Ken Krause
Creative Director
In his role as Senior Account Manager,
Ken brings a great breadth of experience in helping
organizations communicate their messages to all of
their audiences, both on the agency and the client
sides. With a strong background in writing as well
as account service, he is able to help clients craft
their message and then execute it. Ken comes to Tech
Image from ASAP Software, one of the leading international
resellers of software, services, and solutions, where
he was Marketing Communications Manager. His duties
there included development of Public Relations, direct
mail, advertising, collateral materials and more. Prior
to joining ASAP, Ken worked for agencies marketing
home improvement and automotive products, and a retailer
of stereo and video equipment in their advertising
department.
What is Your Favorite Success
Story?
Professionally, I'd say it was being part of the team that developed and executed
the packaging for Ace (Hardware) Brand products. Ace's house brand up until
that time was a mixed bag, with every department having a different look, all
of it pretty much making the products look cheap. We developed a brand identity,
then executed it across more than 6,000 SKUs from more than 100 manufacturers.
The packaging itself wasn't the coolest part, though. It's what happened as
a result. We helped redefine the Ace identity across the board – the
look of the packaging was adopted for all advertising, promotional, and even
corporate materials. One of their VPs told us it was even instrumental in helping
them develop their overall strategy for positioning their stores against the "big
box " home centers like Home Depot. That packaging is still in the stores,
by the way. I point out specific products I worked on to my kids when we go
to an Ace store, but they just roll their eyes. Can't please everyone, I guess.
Personally, it's that my kids are
growing up to be good people who care about others
almost as much as they care about rescuing the princess.
What Are Your Hobbies and
Interests?
I play guitar and keyboard and sing in a rock and roll band called the Bosko
Brothers. Check us out if you see us around, but no yelling "Freebird " from
the audience. I'm head coach for one of the Mundelein Thunder girls traveling
fastpitch softball team, as well as leading hitting instructor (teaching hitting
is an obsession with me) and VP of that organization. In addition, I also participate
as an assistant Little League baseball coach and write a monthly column for
Softball magazine. In my spare time––wait, I don't have any.
What is the Title of the
Last Good Book You Read?
A Brief History of Time by Professor Stephen Hawking. It was interesting, although
a little dumbed down. Yeah, right. Is Mike going to read this? Then it was
Financing Your Business With Venture Capital by Frederick D. Lipman
Who Are Your Favorite Recording
Artists?
The Beatles are my #1 favorites, now and forever. I like a lot of the older
bands, like the Beach Boys and Creedence Clearwater Revival – I'm a sucker
for well–crafted pop. Bruce Springsteen is another favorite, although
moreso his work between Born To Run and The River than some of the later stuff.
Of the current crop, I like Fastball, Paula Cole, Mary Chapin–Carpenter,
Sheryl Crow, and of course the Bosko Brothers. I like a lot of modern country,
too. My not–so–secret indulgence is that I'm a huge Gary Lewis
and the Playboys fan. I even met him once, which was both a thrill and a disappointment.
What are your favorite TV
shows?
I'm not even going to bother pretending I don't watch. I'm a huge fan of Buffy
the Vampire Slayer and Angel –– best–written shows on television
right now. Smallville, The Simpsons, and Everybody Loves Raymond are other
favorites. I swear the show Friends is based on my life, except that I never
lived in New York, hung out in a coffee shop with five other people who apparently
got paid for not going to work, or had such crazy hijinks week after week.
Why Are You a Good
Fit at Tech Image?
I'm tall enough to reach the stuff on the top shelf. |
|
