Small teams are fast. Fast is relentless.
1978. It all began with a beauty contest
Red Letter was founded on a big dose of passion, seasoned with just enough talent to get our first few breaths of air. We published a promotional circular, called the Zipsheet, and produced TV spots. In 1984, we won our first significant piece of business with the Missouri Jaycees. Those who know us may see the symmetry in knowing our first paid gig was for the Anheuser-Busch beauty contest and coronation.
1986. Mentors made a big difference
New clients, Jerry Wieser and Joe Coad, came aboard with the automotive sales event called the Autorama. Nancy Bray, who had failed our founder in one of his college classes, awarded us the Southeast Missouri Hospital account. Jim Drury, of Drury Hotels, gave us furnishings and saved the company after the great flood of ‘86. The list goes on. We're forever grateful.
1992. One word of advice: Plastics
Through the 90s, Red Letter grew with the regional Auto Dealer Groups account. When we acquired our first national account, Spartech Plastics had 9 facilities and $100 million in sales. Ten years later, we helped grow Spartech into 52 facilities and $1.3B in sales. Primestar, cable’s answer to satellite TV, turned into a significant gig for us with national direct response television, point-of-sale and a myriad of other services.
1995. A trip to Marble Hill, Missouri changed everything
In the mid-1990s a European company purchased half a dozen brands of outdoor power equipment, fired the distributors, and started selling direct to mass merchandisers. We were in the middle of a project for one of those distributors, Mid-America Power, when they suggested we visit Marble Hill to meet the Crader family and learn about STIHL. Now, more than 25 years later, we enjoy the incredible privilege of serving as the strategic agency of record for STIHL, its national Branch Distributors and over 9,000 independent STIHL Dealers.
2020. Friends, facilities and fantastic people.
Over the years we’ve been in 7 facilities, with client relationships that often span decades. At the heart of it all, are our people who continue to define our agency and generate our success. In 2020, we acquired Element74, a web services agency with over 600 clients, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence. What started at a kitchen table has become a relentless march to serve our clients and grow their business.
Our Vision
CREATE FOR IMPACT
We work in small teams. Our goal isn't just to produce something for us, but to create work that meets your goals.
THE BIG PICTURE
Don't sweat the small stuff? Sorry, but we do — because we know the small things add up to big things. Whether it's a single ad or a full campaign, our work is always created with your objectives in mind.
OUR PASSION AND RELENTLESS DRIVE
Sometimes we get a little loud. We stay after hours and we stay up late. We might occasionally argue amongst ourselves, but it all comes back to the relentless passion we have for our clients.
WINNING RELATIONSHIPS
Great work gets you in the door. Strong relationships built on mutual respect and continued success keep you in the building. We've survived and thrived for nearly two decades by delivering both.
Meet the Team
This is a talented team of diverse ideators, facilitators and more. Use the filters to learn about a few of our quirks.
Allen Frye
Director, Technical Services
Sara Bock
Account Director
Debbie Aufdenberg
JR Web Developer
Kristen Boren
Video Production Coordinator
Jessica Blanton
Web Properties Specialist
Gail Rockett
Office Administrator
Sarah DeGroot
Digital Art Director
Jessie Renick
People and Culture Administrator
Tom Carroll
Account Manager
Jaimee Holland
Insights Strategist
Jennifer Sanders
In-Store and Literature Specialist
Sabrina Tucker
Email/Digital Marketing Specialist
Emily Vandeven
Account Coordinator
Sandy Ross
Art Director
Anthony Simmons
SR Copywriter
Ross Tilghman
SR Video Editor
Trent Summers
VP, General Manager
Zach Beal
Account Manager
Brooke Dohogne-Scherer
Production Artist
Kara Grantham
Project Manager
Matt Carter
Project Manager
Andy Dunaway
Associate Creative Director
D'erika Rucker
Account Manager Assistant
Catrina Hawkins
Production Artist
Pat Mungle
Traffic Coordinator
Clay Schermann
VP, Strategy
James Riley, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Whitney Tapley
Digital Designer
Adam Appleton
Copywriter
Rachael Peart
Accounting Manager
Holly Dirnberger
Art Director/Photographer
Jon Fox
VP, Digital
Christopher Ganey
Web Developer
Bruce Robert
President
Crystal Hill
VP, Finance, People & Culture
Erica Mastropierro
Account Director
Samantha Lang
SR Project Manager
Silvia Kinder
Art Director
Steve Schiwinger
Director of Business Development
Oral Friend
Video Editor
Holly Godwin
Resource Coordinator
Drew Wright
Director, Video Services
Seth Sherman
Associate Creative Director
Elizabeth Pekios
Production Manager
Steffie Duncan
Account Director
Demi Sanders
JR Digital Designer
Lauren Essner
Account Manager
Jennifer Birk
Traffic and Digital Assets Manager
Sheila Bizzell
SR Project Manager
Mindy Tumminia
Account Assistant
Erin Ragan
Copywriter
Erik Mathre
VP, Executive Creative Director
Krista Kluesner
Director, Quality and Compliance
Stuart Knowlan
Creative Director
Culture & Perks
Work Flexibility
We’re proud of our Mississippi River town of Cape Girardeau. Naturally, that means encouraging all of us to make any space be their workplace.
Full Benefits Package
We offer a 401(k) plan, paid vacations, medical, along with a unique benefit: working with our founder Jim Riley. His enthusiasm is always high and his well for ideas never empty.
Equipment and Resources
Yes, we offer the latest hardware and software for staff, and technology tools like Marketing Cloud for clients. Most importantly, we have the people who know how to use them.
Massages
For our employees, these are monthly. For our clients, they’re here whenever you need them.
Free Eats and Drinks
While we’re always hungry for great ideas, collaborating means never being hangry among ourselves.
Company-Wide Celebrations
Whether it’s a red shoe Tuesday or cult movie in our own big screen theater, we play as hard as we work.