Community Marketing Specialists

Steve Chandler

Certified Tourism Marketing Professional (TMP)
Owner/Brand Strategist

Steve will be responsible from the beginning to the end of the project (and probably beyond that), and will be your primary contact.

Steve entered the world of marketing and branding through stints at large and small branding agencies. Steve’s experience in the branding of communities began when he was President of a national destination branding consulting firm, there he helped craft and manage the process of community branding for numerous destinations, cities and communities. Always one to evolve as required, his “digital make-over” occurred in 2009 (more than just switching from a Blackberry to an iPhone).

Today, Steve applies his classic marketing, destination branding and digital strategy backgrounds to Chandlerthinks, a strategic place marketing and branding firm. His experience in similar projects for more than 100 destinations gives him the careful finesse needed to navigate and lead important local stakeholders. He leads the brand strategy development, as well as the brand creative direction. Some of his more recent place branding project work can be seen in what is taking shape in communities such as: Salisbury-Rowan County, North Carolina; Jefferson, Wisconsin; Macon, Georgia; Kentucky Lake, Kentucky; Seguin, Texas; Ennis, Texas; Lake City, South Carolina; Village of Northfield, Illinois; LaFourche Parish, Louisiana and many more.

Greg Fuson

Research Director, TMP, FEP

Greg has been helping clients understand their market through research for more than 20 years. He has developed his skills in survey design and management for both quantitative and qualitative areas of research. He oversees survey design, group questionnaires and analysis; and has been part of the Chandlerthinks team since the beginning.

Greg has managed studies for a number of national-branded clients, including a stint as the Director of Research for the Country Music Association. But his passion is in marketing research for places. Greg has worked with over 100 communities around the country. Some of his clients within this industry include: Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism; Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; Franklin-Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Macon, Georgia; Village of Northfield, Illinois; Saint Charles, Missouri; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Columbus, Georgia; Danville, Kentucky; and Kentucky Lake, Kentucky.

Greg is also deeply involved in helping determine the economic impact of festivals and events. He leads this effort for Chandlerthinks for many cities towards their goal of measuring the economic impact of festivals and events. In fact, Greg serves as the current Chairman of the Southeast Festivals and Events Association and speaks frequently on the same topic.

CT Placemakers

CREATIVES with TALENT

We like the mobility of being small. We really like the ability to choose the right person for the job versus the typical agency model of using the person you happen to have on staff. This approach to producing and managing marketing services has led to what we call CT Placebranders, a chosen team of professionals that are best in their class (according to us and others). We tap into our extended family for creative services, production, media planning and management and digital development. It means the right people are doing the job, but ensures the overarching marketing direction does not fall too far from the core plan.