We’re always ready to take the first pass, lead the way, roll up our sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done. We don’t just lean in, we stay in, knowing that our starting power is only as good as our staying power.
Our Culture
A collaborative environment where stress is replaced with synchronicity
The path to growth can get pretty complex and chaotic. There is no linear path to follow but rather a splintered and ever-expanding range of touchpoints to be accounted for. We look to demystify the process, bring clarity to the big picture, and ensure all the moving parts that matter are optimized and operating seamlessly as one.
A collaborative environment where stress is replaced with synchronicity
The path to growth can get pretty complex and chaotic. There is no linear path to follow but rather a splintered and ever-expanding range of touchpoints to be accounted for. We look to demystify the process, bring clarity to the big picture, and ensure all the moving parts that matter are optimized and operating seamlessly as one.
OUR VALUES
To maximize our impact, we live by a few simple rules.
Get Dirty
01
Stay Hungry
We embrace a healthy obsession for asking questions. Open minded and insatiably curious, we are constantly looking for ways to build on instinct and expertise through exploration and discovery.
02
Keep it Real
We can’t always be right, but we can always be real. Viewing candor as a path to mutual respect, we’re at our best when we start from truth and stay with truth. So, we never let the easy response win out over the honest response.
03
Be Human
We put relationships first, viewing our team as a seamless extension of our client teams. Working from a place of empathy, support and understanding, we join our clients in the trenches to collaborate and co-create as one.
04
OUR LEADERSHIP
A life-long innovator with a talent for leveraging technology, Michael Priem’s aptitude for strategic planning, application development, new business ventures, large-scale project management and corporate development have made him a sought-after advisor to dozens of world-class brands – including General Mills, BestBuy, Target, Sears, Williams Sonoma, Harley Davidson, American Express and HP. Prior to launching Modern Impact, Michael’s entrepreneurial career included leadership roles with a global advertising agency that pioneered many digital media principles, a publicly traded global consulting firm and his own boutique corporate advisory firm.
Rick is the consummate business strategist, bringing 20+ years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience to ModernImpact. A family man-who-can, Rick combines critical thinking with a sophisticated sense of humor that keeps us on our toes, then heads home to raise the next team of goal-oriented Gen Z-ers. Never satisfied with mediocre (no participation trophies here), Rick combines his investment banking and management consulting experience to take companies to new heights, helping them achieve their goals and gain a true, transparent understanding of their business model – so they can focus on what they really do best and succeed.
An innovative and strategic account director with demonstrated leadership, program management and client relationship skills, Mandy Gatrell has proven success in navigating fast-paced environments, guiding multiple project teams and collaborating with both internal and external business partners to deliver global solutions. Recognized for her curiosity and creativity in developing transformational experiences, she’s a unique breed of activator who believes great output is contingent on great input. Overseeing the entire marketing process, from core insight to creative development and continued refinement, Mandy has invested the past dozen years building brands for Fortune 500 companies including Target, Caribou Coffee, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Securian, Winfield United and Truvia Original Sweetener.
A life-long innovator with a talent for leveraging technology, Michael Priem’s aptitude for strategic planning, application development, new business ventures, large-scale project management and corporate development have made him a sought-after advisor to dozens of world-class brands – including General Mills, BestBuy, Target, Sears, Williams Sonoma, Harley Davidson, American Express and HP. Prior to launching Modern Impact, Michael’s entrepreneurial career included leadership roles with a global advertising agency that pioneered many digital media principles, a publicly traded global consulting firm and his own boutique corporate advisory firm.
Rick is the consummate business strategist, bringing 20+ years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience to ModernImpact. A family man-who-can, Rick combines critical thinking with a sophisticated sense of humor that keeps us on our toes, then heads home to raise the next team of goal-oriented Gen Z-ers. Never satisfied with mediocre (no participation trophies here), Rick combines his investment banking and management consulting experience to take companies to new heights, helping them achieve their goals and gain a true, transparent understanding of their business model – so they can focus on what they really do best and succeed.
