national language), dial his extension and strike up a conversation.
Misha Frazier
Bookkeeper
Perhaps it’s the orderly stacks of papers and folders on her desk, seated at attention like members of an orchestra. Or maybe it’s the P90-X workout she demands of the printer on a daily basis. It could be her Google-like ability to find anything you need in a matter of seconds. Or maybe you could tell by the cello leaning against the wall in her office, patiently awaiting lessons at the end of the day.
Regardless of how you piece it together, you don’t have to be around Misha Frazier for long to know that she is the uber-bookkeeper. Numbers make her happy. She loves general ledger. All is right in Misha’s world when every penny is posted, every receipt is wrangled and every report is reconciled.
And best of all, for a lady who adores order and precision, Misha has the patience of Job when working with the “creative types” at North Star. (Is that Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G emanating from her office?)
Tanner Record
Developer
Tanner is the youngest member of the North Star Marketing team, yet he has the skills of a seasoned player. A recent graduate of Asbury University in Kentucky, he helps the programming team keep the ball moving on a variety of projects. “I love developing because it’s all about problem-solving,” he says. “It’s logical.” (Which makes sense.)
When he’s not working on North Star web projects, you can likely find Tanner in a fierce office ping pong match, researching coffee brewing, or tending to Stuart, his bonsai tree.
Michael Glesenkamp
Developer
“You need to get offshore about 13 miles or so into the gulf, about 50 to 60 feet of water,” Michael says. “That’s where you’ll find the grouper.” A Florida native, Michael knows a thing or two about fishing. He also knows a thing or two about website development. When Mike starts talking about programming, you might think you’re listening to the audiobook, Zen in the Art of Flyfishing. “There’s more than one way to get the thing done. It’s a blend of logic and creativity.”
When he’s not coding or fishing, you can find Mike hanging out with his wife, Kim, pondering the DNA of their tabby cat, Gracie. “She has big-cat tendencies, sort of like a Bengal tiger” he says. “It’s not unusual for us to open the door in the morning to find that she’s dragged up a full-grown water buffalo. And there she is, licking her paws, so proud of herself.”
Stephanie Lane
Marketing Manager
Stephanie is one of those people you meet in life who has range. Music? Check. She plays the guitar, the clarinet, and the saxophone, and she teaches piano lessons. From Spanish pop to country to Broadway, her earbuds are always pumping out variety. Travel? She’s no casual sightseer. She lived in Chile for six months and Argentina for two years, where she helped establish a college ministry and became fluent in Spanish. (That’s also where she was robbed twice and had her purse taken at knifepoint.) Sports? She’s played and loves soccer. (In fact, she’s so enthusiastic she’s sustained multiple concussions, once losing her memory for nearly 18 hours in London.) She’s a tennis player, runner, hiker, ultimate frisbee player…anything that involves endurance. Aside from her considerable training (undergrad in communications and international studies at Wake Forest, Master’s from UNC in health and strategic communication), Steph’s range of experiences and diverse interests provide uncommon perspective and insight. She has the determination, natural curiosity, adventurous spirit, and appreciation for others that make her an extraordinary partner for North Star clients. Comprende?
Lois Myers
Copywriter
“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” – Mark Twain
As many of our clients know, writing that is easy to read is anything but easy to write. That’s where Lois comes in. She learns our clients, their offerings, and their industries and writes compelling content that connects with their audiences. Lois came to North Star Marketing from the healthcare industry and has an extensive background in public relations. Regardless of the medium – a blog post, website navigation map, landing page, press release, mailer, or billboard – she balances logic and emotion, creativity and precision to deliver ideas clearly and effectively.
At the end of the day, Lois breaks away from her thesaurus and AP Stylebook for kickboxing classes, cooking with her family and long walks with an adorable black lab.
Chris Kindred
Developer
Fun fact: Chris tackled Adrian Peterson on a punt return. End of bio.
Just kidding. That’s not the end of Chris’ bio (but he did tackle Adrian Peterson). Chris is North Star’s *most accomplished athlete, having played in three college bowls as a starting punter for the University of Tulsa. He’s also been on the golf course since childhood (coming in for lunch and dinner) and enjoys fly fishing and duck hunting. He even trained his black lab, Cash, for hunting expeditions.
