09.11.12
TWIST Creative, Inc., a full-service brand agency based in Cleveland, Ohio, is excited to announce four new hires, one promotion, an expansion and realignment of its leadership team as well as a flurry of new clients.
“We believe TWIST has the big ideas, strategic capabilities, and creative chops to become a market leader,” said Michael Ozan, president and chief creative officer at TWIST. “Eight months ago, we made a strategy shift. At the time, TWIST was missing some services required to deliver the results we envisioned for our clients. We agreed to hold nothing sacred in making the changes we required for growth. We looked at the market locally and nationally to understand our own positioning and poised ourselves for both growth and competitive edge.”
“That willingness to hold nothing sacred applied to both our client relationships and employee mix,” added Ozan. “In the process of course correction, we had to make both personnel and client relationship changes. Today, in addition to being proud of our talented new team, we have attracted some incredible new clients whose potential is unlimited.”
So far in 2012, TWIST has added relationships with almost 20 new clients including consumer product companies, Hoover Vacuum and Hinkley Lighting; aerospace industry manufacturer, Voss Industries; multi-market restaurateur, Paladar; and educational institutions, St. Ignatius, Cuyahoga Community College, and Baldwin Wallace University. “We have been intentional and strategic in our attraction of new relationships and are extremely proud to be working with such a prestigious portfolio of brands,” said Ozan. “As we look into the next three year period of the agency’s growth, we see great promise in TWIST’s future.
“We remain committed to the groundbreaking, detail-oriented, and visually creative work we have become known for,” said Connie Ozan, founder and design director at TWIST. “We are excited to have the opportunity to bring the ‘TWIST from Cleveland’ aesthetic to clients who can share it with the world.”
Prior to the completion of the new hires, promotion, and agency realignment, TWIST put out the call and a pool of talented people responded. The agency received hundreds of portfolios and resumes from across the country. “At an award-winning agency like TWIST, achieving remarkable work that delivers business growth for clients is about more than the individual capabilities of your talent,” Mike Ozan said.
“Remarkable work is an outcome of the disciplined choreography of a team whose talent, training, ambition, vision, emotional intelligence and professionalism are blended with humility, fortitude and unwavering willingness.”
The TWIST team is lead by a mixture of veteran employees and new additions that were recruited because they bring a new energy and experience in industry sectors that round the agency’s capabilities out in an exciting way. In addition, TWIST has realigned the roles of the leadership team.
Agency Realignment, Promotion, Hires
Christopher Oldham, Director of Design Operations
Oldham assumes the title of Director of Design Operations. He is responsible for executive-level management for all projects under the firm’s charge. Oldham is a print, environmental design and interactive systems specialist. The American Institute of Graphic Arts and many design annuals have recognized Oldham’s designs for their unique qualities, interactive solutions and outstanding visual concepts.
Josh Taylor, Director of Strategy & Development
Taylor assumes the title of Director of Strategy & Development. Taylor’s background in community and civic development adds to TWIST’s expertise in building holistic marketing and brand strategies. His strength in building partnerships allows organizations to be more efficient in achieving their goals.
Todd Sheppard, Director of Media Relations
Sheppard joins TWIST as Director of Media Relations and a member of the agency’s leadership team. Prior to his time at TWIST, he served as an Emmy-nominated executive producer creating newscasts in some of the nation’s largest television markets. His responsibilities at TWIST include supporting and promoting the agency’s clients by developing and implementing both traditional and social media strategies through local, regional, and national outreach. His efforts help clients express their brand messaging and advance their market position through an increase in awareness and sales.
Joel Miller, Art Director
Miller has been promoted to the Art Director at TWIST. He has more than eight years experience of design, site architecture, and programming skills. As a member of the agency’s leadership team, he is responsible for the supervision of the design team and serves as client advocate for the assignments under his team’s charge. Miller also assists founder Connie Ozan with the curation of the agency’s style ensuring the TWIST aesthetic remains progressive, inspiring and thought provoking.
Stacey Martin, Designer
Martin brings more than five years in the graphic design industry. A Gold Akron ADDY® Award winner, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University. Martin has worked in both corporate and agency environments and brings that broad experience to TWIST’s clients.
Kim Hall, Designer
Hall joins TWIST with almost five years of experience in the design industry. She has worked in both corporate and agency environments where she offered her expertise to a range of clients. Hall holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University. She returns to TWIST where she gained experience during an internship while attending Kent State University.
Liz Bermea, Design Intern
Bermea comes to TWIST as a recent graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art with a Communication Design degree. While attending college, she held internships at an advertising agency, a non-profit organization, a retail clothing chain, and a major corporation.
About TWIST Creative, Inc.:
TWIST Creative, Inc. is a full-service brand agency based in the Ohio City neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 2000, TWIST specializes in the creation of branding campaigns, advertising campaigns, social media and community engagement strategies, identity systems, collateral materials, public and media relations, packaging and interactive development for corporate, consumer product, health care, retail and nonprofit clients. TWIST’s creative work and business practices have earned more than 250 awards by local, national, and international organizations.