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Info
- Strategist at Naked CommunicationsMarketing and Advertising | Greater New York City Area, USSummary
Currently, I'm a strategist at Naked Communications, a communications management consultancy in New York City, where I focus on brand strategy and communications planning. My experience has spanned many categories, including OTC pharmaceuticals (Novartis, GSK), beer (Heineken), CPG (Mondelez International), and media (NBCUniversal).
Previously, I was an associate planner at space150, a digital agency based in Minneapolis. There, I worked on a broad range of digital and brand strategy assignments for clients such as 3M, General Mills, Dairy Queen, and Forever21.
Before going into advertising, I was an internal communication strategist at CareerBuilder.com, where I led digital communication and collaboration initiatives for the company's business-to-business sales force and digital marketing strategy for its charitable efforts.
I'm also the proprietor of the gif Tumblr "When Obama Endorsed," recently named one of the Top 50 Best Tumblrs Started in 2012 by Buzzfeed, which I view as my crowning achievement in life. Wouldn't you?
Experience- Jun 2011 - PresentStrategist / Naked Communications
Naked Communications is a communications management consultancy, offering integrated communications planning and brand strategy to clients in a uniquely objective way.
Engagements to date: CareerBuilder, NBCUniversal (Esquire Network rebrand, USA Network), Mondelez International (Brazil), Heineken (Heineken Light and Amstel Light), Novartis Consumer Health (Triaminic, Prevacid24Hr, Nicotinell global, Voltaren France), GlaxoSmithKline OTC, new business.
Invited to present at the 4As 2011 Strategy Festival and 2012 Transformation national conference.
- Apr 2011 - Apr 2011Freelance Planner / DiMassimo Goldstein (DIGO)
I worked closely with the head of strategy and marketing to develop communication strategy for a nationwide recycling rewards program. Duties included conducting qualitative research in a local market (in-person and phone interviews, site visits) and aiding development of creative strategy brief.
- Jun 2010 - Nov 2010Associate Brand Planner / space150
I worked on a wide variety of projects at this fast-paced digital agency (recently named Ad Age's Midwest Small Agency of the Year), from user experience research to tactical campaigns to brand strategy and positioning. Clients included Dairy Queen, Forever21, 3M, and Cascadian Farm (General Mills).
- Jul 2010 - Sept 2010Student - Account Planning Bootcamp / Miami Ad School
Over the course of 10 weeks, 12 future planners and I got a crash course in the discipline. I worked with other planners and creative teams to prepare 9 different campaigns - 1 per week. A portfolio of my best work is available online, linked above.
Awards:
- Top Dog - best overall planning portfolio
- Member of the winning team for the final real-world client pitch as selected by OfficeMax, our client - Jun 2004 - Apr 2010Internal Communication Strategist / CareerBuilder.com
In addition to performing a variety of marketing support functions, I acted as CareerBuilder’s first employee dedicated solely to internal communication strategy and faciliation. Duties included:
Designing and building digital communication and collaboration environments.
Writing and editing content across a variety of channels.
Conducting employee research and working with senior leadership to develop small group and company-wide communication strategy.
Education-
2010 - 2010Miami Ad SchoolAccount Planning
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2002 - 2006DePaul UniversityB.A. in Communication, Creative Writing
Activities: American Advertising Federation
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Honors:Invited to present at the 4As 2011 Strategy Festival and 2012 Transformation national conference. OMMA - 2 awards with space150 for Online Interactive Creativity and Integrated Online Campaign for Dairy Queen Mini Blizzard launch. Miami Ad School Account Planning Bootcamp: - Top Dog award for best overall portfolio - Member of winning planner/creative team for final project as selected by OfficeMax, our client Personal essay "Snow and Hot Asphalt" included in the anthology "The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities" published by Random House in May 2006. The book recently received the LAMBDA Literary Award in the Best Children's/Young Adult category.
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Interests:Running, design (particularly fashion & automotive), music, travel, writing.
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Tweets
- Niece Eva's drawing for my birthday. I am told she thinks I love fat ladies. Evidently without arms? http://t.co/lnWyuJ0hfx
- Ugh, Alvin Ailey is incredible.
- Alvin Ailey!! (@ David H. Koch Theater - @lincolncenter) http://t.co/Lfj7Tr8w7Z
- Just glad the Kimye baby doesn't share my birthday. Close call.
- Which metrics cited in this article *actually* support the assertion that Apple ads aren't working very well? http://t.co/z1WpW0Te1M
- Coming soon to a crap ad rag near you: "What Does Edward Snowden Mean for the Future of Advertising?"