Chris brings the same skill and enthusiasm that he has for sports to web development at North Star. The more complex the project, the better. He understands the value of teamwork to make an application a success.
At home, Chris loves spending time with his wife, Jen, and two daughters, Addison and Isabel. As a Houston native, Chris enjoys Texas-style country music, but we’re glad he made the trek east (probably for the BBQ) and found the North Star team.
Michael Cruz
Developer
A native of Connecticut, Michael’s love of travel took him to Taiwan, India, and Pakistan before landing in the Carolinas, where he met his wife, Amy. Michael is also a foodie. “Making a dish is a like coding,” he says. “There’s more than one way to do a thing, but some ways are definitely better than others.” On weekends, the Cruzes love cooking for friends and playing with their young daughter. Michael may even find time to squeeze in a game of disc golf.
At North Star, Michael is focused on developing and optimizing internal systems to keep our clients’ marketing plans and projects running smoothly. “I love this stuff,” Michael says. “The code we develop at North Star is good enough to eat.”
Lee Fowks
Paid Media Manager
“Well, I decided to pursue a career indoors because it’s just too hot to be outside in Phoenix during the summer,” says Lee Fowks, NSM Paid Search Manager.
Okay, there’s more to the story than that.
Lee is uniquely suited to manage paid search campaigns. He’s a math guy with psychology training, a wordsmith with a technical mind. It’s this collaboration between the left side of his brain and the right side that’s just…well, that’s where the magic happens.
When he’s not engineering paid search campaigns, you’ll likely find Lee and his wife playing with their two children in the park, at the batting cages, or on the beach in San Diego. He coaches his son’s baseball team (the New York Yankees…of Phoenix) and is an avid runner, even in 100+ degree weather (which, oddly enough, is done mostly outdoors)…
Jordan Buckhalt
Creative Services
Six Degrees of North Star might describe how Jordan Buckhalt, graphic designer, landed at our firm. During a family beach vacation, Jordan heard about North Star from his brother-in-law’s older brother, who happens to be designer Bryan Ickes. Five years later, when North Star needed to grow our design team, Jordan was ready for a job.
Jordan is personally responsible for thousands of hours of lost study time at Liberty University, where, previously, his captivating designs caused students to crave food items from a wide variety of campus dining options. Today, his design expertise draws audiences to our clients through ads, direct mail, websites, and more.
Jordan and his wife love adventures and even spent a year teaching children in Santiago, Chile. He’s also fascinated with photographing abandoned buildings and plays a mean game of ping pong.
Kaleen Goodeill
Education Marketing Manager
Ask Kaleen anything about marketing in the education world, and you’re sure to get schooled. An enrollment director turned marketing manager, she’s been on both sides of the table, making her uniquely equipped to serve our independent school clients. Kaleen is a native of the west coast but enjoys finding temporary homes across the globe — Airbnb style. Her bucket list includes stops on every continent, and she’s managed to check off all but two! An adventurer at heart, you never know where you might find Kaleen. But just a warning, if you see her on a bike, get out of the way…FAST. She’s notorious for crashing through crowded areas like Central Park. Thankfully, when it comes to school marketing, she executes much smoother landings. From websites and blogs to social media and ad campaigns, Kaleen masters every possible avenue for connecting schools and families.
Seth Gordy
Creative Services
Le monde est un livre dont chaque pas nous ouvre une page. For those of us who aren’t French speakers, Seth can translate: “The world is a book whose every step opens a page.” From studying languages to having lived all over the map, Seth is energized by challenge and change. This is great, because in the marketing world, things rarely stay the same for long. After working in the nonprofit sector for several years, Seth mastered the art of using the resources available to him and producing amazing things. He joined North Star to help us further develop our video services, and to help our clients maximize their reach through creative marketing. When he’s not behind the camera, editing, or supporting ongoing campaigns, you can find him spending time with his wife and baby girl, playing music, or teaching himself something new. Because in his eyes, “Un jour où rien n’est appris est un jour gaspillé” (a day where nothing is learned is a day wasted).
