Advertise on podcast: Clicks 2 Bricks

Today on Clicks 2 Bricks, we are joined by Alec Hanson, author, host of the Modern Lending Podcast, and Chief Marketing Officer for loanDepot – a California-based company that sells mortgages and other lending products. One of loanDepot’s key channels is its team of lending consultants, each of whom is charged with building their own mortgage lending business in their local area. Not only has Alec done this himself, but he has quite literally written the book on it (you can get your copy of Bypassed wherever books are sold), and that’s what he brings to his role as CMO: a proven playbook for using digital marketing to supercharge the local agent business model. On top of this, he is also building a national brand that not only drives demand but also reduces the amount of selling his agents have to do. Tune in to learn the difference between sales and marketing, get insight into loanDepot’s Modern Lending Playbook, gain a new appreciation for the power of social media, and so much more! Key Points From This Episode: The two sides to Alec Hanson, a comic book-loving weightlifter!Insight into loanDepot, Alec’s role as CMO, and his personal brand-building journey.What distinguishes marketing from sales (which are two sides of the same coin).A deeper look at the three major marketing channels at loanDepot.How loanDepot trains and develops its team of local and market professionals.Digital channels that drive opportunity and success for local agents.The importance of embracing new strategies and how loanDepot is implementing AI.An important lesson in serving customers the way they want to be served.How loanDepot balances brand building, consumer engagement, and education.Why you’re minimizing your chance of success if you’re not utilizing social media.The competitive advantage that the loanDepot brand offers great salespeople.Understanding millennials, the importance of search, why TikTok isn’t just for kids, and more. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: loanDepot Alec Hanson Alec Hanson on LinkedIn Alec Hanson on Instagram Alec Hanson on X Bypassed Modern Lending Podcast That Mortgage Guy on TikTok Grandma Nat on TikTok Clicks 2 Bricks  Marketing Leaders Coffee Chat

Nissan is the first automotive brand that we’ve had on the show and we are thrilled to be in conversation with the Chief Marketing Officer of Nissan North America, Marisstella Marinkovic! Automotive marketing is different from all the others in many profound ways, and Marisstella is here to highlight those differences and explain why her industry is the best to work in. After a quick review of her first year in her current role, our guest walks us through Nissan’s Heisman House and Big Game campaigns, how the introduction of college athlete sponsorships has changed the dynamics, how Gen Z’s need for authenticity has influenced the marketing landscape, and her summation of automotive marketing theory. Marisstella also explains how the complexities of her job fuel her, how she and her team use influencers, what she thinks about mentorship, what Nissan North America has planned for 2024, and her advice for new and aspiring marketers who are looking to follow a similar career path. Key Points From This Episode: Why romance novels are Marisstella Marinkovic’s secret passion. A review of her first year as Chief Marketing Officer of Nissan North America. Exploring Nissan’s Heisman House campaign.  How it’s possible to sponsor college athletes, and how it’s changed sponsorship dynamicsNissan’s approach to their Big Game (Super Bowl) commercial. Authenticity, and Gen Z’s influence on marketing.The theory of automotive marketing. Why Marisstella appreciates the complexities of her job.How it takes time to see the results of marketing in the automotive industry. The way she and her team use influencers.Marketing areas that she’s prioritizing in 2024. Debunking unpopular opinions about marketing. Her nonautomotive experience and how it applies to the work she does today.Our guest’s sales pitch for joining the automotive marketing industry.Nissan’s approach to mentoring, and our guest’s advice for young, new marketers. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marisstella Marinkovic on LinkedIn Nissan Motor Corporation  Allyson Witherspoon on LinkedIn KIA Zillow  ‘El Test Drive | Nissan USA & Nissan Latino’ Clicks 2 Bricks  Marketing Leaders Coffee Chat

