Your Success is My Passion

ADVISOR. SPEAKER. MARKETING STRATEGIST.

“Thank you, thank you, and thank you, Gary, for helping us to realize that after all these years we were selling the WRONG thing. Your deep insights and expertise about our company and brand messaging have catapulted us to new levels. As smart, experienced and talented as we are as a team, we could never have accomplished this milestone on our own without your vision, process and subsequent guidance. We no longer sell a technology product, but rather an experience, a feeling and everything is Kashified before final approval.”


ANNE MARIE DUNPHY, PH.D.
identiMetrics, Chief Financial Officer & Co-Founder “As the head of marketing for a high growth organization, I sought out a mentor to assist, advise and coach me on Marketing Leadership and Marketing Strategy. I was introduced to Gary and have never looked back. Gary’s coaching, mentoring, informing and challenging has helped me, and my team move key strategic initiatives forward in a much more comprehensive and effective manner. Our work together has enabled me to “get out of the weeds” and be more strategic. It has also helped me be a better marketer and effective executive. I could not be more pleased with the relationship and the demonstrable results.”


MICHAEL GLUCK
Alera Group, Vice President of Marketing and Communications “When AMA Chicago needed an emcee for it’s full day BrandSmart conference, Gary’s was the first name that came to mind. He was the perfect combination of engaging host and knowledgeable marketer. He introduced each of our 10 speakers with respect and flare and then moved the audience from speaker, to speaker connecting the dots from topic to topic to make the conference a more valuable experience for our audience. Gary’s style was extemporaneous and charming which is always delightful to an audience.”


BONNIE MASSA
American Marketing Association, Executive Director “Gary has always been my “go to” consultant for those big, hairy business issues. He has an ability to define the core consumer problem sharply, and then build the potential solutions that are grounded in strategy and what is practical. He also is very skilled in managing multiple points of view and biases to get the business team all moving against a common objective. I would HIGHLY recommend Gary for any projects that are critical for your business.”


JAMI GUTHRIE
McDonald’s Corporation, Vice-President, Consumer Insights & Strategy “We met Gary at Chicago Booth’s World-class accelerator, the New Venture Challenge. After our initial meeting, he laid out clearly that emotion should be the driver of our messaging. It completely changed how we talk about our business and how we engage our customers to come closer to us. Gary’s ability to see the essence of our business quickly and accurately allowed us to articulate our true message. We are seeing the fruits of his guidance everyday as customers and investors are so much more receptive to our company, Vetted.”


MAYA SHAPOSHNIK CADENA
Vetted Pet Health Care, Co-Founder and CEO “We had the pleasure of Gary speaking at our annual conference. Gary’s message helped connect the dots we knew were there but didn’t know how to link. His impact has resonated so much that four years later, our colleagues are still connecting with him so their congregations can continue to work on creating strong positioning.”


DANNY GLASSMAN
Temple Jeremiah, Executive Director “What sets Gary apart from other seasoned marketing professionals is his personal brand of intense honesty. He doesn’t tell clients what they want to hear, but what they need to hear to do and be better. He pushes you to further develop your own vision and it is this self-created vision that guides his approach. The well being and growth of the client is his primary concern. I credit Gary with giving me the mental clarity to finally understand the full scope of what my organization is capable of. Gary will not only help you position your brand but help you better understand your own brand.”


AVIVA KLEIN
University Blood Initiative, CEO & Founder “Gary pushes you. He does it in a way that presses us to keep our brand honest, while also being sure we’re applying the lens of our target consumers as we make key strategic decisions. The result is the type of challenger and cheerleader that I’ve always appreciated having in our foxhole.”


JORDAN TEPPER
Apologue Spirited Liqueurs, Co-Founder “Gary challenged our thinking about how to reach and engage our target market. When we couldn’t explain why people come to us for help, or how our service addresses their needs, Gary suggested we go to the source for answers – the people we serve. More importantly, he guided us through that process – helping us define a group to interview, modeling the interview process, and providing invaluable assistance as we worked together to extract insights from the interviews. With Gary as coach, the process resulted in a new way to go to market, and a new vision and mission for the organization.”


