Lee Palmer - President and Creative Director

You might say I took the road less travelled. I spent my twenties either in school or scraping out a living as a musician. Most of my energy went towards writing and basic survival was my ultimate goal. I drove and sometimes lived in old clunkers, stayed in shared housing and relocated to more places than an army brat.

With a baby on the way, I reluctantly gave up music full time at age 30 and took an entry level position in pricing at what is now Sameday Worldwide. I got the job through my father’s connections. He was the retired President of Day & Ross and set up the interview with Terry Bird, the president at the time. I eventually took over most of the project work in pricing and marketing for the company.

After 3 years, I had built a small in house marketing department and produced the company’s ads and sales material. After a political shuffle there, I decided that I would do this on my own and started what is now Palmer Marketing, in 1988. The specialization in transportation was a natural niche for me and although we’ve branched into other areas, it continues to be our specialty.

It’s been a journey and oddly enough, I feel I am really just coming into my own. We have a great team, super clients and a promising future. I am a much better writer these days and I’ve started playing music again on a regular basis. I don’t drive clunkers anymore, I have more guitars then I care to count and recently became a Grandpa. Go figure.

Nick Marandola - Directeur régional développement des affaires

Someone once told me, “When you do something you love, it isn’t really working”. It wasn’t until recently that I came to appreciate what that meant, and that’s what attracted me to PM in the first place. You see, I love transportation and for the past 9 years I’ve been fortunate to be involved with some great companies in a variety of aspects within the industry. But I also have a creative side. I’ve designed sales brochures, handled new logo projects and done a bunch of other marketing stuff. When I discovered there was a way to combine these two passions, it was like the fog had cleared in front of me, and my path was now clear. (Deep, I know.)

I’ve kind of developed a niche for myself starting up new projects within companies, and developing the Quebec market for Palmer is another notch on my belt. At PM, I get to colour within the lines (theoretically speaking of course – they pay other people to do that) and think outside of the box at the same time! I’m all out of clichés for now.

When I’m not working, I’m usually playing around with my 4 year old daughter or working on the house. My wife is due to deliver our second child in March, so I’m on track as the typical suburban family with 2.5 kids (.5 being the dog). What more can you ask for!

Sam Cockcroft - Creative Director and Account Manager

I like to think. Every chance I get, I am thinking. It’s my hobby. I guess that’s why I’m in this business. Most other jobs wouldn’t let you stare at the wall deep in thought. “That’s not productive!" they would shout. If only they could see my brain.

I’m happy spending all day thinking about work, even on my own time. I’ll think about anything—a new type of engine, a product, a theory, a drawing. Did I mention I like to draw? On my walks, which I also like to do, I can actually pass a crack in the sidewalk and be launched into a wild ride of thinking that ends with me mentally designing a new type of gasket or kitty litter box. I go where my brain takes me.

Sounds crazy, I know. Advertising is like that. It’s funny how you can relate things that, on the surface, shouldn’t relate… but, deep down, they do and it’s memorable. That’s what I like about it. Discovering something undiscovered is my self appointed purpose in life.

I’m not entirely catatonic. I play rugby. I’m the hooker but it’s not what you think. And, even after nearly 30 years on the field, all those blows to the head haven’t slowed me down a bit. I’ll probably play until I can’t. Think until I can’t. Walk until I can’t. Work? I’ll eventually retire, unless I can’t.

Tom Palmer - Web Analytics and Social Media

My passions are golf and drumming. They are kind of hard to make a living at, even though I’m pretty good at both. Looking after the social media for our company and select clients is interesting too and I’m getting better at it all the time. I’m at home on the web and Jerry (our IT guru) has helped me understand SEO (search engine optimization) and Google analytics.

I’m also the guy that does most of the running around to clients and suppliers, which changes up my day. I like the variety and also help with power point presentations and our e-mail based prospecting efforts.

If you need help with your golf game I am a certified instructor with the CGTF. If you need help with your social media... I’m your guy too.

Steve Mahar - Graphic Artist and Photographer

I'm both a highschool and college dropout. While highschool was for the allthe wrong reasons, college was for the right ones. I got offered a job. My first real job – in advertising. Since then I have been a designer, a copywriter, a production artist, a web developer, an art director a studio manager and recently...a photograper. I guess you could call me a jack of all trades who wears many hats while simultaneously juggling a mouse in one hand, a pen in the other and a camera in the other. I know that adds up to three. I probably should have stayed in school.

