Posts by Callis Team
The Power of Voice in Rural Communities
OUTdrive Episode 249 with Melanie Rice In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff Callis visits with Melanie Rice, National Account Executive for Learfield News & Ag and President of the National Agri-Marketing Association. Growing up on a Missouri farm and now raising her family in rural Iowa, Melanie shares how her agricultural roots shaped her career…
Read MoreInside Alaska’s Health Care Frontier
OUTdrive Episode 248 with Bruce Richards OUTdrive host Cliff Callis sits down with Bruce Richards, External Affairs Director for Central Peninsula Hospital, to talk about delivering health care in rural Alaska. From his start in the family paving business to navigating politics and now leading key legislative efforts in the health care space, Bruce’s story…
Read MoreShould You Keep Marketing During Economic Uncertainty?
Avoid a Common Marketing Mistake by Pushing Ahead When the economy feels shaky, especially with uncertainty around tariffs and market slowdowns, many business owners start looking for places to cut costs. And often, marketing is one of the first things on the chopping block. It might seem like a smart, conservative move; however, in reality,…
Read MoreCrafting the E-Commerce Experience
OUTdrive Episode 247 with Sarah Gallagher What makes someone click “buy” online? Sarah Gallagher has been chasing that answer for over 20 years. As the leader of Gamma Waves, a Shopify-focused e-commerce agency, she’s helping brands grow with smarter strategy, faster sites and more human experiences. In this episode, Sarah and Cliff talk about how…
Read MoreEconomic Growth from the Ground Up
OUTdrive Episode 246 with Ben Vickers Discover how the Springfield, Missouri, region is building momentum in rural economic development with guest Ben Vickers, Manager of Business Development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Ben and Cliff discuss the area’s strengths in manufacturing, food processing, workforce and quality of life, as well as how strategic…
Read MoreRiding the Road to Resilience
OUTdrive Episode 245 with Steven Brunner In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff visits with Steven Brunner, founder of King of the Mountain Sports Marketing. With nearly four decades of experience, Steven shares stories from the global stage of sports promotion—from the Olympics to the Great Wall of China. He also reflects on what it takes…
Read MoreHow to Maximize Target Audience Reach on a Limited Budget
Marketing on a limited budget is a challenge many organizations face. When your goal is to reach people across an entire state, like the Missouri State Fair does each year, making every marketing dollar count is essential. For the past 25 years, Callis has worked alongside the Missouri State Fair to create the right marketing…
Read MoreLeather, Legacy and Life Lessons
OUTdrive Episode 244 with Tucker Hancock Meet Tucker Hancock, the driving force behind Fern Thatcher, a leather goods company rooted in tradition and built on family values. In this episode, Tucker shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, crafting high-quality leather products while balancing family life and business growth. Tune in to hear his…
Read MoreBuilding Relationships in Rural Marketing
OUTdrive Episode 243 with Julianna Sonnik In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff Callis sits down with Julianna Sonnik, an account executive at Callis, to discuss the importance of building strong relationships in rural marketing. Julianna shares her journey from growing up in Sedalia to pursuing her MBA while working in marketing. She also discusses her…
Read MoreSmall Towns, Big Banking Ideas
OUTdrive Episode 242 with Jonathan Fish Rural America’s banking needs are changing, and BTC Bank is leading the charge with innovative ideas and a community-first mindset. Cliff Callis welcomes Jonathan Fish to OUTdrive to discuss how BTC Bank is revolutionizing rural banking with mobile branches, youth-focused programs and a dedication to local investment.
Read MoreWhere the Countryside Meets Compassion
OUTdrive Episode 241 with Susie Arbo Mental health care can be hard to find in rural communities, but one Missouri-based practice is changing that. Country Crossroads Counseling blends traditional therapy with unique, nature-based approaches to help children, teens and adults navigate life’s challenges. In this episode, founder Susie Arbo shares how she built a thriving…
Read MoreKey Marketing Trends from the AMI Digital Summit
Staying ahead in marketing requires continuous learning, which is why the Callis team recently attended the AMI Digital Summit. Hosted by the Agency Management Institute (AMI), this event brings together marketing experts nationwide to discuss the latest trends, technologies and strategies shaping the industry. This year’s summit highlighted several key trends impacting businesses marketing to…
Read MoreBig Ideas, Fractional Time, Full Impact
OUTdrive Episode 240 with Peter Murphy Lewis Marketing success isn’t just about creativity—it’s about strategy. In this episode, we sit down with Peter Murphy Lewis, also known as Strategic Pete, to explore how fractional CMOs help businesses build smarter, stronger marketing systems. From his diverse career spanning continents to his passion for training future marketing…
Read MoreConnecting People through Storytelling
OUTdrive Episode 239 with Kat Lucchesi Storytelling is at the heart of marketing and communications, whether in business, sports marketing or education. In this episode, we chat with Kat Lucchesi, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, about her experiences in collegiate athletics, digital media and teaching the next generation of communicators.…
Read MoreKeeping Rural Communities Healthy
OUTdrive Episode 238 with Marvin Smoot Access to quality health care is essential for every community, and rural hospitals play a vital role in ensuring patients get the care they need close to home. In this episode, we sit down with Marvin Smoot, Vice President of Clinic Operations at Bothwell Regional Health Center, to discuss…
Read MoreSuper Bowl 2025 Highlights
OUTdrive Episode 237 with Megan Hartman and Josie Gregory The Super Bowl isn’t just about football—it’s also the biggest night in advertising. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff Callis sits down with agency president Megan Hartman and account executive Josie Gregory to break down the game’s most memorable ads. From the ones that scored big…
Read MoreOur Top Super Bowl 2025 Ads
Super Bowl LIX was not the ending Chiefs Kingdom had hoped for. After years of magical Mahomes moments and back-to-back Super Bowl victories, this one hurt. The game didn’t go our way, and the post-game sting still lingers. But if there’s one thing about the Super Bowl—win or lose—it’s always more than just a game.…
Read MoreHow Strategy, Ethics and AI Are Shaping Modern Marketing
OUTdrive Episode 236 with Korena Keys Marketing is constantly evolving, and staying ahead requires strategy, innovation and a strong ethical foundation. In this episode, Korena Keys of KeyMedia Solutions shares her insights on digital marketing, AI and the importance of responsible advertising. From starting a business at her kitchen table to leading a successful agency,…
Read MoreImproving Child Care Access in Missouri
OUTdrive Episode 235 with Robin Phillips Missouri’s child care crisis affects more than just parents—it impacts businesses, workforce retention and local economies. In this episode, Robin Phillips, CEO of Child Care Aware of Missouri, talks about the challenges of child care accessibility and affordability in rural communities. She shares how her organization is helping families…
Read MoreBuilding the Voice of Agriculture
OUTdrive Episode 234 with Sara Wyant Discover how Agri-Pulse grew to become agriculture’s leading voice for legislative and regulatory news. In this episode of OUTdrive, founder Sara Wyant shares her journey from growing up on a farm in Iowa to building a trusted media brand covering food, agriculture and rural issues. Sara reflects on how…
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