When Joe Judd came to work for us in June of 2014, we were already impressed with his work as director of marketing at Engledow Group. But over the last two years, Joe has led a stunning array of marketing efforts for Well Done, managing projects that range from TV campaigns and website redesign to brand identity development and major fundraising events.
So we’re more than thrilled to announce that Joe will be taking over as our new director of account service. It’s great news for our clients, great news for Joe, and, frankly, great news for us—we can’t imagine a better candidate for the gig.
Learn more about Joe in the Q&A below.
What will be your responsibilities in your new role as director of account service?
I will still be handling client management responsibilities, but I’ll also oversee our department processes, strategize growth plans, and find ways to continue to improve how we serve our clients.
A recent Ad Age article said that, “[the] fundamental work that famed account managers like Jay Chiat or John McGarry were renowned for—developing relationships, serving clients and understanding their needs—has not changed. But the means of doing it and what a client expects from its agency have. Today’s account managers need to understand all facets of marketing, and understand them well.”
At our core, we’re still relationship people, but there’s so much more to know in today’s marketing landscape, and it’s constantly changing. Our job starts with understanding our clients and their business objectives (or problems). Then we use that information—plus loads of research—to help them craft smart, well-informed strategies and solutions.
What do you enjoy most about working in accounts?
I love the strategy and planning aspect. Oftentimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the details of a project, but as an account person it’s equally as important to have the ability to take a step back—to see the bigger picture and how all of the pieces are going to fit together. I also enjoy learning about new clients and working to make their lives better.
Obviously in this position you have to be an organized, detail-oriented person, but how does that translate into the rest of your life? Do you alphabetize your DVD collection? Or would we be shocked by the number of dirty socks left lying around?
See above. Planning seeps into many facets of my life, like wedding planning (I’m getting married to the best person I’ve ever met in August!!!). My condo is pretty tidy and I like things to be kept in an orderly fashion. But secretly, I have a hard time throwing stuff away because you just never know when you might need it—even if it’s an RCA job jacket from 2007.
Please tell us a cute story about your dog, and include an adorable photo. For, uh, business reasons.
Sofia is my nearly seven-year-old Glen of Imaal Terrier. A couple years ago, she got to star in a spot we produced for Kittle’s Furniture. She’s very timid, but we needed her to rambunctiously run through a doll set and knock everything over, which is very out of character for her. During each take, she kept weaving around the toys without touching a single thing. Finally, we decided to stage some people behind the miniature set and shake it while she was running through to simulate her knocking everything over, and it worked like a charm.
Let’s say you hit the PowerBall. How do you spend the first million bucks?
I’d give a portion of it to the church I attend, then I’d purchase a sailboat and sail from Duluth, MN, through the Great Lakes—making an extended stop to explore the North Channel—and up the St. Lawrence River. A cozy cabin in Alaska with a loft, wood burning stove, and lots of old books would be necessary, too.
What do you enjoy most about working for Well Done?
Being able to bring my dog to work. Oh, and the people. They’re super smart, talented, and a lot of fun to be around, which makes it a pretty great place to work.