Joining us today is Pat O'Toole, the Chief Marketing Officer of the iconic Burger King. Recorded in person at the Burger King headquarters in sunny Miami, Florida, this episode unveils the highly-anticipated Million Dollar Whopper campaign and insider secrets to Burger King’s “Reclaim the Flame” plan to accelerate growth. Pat is an accomplished marketing executive with a proven track record in elevating iconic brands to new heights. With a deep understanding of global markets and a history of steering some of the most beloved brands, he continues to make a lasting impact on the marketing landscape. In our conversation, we discuss his path from broadcast journalist to marketing guru, why now is the most exciting time in marketing history, and how the company is celebrating people's unique tastes through the Million Dollar Whopper campaign. You’ll gain valuable insights into multi-location marketing in the fast-food space, serving franchisees and the end consumer, the next generation of marketing, and much more. To discover how Pat is taking Burger King’s marketing to new heights, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: Background on Pat and the historic Burger King headquarters in Miami, Florida.His journey from journalism to marketing executive. The state of the current marketing landscape and how it will evolve.What a Million Dollar Whopper is and the motivation for it.The story, process, and technology behind the Million Dollar Whopper campaign.Burger King’s Reclaim the Flame plan and Pat’s role in it.Insights into the company’s overall remodel strategy.How Burger King is servicing both franchisees and the end-consumer.Pat's transition from marketing in CPG to the fast-food space.Essential advice that Pat has for budding marketers. Ways that he is mentoring the next generation of marketers.A lighting round of marketing-related questions.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Pat O’Toole on LinkedIn Burger King Million Dollar Whopper Competition OKRP PepsiCo Clicks 2 Bricks  Marketing Leaders Coffee Chat

Is parking a commodity, or does LAZ Parking simply offer a differentiated branding experience? Helping us get to the bottom of this is the National Senior Director of Marketing at LAZ Parking, Kim Spagnulo.  Kim joins us to explain how LAZ became the biggest and fastest-growing privately-owned parking operator in America, and how she fulfills her role as its National Senior Director of Marketing. After hearing the story of how LAZ was founded, our guest walks us through the company’s unique culture, how she goes about her work on a national level, and the challenges she’s endured along the way. Kim also shares insight on the technology trends in marketing that she’s most excited about, how Google fits into the picture, why she values brand consistency and how this plays out on social media, and her advice for new and aspiring marketers. Be sure to tune in to hear what Kim thinks about Yelp and AI-powered marketing, and to learn about the job opportunities that are available at LAZ Parking.    Key Points From This Episode: A warm welcome to the National Senior Director of Marketing at LAZ Parking, Kim Spagnulo.How a small events company paved the way for her marriage. The LAZ Parking story. Why the culture at LAZ is ‘truly special’, and the types of projects it facilitates.How it became the largest and fastest-growing privately-owned parking operator in America.The way Kim uses her work of marketing parking structures to drive the company forward.  Some things that may surprise other marketers who aren’t familiar with LAZ’s culture.What Kim’s role entails on a national level, and the challenges that she encounters.The marketing technological trends that she’s looking forward to implementing.  Why Google is a major player in LAZ Parking’s day-to-day operations. Exploring the importance of brand consistency for LAZ, and how it uses social media.Kim’s advice for new marketers. Job opportunities at LAZ Parking. Yelp, branded content, and AI-powered marketing.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Kim Spagnulo on LinkedIn Kim Spagnulo on X Kim Spagnulo on Facebook LAZ Parking  Alan Lazowski on LinkedIn  Jeff Karp on LinkedIn  Michael Harth on LinkedIn Clicks 2 Bricks  Marketing Leaders Coffee Chat

