Building a brand for good.
Eric Revels, Marketing Director
erevels@erccreative.com
312.206.7266
Résumé
linkedin.com/in/ericrevels
vimeo.com/ericaterc
An online CV may be informative, but it only provides a career snapshot. I could explain how I worked for multi-national advertising agencies for 20 years launching new product and advertising campaigns for Dell, Motorola, Subway and Oscar Meyer. Or how I started a boutique branding agency on the heels of the 2009 recession and despite the timing, successfully launched branding campaigns for SnapCount software, Lurie Children’s hospital, First Eagle Bank, and ANCO Steel.
But this is only part of my story.
In 2018 I was hired by my client, Howard Ankin, a personal injury attorney in Chicago, to be the new director of marketing for Ankin Law, the largest filer of workers’ compensation cases in the state. I manage a $7MM marketing budget and a team of website, online, advertising, and social media professionals.
In some ways creating and managing the Ankin Law brand is easy because Howard Ankin is authentic to begin with. He’s always known what he wanted to do with his life, cares deeply about helping injured people, and improving the law to help everyone in Illinois injured at work or in their cars. Whether in a commercial himself, with a celebrity, on bus, billboard, or podcast, Howard, is warm, approachable, and knowledgeable. He’s here to answer questions, advocate, and help his clients heal physically and financially.
If someone was looking for an injury lawyer there are several ways for people to get to know Howard such as video FAQs on the website, memorable stickman animated commercials, and a sponsorship supporting a teacher of the month during the academic school year.
I’ve made my living crafting strategies and stories that encourage people to think something, feel something, or do something. From brand development to creative expression, encompassing media and tactical planning, managing teams, and garnering support. I understand what it means to position, design, and execute a plan that moves hearts and minds to act.
As James Lipton of the Actors Studio used to ask every guest “What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?” My answer? Building a brand for good.
A Firm Foundation
• Brand Development
• Naming and Identity
• Internal Marketing
• Team Building
• Storytelling
• Ideation
• Broadcast
• Email Marketing
• Drip Marketing
• Social Media Management
• Photography
• Video Direction
• Video Editing
• Logo Design
• Email Newsletter
• Web Design
• Graphic Standards
• Copywriting
• Art Direction
• Interviews for written or video content
• Adobe Creative Suite: PS, ID, IA, PR, BR, ST
• MS Word, Excel and Power Point
Accomplishments
Director of Marketing, Ankin Law
2018 - Present
I was hired to differentiate the Ankin Law brand, increase awareness, leads, and call volume. A push-pull strategy was implemented to suggest that “Howard is everywhere” layering broadcast TV, targeted cable, streaming video, outdoor, and transit messages.
Howard is a frequent guest on legal podcasts and radio.
Howard has also become known for appearing in commercials alongside well-known Chicago celebrities and athletes such as Tom Skilling, Steve Wilkos, Chris Chelios, Cheryl Scott, and Ayo Dosunmu. These commercials were created not only to raise awareness, but reinforce the fact that Howard is from Chicago and knows Chicagoans. Business owners, not-for-profits, celebrities, and athletes have also appeared in our Chicagoans You Should Know videos, a long-running series in the Ankin Law monthly newsletter.
Over the years our social media presence has increased and been made more robust by hiring a social media manager and adding the Instagram and Tik-Toks platforms. News about the firm, settlements and verdicts, and filming behind the scenes at commercials shoots balance legal and entertaining news to increase viewers and followers.
As larger and more complicated cases move forward more press conferences are planned for the years ahead along with proposed bills to improve the law in Illinois related to uninsured motorist coverage, mandatory boat and ATV insurance, and dog bite/attacks.
Commercials - Brand Message
Commercials - Celebrity
Commercials - Stickman Animated
Bus and Billboards
Working at Ankin Law
Owner and Creative Director, ERC Co.
2010 -2018
In 2015, ERC trademarked Business to Human or B2H. We noticed that emotional storytelling was not being leveraged in the B2B space. To us, if you want to make an impact on people, it doesn’t matter if your business serves other businesses or targets consumers, at the end of the day a human being is going to make the decision. Tapping emotion can make a lasting impact. B2H became a part of the ERC brand.
ERC branded new products and services for ANCO Steel, Snapcount Software, UGN, 4Knine Pet Products, First Eagle Bank, and Ankin Law. ERC also donated time to help Temple Sholom of Chicago with website, video, and social media services to promote their news, events, and programs.
“It doesn’t matter if your business serves other businesses or targets consumers, at the end of the day a human being is going to make a decision on what to buy or sell.”
- Eric Revels
TEMPLE SHOLOM OF CHICAGO
sholomchicago.org
“Eric is an extraordinarily talented and innovative Creative Director. We worked together on re-branding Temple Sholom, including print and webdesign overhauls with measurable results.”
- Boni Fine, Executive Director, Anshe Emet Synagogue
UGN
ugn.com
“Working with Eric and the ERC team is a pleasure every time. His professionalism and integrity are first-rate and his team has never failed to come through in a pinch. I’d hire him again and again because I already have, again, and again.”
- Jon Schickedanz, CEO, The Alliance Labs
SNAPCOUNT
snapcount.com
“Eric is a master of the marketing communication process with a keen sense of what’s relevant and more importantly, what gets results. His artistic eye and extensive attention to detail helped ensure our message got noticed and hit home. I enthusiastically recommend ERC for any marketing requirement.”
- Jeff Seifert, CEO, Streamlinx
Documentary Short Film
Hyde Park Day School “On Campus”
Four college sophomores talk about how their learning disabilities have actually made them stronger in life. All four were students in the inaugural class at Hyde Park Day School, an elementary school focused on helping students learn differently and advocate for themselves in the world.
Even more experience:
JWT, Publicis & Hal Riney, DMB&B and Rhea & Kaiser