Awards/Testimonials

recognized for excellence by the american marketing association, the society for marketing professional services, service industry advertising awards, pr week, the webby awards, and washington business journal. spotlighted on wtop radio (washington dc) by “man about town” bob madigan, the 2009 edward r. murrow award winner. vetted by 75+ recommendations submitted here and at linkedin.

THE AWARDS

the american marketing association’s “m” award was initiated in 2002 to recognize marketers and campaigns that demonstrate solid strategy, brilliant innovation and positive return on investment. awards include best marketing in the areas of corporate identity, campaigns, direct marketing, marketing research, collateral, promotions, public relations, investor relations, advertising and multimedia and computer-based marketing. i received the “m award” for mint fitness’ corporate identity (2005).

the society for marketing professional services (smps) national marketing communications awards program is the longest-standing (launched 1976), most prestigious awards competition that recognizes excellence in marketing communications by professional services firms in the design and building industry. i received a silver for my work with leo a daly architects’ corporate identity (1999).

the service industry advertising awards (siaa) was initiated in 2003 to recognize advertising excellence specifically in the service industry. entrants are evaluated by a national panel of judges on the basis of creativity, quality, consumer appeal, and overall break through advertising content. of the 2,200+ entrants received in late 2010, just over 300 received recognition (14%) at the gold, silver, bronze, or merit level. i received a silver and a bronze for the only two entries i submitted for consideration — advertising pieces for saint gabrielle street & company and meet the doggetts respectively (2010).

the webby awards are presented by the international academy of digital arts and sciences. launched in 1996, the ceremony recognizes excellence on the Internet including websites, interactive advertising, online film/video, and mobile content. 16 areas of expertise are recognized across 68 industries. i received recognition for outstanding pharmaceutical website (pfizer animal health, 2005).

washington business journal’s book of lists features hundreds of the hottest area companies in their fields. they rank the top 25 by revenue generated — not by popularity or who you know. listed are largest public and private companies, largest employers and fastest-growing companies. a firm who hired me to direct sales (sqn communications design) debuted on the list at #17 thanks in 2005, due to my guidance. i expanded our footprint with out of region accounts (eg. pfizer and rainforest alliance were in new york city; we were in northern virginia), and i diversified the scope of our offering to attract larger contracts.

TESTIMONIALS

“eric is a dynamic idea man — with the power of determination and perseverance to ensure initiatives take flight.” – cindy kunst, founder of clicks photography (collaborator)

“eric makes the ordinary extraordinary with the simplest of strokes.” – lelei lelaulu, former ceo of counterpart international (client)

“eric’s expertise, passion and approach to the needs of his clients are all second to none. during our first consultation, he immediately launched into ideas designed to take my business to the next level. i’ve found my jerry mcguire!” – brian d. hamlin, ceo of saint gabrielle street & company (client)

“eric’s sense of space and form is nuanced and remarkable; his creativity is inspired; his dedication to craft is truly boundless.” – lauren radziejewski, student (former teammate)

“eric makes his own luck by not sitting on his a$$ and waiting for things to happen; he goes out there and earns through hard work, tenacity, sweat, etc. some things never change.” – nicole bonuso, professor at cal state fullerton (friend since high school)

“eric is a person who knows how to get things done. he eagerly learns new skills that are outside of his experience.” – mark stamm, former senior vp at greater atlantic bank/amtrust (former employer)

“eric’s input identifies considerations that shift thinking in a positive way. he is meticulous with small details.” – michael drayne, vp at american home bank reverse (former teammate at greater atlantic bank and client)

“eric is madly talented! he is a gifted storyteller. he chooses his words thoughtfully and weaves them with visuals beautifully.” – ashton nolley, founder at ntempo publishing (client and collaborator)

“eric is completely reliable and professional. he always does what he says he’ll do.” – dusty rose, studio manager at cue recording (collaborator)

“eric brings a silver tongue and big ideas. you want rain? he can make it rain.” – jeff jeffrey, owner at cue recording (client and collaborator)

“eric is an internet marketing guru. in a town where people talk a big game, eric listens to your needs and delivers on his pitch.” – greg berger, founder at berger video (client and collaborator)

