OUR DNA
WHAT WE DO
Social.
People listen to people, and we need to be in the social spaces they are using.
Content.
Have an ongoing conversation with your customers and be there all the time to remind them of the big and popular ideas.
E-Commerce.
Some times you tell, but all the time, you sell. A call-to-action in every message.
CLIENTS
A partial list of companies we have worked with during our careers.
THE TEAM
BRIAN WRIGHT
Strategic communications through public and media relations.
JEFF HANCOCK
Full-service experience with an emphasis on creative design and communications.
LARRY W. SMITH
Branding and strategy with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurial know-how.
THE INTERNS
LINDSEY GAMMON
2022 Graphic Design Intern
KASIA SOWA
2021-22 Graphic Design Intern
JEFF HANCOCK
Full Service.
A native of Louisville, KY and alum of the University of Kentucky, Jeff understands diplomacy. An experienced Strategist, Account Planner, Media Planner, Creative Director and Designer, Jeff is recognized for delivering award-winning creative on budget, on time, and on target. Jeff teamed with the top two firms in the region while gaining valuable business experiences working on the client side. Jeff has represented a range of clients covering a variety of categories.
Some clients include:
• Applebee’s (Thomas & King) • American Founder’s Bank • Ball Homes • Battery Giant Louisville • BHG – Bluegrass Hospitality Group • Breeders’ Cup • Buffalo Trace Distillery • Catholic Education / Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, KY • Central Baptist Hospital • Del Mar Thoroughbred Club • Don Jacob Automotive / BMW, Honda, Volkswagen • Equibase/EquiMedia • Fazoli’s Restaurants • Fifth Third Bank • Green’s Toyota • Hallway Feeds • IBM • Jerry’s Restaurant • Johnny Carino’s (Thomas & King) • Keeneland Association / Sales / Racing / Events & Hospitality / Shop • Kentucky League of Cities • KEMI Insurance • KESA Insurance • KUE Federal Credit Union • Lexington Athletic Club • Lexington Catholic High School • Visit Lex • Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI • Lexington Silver • Lexington Leadership Foundation • Lexmark • Liquor Barn • Long John Silvers • Proof Fitness • All-New Red Mile (Rebrand) • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. • Sayer School • Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney Law • Sweat Fitness • University of Kentucky PR/Admissions • University of Kentucky Athletics / Football • Urban Active • Valvoline • Zerex Antifreeze •
Jeff served as Chairman of the Board for AAF Lexington, an affiliate chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and currently serves on the Advisory Board for The Salvation Army of Central Kentucky. Jeff has supported Camp Horsin’ Around, CBMC of the Bluegrass, Central Kentucky Chapter of the American Heart Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Helping Through Him/Southland Christian Church, Helping to Heal “Victims of Gun Violence,” Lexington Catholic High School, Lexington Habitat for Humanity, Lexington Leadership Foundation, Komen Race for the Cure Lexington, MAP Foundation, Markey Cancer Foundation, Rotary Club of Lexington (End Polio Now), Refuge for Women, United Way of the Bluegrass and YMCA of Central Kentucky, Make-a-Wish Foundation.
LARRY W. SMITH
Entrepreneurial spirit.
A New York City resident for 35 years, Larry has a highly diverse background in Marketing, Advertising, Technologies, and Finance. He has founded 9 startups and contributed to over 30 new products and businesses.
Following graduation from the University of Rhode Island, Larry started on Madison Avenue at Della Femina Travisano & Partners advertising agency, one of the super-hot creative shops at the time. (FYI, Jerry Della Femina was influential in Matt Weiner’s creation of the Mad Men TV series.)
With stints at Grey advertising and Saatchi & Saatchi, both top 10 Agencies, he was influential in developing brands including Ziploc, Saran Wrap, Becks Bier, Sensodyne Toothpaste, Tegrin shampoo, STP automotive products, and Krystal Restaurants.
To expand his experience, he moved to Lexington, KY in the late 1980’s to work at Jerrico Inc. as Director of National Marketing for Long John Silvers, plus Jerry’s Family Restaurants and the development and launch of Florenz Italian Restaurants.
Larry played a substantial role in the development of the internet as a Founder and CEO/President of US Interactive, a marketing and e-commerce software development company that went public on NASDAQ, August 1999. Among the high-profile clients served were American Express, Toshiba Consumer Products, IBM, Microsoft, UPS, Martha Stewart, US Senate, Deloitte, RCA, AT&T, Sprint, Royal Caribbean, Comedy Central, and J&J/Tylenol.
Making a big change in 2000, Larry served as President of THCG, a NASDAQ listed company that provided Investment Banking services, Venture Capital Funding, and e-commerce start-up services. Larry helped raise $8.5 million in funding to develop and as CEO/President launch Enjewel, a “bricks and clicks” fine jewelry retailer.
For the past 15 years, Larry has provided a spectrum of branding and marketing services plus specialized technology consulting in the areas of Business Architecture, Semantics and Ontology to companies in the Financial Services and other industries. Clients have included Nordea bank; Wells Fargo; Quarule (Compliance/Risk using AI); Boeing; AvisBudget Group, Sotheby’s; Merck; aetna; and The Franklin Mint.
