News/Events

John Foley has been invited by The Conference Board to speak at the 2008 IABC Heritage Region conference in Hartford October 12 - 14. Presenters come from across the US and the Region, and include recognized, respected communicators. Focus areas include employee communications, technology, skills development and other topics, such as strategy and management. This third IABC Heritage Region conference provides ample opportunity for updating skills, tactical and strategic knowledge.

Foley is the author of Balanced Brand, a groundbreaking book on how values drive strong brands and strong reputations. His insightful presentation helps executives understand the difference between brand and reputation and how they are built or destroyed in a transparent world. Through three years of research, Foley identified the secrets of how companies achieved and maintained a strong brand and reputation, in essence, a balanced brand. He also identified why some companies fall of balanced results in subpar performance and catastrophic backlash.

In the chaotic world of global competition, find out what it takes as a communicator to elevate your company's brand and reputation to the next level. Using research from his book Balanced Brand, John Foley will share the insights he discovered while interviewing organizations such as Tiffany & Co., Mayo Clinic, 3M, Cargill, Apple and Wal-Mart. Attendees will learn how to apply essential building blocks in order to create world-class brands and reputations. IABC 2008 Heritage Conference takes place on October 13, 2008 in Hartford.

On June 19, 2008, John Foley will address an audience of business leaders in Minneapolis. He will share his research on world-class brands and reputations and demonstrate how Alignment, Authenticity and Trust have the power to transform a business and build an unassailable competitive advantage.

Building upon the enthusiastic response from previous Conference Board appearances, John Foley has again been asked back. On June 6th at the Chicago Westin, John will participate in the 2008 Corporate Brand Management Workshops: Creating Strategies that are Unique, Meaningful and Market Driven. John's session is entitled The Brand Loyalty Factor: Winning the Hearts and Minds of Stakeholders. John's morning keynote address to 300 business executives will be followed by an afternoon workshop.

LEVEL, a brand and reputation firm based in Minneapolis has been retained by Beckman Coulter, a leading manufacturer of biomedical testing instrument systems based in Southern California, to enhance and reposition the Beckman Coulter brand globally. The engagement will include brand and positioning work in the United States, Germany, France, China and Japan.

"This is a unique opportunity to work with a highly respected medical diagnostics company to clarify and strengthen its brand and position around the world," said John Foley, CEO of LEVEL. "Beckman Coulter has a long history of developing highly accurate, innovative laboratory testing equipment. Our goal is to help them strengthen their brand and clearly differentiate them from other global competitors," he added.

Beckman Coulter cited LEVEL's extensive brand and positioning experience in the medical device arena and the unique process the agency uses as reasons for the selection. The LEVEL approach delivers the insights necessary to ensure a company's brand and position are clearly understood by customers, employees and investors.

On April 25, John Foley leads a workshop on "Discovering the Secrets of Building World-class Brands" in New York, NY. The session begins with an insightful presentation that helps executives understand the difference between brand and reputation and how they can be built or destroyed in a transparent world. During this session, Foley will cover a number of topics including:

• How transparency in business has changed the world
• Getting your brand on the fast track
• Why values matter more than ever
• Aligning internal values with key stakeholder values
• Bridging brand and reputation to knock down internal silos
• Building blocks to create a strong brand and reputation
• Managing stakeholder engagement

John Foley has been invited by The Conference Board to speak at 2008 Corporate Image Conference: Winning Strategies, Insights, and Solutions in New York City, on January 31st – February 1st. Other speakers invited to attend the conference include executives from Northwestern Mutual, AT&T, and Nike. They expect more than 100 attendees.

MINNEAPOLIS (July 22, ‘07)— LEVEL, the firm that specializes in building business with balanced brand strategies, added four new members to their staff. Gregg Byers, Janis Olson, Wil Furnstahl and Byron Dolven all recently joined the growing firm this summer.

Gregg Byers joins LEVEL as Creative Director after years of experience in agencies such as BBDO, Bozell Jacobs and Carmichael Lynch. Gregg has been Creative Director twice before in his long career, once at HMS Advertising and the other Lynch Jarvis Jones. “It has to look and feel important,” says Byers about his advertising philosophy.

Janis Olson has joined LEVEL as Senior Production Artist. Janis has been in the production department for more than 20 years. She’s a master of many programs and has a real eye for design and layout. Her commitment to the finished product matched LEVEL’s is why she is a great fit for both parties.

Wil Furnstahl is LEVEL’s latest and greatest addition to the account service department. Wil is a proven top performer with more than 6 years of advertising experience. When Wil isn’t presenting top notch marketing solutions he designs and maintains web sites for non-profit organizations as well as volunteers his time as a high school marching band adjudicator.

Byron Dolven assumes the role of Assistant Media Buyer. Byron is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota and his passion for advertising is only matched by his golf prowess.

The addition of four new members for the 21 year old agency is a sure sign that the agency’s Balanced Brand System is working.

MINNEAPOLIS (May 5, ‘07)— John Foley, author of Balanced Brand, will speak at Reputation Institute's 11th International Conference on Corporate Reputation, Brand, Identity and Competitiveness, May 31 - June 3.