RICKI LOWITZ
Working Credit, CEO “Strategic Thinking and Planning are notions many associate with large government and corporate enterprises. It came as a surprise when a casual conversation with Gary, a longtime friend, turned into such an exercise. The matter concerned my personal affairs. I soon grasped the wider implications. We fumble through many decisions in our lives, and professional work, without thinking strategically about them. I recently returned to seek Gary's counsel. This time it concerned a small business facing the stresses of current economic and public health challenges. Once again, he walked me through a strategic thinking exercise. It seems obvious when he explains it. The process involves putting aside preconceptions; identifying factors that truly matter; and pursuing actions designed to achieve desired outcomes. For many, this process can avert painful missteps and help us find surer pathways.”


RICHARD JOSEPH
Northwestern University Emeritus, Professor, International History and Politics
Former Cabinet Member for President Jimmy Carter “Once again, thank you. Your brand marketing knowledge and engaging lecture style are most effective in strengthening Northwestern University student understanding. Your lecture sparked much interest and follow up discussion. You were even more generous holding follow up coffee chats with the most curious students. Watch out. This is a slippery slope and the pay is lousy. But when you see those expressions saying “I get it!”, it’s very rewarding. Your passion and desire to share, created a stimulating path for all. Thanks for sharing with us.”


MARTY KOHR
Northwestern University, Medill IMC Faculty & Employer Engagement Director

Meet Gary

UNABASHEDLY CHALLENGING. INCISIVE. COLLABORATIVE. WRY.

The most successful people and the strongest brands challenge the status quo; they recognize doing things the same way won’t propel them. They need a catalyst. They need Gary.

Gary is the change agent who will help you flourish by guiding you to reach new heights. He’ll help you uncover the truest essence of your brand and discover the deeper emotional connections that drive growth and loyalty. How? He asks thoughtful and thought-provoking questions that shift the accepted paradigm and improve results.

Gary’s experience spans consulting, brand marketing, advertising, and marketing research including 26 years as Founder and President of Insights in Marketing. He also brought his talents to The Cambridge Group, Leo Burnett Advertising, and Kraft Foods.

A highly sought-after advisor, speaker, and consultant in marketing and strategy, Gary shares his wealth of knowledge to:

  • Mentor senior managers
  • Educate and inspire audiences through speaking, moderating a panel, or emceeing an event
  • Nurture entrepreneurs to add emotional and financial value to their businesses
  • Propel brand growth, customer loyalty, and profit

Start-ups, established companies of all sizes, and managers at all levels seek Gary’s counsel. A natural storyteller and engaging speaker, he teaches by sharing personal experiences and marketplace successes. Clients and audiences actively listen, learn, and even smile.

Gary gleans teaching moments from his work with clients as diverse as MillerCoors, CDW, Gerber, General Mills, Liberty Mutual, PepsiCo, S.C. Johnson, Pernod Ricard, identiMetrics, and many, many more.

As a judge at Chicago Booth’s New Venture Challenge at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship (a top-ranked U.S. accelerator program), Gary has advised multiple teams (including three winners), helping improve their positioning, presentations, and strategy.

He has spoken to major companies and graduate schools on how to “kick butt” through better branding and positioning. He has moderated lively panel discussions on topics including leadership and entrepreneurship and emceed at industry conferences. In all cases, attendees leave with an “aha.”

Gary is a co-founder and trustee of The Center for Enriched Living, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Gary sits on the boards of a large private foundation that helps Chicagoland’s under-served and Working Credit NFP which interrupts structural racism through credit building education and counseling. He also serves on the Executive Committee of Temple Jeremiah where he is a Vice President.

When not counseling others, Gary spends quality time with his wife Lori, or FaceTiming with family and friends, working out, biking, punning, and inhaling Chicago sports.

Get a sense of Gary by reading his article “Our Jewish Synagogue is a Brand: Why You Should Care” in which he defines the true meaning of branding in a time when branding is an overused and misused word. Or view his guest role on the critically acclaimed-Solvecast podcast How to Create an Emotional Connection with your Customers.

Success Stories

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HOW CAN I HELP YOU SUCCEED?

Gary Kash helps people. Whether consulting or giving a presentation, he shows how to find and activate insights to take his clients to the next level. His unique approach blends marketing fundamentals, education, mentoring and wit to achieve strategic objectives. Find out why clients keep coming back, contact him today.
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