On the personal side, I'm a Mac and windows 7 was not my idea. I actually do know how to juggle and I like both cats and dogs with no real preference for either. I'm addicted to World of Warcraft and have four level 85 toons with full pvp gear. If you don't understand what that means, it's okay, neither does my girlfriend.

I may or may not at some point potentially add more here but this will have to do for now. I have some more juggling to do.

Rudy Nurse - Graphic Designer and Illustrator

I don't know how I ended up here. Artists do run in the family, but my initial interest was in the automotive industry. I tried an apprenticeship for under a year, rebuilt a few V6s, a Jaguar V12 and reassembled the many parts of a manual gearbox from a classic Porsche! It's a good thing I left… cars just don't impress me like they used to. At the end of the day, understanding how things really work opened up a new way of thinking and working.

I'm not much of a talker, so I do a lot of observing and thinking. It helps when doing illustrations or paintings without references. I think it's very important to know and understand your surroundings beyond what you see. That's why I like to travel.

From the time I got into this business, there are two people that made the most impact in my career. My mother who once told me "Tell them you can do it even if you've never done it before and figure it out from there". So far, that hasn't failed. My first Creative Director, LaRue Shields, who is also my mentor to this day has taught me how to "see" the "blueprints" of a design. "All those fancy colors and bells & whistles, that's just styling".

I like guitars… particularly SGs 'cause they rock hard. I'm not that great, but who knows, maybe one day I'll be a 'Guitar God'!

Carlos Sabado - Web and Print Designer

I love my work like I love summer. Why not? Summer is when I get to play my favorite sport—golf! Playing artist is a lot like playing golf. You need to be calm and cool under pressure if you ever hope to keep the ball in play; that’s rare for an artist. My best shots happen when I talk less and concentrate more; that’s not so rare for an artist.

I’m not worried about under-clubbing or over-clubbing. Not clubbing at all is what I fear most. Life or work, I’m the kind of person who throws everything I have at it, I was raised to dedicate myself to whatever I’m doing. You can have no complaints in life, so long as you take a swing. Sure, I may never be a great public speaker but, like mom said, it’s my creativity, originality, and resourcefulness that are my “gears". LOL.

Golf has its bad days but not work. I know which clubs to bring to work. I always have my three favourites—flexibility, honesty, and sensibility. With these clubs, I’ll play a hard game with coworkers. I can even get a bit naughty. Cutting-edge design needs naughty. Proper people don’t break rules.

I design like there’s nothing but fairway. No roughs. No hazards… it’s all wide-open. When I nail that perfect shot, 300 yards of pure customer satisfaction, it’s like everyday is Friday. My feet and hands get itchy; I can’t wait to tee off. Best of all, there’s no winter on this course. Here at Palmer, it’s always summer.

I’ll always remember what my dad said to me —“If you want something you’ve never had before, try to do something you’ve never done before".

Marlon Tiongson - Web and Graphic Designer

Growing up, I'd be surprised if I didn't end up as an artist. And being lefty meant drawing skills were a given (or so I was told). My parents, particularly my dad, had a huge influence in my passion for the arts. Or maybe it was the '80s? Art books, speedball pens, a home-made easel, the lingering smell of grumbacher colors and linseed oil, paintings everywhere, and a letterpress -- is what I call "home". Andrew Loomis was my mentor, nature was my palette and the local art store was my precious!

I'm always drawn to creativity. I think it's fascinating (and rewarding) to see an idea come to life, especially how it affects people. So taking up arts in college and working in the ad industry only made sense. I could never picture myself being good at something else, anyway.

I like words. I can't say that I'm a bibliophile, just curious. I like to make them up. It's amusing. And who doesn't love music. I rarely go through a day without listening to my favourite songs. I'm all for technology, too -- especially if I can afford it. And machines of all sorts. It interests me to know how they work. Probably why I like to tear apart and rebuild stuff.

Outside my musings and imaginings I'd be caught riding my bike, playing tennis, shredding vegetables and picks (that's cooking and playing guitar) or dismantling my car.

