Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? Listen to clients. Listen to clients' customers. Listen to clients' prospects. Listen to customers who bought from the competition. Think. Read. Pray. Use Post-It notes. Daydream. Eat. Talk. Write. Whistle. Scour the web. Scour magazines. Scour the sink. Mow. Use more Post-It notes. Watch people. Run things past my wife and kids. Long showers. Listen to music. Read some more. Write some more. Eat. Fish. Drive. Listen some more. Hit the treadmill. Listen. Drum a little on my desk. Whistle some more. Whack the weeds in the backyard. Talk to staff. Eat. Use up the remaining Post-It notes...Pretty much in that order.

What was growing up like for you? Both of my older brothers were afraid to take the hamsters out of the cage once they had passed on to the big “hamster wheel in the sky.” (We went through a lot of them - and actually, they were gerbils.) I think being the designated “Undertaker” probably messed me up somehow...I'm still trying to figure that one out.

What was “your finest moment”, the thing you're the most proud of? Hopefully, it's still to come - but up to this point, it was when an already successful client changed their company's mission statement as a result of some positioning research we had done for them. It was then I realized that our work REALLY did make a difference...On a personal level, I must say having committed “Goodnight Moon” to memory was certainly one of my finer accomplishments when my kids were younger.

What makes a great brand? Belief. Genuine belief in what they are doing and who they are.

Tell us about your pets? None. Once had a border collie named Corban, and more 4-H calves than I can remember their names, but here's a few: Meg, Snip, Honeysuckle, LeDoux and Red Heifer.

Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? Be curious, do the right kind of research, give yourself time to think and talk with others about the challenge and evolve ideas through lots of feedback and interaction.

What got you into this business? I originally wanted to be the next Oprah, but then started writing for my high school magazine back in the 80's. After that I studied Journalism and Speech Communication at Indiana University, while also writing for the student newspaper. The need to tell everyone my thoughts on a variety of subjects just sort of fit me well.

What attracted you to HuebnerPetersen? The integrity of the people at HP were the main reason I decided to join the team, and since then it's the main reason I'm still there.

What talent do you wish you had? Walk the tightrope. I already juggle as much as I can - figuratively of course. Now walking the tightrope could be cool. Outside of that, I wish I knew how to draw. Words can only get you so far.

If you lived on a desert island, what would you miss most? All the highlights of my typical day: nightly episodes of Jeopardy, my morning cup of tea, watching basketball, and my yoga mat.

What makes a great brand? A great brand understands its customers (and/or potential customers). It doesn't attempt to be everything to everyone, it has focus and purpose. A great brand tells a unique story that connects to its customers and sets it apart from competitors – it delivers the product or service that it represents. A great brand evolves with technology and changing tastes to remain relevant, and it constantly assesses its own areas for improvement.

What attracted you to HuebnerPetersen? The culture of the agency. The authentic drive the agency has towards building success for the brands they work with. The integrity, home grown values and true enthusiasm the agency is built around.

Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? I find my creative direction and solutions by asking a lot of questions. I work to to find out the goals, needs and differentiators of each individual client and use that to drive my creative process.

What do you do for a good time when you are not working? I love to travel. I really enjoy the adventure of seeing and experiencing new places and cultures.

Is there a great client story you'd care to share? One of my favorite clients is ArtHaus — a home for the arts in small town, Decorah, Iowa that brings visual, performing, and literary art together under one roof and offers creative programs for all ages. Creating a visual identity and brand recognition for the launch of ArtHaus was a very rewarding experience because I believe in the concept and the people behind it.

What got you into this business? I grew up watching my mom work in Sales and Marketing, when it came to making a decision for my degree it was easy. I feel a job in Marketing is fulfilling because it works across such a broad spectrum of areas: problem solving, creativity, design, client services etc.

What makes a great brand? I think that a great brand truly speaks to the beliefs and personality of the company. It has the ability to create loyalty among its customers, and is highly recognizable both from its goodwill and the product or service it provides.

What's your favorite TV program? And your least favorite? I have a tough time picking favorites. I would say it's a three-way tie: Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. As far as my least favorite? Any trashy reality show, perhaps on VH1.