“eric’s the type of guy you want on your team – because you certainly don’t want to compete against him.” – ian jones, ceo at fluidhire (former teammate)

“you gotta love eric’s fire for business. he cares deeply about his work — the way it should be.”– alex painter, arlington chiefs baseball (collaborator)

“eric did a fantastic job on my website – I literally can’t stop looking at it. that’s especially impressive considering how little I contributed to the effort while consumed with a book proposal.” – wanda lasseter lundy, intuitive healer at lasseter-lundy consulting (client)

“eric always made himself available, got along well with committee members and established a steady environment for productivity.” – lisa greenwald, market researcher at greenwald & associates (client)

“eric is a hard-working individual who diligently pursues success through thoughtful preparation and tenacity.” – dan emory, ceo at active assurance (client and captain of baseball team I sponsored)

“eric is an exceptional leader – dedicated, driven and enthusiastic. he puts 100% into his commitments.” – jennifer giancola, consultant at abt associates (former teammate)

“eric possesses the natural ability to inspire those around him.” – jeff severson, music producer at jsp (client and collaborator)

“eric is bright, quick to the chase and gets at the real problems and challenges his clients face. he is proactive and doesn’t wait for problems to fester on a project before jumping in to avert them.” – morgan benton, professor at james madison university (client and collaborator)

“we all strive to be unique, original…to be our own “brand.” eric has achieved this and honored the essence of his clients’ personalities.” – rodrigue koeda lawson, partner at celsius-plus (former intern and collaborator)

“wow — great site. really impressive! i started reading a little bit just now. needless to say, there is substance behind every word that read.”– betty arnold, vice president at xerox (commenting to our client lynn carter, founder of cartersmith marketing)

“i harmonize with your conclusions. saying thanks will not just be enough, for the phenomenal lucidity in your writing. i will right away grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. good work and much success in your business efforts!” – v. hentai (blog subscriber)

“eric’s breakthrough work on our annual report has spawned many knockoffs in past years, none as well done as the original.” – traer sunley, former director of communications at pact (client)

“before eric, we struggled with a variety of ineffective messages and styles. he helped us to clarify our thoughts and communicate attractively.” – shannon steene, executive director at good shepherd housing (client)

“eric’s skills, knowledge and flexibility would benefit any organization.” – janice clark, program director at national neighborhood coalition (client)

“eric’s is a creative tour de force and a visionary! he is definitely one of the most imaginative people i’ve ever met.” – jonathan fox, attorney (fellow student at university of richmond and former teammate)

“bless god for the abundance of eric’s talent – his ideas are on point, and the sheer number of options he can generate is extraordinary; he’s also a sushi chef and an astronaut, didn’t you know?” – anthony saracini, owner at basement detective (client and collaborator)

“eric, thank you so much for participating in the pool tournament and supporting my efforts to raise funds for the leukemia and lymphoma society – i’m happy you took first prize!” – carey ragels, fundraiser

“it never ceases to amaze me how eric combines successful entrepreneurial endeavors, musical activities and community support all in one well-lived life.” – alexandra lajoux, ceo at american classic recordings (client and collaborator)

“eric knows how to produce and manage an event. his shows are first class, organized and a lot of fun to attend.” – rick adams, account executive at eu services (collaborator)

“eric’s input was well-researched, presented clearly and highly responsive to our needs.” – skip moskey, former director at national association for public hospitals (client)

“eric is a hard worker and a skilled and talented hand. his perspective is impressive. he has a great eye for detail.” – diana beruff, washington city paper (former employer)

“eric gave my logo and website a modern, metropolitan sensibility that’s just great. the blog is going to be a great marketing tool as well. he’s like a picasso with websites.” – sebastian kim, founder at potomac design build (client, work completed in support of cave webworks)

“eric was without question one of the spiritual and ideological centers of our college art scene. his commitment to the community as a whole was unparalleled. he was an inspiration to many of us. he was a great promoter as well, mobilizing people and getting the word out. perhaps most impressively, his leadership qualities were such that he did all this without ever putting himself before others.” – bryan mckee, professor (fellow student at university of richmond and former teammate)

“his enthusiasm and ability to both explain and demonstrate his creative process were critical in my own decision to explore graphic design as a profession. talented, passionate, inspiring – all qualities i associate with eric.” – joe magliaro, graphic designer (fellow student at university of richmond)

