What is your role at IFMG?
Financial Controller

What does your role entail?
Oversees all accounting and financial functions within the company and monitored internal controls.

What do you enjoy most about your role?
Never boring or the same, has lots of variety and problem solving

Are you currently working on a new project and if so what is it?
Yes – Operation Move-Out

What do you like to do for fun?
Definition of fun – anything that is pleasing and causes happiness…
I enjoy riding big roller coasters, riding horses, working in the yard, traveling to new countries and sleeping.

What is something that no one would ever know about you?
I cannot swim but I love the water so I go snorkeling every year with a life jacket and I used to be a quiet, shy child.

Opinions vary, but what it boils down to is this: how do you define a brand?  Is it the word-association game you play when someone mentions a company’s name? Is it the logo? Their message? The tagline?

If it’s done well, it’s widely recognized like Apple or Coca-Cola. Their names conjure up full experiences, for better or for worse. It can help increase stickiness and determine any given potential consumer’s propensity to buy.

Personally, I like Seth Godin‘s description:  “If you’ve never heard of it, if you wouldn’t choose it, if you don’t recommend it, then there is no brand, at least not for you.”  (“define:Brand“, December 13, 2009)

If that’s the case, and there are no associations for a company name or a brand, then does changing a logo really have any effect on how a company performs in the marketplace?

…Top 10 Reasons the New Office Is Better:

1. Bathroom lights are automated to be turned on and off with motion sensors.
2. Our neighbors are actual adults who work in the space around us.
3. Legitimate office space comes without parachute pants.
4. The nature trail isn’t combined with the “Ghosts of the Commonwealth” walking tour.
5. Cabs are easy to find on Cinco de Mayo.
6. If you smile, you may observe others doing same.
7. Company directory missing tobacco stains and axe marks.
8. We’re plugging into the Internet.  It’s going to be big.
9. Two words: Ugly Biscuit.
10. Morning aromas consist of spring flowers and fresh water streams.

First up is Tom Feary.  Tom joined IFMG early last year as our General Manager.  Since leaving Auburn University in 1994, Tom has grown his career in media with roles in marketing, business development, and interactive advertising.  He completed his MBA from Washington University’s Olin Business School in St. Louis last year and now permanently resides in Richmond with his wife Tracey and two daughters.

What is your role at IFMG?
As General Manager I’m responsible for the overall health of the business.

What do you enjoy most about your role?
My favorite thing is seeing how excited people get about working on their projects, watching them grow/accomplish goals – observing how contributing to our customer’s success helps them achieve life goals.  I enjoy the challenge of managing the business, developing business strategy, learning new things each day, and playing pranks on our sales manager.

Are you currently working on a new project and if so what is it?
In the business, an exciting long-term project is claiming our fair share of auto finance traffic through online marketing principles.  At home, it is getting settled in Richmond after moving from St. Louis, Missouri.  I’m also working on ridding my yard of yellow jackets – know a good way to do this?

What do you do for fun?
I’m a BBQ guy.  Not grilling food.  But real BBQ – smoking dead animals over a wood fire for long periods of time.  All the ancillary stuff that comes with BBQ such as good friends, good times, and rockin’ rhythm and blues are fun too!  Oh, and I occasionally blog about those shenanigans.  If you comment on my posts I may send a recipe.

What is something that no one would ever know about you?
My first job was booking Beavis and Butthead and Ren & Stimpy at events throughout the Southeast.

IFMG is moving to the Midlothian area which is six to eight short miles southwest from downtown Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia.  The Moorefield corporate campus or Moorefield III at 804 Moorefield Park Drive will be our new HQ.  The location features nature trails, an in house café, electricity, and indoor plumbing.

As you can imagine going from historic Shockoe Slip to a corporate campus environment will be a big change.  For one our old home is old. Literally it’s like 150 years old or something.  The once proud tobacco warehouse still bears the marks of 19^th century workers, and a few 21^st century ones too.  We’ve had many good memories here on Virginia Street and turning the lights off will be tough.

IFMG v.Moorefield will foster an environment of renewed creativity and innovation.  An open floor plan is designed to encourage a high level of collaboration and teamwork.  Everyone gets window seating as the outdoors is visible from 99% of the space.  Plus we’re building in multiple creative zones for teams to meet, brainstorm, or just share fishing tips.

We’re approximately four to five weeks away from moving in.  Demolition started this week with the build-out slated to begin around the first of the month.  There’s much to get done within a short period of time.  So we’re headed to Cletus’ house now to get the truck fired up.

We’re happy to have you along for the ride.  More to come as we get ready for the big jump…