For the past forty-seven years, I have been privileged to work in marketing. To me, it has always been the world’s most exciting industry; embodying all of the activities critical to organizational success: strategic planning, product development, messaging, audience development, advertising, corporate communications, public affairs, research, customer acquisition & retention and crisis management.
I got my start in business dusting chairs and tables at Star Chrome, our family’s furniture store. After earning my Marketing degree at Penn State in 1973, I:
- Worked as a marketing research analyst on Chicago’s legendary Magnificent Mile
- Transitioned into account management roles at large national advertising agencies in Chicago and Denver
- Shifted to the client side to lead marketing programs for video/film production, real estate and wireless technology companies
- And, in 2003, formed Abels Communication Company to provide C-level strategic planning, implementation and counsel to build brands and solve a wide variety of organizational challenges
Through it all, I have been honored to help business, non-profit and government entities successfully market themselves and communicate in a clear, concise manner.
Now, as I step away from day-to-day business operations at AbelsComm, I want to recognize and THANK the following organizations and people who had a positive impact on my career.
To my employers – Nat’l Association of Realtors (IREM), Albert J. Rosenthal & Company, Tatham Laird & Kudner, Tracy Locke (Point Communications), Telemation, Y&R (Marsteller), Stroh Ranch Development and McCaw Cellular One/AT&T Wireless – for the opportunity to be a part of the team.
To my managers and supervisors – Gerry Abels; Chuck Achilles; Al Rosenthal, Sy Dordick and Joey Forman; Don Grasse and Pete Petray; Joe Ing; Mike Theis; Jim Reiners; David Agnew; Bob Johnson, Mike Sims, Kim Whitehead and Jane O’Donaghue – for helping me grow professionally.
To my colleagues and business community members – Gerry Linda, Keith Bennett, Tom Clark, Maria Garcia Berry, Sharon Linhart, Cindy Larsen Parsons, Craig Goudy, Mary Ireland, Terry Barnhart, Al & Sherryll Kraizer, Todd Wilson, former AT&T Wireless teams across the country and so many more – for being able to learn from each and every one.
To AbelsComm’s clients – along with the professionals, resources and civic relationships I have long valued – for the confidence placed in me.
To my family for its ongoing support while accepting and putting up with my one or two idiosyncrasies 😉
To the metro Denver community for the vision, collaborative spirit, unified commitment and willingness to welcome new people and ideas into this wonderful region. Denver is my home and has been since 1979 and I am proud to have been involved in some of the area’s most exciting and important initiatives.
Thanks!