A long-time veteran of the agency (literally since it was formed), Fabio Ramos is a steward of clients and relationships. As VP, Business Development he’s responsible for fostering new business, developing agency partnerships and overseeing a few key accounts. (Catch his chat with GMAC’s Senior Director of Strategic Marketing about the success our partnership has driven for their organization here.)

Ten years ago, Fabio and his wife moved from Brazil to build a life in San Diego. Although they left their family, friends and a piece of their hearts in their home country, they do have the opportunity to travel back and forth frequently. Fabio says, “We love the city and what it offers, especially the awesome California cuisine and great weather and waves!” It’s no surprise that Fabio’s hobbies include surfing, music, food and wine. He also enjoys family time with his children, Luca (10) and Sofia (3).

What Fabio likes best about his job is, “the possibility to make clients smile through good work, performance and solid relationships.” Communication plays a big role in that. He shares, “I have encountered many different challenges throughout my career. I can say with confidence most issues were due to (mis)communication, and these issues and challenges were also overcome through communication, so to me communication is key – words can build or destroy relationships, so I always try to use them wisely.”

Originally attracted to marketing through the creative side (commercials, slogans, jingles, etc.), Fabio is astounded by the power of digital and the ways in which it can be harnessed as a vehicle for creativity. The media landscape has seen a lot of changes over the years and is accelerating even more rapidly now. A few of Fabio’s favorites for staying on top of developments in the industry are AdAge, AdExchange and Marketing Brew. In fact, his advice for anyone wanting to pursue a career in marketing/advertising is to “learn to unlearn, and re-learn, over and over again.”

Fabio notes, “I started in the pre-smartphone times, and the world has changed so much since then. The velocity on how technology and the world is changing is impressive to say the least. Adaptation is key. The challenges that technology can bridge and enhance people’s lives is amazing.”

When it comes to long-term changes, Fabio points to the “grand dilemma” of personalization vs. privacy.  “On one side people want personalized, relevant content in their lives; on the other hand, privacy. Navigating through this dilemma is the main challenge for the media landscape, the way I see it.”

His plans for the future? “[I’m] excited to see how the world is going to change over the next decade, and to watch my children grow. My motto is work hard and live life to the fullest – not losing sight of what matters most and trying to enjoy every single day whether finding purpose in the work we do or spending time with loved ones. Carpe Diem!” We couldn’t agree more, Fabio!

An enormous part of what makes Mindstream Media Group successful is the collective talent and collaboration of its employees across the country. While we as an agency love to share stories about client successes, industry news and product updates on our MMG Blog, we also want to feature the actual people behind the work we are doing to grow client business.

Our recent video series, Fast-Forward the Conversation, discusses the HOW behind supporting client growth through media strategy, with topics like shopper marketing, franchise work, QSR challenges, agency partnerships and more.

We’re also now featuring a Mindstreamer (as we like to call ourselves) periodically to share their stories and celebrate the diverse people, backgrounds, interests and qualities that make us unique.

Caffeine in the form of a bean is her drug of choice and she genuinely loves cheese without discrimination. Not one to enjoy mundane and repetitive tasks, she’s excited by the ever-changing landscape of the digital realm and loves having the opportunity to continually learn and experience new platforms.

Meet Staci Eldridge, Media Associate and 5-year veteran of Mindstream based in the Cedar Falls, IA office.

As a Media Associate, Staci’s responsible for launching, managing and reporting on digital media campaigns. She was drawn to the industry by the enticement of being able to dabble with new advancements within digital platforms. Staci says, “There is more space for new media outlets within digital and being able to see how those work when they are fresh and throughout their journey to mainstream is really neat.”

I think we can all agree this industry keeps you on your toes, there is always something new or different to dig into, especially where digital media is concerned. It’s also fast-paced which Staci loves, “In comparison to traditional media, digital offers the ability to make instant changes in response to industry change or, perhaps, a change in the world such as a pandemic.  Virtually anything can be done in a moment which is exciting to be a part of.”

Speaking of change, Staci notes, “Either by choice or force depending on the situation, Facebook is literally constantly making updates and responding to the changing landscape of advertising.” Unfortunately, not all of the media platforms we work with are overly helpful in terms of trial and error with issues that arise, even those caused by a change made by them on the dev backend. However, Mindstream has a talented group of people that bounce ideas and experiences off one another and dive in to get results rather than backing down or giving up. Staci shares, “We as a whole have a drive to overcome the obstacle and find a way through. I value that in the MMG team.”

Social media is constantly evolving. As more and more new players jump into the game, space and ad inventory increases. Staci believes this increased opportunity for exposure across the board will allow brands to showcase their creative strengths in fun new ways.

