Awards Can Rock – Just Ask Chris

HD’s Marketing Designer Chris Wilson won a national marketing contest and recently cashed in on his prize — a meeting with award-winning motivational speaker and best selling author Dr. Ken Blanchard.

“You don’t meet rock stars every day,” Wilson said.

Wilson and two fellow students won a national collegiate marketing contest in May 2006 for their effective marketing campaign of Dr. Blanchard’s book, “Lead Like Jesus.”

At the time, Wilson was juggling his senior year and an internship at Hester Designs. Today, Chris works at HD full time applying daily the same skills that won the contest.

It was no surprise to Jeff Hester, owner of Hester Designs, when Chris won. “Chris consistently delivers results our clients love,” Hester said. “The dedication to his art is transparent.”

For their win, Chris’s team had to hit top marks for awareness raised about Blanchard’s then new book, creativity of promotions, and best use of a $1000 budget.

Taking this top honor awarded $5,000 and a speaking engagement with Dr. Blanchard to Oklahoma Christian University.

Two months of non-stop, innovative marketing did not end in disappointment Wilson said after meeting Dr. Blanchard, who spoke at the 2007 Associates banquet of his alma matter.

“I had never put an author in the same category as a rock star, but that was before I met Ken Blanchard,” Wilson said.

Check out Chris’s blog for his first-hand account.