Learn how to avoid the most common marketing mistakes made by entrepreneurs and business owners - target markets, messaging, design, and other areas - and understand what is essential to include and execute in every marketing plan. Panel will consist of entrepreneurs who will discuss their own mishaps and lessons learned, and marketing experts who will discuss practical strategies to avoid such mistakes.

Panelists

Lisa Brenner
Lisa is President of Bright Ideas, a marketing and communications consulting firm that provides marketing planning, competitive analysis, and brand strategy to a wide range of service businesses, including healthcare, finance, technology, education and real estate. Some of the firm’s clients include Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Britannica, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Follett Software, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Baker & McKenzie, The Great Books Foundation and L.R. Development. Prior to establishing the firm, she served as Director of Marketing Services for the American Medical Association. Lisa is a member of the American Marketing Association, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Northwestern University.

Rickey Gold
Rickey is a Chicago-based marketing communications strategist and head of her own firm, Rickey Gold & Associates. Over the past fifteen years, she has developed programs and campaigns for companies across a wide range of industries, both b-to-b and consumer. Whether working with her own clients or partnering with other communications companies, her focus is always the same: solid positioning based on understanding each client’s target market, and making sure that all marketing messages are consistent. Maintaining this focus has helped her clients grow and prosper. Rickey is a Board Member of the Lincoln Park Chamber. Her company is the Lincoln Park Chamber 2007 Small Business of the Year.

Nicholas Gracilla
Nick is the owner of Neoteric Design, a business he started in the late 1990’s where he serves as lead developer, art director, and project strategist. His mission is to improve user experiences online, and has worked with a broad range of businesses, educational institutions, museums, and associations including: Crain Communications, Power Construction Company, the Merchandise Mart, Abbott Laboratories, the University of Chicago, The University of Illinois Chicago, DePaul and Columbia College’s Museum of Contemporary Photography, the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, the Hyde Park Art Center, and many others. Nick earned his master’s degree from Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree from Denison University. He is on the Lincoln Park Chamber’s Executive Board.

Chris Ramsey
Chris is President of Lincoln Park Massage Spa, where she oversees the sales, marketing, and management of the spa. She also started Hired Hands On Site Massage Specialists 15 years ago, a company specializing in bringing seated chair massage to corporations, special events and conventions. Chris previously worked in sales and marketing in corporate America for 20 years, including two Fortune 500 organizations, General Foods and Alcan Aluminum. Her philosophy is to continue to learn, grow and change her company’s marketing plan to meet the needs of the changing marketplace. Chris earned her bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University.