Brenda Stier-Anstine, CEO

Malcolm Gladwell wrote, in The Tipping Point, “A very small number of people are connected to everyone else in a few steps – the rest of us are linked to the world through those special few.” Welcome to the world of Brenda Stier-Anstine, founder and CEO of Marketing Works. Our resident trail blazer of a boss can be characterized by her natural-born ability to connect, influence and fearlessly lead. As founder of one of the top Women Owned Businesses in Columbus, Brenda has been a communications professional for more than 25 years. Partnering with Sandy Fekete at Fekete + Co in 2008 has only made her stronger.

Ready for every day with coffee in hand, Brenda drives our new business ventures, exemplifying her plans with an extensive background in strategic marketing for organizations worldwide. With a spring in her step, and her head in the game she directs our award winning, business-to-business integrated communications firm. Utilizing her innovative MW 360° ^SM process, she uncovers hidden challenges and illuminates potential opportunities to arrive at the best strategies for achieving your business goals.

A guest presenter and spokesperson, Brenda has worked to enhance the viability of economic vitality statewide. With a great aptitude to bring together the right partnerships, Brenda is someone you want on your team! An avid enthusiast of professional development, Brenda’s commitment to faith, family, education and community service are punctuated by her leadership roles in Central Ohio. As the past chair of the Small Business Council and former board member for the Columbus Chamber, she has emerged as a highly visible and vocal advocate for economic development and small business issues. She is an advisory board member for Finance Fund, board member for Communities In Schools, and diligently works to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Ever see her calendar? She is currently Chair for the Board of Trustees for the Mt. Carmel Foundation and also co-chair of the Mt. Carmel/St. Ann’s Project Grace Campaign. She serves on the advisory board for The Gathering—addressing the moral, ethical and spiritual needs of business, professional and government leaders. Keep in mind, she does this all while attending school plays, feeding her son’s football team and walking the dog.

Passionate and a whole lot of fun to be around, Brenda is a purpose-driven role model in all aspects of her life, in her faith and for her family. Brenda is an honors graduate from Ashland University, and was an adjunct professor at Franklin University within the Applied Communications curriculum for more than a decade.

Sandra Fekete, President

In 1983, Sandra Fekete (it rhymes with spaghetti), founded Fekete + Company, a marketing communications firm. Despite its difficult pronunciation, Fekete + Company flourished as an enterprise, specializing in business-to-business marketing for privately held companies. In 2008, following the proverb “two heads are better than one”, Sandy partnered with Brenda Stier-Anstine to establish MWFC, LLC dba Marketing Works.

Quiet in person, bold in action; as Principal, entrepreneur and strategic mastermind, Sandy is dedicated to directing the planning and implementation of high-stakes communications programs for Marketing Works’ clients. When it comes to organizational culture’s impact on sales and marketing, Sandy wrote the book… literally. As developer and sole owner of Companies Are People, Too® (CAP2), a proprietary online assessment instrument that profiles the personality of an organization, Sandy can create an accurate, strategic plan based on a company’s true personality and needs. CAP2 has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, CFO, and numerous business periodicals. Her book, Companies are People, Too®, was published in 2003 by John Wiley and Sons.

A native of Montana, Sandy moved to Columbus in 1975 and worked in corporate communications positions until starting Fekete + Company eight years later. She is a behind-the-scenes advocate and counselor to a number of minority entrepreneurs in and beyond Central Ohio. Sandy’s awards, both shiny and numerous, include 2002 National Association of Women Business Owners’ Visionary Award and finalist in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She is a charter member of Women President’s Organization and serves on the board for the Columbus Entrepreneur’s Organization. Sandy was named a semifinalist in Inc. Magazine’s Marketing Masters Awards for her development of CAP2.

She attended the College of Great Falls in Montana and The Ohio State University, and maintains numerous professional affiliations.

Sandy’s unique knowledge, experience and skill set allow her to dominate the field of marketing— almost as well as she dominates the golf course. We liken Sandy to the female version of Jack Nicklaus. She can birdie any hole while simultaneously networking like a champ.

Stacy Wood, Vice President

Talk trash about the Steelers and Stacy might have a few choice words for you. A few explicit words, perhaps. It’s a bit of a deviation from her always intelligent and insightful rapport, but understandable nonetheless. It shows she has passion. And we love passion.

Stacy Wood, our Vice President and resident Varsity Club patron, has the role of overseeing strategy development and branding campaigns for Marketing Works’ clients. Stacy has been in the marketing agency industry since 1999 and her work shows it. As a business-to-business, government, nonprofit and technologies marketing specialist (pretty impressive to specialize in all of that), Stacy provides strategic direction and oversight of key accounts such as the Association for Dermatology Administrators & Managers, Finance Fund, Venture Highway and Progressive Medical. She is also largely responsible for team cohesion, which (to the team’s delight) frequently manifests itself in the form of Friday Team Lunches and emergency trips to Graeters for ice cream.

With experience pumping through her veins and a lead foot planted firmly on the gas pedal, Stacy’s knowledge and drive allows her to serve on the executive committee of the Ohio Literacy Network board of directors and as Rotary Public Image Coordinator for Zone 30 in North America. Stacy is also former president of the Worthington A.M. Rotary Club.

Stacy’s perfect date would include dinner at one of Columbus’ cool restaurants and a football game at her beloved alma mater, OSU. While attending The Ohio State University, Stacy earned two degrees – Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with Specialization in Public Relations.

