We’re The Utmost Group, a branding, marketing, and integrated marketing communications agency proudly based in Detroit MI.The Utmost Group purposefully operates as a virtual agency. This allows us to be significantly more cost efficient and responsive than traditional agencies. We work best with clients who share our belief in the ROI of strategic brand and messaging development. This characteristic distinguishes us from more trendy, tactically focused creative agencies and studios.While our focus is with nonprofits, social enterprises, startups and small businesses, we’ve also worked in more than 40 different categories. Odds are, we understand your brand and specific business issues.Our services include:BrandingRefresh Rebrand RenameStrategyBenchmarking Brand discovery Strategic brand platformMarketingMessaging optimization Content development/management Media investment planning/implementationCreativeBrand ID systems Online and offline content EnvironmentalExperientialCommunicationsSEO, PPC/AdWords Public/Media Relations Social media planning/implementationBehavioral targeting planning/implementationPromotionStrategic partnerships Events/Experiential Program planning/implementationCo-marketing planning/implementationIf you'd like to learn more about us, please send an email to letstalk@theutmostgroup.com, so we can set up a time to chat. Thanks.

I teach two courses about branding and creative entrepreneurship to upper level artists and designers. The first course helps entrepreneurially-minded students understand how brands are developed strategically, with an emphasis on developing their professional soft skills. The second course expands on that learning to help students strategically develop their personal brand, in concert with their current or potential creative product/services venture.

DO MORE GOOD is a Michigan-based nonprofit that's dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations across the country improve their investments in branding, marketing, and communications. DO MORE GOOD is founded and led by a like-minded team of industry doers. DMG hosts educational events and is producing a series of practical resources, in partnership with recognized subject matter experts. In a world of ever-accelerating change, nonprofits must learn new methods of retaining existing supporters and capturing new ones. The status quo is bad stewardship. DO MORE GOOD wants nonprofits to do more good, so they can sustain their vision and expand their mission.

Top ranked undergraduate and graduate business schools. More than 6,000 students, with undergraduate, MBA, Master’s, Doctoral and executive development programming.Established and implemented new brand positioning, ID and alignment for college and its programs. Extended reach via multiple websites, search optimization, search engine marketing, social media and IMC. Also taught graduate level courses in brand management, IMC and AdWords in the Curriculum, and led the Marketing Speaker Series.

Marketing communications firm specializing in measurement, innovation and accountability. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, with senior members across the US. Developers of Loopz™ Marketing system, implemented for Fortune 1000 companies.Revamped and restaged brand. Developed new corporate positioning and ID, website, SEO, SEM, white papers, IMC plans, internal processes and more.

Global leader in tire production and sales. Number one tire maker in North America.Delivered successful marketing communications leadership for Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly brands, as well as Goodyear and Just Tires store chains. Led co-marketing efforts. Oversaw all forms of marketing communication.

Helped found Optimization Group and grow it from an innovative idea into a viable marketing measurement and accountability firm. Led naming, branding, marketing and IMC efforts. Also helped secure several of OG's initial clients and engagements.

Channel management and marketing effectiveness consultancy. Provided leadership and management services for Detroit office. Led firm’s repositioning efforts. Established and grew client relationships.

Global marketing communications firm. Member of WPP Group, one of the world’s largest communications services group.Rose from Senior Partner/Management Director to Executive Director, JWT Retail Group, North America. Led growth in retail and consumer service new business. Also developed best practices retail programming for JWT worldwide.

Rose from Account Executive to SVP, Group Management Director, working on a wide variety of CPG and consumer services accounts. Also involved with the creation of co-marketing as a discipline.