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Beth Ann Kaminkow President, Chief Operating Officer TracyLocke
		Education: Dual Major Syracuse SI Newhouse; MBA Boston University Books Reading: Churchill and Ghandi: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age by Arthur Herman; Living a Life that Matters by Harold S. Kushner Favorite Quote: ‘Actions Speak Louder Than Words’		Inspirational Figures: Dianne Von Furstenberg; Warren Buffet; David Ogilvy; John Wooden; Peter Drucker; My Grandparents Relationship Status: Newly Married (again) I dare to ask age ... Young enough to be cool … Old enough to know better

Short Bio of Career Path:
Market research at Hasbro, Boston Ad/PR hot shop (at the time) ClarkeGowardFitts and Clarke & Company, an amazing ride at Brodeur & Partners – then Brodeur Porter Novelli – then Brodeur Worldwde – and then just Brodeur!; before joining TracyLocke.

Define your leadership style and "feel" of the agency
In one word Alive. Creative people must feel inspired and work in inspiring environments. We work around the clock and sacrifice a lot. I don’t take that for granted. I work to bring out the best in others and foster a community where that is our mutual goal.

Toughest Challenge Overcome in Your Career?
Having to make the best of an unhealthy client relationship and dynamic.

What was your Defining Moment at TL?
I hope I have not had it yet! But, there have been so many rewarding moments thus far. One experience that opened my eyes to just how special this company is was during a week long effort to get ready for a very important Pepsi meeting. Almost the entire agency had their hands in on the preparation. After three all-nighters in a row, the agency surprised the senior team heading to the big meeting by filing outside on the front lawn to cheer and clap for the team heading off to present to the clients. I looked back at that incredible show of support and spirit (not to mention the commitment and passion they exhibited all week)! Really something quite amazing.

Favorite assignment completed to date?
It is hard to single out just one. We are at the intersection of brands and retail – which is an incredibly exciting area of marketing right now. I am proud of so much of our work.

Your vision of where we will all be in 10 years (non-apocolyptic:)
The pace of technology innovation and adoption is only going to continue to advance how we experience the world and communicate. Our behavior changes happen almost spontaneously and unconsciously when it comes to new tools, applications, devices and modes of communicating. I believe that creativity, community, and culture flourish in this environment. Our industry will be profoundly different yet incredibly powerful.

Best describe Tracey Locke:
We are a Brand to Retail Marketing Agency. We are one of the few (if only!) agencies that truly understand how to build brand equity through the entire path to purchase.

Why do clients choose TL and how have you been able to maintain such long relationships?
We get what it takes to develop healthy partnerships that are sustainable. That goes for the other agencies in the mix as well as with the clients. We work in the best interest of our clients. It is not about building our own brand or egos. We make it our job to intimately understand the consumer/shopper and translate that knowledge into effective programs that drive volume and return on brand equity. We genuinely love what we do and it shows.

Advice for those entering into the space from college?
Speak up. You have insights and ideas that are much needed in our agencies. No other time in our history has the graduating students had so much novel experience and thinking to offer people who have been in the industry for years.

Advice to the smaller shop owners in this tough economic climate?
Be grateful you do not have to meet quarterly goals that require short-term thinking and decisions that hurt long-term growth.