An innovative and strategic account director with demonstrated leadership, program management and client relationship skills, Mandy Gatrell has proven success in navigating fast-paced environments, guiding multiple project teams and collaborating with both internal and external business partners to deliver global solutions. Recognized for her curiosity and creativity in developing transformational experiences, she’s a unique breed of activator who believes great output is contingent on great input. Overseeing the entire marketing process, from core insight to creative development and continued refinement, Mandy has invested the past dozen years building brands for Fortune 500 companies including Target, Caribou Coffee, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Securian, Winfield United and Truvia Original Sweetener.
Simply describing Eric Tepe as a seasoned strategist would be an understatement of both his experience and his understanding of client potential. Part artist and part analyst, his talent for generating clarity, gravity and momentum has helped scores of successful organizations scale the impact of their ideas to provide creative solutions to analytical problems. He doesn’t just bring good ideas to the forefront but brings good people together around a shared vision and the action steps required to make it happen. Prior to joining Modern Impact, his journey included engagements with global branding– leading strategy for such brands as Autotrader, Beats by Dre, Gillette, JBL, Jim Beam, Smucker’s, Tampax, Taylormade and The USGA.
Deep down, Kevin is a proud Minnesotan, but like all cold weather animals he felt the need to move south for the winter– or ten. Finding a home within the LA ad agency world, he spent 10+years growing independent agency Zambezi as an executive/owner. After winning multiple “Small Agency of the Year” awards and more, he felt the call to branch out and hunt big game in new ways. Strategically grounded , with a design background from graphics to furniture, he’s had the good fortune to work with such iconic brands as TaylorMade , Vitamin Water, 2K Sports, Titleist, Nike, Adidas, Popchips and more. At Modern Impact, he brings his collaborative spirit, unique passion and perspective to pilot adventurous creative that sells.
Simply describing Eric Tepe as a seasoned strategist would be an understatement of both his experience and his understanding of client potential. Part artist and part analyst, his talent for generating clarity, gravity and momentum has helped scores of successful organizations scale the impact of their ideas to provide creative solutions to analytical problems. He doesn’t just bring good ideas to the forefront but brings good people together around a shared vision and the action steps required to make it happen. Prior to joining Modern Impact, his journey included engagements with global branding– leading strategy for such brands as Autotrader, Beats by Dre, Gillette, JBL, Jim Beam, Smucker’s, Tampax, Taylormade and The USGA.
Deep down, Kevin is a proud Minnesotan, but like all cold weather animals he felt the need to move south for the winter– or ten. Finding a home within the LA ad agency world, he spent 10+years growing independent agency Zambezi as an executive/owner. After winning multiple “Small Agency of the Year” awards and more, he felt the call to branch out and hunt big game in new ways. Strategically grounded , with a design background from graphics to furniture, he’s had the good fortune to work with such iconic brands as TaylorMade , Vitamin Water, 2K Sports, Titleist, Nike, Adidas, Popchips and more. At Modern Impact, he brings his collaborative spirit, unique passion and perspective to pilot adventurous creative that sells.
Join The Team
Everything we do is about creating an impact. Not just for our clients but every person on our team. We work hard to create an atmosphere where every member of our operation is given the space and support they need to be at their absolute best in their work and in their personal lives. If you want to do work that matters with people who care, lets talk.
Let's ConnectOUR TALENT
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Eric Heggernes
Associate Creative Director
It’s not an exaggeration to suggest Eric Heggernes began his career as a visual artist somewhere around the age of eight. Having first discovered the power of illustration and typography through neighborhood graffiti and schoolyard doodling, he soon moved on to study the importance of compositional structure and purposeful communication by writing music for punk rock bands. Seeking a more lucrative and long-term means of applying his creative talents, Eric earned a degree in Design & Visual Communications from Brown College, and has invested the past dozen years as a graphic designer and art director. From tiny print ads and giant billboards to television and digital media, his passion for visual storytelling has helped create immediate consumer engagement for dozens of grateful clients.