- Yesssss. MT @HouseofCards: An ode to Claire Underwood's wonderful hair! http://t.co/WXcDG4RF3X http://t.co/POorAgHV32
- Sing it, Coco O! http://t.co/dyl0pT2pcn
- Today requires chicken fingers.
- RT @avin_narasimhan: simple and awesome- app for @Target turns asking for advice on purchase into simple A/B choice http://t.co/1fnti50jWc …
- Isn't that what they are? Clouds? Amoeba on wheels?
- Google buys Waze. http://t.co/X3T2lGUjAM Moar cutesy clouds on my maps!
- I'd like to think that whatever @goldfrapp is revealing tomorrow at 9 a.m. UK time is in honor of my birthday week.
- Rainy Monday myoosik ♫ Etc – Francis and the Lights http://t.co/5JmDoxca27 #NowPlaying
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Photos" data-title="Here, Zoe more accurately depicts my tastes with an interpretation of a @soulcycle bike." data-link=""> " data-title="Niece Eva's drawing for my birthday. I am told she thinks I love fat ladies. Evidently without arms?" data-link=""> " data-title="Shortly before I got chastised by the staff for taking pictures in the house... Not like I'm using flash during the performance or something. Harrumph." data-link=""> " data-title="" data-link=""> " data-title="I wish" data-link=""> " data-title="B-day dinner, photo and company courtesy hubby @mleamer! ❤" data-link=""> " data-title="Mulberry" data-link=""> " data-title="Got me some gay kicks. Nike #betrue Frees!" data-link=""> " data-title="Pre-birthday @soulcycle ride! Instructor bike all decked out. There were hats too." data-link=""> " data-title="@jamierosen always knows how to bring out the best in me." data-link=""> " data-title="#latergram 1WTC has magical sunrise reflection powers." data-link=""> " data-title="#latergram another peekaboo." data-link=""> " data-title="Peekaboo" data-link=""> " data-title="Good morning from JFK approach!" data-link=""> " data-title="Winter totally sucks in São Paulo" data-link=""> " data-title="New specs, crazy bangs." data-link=""> " data-title="🌿" data-link=""> " data-title="FINE! I didn't want to go to your stupid party anyway." data-link=""> " data-title="Intermission" data-link=""> " data-title=""You do know cellulite is the main ingredient in frozen yogurt..."" data-link="">
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Posts
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… after all the ORANGE MOCHA FRAPUCCINOS, after Twitter & Tumblr dropped it like it’s hot, after Michelle Obama gave us a thumbs up, after NPH & Elmo danced it up, after wedding planners freaked the eff out, after Barackness Monster danced all over the White House, after we did the Carlton at work…
… all I had left to say was:
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, followed, reblogged, tweeted, Facebooked, etc. You are all awesome. This has been an absolute blast. But all amazing parties (on this Tumblr, at least) must come to an end…
Now, we have some work to do:
- Stand with President Obama here
- Learn what else President Obama has done to support full equality for LGBT Americans here
- Learn about different states’ LGBT policies here
- Find your local representatives and find out if they support LGBT rights
Forward!
- Ben
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… I got on my very best gym outfit to celebrate:
- #equalitydanceparty
howifeelaboutallthesegifblogs:
Presented without context, just for the wonderfulness of it:
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… I got a little carried away during the #equalitydanceparty:
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… Gaga was all “Roma-ah-ah-ah, want your #equalitydanceparty”:
- Marriage Equality Dance Party!
When Obama Endorsed is having a marriage equality dance party today. Post your favorite gifs and tag it #equalitydanceparty!
This last dance goes out to the people against marriage equality.
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… I was all at my desk at work like, “NO TIME FOR SPREADSHEETS, I HAVE AN #EQUALITYDANCEPARTY TO ATTEND.”:
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… high-powered Democrats got in on the #equalitydanceparty:
(I know it’s similar to one I’ve posted before I’LL DO WHAT I WANT.)
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… I was all, we’re sexy, we’re cute, we’re popular to boot:
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
- When Obama endorsed marriage equality...
… dudes were all, “#equalitydanceparty? hells yes!”:
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Miami Ad School Portfolio
- I attended Miami Ad School's Planning Bootcamp in Minneapolis in the summer and fall of 2010. My portfolio received the Top Dog Award for best overall portfolio, while my case study for OfficeMax was named the winning case by OfficeMax clients.
To view the entire digital version of the portfolio, click here: http://cargocollective.com/benzumsteg/.