Larry is married to Saundra and has 2 boys, William and Patrick, both in college. He served as VP on the Board of the Greenwich Village Little League and as Marketing Chair at Bowling for Breastcancer.org which raised over $4 million in the past 10 years.
BRIAN WRIGHT
Strategic Communication.
With more than three decades of work in journalism, politics/government, and public relations, Brian Wright has communications experience across a broad range of disciplines.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Indianapolis, Brian began a 26-year career in broadcast and print journalism, culminating as a national feature reporter for NPR, an international reporter for the Voice of America and for the syndicated financial show, Marketplace. He received a record 10 Associated Press Awards in a single year.
Brian left journalism to serve as Communications Director and Senior Advisor in the Office of the Attorney General and then pivoted to consulting work, advising non-profits, small businesses, corporations, and individuals on matters related to crisis communications, political campaigns, and public/media relations.
He provided public relations for the New Cities Institute, securing articles in numerous publications including the Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, Oregonian and the Philadelphia Enquirer.
Brian represented several individual speakers and entertainers, securing engagements across the country. He represented Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, an international corporation, during a period of extreme crisis. The company faced a federal investigation and scrutiny from the national media.
Brian led Kentucky American Water during a period of major growth, including a controversial 164-milion dollar water treatment plant and pipeline project through an environmentally sensitive area. Tasked with growing a regional portion of H&R Block, he developed a comprehensive marketing strategy, successfully increasing the acquisition of new clients. The McClatchy publishing company called on Brian to redesign their LexPress website, including content, customer attraction and navigation.
Brian represented JCC Group, a tax and accounting firm, during a major growth process. The firm was expanding their offerings to include web design, computer networking, diversity training, marketing and public relations. His non-profit work includes producing the original Arts Magazine for LexArts, serving as editor-in-chief and feature writer. He also provided public relations and marketing services for Volunteers of America, increasing contributions by 35 percent.
In addition to his recognition from the Associated Press, Brian has received awards from the National Society of Professional Journalists, the National Society of Political Consultants and the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. He devotes much of his free time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, guiding abused and neglected children through the legal process.
Married to Laura, Brian is proud of his daughter Katherine’s burgeoning career in finance.
KASIA SOWA
2021-22 Graphic Design Student Intern.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Kasia moved to Lexington, Kentucky to pursue a degree in Equine Science and Management at the University of Kentucky in 2013. She had completed that degree in 2018 and had worked in the horse industry for a decade in multiple disciplines at that time. By 2020, Kasia started to independently explore the graphic design world by auditing online classes, shadowing industry professionals, and making connections. By the fall of 2020, she attended Bluegrass Community and Technical College in pursuit of an associates degree in applied science for graphic design and video game design. She has since graduated in 2022 with a 4.00 GPA.
Kasia’s talent is in her line art and illustrations. She also has experience in Advertising, Branding, Digital and Print Design, Animation, Game Design, and 3D Modeling. Kasia was first introduced to the world of graphic design through John Hersey High School’s graphic design elective program. That is where her love for line art had sparked. She would go on to make multiple screen printed t-shirts with her own designs for events and classmates in her high school years.
She started her graphic designer internship with Jeff Hancock at Hancock Branding and Communications in the fall of 2021. This position allowed her to gain expert knowledge in client communications, multiple design practices, and enhance her own skills with the guidance of industry professionals.
Kasia has a retired horse of her own and a cat she had adopted during university. She still enjoys participating in the horse world and industry. Her hunger for continuously learning new things allows her to pursue many hobbies and talents that help further her design career. Some of these include taking independent digital art classes and learning a new language. Kasia hopes to be able to create visual design pieces that make a difference to the world and to an individual life. She wants to use design as a visual representation of an unheard voice in the world.
LINDSEY GAMMON
2022 Graphic Design Student Intern.
Lindsey was born in Sunnyvale, California, and raised in Kentucky. She specializes in art and illustration, but also has a variety of experience in Marketing, Advertising, Branding, Digital, and Print Design. She has a deep passion for creating flat design illustration and graphics.
She started her career journey in 2016 at Bryan Station High School and graduated from their Academy of Information Technology program in the Graphic Design Pathway. During her experience at the academy, Lindsey participated in two competitions: The Student Technology Leadership Program STEM Fair for graphic design and the National PTA Competition for photography. She won 3rd place for her 2020 Coming Summer Reading poster design at the STEM Fair and was recognized in the creativity and delivering interest.
Her internship was as a Graphic Designer assistant at Hancock Branding and Communications in Kentucky. This experience gave her the extensive knowledge of visual communication and she had a valuable opportunity to see the creative process from the inside.
She finished her associates degree in applied science for graphic design at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in 2022 with a 4.00 GPA. Lindsey enjoys traditional and digital freehand drawing during her free time which continues to serve as a beneficial skill in her career. She strives to use the power of design to shape unity among the community through impactful illustrations and other forms of graphics.
Ready. Steady. Go.
Step One.
Nothing is better than meeting in person or on Zoom. We’re standing by.
Tell us what you need and let us ask questions.
An informal conversation can help you frame your situation and help us offer solutions.
Call or text: 347.673.1850
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