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.

Wedding at Wadmalaw

Went to Charleston last weekend for a wedding, but managed to still find my way out on a boat. This picture was taken by simply opening up the shutter speed and dragging it across the subject’s face.

Captain

Fashion Cow

Never exercised the plastic filter in Photoshop until now, but I think it works in this case. And if you were wondering, the model is far from plastic.

Cashiers_NC

Picnic Island

My guess is that the city of Tampa offered up Picnic Island as a concession to give a large amount of oceanfront land over to industry. They also built a bunch of lifeguard towers, but later realized they would have to pay trained people to sit there. No matter, a lifeguard tower is a great place to watch the sun set.

Picnic_Island

The Word on WordCamp

wordcamp_utah WordCamp is going down this weekend in Salt Lake City, and a few of the 12H crew will be in attendance. In fact, we are pleased to be a sponsor. If you plan on attending reach out and say, what’s up! We’ll be the folks wielding cameras and causing trouble for our next episode of Horse Power. That will be forthcoming, so stay tuned!

Our president, Steve Spencer said it well on Utah Tech Spotlight. WordPress is an incredible story of a business that is more than a business. It is an idea that evolved into a community of users and contributors that has empowered millions of people to communicate and express themselves more effectively and efficiently. It has certainly changed my life, and many of those around me.

So Blog On! And come on down if you are around on Saturday.

When? Saturday 27 September 2008

Where? Novell (1800 Novell Place) Open Source Technology Center in Provo, Utah — Map

Why? Bring together people interested in WordPress, blogging (and the web in general) to talk about what’s possible, where’s it going

Post to Twitter

Innocence

There has been some lapse since I picked up the proverbial pen, and the reason is undeniably warranted. I recently experienced one of life’s innate and most special gifts, the birth of my son.

Houston Leiding Payne was born on August 28, 2008, and my life is forever changed.

Houston_Leiding_Payne

The date on which he was born has some significance. Not as some unique identifier of who he shall become, but of context as it relates to history and the current state of our country and the world. It is the date of Martin Luther King’s historic speech, and Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.

I have never voted for party but always for country. I vote for intellectual promise, not a firm resolve. Each time I’ve filled out a ballot I was keenly aware of inherent problems with both sides of the fence.

Come soon we must again choose with the best of our conviction and consideration of the facts as we know them to be true, understanding that the rest is simply rhetoric.

Do not just listen to the politicians, pundits, media, friends, or even family. Do some research before you vote.

I want change.

I want the best for my son.