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.
Musings

A Weekend in Charleston, South Carolina

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Tree_Shadow_Bulls Last weekend I made my way to Charleston, South Carolina to spend quality time boating, fishing, and camping with some good ole childhood friends. I have been somewhat deprived of the Lowcountry over the course of the last decade, and while there have been many changes, much is still the same.

Despite being December, the weather was absolutely gorgeous, and some of us even took a dip in one of the creeks. The highlight of the trip for me was doing an 8-mile loop around Bulls Island, which is a part of the Cape Romaine National Wildlife Refuge. It is filled with wildlife and incredible scenery.

There is a section of the hike called, “The Boneyard” where dead trees stand and fall at the water’s edge. Beaten by hurricanes and bleached by sun and salt, they appear like fossils being pulled into the sea.

The remnants of an old fort made out of oyster shells lies at the north end of the island. Built some time in the late 1600s or early 1700s, it served as a lookout for marauding pirates who would often ambush incoming ships carrying their cargo to Charleston and beyond.

I am growing tired of the mediocre camera I am using to shoot video. The lack of image stabilization and high resolution are disappointing. Time for a new one. Any recommendations?

Now, if that does not get you excited to watch this video I don’t know what will! Either way, you can look away or choose not to hit play. ;~)

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Isle of Palms, South Carolina

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Thanksgiving Day 2007

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A Word to Jemima

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Jemima, your words are often like warm syrup over a fat stack of flapjacks, but I have to disagree with this post. I hear what you are saying in so far as there are so many people in a money frenzy clamoring for the all mighty consumer dollar that it can get ridiculous. But the fact is, no one is telling you or anyone else what they can or cannot post. Furthermore, if your ego wasn’t slightly involved in this equation then why don’t you simply write in your diary and tuck it under your bed?

The blogosphere and the myriad of channels out there that churn out content offer choices. Don’t like what you are reading or seeing? Click to the next web site or TV channel, cancel your subscription, turn the page, or don’t buy the book after reading the summary.

What you and your blogging buddy attended was a conference. Conferences are often about business. If you want to talk about blogging with your literary friends or others then meet up somewhere for coffee and conversation. Talk about how you can raise the bar for your profession using blogs and blogging tools. Clearly, you don’t need BlogHer to get the most out of blogging. Furthermore, your lack of satisfaction with the conference could have an impact on next year’s attendance. That’s how these things work.

The reality is that business continually pushes the ball forward. Business may be insatiable, aggressive, competitive, and even imperfect, but it also inspires innovation. Right now there are thousands of developers creating new applications for blogging because their egos are involved in the game. Yes, they do it because they love it and the challenge, but they also want to be noticed. They want to show off their skills. They want to work on the best projects, and guess what, get paid for it. Why? Because we all have to eat. And guess who in the end reaps the benefits? You. You get to use a free publishing software that allows you to communicate openly and freely with the world.

But of course you should blog for yourself. And I hope you will continue to do so. You have that freedom and no one is expecting you to do otherwise, not even the Internet. Now, can we please get extra syrup on that next post of your’s?

Professional

Go Big in the Biggest Little City

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Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, and less than 30 minutes from the nearest ski resort means quite a few of us here at Twelve Horses like to ski and snowboard. In fact, two of Twelve Horses founders, David LaPlante and Martin Gastanaga, were professional ski racers back in the day before they got a wild hair and decided to start a web design and development company.

Obviously, their passions have an influence on the office culture, as well as the type of clients we have. As an indication, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Mountain Sports International, and Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place are just a few clients we have that are involved in promoting snow sports.

It is the latter client, along with a merry band of high altitude hucksters and several other sponsors, that somehow managed to convince the city of Reno to:

  • Get access to one of the tallest downtown buildings
  • Construct a ramp complete with a snow surface
  • And then rip right off the thing with skis on their feet and parachutes on their backs.

    • The video speaks for itself. You can also watch more on this YouTube channel. Can you say, Cool!?

    Also, here are some awesome Ski Base Jump photos of Shane McConkey doing his thing courtesy of the RSCVA.

    Shane McConkey

    Shane McConkey 2

    Shane McConkey 3

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    Gravity Check in Reno-Tahoe

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    Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis knows that I have a certain affinity for Reno and Lake Tahoe. After all, I lived there for almost ten years. The area is big, beautiful, and full of fun things to do. It also happens to be home for a handful of hair ball hucking base jumpers who like to boost it off of high places.

    Vegas has their slogan, “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas;” and good for them. Reno should get something going like, Go Big in the Biggest Little City or Go Home…because that is exactly what these guys did.

    I love the fact that Reno as a city can pull off something like this. I mean where else are you going to see some guys base jumping off of a giant ramp located on top of a tall building with skis on? Warren Miller should be proud. 

    Of course, the video speaks for itself, and you can check out more base jumping videos here. I just hope this means Reno-Tahoe is going to have a ripping ski season because I am praying for snow.

    Also, here are some sicko pics courtesy of the RSCVA.