“launching a business is a 24-7 proposition. working with eric took away a lot of the headaches related to brand image, marketing and the development of materials that reflect our quality standards and philosophy.” – patrick and melissa john, owners at mint fitness (client)

“eric helped us to proliferate a new image across a large and diverse volume of materials. this was when our brand identity really took life. we are thrilled with the results!” – diane jukofsky, former communications director at rainforest alliance (client)

“eric helped an attorney moonlighting as a musician to launch a top-notch cd and promotions. he was extremely helpful and worked with us at each stage of the process.” – rod garcia, attorney (client)

“awesome. eric is a wizard. can’t wait for the cd release event!” – jason dolan, singer/songwriter (client)

“i’ve worked with eric on three projects. he keeps getting better with the years, just like fine wine. this is one intense and imaginative dude!” – memphis gold, bluesman (client)

“i’ve found that his creativity has never been limited by pre-conceived notions. he pulls the best from people, pushing them to match his own drive – always to their betterment as professionals.” – justin poroszok, jazz musician (fellow student at university of richmond and teammate)

“congratulations on an informative, interactive site (lasseter-lundy.com). it’s compelling and emits a great energy. love the videos – bite-sized, perfect for watching at work!” – sarah plumb (customer of wanda lasseter-lundy, my client)

“the site is very nice (lasseter-lundy.com). it should really elevate business to the next level. I hope she’s ready for all the work she’s going to get!” – mary english, booz allen hamilton (customer of wanda lasseter-lundy, my client)

“eric is a firestarter and go-getter. he is very good at advancing the careers of those who are serious about their music.” – rob sharp, music producer at 3rd side productions (client and collaborator)

“eric displays sound leadership qualities, capable of bringing together people from different schools of thought.” – john unice, attorney (fellow student at university of richmond)

“eric brings leadership and get things done. he is fearless and will state his mind, even when the majority opinion is different than his own.” – shawn garitz, finance manager (fellow student at university of richmond and former teammate)

“the poster is awesome…outstanding work…great turnaround…can’t wait to produce others in the series…i’m also excited about the new direction for my website…the fact that i can manage the content myself is great…i’m eager to dive in, with you as my long-term collaborator.” – tony doggett, independent musician (client and collaborator)

“eric’s ad looks so much better than what i had slapped together. he did a great job of capturing our brand.” – amir tahami, owner at sun and moon yoga studio (client)

“I love my new logo! I especially like the tagline – a colorful voice. I wouldn’t have thought to add that but I think it’s a nice touch. It’s definitely what I want to convey.” – jennifer garra mccarthy, voiceover professional (client and friend since high school)

“i have complete confidence in eric’s ability to deliver advertising with a retail sensibility.” – hristo marintchev, founder at adagio ballet (client)

“eric, i really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. i find it to be refreshing and very informative. i wish there were more blogs like it.” – dan waldron, customer service helper webstite (blog subscriber)

“eric, i just wanted to say good job. i enjoy reading your posts.” – ben waugh, daily direct marketing tips website (blog subscriber)

“it’s the first time i’ve commented here and i must say you share genuine and quality information for other bloggers! great job.” – e. scollemo, car floor jacks (blog subscriber)

“if you’re looking for more than just good results, he is the someone who’ll ensure you reach the highest standard of excellence. he takes care of you sincerely before and after the deal gets done.” – shunichi takashima, photographer (former teammate)

“eric is simply brilliant when it comes to fusion marketing and customer service. i have known him for several years. time and time again, he rolls out the red carpet for each and every client. i am in awe in regards to his attention to detail.” – april sims, founder at we are greater than i (collaborator)

“eric worked with me step-by-step to ensure my project was done right. he offered suggestions that I had never thought about and questioned some of the things i wanted to do. without him, I know my project would never have been completed so well. i got more than i asked for at a price that was very reasonable.” – arnold sanow, mba, csp, motivational speaker (client)

“eric organized a concert for my family and i at jammin’ java. it was a hit show, aided in no small part by his promotions and ticket-sales management. his professionalism in dealing with the concert venue made sure everything was just right for the audience.” – ben doggett, independent singer/songwriter (client)