Mary Trimarche, Office Manager

What would we do without Mary? This is certainly a question that we would not like to have to answer! We fancy Mary as the mechanic to our Marketing Works machine, as she keeps this business finely tuned and well oiled. Acting as Marketing Works’ Office Manager since 1998, she is accountable for all fiscal responsibilities including AR, AP, payroll, office budgets and expenses –  it’s a wonder she has time to do anything else! With her experience as a loving mother, grandmother and wife, Mary is able to take care of a bit of everything in the office. She ensures files are up-to-date and secure and takes time to meet with all new hires for orientation and basic office training. Is the copier having an issue? Are we out of supplies? Call Mary! She’s our office super hero. Really.

Mary’s patience is to be commended, especially during billing. Her soft demeanor and kind words balance out the hectic hustle and bustle of every day. With a clean desk and smile on her face, Mary keeps us all in line.

Mary graduated from Marion Franklin High School in the Cooperative Office Education (COE) program and has completed numerous work-related classes over the years.

Melissa Howard, Senior Account Manager

When it comes to account management, Melissa has it nailed. Her ability to exceed expectations, both at work and at happy hour, has clients coming back for more. A member of the Marketing Works team since 1999, Melissa has truly mastered the art of leading project management processes, resulting in some of the best communications strategies in central Ohio. Performing a balancing act between her two loves (family and marketing) she’ll keep you in the loop, even if you don’t want to know. And while she’s at it, she’ll find time to feed her two children, dogs and husband….most of the time.

Melissa started her career as a news director and talk show host for a small radio station in Lebanon, IN. Realizing that her plans to be a revolutionary female news reporter were hijacked by another (*cough* Katie Couric *cough*), she made a switch and went to work for the State of Ohio’s Legislative Service Commission. Proofing and editing legislation slowly prepared Melissa for her debut in the marketing industry. After securing an internship with Marketing Works, she couldn’t look back – and has been here ever since.

Melissa is a ’94 Ohio University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. Loved by all at the office for her kind heart and warm demeanor, we recommend spending some time with Melissa. We’re positive she’ll win you over, too.

Bethany Cramer, Public Relations Manager

A true do-it-yourselfer, Bethany aligns the forces of determination, skill and a smile to get the media to notice our clients, and she’d better because she is our Public Relations Coordinator. A native of New York (you’ll know from her accent), Bethany is as sweet as they come. But don’t make the mistake of under estimating her; she might surprise you with her expert marksmanship. With the accuracy of a competitive archer and the imagination of an interior designer and build-it-yourself craftswoman, it’s clear that Bethany has what it takes to plan and execute multiple client PR efforts, develop compelling story angles, befriend the media while convincing them to cover our clients and produce thought leadership. Although close with her family (yes, she’s a daddy’s girl), Bethany was attracted to Marketing Works’ long-standing client relationships and culture built around accountability and creative freedom.

Armed with a love for animals, a can-do attitude and an idol like Lady Gaga, Bethany has been able to accomplish a lot in her professional career. Prior to joining Marketing Works, she completed three undergraduate internships with the full-service advertising agency Dixon Schwabl and after graduating, worked as the Communications Associate for an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity in Upstate New York.

Eager to join groups like Columbus Gives Back and Columbus Young Professionals, and pulling the rest of us with her to have a good time, Bethany has been a wonderful addition to the Marketing Works Team. Bethany graduated from State University of New York at Geneseo earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Arielle Babineaux, Account Coordinator

Armed with countless tidbits of information, sometimes relevant sometimes not, Arielle takes the time to sense the underlying structure of a problem, quickly spot the relevant patterns/issues and then create alternative ways to proceed. Not afraid to speak her mind, she will graciously enter into any intellectual discussion or worthy debate like a well trained boxer. Using her inquisitiveness and experience, Arielle leverages every opportunity to help give herself understanding and ultimately, confidence. As Account Coordinator, she is personally responsible for administrative and creative support on a variety of client projects. Incorporating a twist of analytics into her position, she is also most frequently in charge of tracking success measures and reporting outcomes.

Strong-willed, proactive, and up at the crack of dawn for a daily work out, Arielle has participated in communication strategy since 2008. With an eye for grammar and an undeniable fondness for Google Analytics, Arielle tells you what’s going to happen. Her experience ranges several industries, with skills that vary from team management to client strategy audits. Well-rounded and an undeniable asset to our team, you certainly want Arielle poking her nose around your organization.

Adding as much volume as she does value, Arielle is an accomplished Account Coordinator! Born and raised right here in central Ohio, Arielle has returned after a stint in Indiana at DePauw University, graduating from the Management Fellows honor program with a degree in Communication and a minor in Economics.

Jess Hellmich, Account Manager

Dubbed “The Enthusiast” by the Companies Are People, Too personality assessment, Jess validates the results by always being the first one to arrive in the morning. Eager to jump in and always ready to put in an extra mile, Jess brings a tireless work ethic and glass-is-half full mentality to the Marketing Works team.

Often labeled the office’s best dressed (on Halloween), Jess is a perpetual optimist, outdoor enthusiast, adventurer, Eagle Scout, all-around nice guy and our favorite Account Manager (with facial hair). His natural disposition to be up for any challenge drives his passion to create exemplary products.

His background has given him keen insight into understanding the meaning behind messages as well as what motivates people and how they interact. This coupled with specialties that stretch across problem solving, social media, concept design, and analytics, Jess brings a great breath and depth of varied expertise to clients… and socializes in a female-dominated office like a gentleman.

With experience in executing marketing campaigns for major motion picture companies, we aren’t sure why he left California after he graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and a Minor in Personal and Social Psychology. He is also a member of the Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honors Society.