To stay informed in such an ever-changing environment, Staci counts on TheSkimm for overall news, eMarketer and AMA. She notes that platform-specific newsletters such as Facebook for Business and Centro have been awesome at providing up-to-date information on marketing and advertising, even during 2020 in the face of so many unknowns. Of course she also reads the Mindstream blog and says, “It’s gucci ; 0” (Thanks, Staci!)

Her advice for someone wanting to pursue a career in this industry? “Embrace change and pay attention to details; even small details can make an impact in results.” Staci gets her attention to detail from her dad whom she credits for instilling her strong work ethic and dedication to service. As a business owner himself, he impressed upon her the importance of a job well done. “Do the work, do it right and care about what you do and the quality of your work…that is relevant no matter the job you are tasked with or the title you hold.”

When she’s not hard at work, Staci enjoys trying new things (not surprising!), reading, biking, trail hiking, traveling and anything outdoors or near a body of water which feeds her obsession for snapping sunset pics.

An enormous part of what makes Mindstream Media Group successful is the collective talent and collaboration of its employees across the country. While we as an agency love to share stories about client successes, industry news and product updates on our MMG Blog, we also want to feature the actual people behind the work we are doing to grow client business.

 Our recent video series, Fast-Forward the Conversation, discusses the HOW behind supporting client growth through media strategy, with topics like shopper marketing, franchise work, QSR challenges, agency partnerships and more.

 We’re also now featuring a Mindstreamer (as we like to call ourselves) periodically to share their stories and celebrate the diverse people, backgrounds, interests and qualities that make us unique.

She’s the social media expert behind the scenes, ensuring campaign strategies are executed accurately, on time and in the most efficient way possible. Consistently exceeding client social media goals is her forte, working on the strategy and analytics side of agency business. And she loves bean burritos so much that she could eat them every single day.

Meet Kiley Cowley, Supervisor, Social Media at Mindstream Media Group’s Dallas headquarters.

Kiley first became interested in the media industry while earning her Master’s degree. She recalls, “I fell in love with analytics. Gathering, analyzing and finding the implications of the data from Facebook and Google sparked my interest. Once I graduated, there was an analytics position open for the Search and Social team – I applied and the rest is history.” Now she’s been with the agency for over four years.

According to Kiley, one of the most interesting topics currently in the industry relates to how data is being used and shared in media. When she first started out, platforms were integrated with 3^rd party data sources and marketers could target audiences very gradually. Over the years, though, restrictions have been put into place that have consistently challenged advertisers to find new ways of connecting with consumers. Words of wisdom from Kiley? “First party data is king. The sooner companies can understand the power their first party data has, and harness it, the better.”

The ever-changing nature of social platforms is what keeps Kiley on her toes. With new platforms always on the horizon, she stays informed through a variety of thought leaders and media sources, like the Daily Carnage, Facebook Marketing Partners resources and Digital Chadvertising on Instagram. “It started as a meme account but does post very informative news stories as well (yes that is the millennial coming out in me).” Kiley also follows Steven Bartlett, who is the Founder of Social Chain. “I got to see him present in person at the Social Shake-Up conference. He is one of the most interesting people I have met.”

Often having been one of the youngest people in the room and speaking about topics like social media which are newer and less understood, Kiley has faced challenges like not being taken seriously and doubted in her abilities. She has overcome those challenges by displaying confidence in her knowledge of the industry, sharing her expertise and finding a way to draw comparisons between social media and more traditional media types.

For someone starting out in the industry or wanting to pursue a media career, Kiley recommends being adaptable. Because the industry is constantly changing, “you should always be learning and keeping up with what is going on. Also, don’t be afraid to raise your hand when you don’t know something or need help. The industry isn’t a one-man industry, it relies on teamwork and collaboration.” Since collaboration is one of the most valued qualities of a Mindstream employee, we totally agree. Kiley also recommends David Ogilvy’s book “Confessions of an Advertising Man” to any prospective or current media and marketing professionals.

In addition to Ogilvy in the marketing realm, Kiley has always looked up to Emmitt Smith as a personal and professional role model. His grit and determination to not only achieve, but exceed, goals and expectations is something she has strived for in her own life.

Some of Kiley’s hobbies include watching football, cooking, reading, traveling, doing connected fitness workouts and hanging out with her sassy wiener dog, Kuechly (named after one of her favorite football players, Luke Kuechly).

 An enormous part of what makes Mindstream Media Group successful is the collective talent and collaboration of its employees across the country. While we as an agency love to share stories about client successes, industry news and product updates on our MMG Blog, we also want to feature the actual people behind the work we are doing to grow client business.

 Our recent video series, Fast-Forward the Conversation, discusses the HOW behind supporting client growth through media strategy, with topics like shopper marketing, franchise work, QSR challenges, agency partnerships and more.

We’re also featuring a Mindstreamer (as we like to call ourselves) periodically to share their stories and celebrate the diverse people, backgrounds, interests and qualities that make us unique.