Jeff Seevers
Marketing Manager
Behind every effective marketing plan is a great strategy, and behind every great strategy is a skilled strategist. Over his career, Jeff has worked with organizations across many different industries — from Fortune 500s to small businesses and startups. But it’s more than experience that drives his success. Jeff’s personality makes him uniquely equipped to help North Star’s clients. He’s passionate – both about people and seeing the businesses they operate thrive. He’s results-oriented, which means nothing makes him giddier than showing clients how their investment translated to engagement. He’s not afraid to adapt or learn something new. And he’s patient, which is a good thing, because he’s got six kids…a real life Brady Bunch (minus Alice). When not plotting marketing strategy, he and his wife are planning fun family adventures, including hiking, traveling, and sports. Jeff draws inspiration from many sources, including the larger-than-life Michael Jordan cutout by his desk. In the words of the basketball legend himself, “If you put in the work, the results will come.”
Kyle Saverance
Marketing Manager
Kyle’s personality type is only seen in two percent of the population. We don’t find this shocking. When you read up on INTJs, they are described as imaginative yet decisive, ambitious yet private, amazingly curious, but not known to squander energy. These are the rare pairings of qualities that make Kyle an exceptional marketing manager.
With backgrounds in graphic arts, IT, and strategic communication, Kyle has a knowledge base that is broad and deep. Before joining NSM, he worked in higher education leadership for 12 years. Today, he partners with organizations across many industries to find fundamental solutions and develop holistic marketing strategies. And when he’s got free time on his hands, he’s still making the most of it — whether working on his latest carpentry project or traveling with his wife. While there aren’t many of Kyle’s “type” in the world, we’re fortunate to have one on our team.
Luke Croft
Marketing Manager
If you’ve ever been to an escape room, you know the thrill of solving problems, the reward of collaboration with team members and, depending on your skill level, the satisfaction of a mission accomplished. Luke loves this type of challenge, which is why he’s an ideal marketing manager (and why he spends his spare time designing adventures for his own escape rooms). As a business owner, Luke has been on both sides of the table. He understands just how important (and how daunting) digital marketing can be. With a wide range of skills, from strategy to copywriting, Luke is passionate about helping organizations achieve their goals with creative techniques and powerful tools. Outside his day jobs, he enjoys spending time with his wife, seeking out great food and drink, playing and writing music, and of course, gaming. If you’ve got a challenge, you can count on Luke to find a winning solution.
Amanda Pope
Marketing Manager
Ask Amanda why she loves her job and she’ll tell you, plain and simple, “The sky’s the limit.” When creating strategy for clients, there is always room for new ideas, tactics, and methods — and that’s invigorating for a girl who is passionate about digital marketing. Her diverse agency background spans a multitude of B2C and B2B industries including healthcare, construction, real estate, hospitality, and entertainment – just to name a few. An NC State alum, she studied communication and public relations in her college years, developing a knack for effectively communicating with diverse audiences while achieving business goals through creative techniques. Trying new things is not only something Amanda enjoys in her work life; she’s up for tackling new challenges any day of the week. From improv classes, to volleyball leagues, to spontaneous weekend adventures, Amanda always has a story to tell…and thankfully, storytelling is one of her many talents.
Laura Eisenga
Laura Eisenga, one of North Star’s Education Marketing Managers, is a native and long-time resident of Sunnyside, Washington. So of course, she shines! Laura brings a wealth of experience in education enrollment, fundraising, and marketing to the table for our K-12 school clients.
Outside the office, she makes time for a fascinating list of personal interests: photography, coaching (volleyball and fastpitch softball), running a small business (embroidery), exploring the Pacific Northwest (and its growing reputation for remarkable wine), and, with her husband, Ben, raising 10-year old twins Addison and Ashton.
On and off the clock, Laura’s creative energy and gifts are helping good things grow, and we couldn’t be more delighted that she is a part of our team!
Michael Miller
Support and Training Specialist
Building computers, tinkering on various projects, honing his coding chops — Michael loves to learn, and he stays curious about how things work. Those are just a couple reasons he’s an excellent fit for meeting the support and training needs in our development team. We love the way Michael loves to help others learn and see the lightbulb come on for them with a problem they are facing. It’s also great to see the way he puts his friends and family first. Michael and his wife Gentry are raising three amazing children and a little menagerie of fur ball pets.
Blog
True North
News and views from the North Star Marketing blog.
Contact
Thinking about a marketing project? We’d be happy to discuss it with you. Just fill out the form below. Or, better yet, skip the form and give us a call: 336.229.6610. Thanks!