Summer 2010
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Chute Gerdeman Continues to Grow
We have expanded our team as we continue to add depth to our capabilities and further build our client base. In addition to adding eight new team members to our Columbus studio, we have announced four recent promotions.
New Hires
Promotions
New Hires
Rodrick Pauley
Director, Marketing and Sales
Rodrick is responsible for overseeing the Chute Gerdeman brand. He joins us with more than 15 years of experience leading experiential brand marketing teams, working with companies such as OhioHealth, The Longaberger Company, The Walt Disney Company, and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Nicole Faccinto
Senior Designer, Visual Strategy
Nicole is responsible for strategic visual planning, design and development, conceptual planning and implementation, and fixture design. Previous clients include Albertsons, Best Buy, Coco’s Restaurant and Bakery, D’Angelo, Goasis, Italianni’s (Mexico City), New Balance, Ologie, Revol Wireless, Starbucks, and Whole Foods.
Michael Munchoff
Designer, Retail Environments
Mike uses his considerable talents to design, plan, and illustrate environments for retail, restaurant, and hospitality clients. He works closely with the directors of Environments and Design Development to ensure the design maintains its integrity through implementation.
Renee Kinkopf
Designer, Brand Communications
As a designer on the Brand Communications team, Renee brings strong work ethic, typography skills, and animation experience. She is responsible for design conceptualization and refinement, and animation design.
Jo Ann Sagraves
Human Resources Manager
With more than 25 years of experience in human resources, Jo Ann comes to CG from Discover Card. Her responsibilities include recruiting, benefits administration, and employee relations.
MarCee Gerdes
Manager, Business Development
MarCee brings 10+ years of sales and marketing experience to the Business Development team. She is responsible for business development and direct marketing for Chute Gerdeman. With her energy and passion for the industry, MarCee focuses on building long-lasting client relationships as our initial contact for new business.
Karen Simpkins
Designer, Marketing Communications
With a passion for design as well as details, Karen works to develop all of Chute Gerdeman’s marketing materials including presentations, case studies, and collateral.
Stephen Williams
Production Manager, Graphic Production
Stephen brings organization, attention to detail, project management, and creative energy to a variety of production projects. His skills and experience contribute to quality assurance and design integrity for retail brand communications. Stephen’s job in his words is "to ease the transition from pixels to paint.” Some of the clients Stephen has worked with at Chute Gerdeman include C&A Brazil, Giant Eagle, Hamleys, RadioShack, Service Corporation International (SCI), and West Marine.
Promotions
Corey Dehus
Creative Director, Brand Communications
Corey’s extensive expertise in retail brand communications brings a wealth of experience with all consumer interactions, including identity programs, environmental signage and wayfinding, product packaging, in-store promotions, multimedia, and interface design. Corey has worked with companies including C&A Brazil, Flippers Pizzeria, Hanesbrands Inc., Kohl’s, Marriott Vacation Club International, Swiss Farms, and Tween Brands.
Elaine Evans
Senior Designer, Brand Communications
Elaine helps create and develop brands through visual communication strategies. Her focus is to guide and motivate our clients’ customers along their journey as well as develop collateral, packaging, wayfinding, and signage programs that support the customer and the client’s brand. Some of her clients include Art Van, Giant Eagle, Hanesbrands, Kohl’s, OhioHealth, RadioShack, Shopko, Thorntons, and Tween Brands.
Steve Johnson
Senior Designer, Design Implementation
Steve coordinates the bidding, fabrication, and installation of all in-store brand communications. He also creates design intent documentation and maintains relationships with vendors and fabricators in order to stay up-to-date on the most efficient and cost effective production techniques. Some of the clients Steve has worked with at CG include Delaware North, M&M’S World®, Orange Lake Resort, Ross-Simons, Service Corporation International (SCI), Sun Tan City, Swiss Farms, The Blood Connection, United Rentals, and West Marine.
George Waite
Program Manager, Design Implementation
As a Program Manager, George serves as a liaison between clients and the design team, coordinating and facilitating events, checkpoints, and creative development milestones to ensure a successful project. With his background in Graphic Production, George brings organization, attention to detail, creative energy, and the knowledge of “getting it built” to every project. He works closely with the team, clients, and vendors to ensure the project is running on time, on budget, and to ensure the quality and design integrity through project completion. Some of the clients George has worked with at Chute Gerdeman include 7-Eleven, Blockbuster, C&A Brazil, Hamleys (UK), LaRosa’s Pizzeria, Lehigh Outfitters, LensCrafters, Levi Strauss, M&M’S/Mars, Shopko, Real Living, Thorntons, and United Rentals.
In Other News...
Giving blood is a personal and powerful human-to-human experience—one that relies on individual generosity and medical know-how. So when The Blood Connection, a non-profit community blood donation center with locations throughout South Carolina, came to Chute Gerdeman Retail to create a transforming experience, we were truly inspired. [More]
With consumers closely guarding their pocket books, it might seem like a strange time to talk about new concepts. But in retail, necessity is the mother of invention. And smaller, more focused retail concepts are surfacing as one of the brightest trends on the horizon right now. [More]
Every city has its defining summer moment. Whether you are skating the pier at Venice Beach, strolling tree-lined streets in Toronto, or simply sweltering in your own home town, summer evokes distinctive and lasting memories. [More]
This summer seems to have been hotter than ever! Don't we all need a break from the heat? This issue's top five materials definitely give us the respite we've been looking for. Nothing is more refreshing than crisp, clean white. [More]
Chute Gerdeblog, our very own inspirational design and trend blog launched in March 2010, establishes an online platform for our observations and points of view. Written by the creative minds of Chute Gerdeman, Chute Gerdeblog features opinions, attitudes, and inspirations for all aspects of the retail, restaurant, and cultural sectors. Topics include retail trends, consumer insights, points-of-view, and new building materials to name a few, plus the occasional sneak peek into the daily lives of CG team members. [More]
The Gist sat down with Mindi Trank, Director, Brand Strategy, in its continued quest to get inside the creative minds at Chute Gerdeman Retail. [More]
Several Chuties will be attending major upcoming industry events. Check out our calendar and let us know if you'll be attending and want to meet. [More]
Several Chute Gerdeman concepts and insights have recently been featured in the press. Read more about Bob Evans, Swiss Farms, Flippers Pizzeria, store decor trends, and opinions from experienced Chuties. [More]