John's speech "Building a Balanced Brand," takes you on a journey to find the truth, the real story that drives your brand and reputation. The session begins with an inspiring and visual presentation that helps you understand the power and importance of telling your company's story. Through three years of research John has identified the secrets of companies with balanced brands, those who have achieved and maintained a strong brand and reputation. He also identified why some companies fall out of balance which results in poor performance and backlash.

MINNEAPOLIS (March 22, ‘07)— The innovative brand and reputation firm LEVEL is enjoying continued success with its balanced approach to business noticeable by recent internal promotions.

Lois Dirksen was recently named President. Kim Thelen was promoted from Director to Vice President, Strategic Planning and Client Service. And Laura Shiue was promoted from Director to Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Media. Jill Griffiths was named Managing Partner. John Foley, founder of LEVEL, will continue as CEO.

Located in The North Loop of Minneapolis, LEVEL is a 21 year old agency that specializes in building business with balanced brand strategies. Current clients include Medica, Western Bank, Pearson and Fair Isaac.

By John Foley

I'm staying in Minneapolis.

Chasing creativity is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. While reaching the top of the creative mountain is a worthwhile goal, it's a fleeting one. The marketplace is very fickle. Many creatives spend their entire careers chasing the latest “hot shop” looking to build their book. Before you pack your suitcase it might make sense to step back and consider working in the close-knit, creative community where you can make lasting friendships. What's special about living here is when you're up against another agency in a new business pitch everyone fights like hell to get the business. However, once the account has been awarded, you know you can count on your friends in the ad community, regardless of who won or lost.

The people who work in this market are generous, talented and smart. The creative work continues to be very strong. The agencies in this market range from large to small. You could work at Fallon, Campbell Mithun, Carmichael Lynch, and Martin Williams or choose a more specialized boutique such as my agency LEVEL. Regardless of agency size, this is a market that prides itself on doing smart, strategic creative work. With the corporate headquarters of Best Buy, Target, General Mills, 3M, Cargill, Medtronic, Hormel, Schwan's, Andersen Windows, Arctic Cat, Polaris and Marvin Windows there is plenty of work to support a vibrant advertising market.

The best-kept secret about Minneapolis is the creative community extends way beyond advertising. It offers a terrific opportunity to meet and work with designers, actors, architects, writers and musicians. We have the new Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts and vibrant music and theater scene. Newsweek recently dubbed Minneapolis “Design City”.

In addition to the arts scene, Minneapolis is blessed with five lakes within the city, a nationally renowned park system and you're only two hours away from the North Woods for fishing, hiking, kayaking and cross-country skiing. If spectator sports are your thing, we have major league football, baseball, basketball and hockey. No doubt it's cold in the winter and you're halfway from either coast, but you're with true friends. Thanks to global warming even the weather's not so bad. It's hard to find a better place to build a great career and still have a balanced life.

Before I begin sounding like the local Chamber of Commerce, I must admit we are sorely lacking the diversity within the local advertising community that you would find in Chicago, New York or L.A. We also live with the constant threat of spontaneous road construction. snow days and West Nile disease. And, in the spirit of full disclosure, Homeland Security has listed Mall of America is a potential target for Al Qaeda.

So if you can tolerate unseasonably warm winters, soft-spoken people and the infamous Midwestern work ethic, Minneapolis is a great place to start a career, run a business, raise a family and build lasting friendships.

Or, if you're “from here”, you would say Minneapolis is a “pretty good place.”

By Jill Griffiths

The noblest question in the world is: "What good may I do in it?"- Benjamin Franklin

Although I've worked in the field of "communications" for 20 years, my work has taken many forms. Corporate communications for me meant helping to craft experiences that left a strong impression. Young and untethered, I traveled the globe chasing promotions and adventure. A 60-hour work week was the norm and for many years I didn't look up. Professionally, I was an early bloomer and motherhood came late.

Welcoming a child into my life struck a deep chord, an ancient call of servitude. Gathering my daughter and some courage, we moved to China, where I would communicate to hundreds of children in countryside classrooms. The experience was so profound I spent three years writing a book about it and speaking to American audiences about the lessons we learned.

Awaiting a second child, I answered the call to become minister of education in a spiritual gathering place. The value of community was realized in this setting, where it was required to communicate with an open heart. So it was with trepidation that I considered an offer to return to the confines of a downtown firm. Would my professional clothing still fit? I envisioned myself leading harried meetings with peanut butter on my lapel and pink Legos spilling from my briefcase.

LEVEL, a branding and marketing agency, is full of creative, talented people-mostly women. Job-shares and flex hours are practiced here, and there is The Cabin, a warm and welcoming room for our kids when they visit. But what appeals to me most is that our work is values-driven. The idea is to attract clients who understand the importance of aligning their stated values (on the lobby wall) with operating values (how we truly work). It is possible to right the ship and communicate in a way that is authentic. The best organizations do it and I am pleased to work among them.

It is easy to feel discouraged during a time in history when the actions of our country are in question, corporate corruption is common and leadership is scarce. It is tempting to flee to Canada and home-school our children forever! I actually considered this-for about 10 minutes. Then I remembered friends and mentors whose hard work has made my path easier, and my community better. Instead of being overcome by fear, it is time to become thoughtful about our choices. Do meaningful work. Give back. Communicate. We all have stories. Let's continue to share them.

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LEVEL
Jill Griffiths,
724 No. 1st St., Minneapolis
612-338-8000