Michelle Schison - Graphic Artist and Newsletter Gal

I'm definitely a country girl. I didn't grow up in an actual town, village or hamlet. It was more like the middle of somewhere along Highway 28, surrounded by trees. Many thanks goes to my high school art teacher, Mr. Edwards, for inspiring me to choose this career path. With the realization that I actually could create art for a living, college lured me away from country life to the big city. Kitchener, to be exact, to study Graphic Design & Advertising at Conestoga College. Talk about beginning an adventure and a culture shock! Not staring at people with purple, green or some other wildly coloured hair was a bit of a challenge. City buses (lol thinking back), who knew they only stopped on the same side of the street as the bus stop sign!? Lesson learnt.

You never know unless you try, in my opinion, is a theory to live by. I love learning new things. I love finding solutions. I don't like to say I can't do something. I'd rather spend time figuring it out than giving up.

When asked what I do for a living some people just don't understand when I say I'm a graphic designer. I think I may start telling them I take an idea, combine some letters, some pictures, undos, redos, move it left, right, up down, make it bigger, smaller, a different colour, centre it, no right justify it, make a few more tweaks and adjust it until it's perfect! The pride and reward of seeing your idea come to life in this career are fascinating. Working in various industries has put my design skills to the test. Barbecue manufactures, storage solutions, beverages and snack foods all have their unique challenges. I even had my own little sign business for a while.

How did I end up here? Well, one day I happened to be searching the internet for my next graphic design adventure destination and up popped Palmer Marketing. Strangely enough the small town that was close by where I grew up was called Palmer Rapids. Hmm, coincidence or fate? I clicked the link and discovered a fun looking, talented, friendly bunch of people. The best part, these people do what I love to do in yet another industry providing a new set of unique challenges. I think it might have been fate or maybe it was applying my, you never know unless you try theory. I contacted PM and here I am taking an idea, moving it left, right, up down, making it, bigger, smaller, different colours, combining it with letters and pictures until it's perfect and loving every minute.

Life's adventures are all around us, you just have to grab onto them. While my city life certainly has it's advantages, adventures and opportunities I'll always be a country girl. There's nothing quite like getting out on the four wheeler to travel some back country trails only to find yourself ripping through a glorious mud bog. Who can resist the quiet calm of a summer night by the bon fire that's only interrupted periodically by the addition of More Gas causing massive flames! Or the delightful bragging rights when I catch a bigger bass than my husband. Oh don't laugh too hard, he's one up on me now with a bigger deer. Maybe next year I'll settle the score or raise the bar a little higher. When snowmobile season is just around the corner, you can bet I keep an eye to the sky for those glorious flakes of snow to come pelting down.

Jerry Popowicz - All Things Web and Technical

Most IT professionals are design challenged. I’m not one of those. I’m not sure where I acquired my design skills. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I’ve been collecting maps ever since I was about 6 years old. The lines, the colours, and all kinds of strange symbols really fascinated me, but not more than the fact that a map actually represented something in a distant and far away place. This lead me to do my own maps, of imaginary places. All I needed was a pencil and some paper. Some say that cartography is an art, some a science, but for me, it was a way to express myself and do something that I really enjoyed.

Though I still collect maps, with the purchase of a house in 2005, I have found a stress release outlet in renovating. Framing, tiling, electrical, plumbing, you name it - I’ve done it. Sure it sometimes takes a while, but the ultimate satisfaction in knowing you’ve built something is very rewarding.

But nothing is more rewarding than family. Spending time with my son and wife is something that I enjoy the most.

Kate Andrews - Production Manager

I am the 8th of 9 children raised in Essex Country outside of Windsor, Ontario. We lived on a gravel road, no sidewalks and our greatest adventures were in our own backyard. I still have friends I made in grade 1 and continue to stay in touch today. After graduating from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, I moved to the big city of Toronto and have worked most of my career in the printing industry. I got to know the folks at Palmer Marketing as a key supplier to them over the past decade.

I’m excited about joining PM and look forward to adding my administrative and management skills to their creative talents. Bringing my dog Dusty to work with me each day was part of the package and I think we’ll both feel right at home.

Bushku aka "B-Man" - Company Mascot

Woof woof, woof woof woof woof ... woof. Woof woof woof woof woof ... grrrrrrrr ... Wooooof!

Woof wooooooooof, woof woof wooooof woof, woof woof, woooooooof woof woof woof!

Woof wooooof woof wooof woooooof woof woof

Woof!