Maureen Ballatori

I talked about that ready, fire, aim client. You know, if they had planned first and aimed strategically, right, at who they were looking at, then they could have done the identity to align with that. And the marketing would all fall in line. And that's how you build the brand.

I talked about that ready, fire, aim client. You know, if they had planned first and aimed strategically, right, at who they were looking at, then they could have done the identity to align with that. And the marketing would all fall in line. And that's how you build the brand.

And that's how you build longevity, build strong businesses, grow top line revenue, hire more people grow more communities, right? That was what I cared about. And so after I went to school for graphic design and illustration, I started the agency 29 as a freelancing side venture and did that for 10 years while I worked full time in professional services roles.

And that's how you build longevity, build strong businesses, grow top line revenue, hire more people grow more communities, right? That was what I cared about. And so after I went to school for graphic design and illustration, I started the agency 29 as a freelancing side venture and did that for 10 years while I worked full time in professional services roles.

I was at a law firm, I was at a scholarly publishing company. And then after my two kids were born, my daughter's eight. So my son is nine and my daughter's eight. And when my daughter was born, I just decided not to go back to work and take the freelancing side thing to a full time thing. So that was

I was at a law firm, I was at a scholarly publishing company. And then after my two kids were born, my daughter's eight. So my son is nine and my daughter's eight. And when my daughter was born, I just decided not to go back to work and take the freelancing side thing to a full time thing. So that was

eight years ago, and then we really saw the opportunity in food, beverage, and agriculture to niche down into those industries. I saw the writing on the wall, like probably five or six years ago, and then it took me some time to get convinced that there was enough volume there, right, to make sense, to support the business. Four years ago, we niched down. So that was in 2020.

eight years ago, and then we really saw the opportunity in food, beverage, and agriculture to niche down into those industries. I saw the writing on the wall, like probably five or six years ago, and then it took me some time to get convinced that there was enough volume there, right, to make sense, to support the business. Four years ago, we niched down. So that was in 2020.

We niched down into FoodBevAg. And the reason why we have why I'm so connected and why I know people is because I make a point of anybody that I meet in the industry because it's so it's so much of a community in FoodBevAg that when I find someone who's doing that work, I just like I call them or I email them or I DM them on LinkedIn and I reach out and like, hey, can we chat?

We niched down into FoodBevAg. And the reason why we have why I'm so connected and why I know people is because I make a point of anybody that I meet in the industry because it's so it's so much of a community in FoodBevAg that when I find someone who's doing that work, I just like I call them or I email them or I DM them on LinkedIn and I reach out and like, hey, can we chat?

Because we both love this industry. And it's rarely a no, especially if it's agriculture. If it's food and bev, you know, and like you're really focused on like scaling a CPG, you know, and your resources are limited and like every second matters. I have had no's from CPGs on occasion. But if I ask a farmer, can I come out and see your operation?

Because we both love this industry. And it's rarely a no, especially if it's agriculture. If it's food and bev, you know, and like you're really focused on like scaling a CPG, you know, and your resources are limited and like every second matters. I have had no's from CPGs on occasion. But if I ask a farmer, can I come out and see your operation?

Can you take me through or a manufacturer of food or a beverage? Can I come through and see what you're building? They love to show it off. And so I've built connections that way and it's a true personal joy.

Can you take me through or a manufacturer of food or a beverage? Can I come through and see what you're building? They love to show it off. And so I've built connections that way and it's a true personal joy.

So I will answer that first from a personal perspective, and then I will answer it from what I believe to be my, well, what is my perception of the industry from that perspective? So for Agency 29, it's really important from a risk management perspective for us to make sure that we've got our T's crossed and our I's dotted.

So I will answer that first from a personal perspective, and then I will answer it from what I believe to be my, well, what is my perception of the industry from that perspective? So for Agency 29, it's really important from a risk management perspective for us to make sure that we've got our T's crossed and our I's dotted.

And so some of our clients, especially those that are in more regulated industries like banking, we have worked with clients that are in banking, insurance, you know, that sort of thing. They also have requirements for how we manage their data that we receive from them.

And so some of our clients, especially those that are in more regulated industries like banking, we have worked with clients that are in banking, insurance, you know, that sort of thing. They also have requirements for how we manage their data that we receive from them.

So from that perspective, I've learned a lot about what sort of checks and balances are necessary for us to keep in place that it's like, Oh, well, and we don't treat anybody differently. If, if the financial firm is saying our data needs to be managed in this way. Okay, great. We had an opportunity to be educated and now we treat all of our clients data in that way. Right.

So from that perspective, I've learned a lot about what sort of checks and balances are necessary for us to keep in place that it's like, Oh, well, and we don't treat anybody differently. If, if the financial firm is saying our data needs to be managed in this way. Okay, great. We had an opportunity to be educated and now we treat all of our clients data in that way. Right.