Joe Artime’s journey with Moe’s Southwest Grill began as a student, slinging tacos and burritos. Today, he is the Head of Marketing for the franchise. During this episode, he joins us to discuss the new positioning for Moe’s Southwest Grill, the choice to pivot towards video content for 2024, and how the brand connects with local communities through its franchisees. Tune in as we do a deep dive into the history of the brand and its name, consider the future of the role of CMO, and explore the art of relating to customers through storytelling. Joe reveals his repositioning strategy set to take root in 2024, touches on new menu items that will be tested in the coming year, and shares upcoming plans for on and off-site content creation. Joe tells us his approach to relationship-building and empowering franchisees, gets candid about his predictions for the future of AI, and much more. Don’t miss this value-packed episode! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing Joe Artime, Head of Marketing for Moe’s Southwest Grill.A fun fact about Joe that most people might not know.A recap of the last twelve months at Moe’s Southwest Grill and his history with the brand.Where the name Moe’s actually comes from: musicians, outlaws, and entertainers. The new positioning of the brand which started in 2023 and will take off in 2024. Questions around the future of the CMO position and how it may move into an operational role.Relating to customers through storytelling.Key areas for the upcoming repositioning of the brand.Where the brand could improve in the future: showcasing the food. What Joe intends to do differently with branding in 2024. The new menu items that will be tested in the year to come. Shooting videos on site and in a test kitchen.Why building strong franchisee relationships is a non-negotiable. What is behind the original localized approach to marketing.Creating guidelines and offering suggestions to empower franchisees.Moe’s standpoint on third-party delivery. Joe’s predictions for the impact of AI on marketing in the restaurant space.His progression as a marketer through roles at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, Krystal, and Burger King.Advice for marketers: learn the business drivers, follow the data, and understand how the technologies are changing.What he learned from taking on roles in different departments.The status of Joe’s team today.His take on TikTok, influencer marketing, Yelp, and a suggested guest for the podcast.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Joe Artime on LinkedIn Moe’s Southwest Grill Focus Brands Alice Crowder is the CMO of Krystal Ellie Doty is the Chief Marketing Officer for Burger King Sergio Perez on LinkedIn Clicks 2 Bricks  Marketing Leaders Coffee Chat

To become a transformational CIO, one must have key characteristics, capabilities, and leadership styles that foster followership and inspire others to embrace their vision. This is the belief of Michael Chachula, Chief Information Officer for FAT Brands, who joins us today to shed some light on what it takes to manage the marketing tech stack for 18 different restaurant brands in a total of 2,300 locations, including Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, and Fazoli’s. With a background in tech, finance, and hospitality, Michael exemplifies the well-rounded expertise needed to run tech for a multi-brand restaurant portfolio, but it’s his focus on inspiring rather than commanding people to follow him that stands out in this interview. He also shares his take on how artificial intelligence is impacting the restaurant industry today and into the future and we discuss how tech providers can become trusted advisors, why industry experience is more important than the latest tools, and so much more! For a down-to-earth conversation with a true visionary leader, don’t miss this episode with FAT Brands’ CIO Michael Chachula!

Shifting the relationship their customers have with AI software from a tool to a partner in the business is the main focus of our guest, and his company, today. We are excited to have with us on the show, Afif Khoury, the Founder and CEO of SOCi, the first CoMarketing Platform for Multi-Location Brands. Join the conversation as we learn more about the SOCi marketing platform, what makes their AI unique, and the crawl, walk, and run options of their model. We discuss the point solution versus the platform conundrum, how brands have responded to their platform, and thoughts on how AI will impact the local listings product area and open up new innovations around it. If you’re intrigued by the idea of AI-powered data scientists, train marketers, and force multipliers for corporate marketing teams and local representatives, then you are going to love this episode!

With some of the strongest franchise opportunities on the market, BELFOR Franchise Group is a dominant brand in the home services category. For more than 10 years, BELFOR Franchise Group has been empowering entrepreneurs to own businesses that are not only designed for growth but also provide profoundly meaningful services to their communities. Today, you’ll hear from Abigail Baker, Senior Vice President of Marketing for BELFOR Franchise Group, a curated portfolio of brands that often serve businesses and consumers in the wake of natural disasters. Abby is charged with marketing for all 12 brands, some of which are regional, some of which have national footprints, and all of which do business at the hyperlocal level. In this episode of Clicks 2 Bricks, we discuss the marketing challenges Abby faces with some specifics about how she partners with and empowers her franchisees. Tuning in, you’ll also learn about the power of content, why investing in SEO ranking is critical, how to use data to your benefit, and more!