“my first dealings with eric involved a recording artist he managed, buster brown, and some strategic business planning. he is professional, knowledgeable, honest and has his heart in everything he does.” – brenda celdran, breezy promotions (collaborator)

“over the many years that i have known eric, i’ve witnessed the passion and dedication he has to his crafts. his live show is great. rarely does an artist sound just as good in person as they do on record. do yourself a favor and check him out.” – howard bolden, professional dj (former teammate)

“i’ve known eric since we were both students in college. he has a talent for picking solid collaborators and he’s a whiz at promotions. if you’re looking for a talented creative with great taste, solid leadership skills and the ability to deliver on your project, then eric is your man.” – christian dawson, chief operating officer at servint (fellow student at university of richmond)

“eric’s musical style ranges from the familiar r&b half-sung/half-spoken words like p.m. dawn to the dynamic belting of chris cornell and back to a seductive neo-soul maxwell-esque voice. it’s a happy medium for any r&b lover who likes things a little sweet and spicy.” – rebecca waters, director of human resources at digital sand box (blog subscriber)

“the logo and website banner are awesome! holler!” – my-hanh lac, professional poolplayer (client)

“you’ve done a great job with our website. just checked google and we’re ranked first like you said we would. impressive.” – derek alexander, founder at whistle clean (client)

“our website is beautiful. we’re getting a few new appointments each day! thank you for taking the time to train us on the backend dashboard.” – cyndie kronz, dad’s tree service (client)

“man, you killed it again on logo, business cards and website. looking forward to working together on a few events this summer.” – nana opoku, kontinental entertainment (client and collaborator)

“great job with the copy and website design. you got the look and feel just right — clean, professional and friendly.” – bob klink, northern virginia remodelers (client and collaborator)

“i like what eric is doing for poolplayers in northern virginia. nova bca is very professional.” – brandon shuff, professional poolplayer (collaborator)

“i appreciate the fact that eric is upfront and always keeps me in the loop per the latest developments with his events in my venue. few are as organized.” – todd laferriere, former general manager at fast eddies restaurant (collaborator)

“eric has a solid draw and his shows are first-rate.” – jonathan brindley, store manager at jammin’ java (collaborator)

“eric provided consistent sales support in the form of print advertising in the fairfax county recreation guide and site banners at the fairfax ice arena.” – henry weisiger, owner at fairfax ice arena (client and collaborator)

“eric is responsive, very creative, easy to work with, and has a way of translating general ideas into just what his customer needs. he is a true professional and a pleasure to work with!” – alex rossino, independent singer/songwriter (client)

“to call eric a marketing/creative guru is an understatement. he is an informed, time-tested and truly talented individual with an array of skills that make him an invaluable member of any creative team. the final product of his work displays his consistent dedication to excellence.” — emmanuel gamor, photographer (collaborator)

“i’ve known eric for over a decade. he is unique and brings a brilliant mixture of straightforwardness and creativity to everything he does.” — kasey crowe freesland, director of education & partnership services, score association (blog subscriber)

“i met eric through my daughter, denise. i hired him to market a new golf putting teaching aid. his ideas to take our product from prototype to market are brilliant. his unique and creative thinking will save our company a considerable amount of money.” — monroe hart, professional golfer and inventor (client)

“wow — my logo looks absolutely stunning! eric knows exactly what he’s doing.” — lynn carter, cartersmith marketing (client and collaborator)

“eric’s greatest talent is the ability to let his clients’ personalities shine through in the end product. he’s imaginative — but he also listens to what others offer. i’m so much more in love with my brand because of that.” — sandy cooper, mygreekpets.com (client)

“i am so excited about my new website! if you need a professional in this arena, then eric is your man.” — diana sundsvold, professional violinist and instructor (client)

“found eric through google. he has a very innovative approach.” — emad masumi, thecarhelpers.com (client)

“have you seen his signature? total rockstar.” — scott norris, independent recording artist (client)

“been reading eric’s blogs lately. there’s tons of good stuff in there to share with clients. he doesn’t hold back — which is refreshing.” — michael kirnan, donnelly’s printing & graphics (blog subscriber)

“eric keeps me forward in my thinking.” — seneica sykes, ssb enterprise (client and collaborator)

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