Factor[e] Design Initiative!

On Tuesday, February 21st I started at Factor[e] Design Initiative, located on Locke St. south in Hamilton, Ontario.  This graphic design and web development agency is... awesome.  Really, I am enjoying being here to the point of a complete lack of appropriate descriptiveness.


My official title is Marketing Communications Specialist, and my job revolves around strategic communication planning and execution, both for Factor[e] clients, and for Factor[e] itself.  This includes much in the way of online communication and community building techniques, as well as creative campaigns, which is perfect and "right up my alley."


Everyone here is great, and the space is incredible; open-concept, hardwood floors, gigantic windows, and located directly above the Locke Street Starbucks.  I very much look forward to my excessively caffeinated days ahead here.  Below is their blog entry from my first day:

The very cool Factor[e], 162 Locke Street South

"Ryan Moran Joins Factor[e] 

Today marks Ryan Moran's first day on the job here at Factor[e] Design Initiative!  Ryan comes to us in the role of Marketing Communications Specialist and hot on the heels of his completion of an MBA in Strategic Market Leadership from McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business. 

Ryan is a life-long West-Hamilton resident who previously completed a Combined Honours BA in Political Science and Theatre & Film at McMaster University.  Subsequently he worked as the VP Administration and the President and CEO of the McMaster Students Union, as a Commercial Account Representative at ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and as an independent strategy consultant, developing youth audience related strategies for the City of Hamilton and Workforce Planning Hamilton. 

Ryan arrives here with an ideal working knowledge of the elements of effective marketing strategy development, but also with a strong community interest.  Ryan enjoys participating in community theatre productions, long distance/adventure running, and is currently the Chair of Hamilton's young professional networking group, Hamilton HIVE. 

Ryan and a partner, Kailee Jamieson, also recently placed in the top 25 (out of approximately 200) of the nationwide contest "Canada's Next Top Ad Exec."  They are currently on pins and needles, waiting to hear the results of their round two, top ten submission. 

Ryan is thrilled to be here and we are equally thrilled to welcome him aboard!"

Canada's Next Top Ad Exec - Top 25!

The results came in this past Monday, February 6^th, the powerhouse team consisting of Kailee Jamieson (B.Comm) and myself (MBA), had our “elevator pitch” selected from roughly 200 entries, submitted from all across Canada, to be in the top 25 for Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec!

Both students from the DeGroote School of Business, Kailee and I are among five groups representing McMaster University in the top 25 of this nationwide marketing communication strategy development contest.  Essentially, what being in this category means, is that we have a lot of hard, but fun and exciting work ahead of us!  The “elevator pitch” (two pages, with three pages appendices) was phase one of three.  As we look towards the phase two deadline of February 20^th, we will be expanding on this pitch by developing a full, 15 page maximum communication strategy document.

Up and coming captain of industry, Kailee Jamieson.

Each bringing specific skills to this dynamic duo, Kailee Jamieson, an analytical, personable and problem-solving guru, is a Kingston, Ontario native and Dean’s Honour List student in her fourth and final year of the commerce undergraduate program.  With a specific interest in sales and marketing, Kailee already has a sales job lined up for September 2012 at a small, relatively unknown company called PepsiCo, in their Frito-Lay division.  Currently, Kailee is also competing in the DeGroote School of Business’ MARS Apprentice program on Team Synapse.

Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec is a national marketing communication strategy contest open to teams of both business undergrads and MBA students.  After five fantastic years, the contest has proven to operate as an outstanding link between academic learning and industry experience.  Primarily sponsored by Chevrolet, the contest typically focuses on the development of a communication strategy for an upcoming Chevrolet release, and must be executable in Canadian urban centres.  The focus of this year’s contest is the Chevrolet Spark, a vibrant entrant to the mini-car market segment.  First place contest winners each get to take home a Spark, additional prizes include internships, and scholarships (see official CNTAE press release here).  

The Chevrolet Spark in Action!