OUTdrive

Every year at this time, our advertising agency is busy putting the finishing touches on the marketing campaign for the Missouri State Fair, one of our oldest clients.  We love the fair and all the traditions that make the fair what it is, which is what inspired the theme for this year's 11-day event, held August 10-20 in Sedalia.  The theme is Where Traditions Grow and you can listen in as our gu...

It's almost a perfect scenario in marketing when you're at a place where the story practically tells itself.  Great brand with history and reputation.  Great people with a real passion for what they do.  Great products that you just can't get enough of.  Our guest today is proud to be in that place.  Listen in on my conversation with Aaron Oelger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hodgdon P...

There are a lot of cool things going on in our schools today that many people might be surprised to hear about, like robotics. Innovation is driving technology and our local high school is leading the way with a nationally recognized robotics program that gives students the opportunity to create and compete on a global level.  Through other new programs, like Queen City CAPS, students will be able...

It's always interesting when business models change to meet our changing world.  A great example is real estate where the online auction platform has transformed the industry.  Listen in to my conversation with Justin Hubbs, a Real Estate District Manager with BigIron Realty.  BigIron burst on the scene in our region over the past few years and Justin shares his insight on what it takes to grow a...

Technology is driving marketing today, just like it is in almost every industry.  Over the last 30 years, our society has experienced a revolution in the way digital marketing has emerged and developed.  Chris Young has lived it firsthand, as a computer salesman, a businessman, a digital director for an ad agency and today as the Web and Digital Marketing Director at the University of Central Miss...

You know, sometimes we get a bad rap out here in the country that we're behind the curve in the use of technology and innovation, but honestly, nothing could be further from the truth.  Our guest today is proof of that.  Taylor Moreland is the founder and owner of a Missouri company called Agri Spray Drones that manufactures and markets drones for agricultural applications.  What was once accompli...

Agriculture is the biggest industry in Missouri and its importance to feeding the world is enormous. In addition to growing crops for food and fiber, storage and distribution are vital tasks in the process. Our guest today has been producing for nearly 50 years grain bins that enable farmers to store their produce until they're ready to sell. Bub Caldwell is the President of W. B. Young, Missouri'...

Twice a year, our agency principals team up with other small agency owners around the country to catch up and help each other be better.  We've been involved in a peer group for nearly 20 years and it's one of the reasons we've been able to stay relevant and current with all the changes going on in our industry.  When we get together, whether it's in person or virtual, we discuss the hottest marke...

I always love talking shop with other agency owners. In this intriguing episode, I interview John Smiddy, founder, president and chief strategist at LeadPlan Marketing in Michigan. He's also the author of the book Stop Guessing Start Marketing and the host of The Marketing Fundamentals Podcast . John got his start in the music business, touring around the country with a variety of bands, promoting...

We believe we've got it pretty good out here in rural America, where we enjoy a high quality of life, with plenty of great opportunities and a safe environment in which to live, work and play. It may be the world's best kept secret. Our guest today is a person who is telling that story through his work in economic development consulting. Rob Harrington is the principal of Rural Growth Strategies,...

It's always amazing how one experience in life prepares you for the ones that follow.  That's the way it's supposed to be, right?  Our podcast guest, Jim Marino, got his start during college working for a construction, development and marketing conglomerate in Missouri.  From there, he took his sales, project management and business expertise to a metal building manufacturer in Georgia and a garag...

Most people today recognize that digital media has revolutionized modern marketing plans. Yet, nothing replaces the look and feel of a high-end magazine. Every day, millions of people throughout rural America and the world consume content found in magazines, and then they pass them along. Today's guest has built a highly successful career creating, publishing, marketing and in some cases, selling...

Very few family businesses survive past a third generation and a fourth is a rarity. Zephyr Manufacturing is one of those elite companies that has not only survived but thrived for nearly 100 years. Our guest today is R.J. Lindstrom, who is the current president, owner and great-grandson of the founder. Built on values that focus on made in America, quality products and great customer service, Zep...

Organizations, businesses and people change. Consequently, brands need to change to reflect a renewed mission, vision or purpose. Recently, Callis helped Center for Human Services rebrand with a new visual identity, new messaging and imagery, a new website and a comprehensive marketing communications program. Center for Human Services is a world class organization in the heart of Missouri that ser...

Some people just know from a young age what they want to do when they grow up. For Taylor Howard, it was marketing. Early on, she was interested in why advertisers said and showed what they did and that curiosity has carried over into her career in the B2B technology, automation and electric supply industry. Today, she strategizes on why people buy what they buy and she develops successful marketi...

There are literally thousands of opportunities in today's world to find a career that fits well with your interests and strengths. Our guest today was fortunate to find one right out of college that fit so well, he stayed for a 30 year career.  Steve Moore is a chemical engineer by trade. Having grown up in a suburban/rural setting, he attended Mizzou and was recruited by Procter & Gamble, where h...

The Missouri State Fairgrounds is known primarily for the State Fair which is held every year around the middle of August.  What you may not know though is there are events there year-round. From rodeos, quinceañeras and weddings, to picnics, concerts, camping, and livestock shows,  the Missouri State Fairgrounds has events that spark interest in individuals from all over rural America. Across the...

The propane industry is changing and innovation and new technologies are driving this misunderstood clean energy to the top of the energy charts. In this fascinating episode, Cliff visits with Tucker Perkins, the President and CEO of PERC, the Propane Education and Research Council. Learn how the industry has evolved and how PERC is helping to educate the people of rural America through a podcast,...

Ice Cream Factory owners Katie and Shannon Imler love to make people happy, and they do it with ice cream. What started out as a scoop shop in Eldon serving the ice cream they make by hand has turned into a bustling operation selling 30-plus flavors in over 2,000 retail stores in the central United States. You can still enjoy Imler's ice cream in the scoop shops but you can also now find it in gro...

It's no surprise that technology continues to keep evolving. Streaming companies like DirectTV Stream, YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, and Philo just to name a few, are fighting for consumers' dollars. Many consumers compare several streaming services and then make the ultimate choice to decide which one they are going to use. Streaming services and devices that allow streaming ha...

Many businesses look for creative ways to inform, educate, and entertain their audience. Nowadays it can be hard to capture attention or know what forms of media will reach your target audience in rural America. While there are countless new media options to choose from, getting back into broadcast TV may be the right move for your business. Today's guest, Josh Tomlinson, brings insight from PBS a...

At some point, every organization will need public relations support. This can come in several different forms, like reputation management, public affairs, or crisis communications, which is why it's important to take an integrated marketing approach, combining advertising and strategic communications efforts. For nearly 25 years, Dr. Tricia Hansen-Horn has taught this idea to students at the Univ...

Terms like sales and marketing often get thrown around interchangeably but are also two departments that sometimes compete with each other for resources within a business. We think it's not only possible but vital for these teams to be on the same page. Today's guest, Don Schlesselman, knows that better than most. His expertise and leadership in both areas allow Angler's Port Marine to reap the be...

It's almost that time of year again, when friends and family gather together around the TV to watch commercials, and maybe catch some football in between. That's right - it's time for the Super Bowl. In this episode, Ivy Reynolds returns to OUTdrive to talk all things advertising during the "Big Game," from the average cost of a 30-second commercial spot to the top-rated ads of all time.  Lace up...

There is no better place to connect with a number and variety of customers and potential customers than at a trade show. It gives you the opportunity to launch new products or services in a venue where you can draw extra excitement from people interested in your industry. Today's episode comes to you fresh off the flight back from Las Vegas for my trip to SHOT Show 2023. My key takeaway this year?...