All posts by Robert Payne

Multichannel marketing and communications professional with a proven ability to deliver award-winning campaigns that inspire action from difficult to reach and discerning audiences. • I’ve exceeded benchmarks time and again across programmatic and social media buys. • Empowered sales teams with tightly integrated lead funnels and lifecycle management solutions leveraging Salesforce.com. • Know how to craft a compelling narrative and have won over a dozen video production awards in the past 5 years. • Served on both the interactive agency and client side, and I am a highly capable sparring partner for any marketing professional whether B2B or B2C. Most recently, I helped the Georgia Department of Economic Development attract new business both domestically and in 12 strategic markets around the globe. In the 7 years I ran Georgia’s global marketing efforts, we were selected as the #1 State for Business by Site Selection magazine, and its database of site consultants, for an unprecedented 7 years in a row. Jobs and investment grew steadily YOY due to a healthy pipeline of prospects. In addition, the Department’s commitment to marketing over that same period of time grew more than 300% because the ROI was clear and measurable. I also managed a team of 5 and 4 agency relationships for interactive, pr, traditional and video production. My online marketing career started with the direction of email marketing and web campaigns for Mandalay Resort Group, resulting in several awards for creative execution and exceptional return on investment. This caught the attention of the interactive marketing company, Twelve Horses where I directed their corporate marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts, as well as provided strategic consulting for travel/tourism clients such as Park City, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and America’s Adventure Place. Leveraging my experience with media and multi-channel marketing technology, I went on to lead the marketing and branding initiatives for SAXOTECH (now NEWSCYCLE), a global provider of content management platforms, circulation systems and advertising solutions for the media industry. I’ve worked in sales, marketing, advertising and public relations for a variety of other companies, including Switchback PR & Marketing, Stoel Rives LLP, Preferred Capital Corporation and Patagonia. I have an MBA with a specialization in Marketing and a BA from Clemson University. Side hustle: My photography has appeared in countless ads, brochures, and marketing campaigns.

Honeymoon Island

Honeymoon_Island Just north of Caladesi Island is Honeymoon Island, and unlike the former it is completely accessible by car. Of course, this will naturally produce more people per acre of sand, but as the situation so often goes, if you are prepared to walk a little bit chances are high that you will find plenty of room to spread out.

Honeymoon Island offers some of the most contiguous undeveloped white sand beach located near the epicenter of Tampa Bay. As I strolled north I was able to count off the miles using the markers along the sand dunes – 1, 2, 3, where did everybody go? My advice: ditch the cooler and various accoutrements and just take a pack filled with the things you’ll really need for unobstructed, unmolested chilling on a wide open beautiful beach. Alternatively, you could take a kayak.

There is also a nice open trail that loops around the interior of the island. Right now there is a pair of nesting bald eagles at the north end of the island and more ospreys than you’ve probably ever seen in one place. Just keep an eye out for Diamond Backs and Poison Ivy.


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Utah Business Announces 2009 iQ Awards Finalists

And Twelve Horses is one of them!

Ticketing_Software

In the past year, we have worked very hard to bring to the market place an innovative new ticketing system that provides airline quality ticketing for medium-sized businesses. While there are quite a few masters of ticketing out there, we feel that we have a unique perspective and position in the electronic ticketing space.

A few things we made sure to address:

  • Price: We found current pricing to be ridiculous and borderline monopolistic.
  • Integration: Ticketing should not be a closed system and instead play nicely with other platforms like, for example, Salesforce.com.
  • Mobile: There is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get a ticket to your mobile phone.
  • Customer Service: We are getting rid of frustratingly long and unnecessary Will Call lines.
  • Branding: It should be your branding on all customer touch points including:
    • Web
    • Email
    • Mobile
    • Printed Tickets
    • Kiosks
  • Security: Can you believe an airline was not encrypting credit card information?
  • Marketing Meets Operations: Managing and implementing multi-channel ticketing should not be confined by complex systems but instead be easy to use.
  • And much more in regards to ticketing, fulfillment, customer service, and reporting.

Needless to say, we hope to be chosen in our category. As you can see below, winners will be announced on January 28th. Wish us luck!

Utah Business and Wasatch Digital iQ are pleased to announce the finalists of the 2009 IQ Awards, the second annual innovation recognition program that highlights some of the most exciting and innovative products, processes and procedures coming out of Utah’s bright minds.

This year, 30 exceptional companies were selected as finalists in nine categories, recognizing the most innovative as well as creative ideas and solutions in technology. These tech-savvy businesses are pioneering a space in their industries – or creating a whole new one. Join us in saluting the innovations that will change the way the world lives, thinks and works.

The finalists will be featured in the February 2009 issue of the magazine and the winners will be announced at a luncheon sponsored by Utah Business on January 28. For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.events.utahbusiness.com.

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