Jeanniey Walden is the founder and CEO of Liftoff Enterprises, an award-winning marketing executive, renowned work-life advocate, and host of the nationally syndicated TV show, Liftoff with Jeanniey Walden. Jeanniey attributes her success to AIR: Authentic, Inspirational, and Relatable interactions, and she applies this lens to everything she does, including her new position as CMO of Rite Aid. In today’s episode of Clicks 2 Bricks, she shares her customer-centric perspective on multi-location marketing and offers some insight into her lifelong mission to inspire others, which not only informed her decision to start her own TV show but permeates every aspect of her role at Rite Aid. We discuss the inner workings of moving from an interim role to a full-time gig, why Jeanniey embraces the hurdles that come with being a challenger brand, and why she believes that networking, a strong work ethic, and asking for guidance are important steps on the journey to success, plus so much more! For insight into the whole health ethos of one of America’s smallest large companies, be sure to tune in today!

We’ve heard many rags-to-riches stories from startups all across the country, but few compare to the near-instant success of the fast-growing food brand, Dave’s Hot Chicken. Its CMO, Brad Haley, joins us once again after his previous appearance on the show as the CMO of IHOP. After finding out an interesting fact about Brad that many didn’t know, our guest then walks us through the story of Dave’s Hot Chicken, what initially attracted him to the brand, Drake and other big-name investors of the company, and how he approaches this role differently compared to his previous jobs. Dave’s Hot Chicken was born in the social-digital age, and our guest explains how Instagram has been key to its success, why cultural impact matters more than sales, adapting to the digital age as a marketer, and everything you need to know if you are a new marketer with CMO aspirations. Few are as accomplished as Dave when it comes to successfully implementing game-changing campaigns, and after summating the current state of marketing, Dave explains why the Jack in the Box campaign stands out from all the rest in his remarkable career. If you’d like to hear more about working with Dave’s Hot Chicken and perhaps becoming a franchisee of your own, then be sure to tune in! 

According to a recent survey, Coldwell Banker was the most recognizable real estate brand of 2021, with 91% of surveyed consumers correctly identifying the brokerage's logo. How does a business achieve this level of brand recognition? Finding the right Chief Marketing Officer is a good place to start! CMO might be his title, but “brand champion” might be a more appropriate moniker for David Marine, who has worked in the marketing group of the most recognized brand in real estate for more than 20 years. He says that his superpower is storytelling, which has enabled him to reshape the brand’s luxury and commercial divisions, create the first real estate video-centric YouTube channel, and even develop what is considered the highest-rated real estate ad of all time. In this episode, David joins us to share some insight into his journey and highlight some of the marketing strategies that made him the CMO he is today. We discuss how marketing in the real estate world has changed pre- and post-pandemic, how David ensures that Coldwell’s messaging is consistent across its network of 100,000 agents, and how he and his team are thinking about the technology topic du jour: AI-powered marketing. We also touch on search engine ads, influencer marketing, and so much more, so you won't want to miss this instalment of Clicks 2 Bricks with Coldwell Banker CMO David Marine!

On the show today, we have the massively experienced and insightful Jason Seeley, who currently holds the position of Vice President of Digital at CKE Restaurants. CKE is the corporation behind Hardee's and Carl's Jr., and we get to hear from Jason about his role at the company and how he approaches each of these brands and their marketing initiatives. Our guest has a really interesting career journey, and he talks about how he started as a graphic designer and his time at Walmart and Wendy's, which ultimately led to him transitioning into digital marketing and moving up the corporate ladder. We also spend some time on the impacts of the pandemic, what the digital marketing landscape looks like at this specific point in history, and where it might be headed in the next few years. Jason weighs in on the impact of AI, finding great tech partners, and also offers some helpful advice for young marketers trying to accrue good experience and enhance their resumes. Join us to hear it all!