About Us
WE ARE BRANDMAKERS.
And we’ve made all kinds of brands.
Global, check; national, check; local, check. Product introductions, brand creations and refreshed brands brought back from the dead. Branding strategy, campaigns and communications in all media, traditional and new. We’ve been there and are happy to tell you the stories and show the scars if you want. Through all that we’ve developed a fairly straightforward way of looking at brands and the best ways to communicate them.
Our branding strategy includes these ideas:
• A brand must be focused and true
• The communication and expression of a brand must be based on truth that comes from the company itself: not something made up that “should work”
• Everything the brand does, says, tries, develops or makes should be consistent with the overall idea behind its existence
• Finding that core idea is the essence of what we do
• Everything else flows from there
• Having fun while working is just better than not
This is Us.
DOMENICK RELLA
Founding Partner / Creative Director
Founder, creative director, wanna-be hipster, and synesthete, Dom believes everything starts with a brand. (And if it doesn’t, it should.)
He’s positioned and transformed clients, from national to statewide to local—universities, software companies, biotech firms, counties, hand-dipped cocoa bean makers…it’s a long, diverse list. In the course of Dom’s career, he’s seen how individual subjectivity can come into play while clients evaluate creative work. So Dom developed a rigorous, logical creative methodology to help clients and institutions navigate complex approval processes. Which, in turn, makes their brands more strategic and focused.
PETER JARDINE
Senior Brand Strategist
Peter Jardine has a long history in brand marketing and advertising. With expertise in brand strategy, product innovation, and integrated marketing across B2B, consumer goods and services, he’s a valuable addition to the Engine team. His career spans both agency and client-side roles, starting as a copywriter and account exec before becoming VP Account Director at BBDO, Atlanta. He’s also led marketing and strategy at Bayer Environmental Science, Highwoods Properties, and Orkin Pest Control. His unique perspective from both sides of the table is invaluable. Fun fact: Peter was once an Engine client—glad to have him back on the team.
CHRISTIANA AMIS
Account Manager
While Christiana loves to craft a process document to capture the most efficient way to execute a task, she knows that quality work comes from clear communication, not complex procedures. Your brand’s personality can’t be described in a bulleted list, so she focuses instead on listening and anticipating evolving needs. She is a champion of collaboration, and in her over ten years of operations work has let the client experience lead the way to successful partnerships.
JOSH FRAIMOW
Senior Copywriter / Strategist
Josh likes to think of himself as a strategist, conceptor and copywriter. The rest of us know he’s the guy who asks a lot of questions, writes appropriate words and comes up with some good ideas.
He’s been doing it for [mumbles] decades, for brands including Highwoods Properties, IBM, Mansfield Plumbing and Quintiles. Now he’s ready to pull out his yellow legal pad and start jotting down indecipherable notes on your behalf.
RICK BINGER
Senior Art Director
With more than 25 years in the business, Rick has learned that the best ideas happen where creativity and logic meet—where a sharp grounded strategy collides with a spark of imaginative wonder. That balance has guided his work, shaping brands and campaigns that both inspire and perform.
Over the years, Rick has helped build campaigns for companies big and small—from IBM, ChannelAdvisor, and Netsertive to Blue Cross NC, John Deere, Highwoods Properties, and regional builders and developers. Rick is the founder and creative director of Ideya, a boutique branding, advertising, and design agency in Raleigh, North Carolina.
ANDY ABEND
Market Researcher / Strategist
Andy brings 30 years of experience in market research, marketing strategy and analytics to organizations ranging from start-ups to billion-dollar corporations.
Andy has conducted such work in the financial services industry with Citi, Elavon, Fiserv, Mr. Cooper (formerly Nationstar Mortgage) and TSYS. He has also worked with well-known brands like Bridgestone, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Tractor Supply Company and Walmart.
He serves on the advisory board for a private equity firm where he provides marketing guidance over their consumer portfolio.
JEFF COOPER
Digital Marketing Specialist
As a digital marketing expert, Jeff has spent his career in leadership roles of high-growth, venture-backed marketing technology start-ups. He specializes in web analytics, SEO, and pay-per-click advertising (PPC). He implements programs that help grow sales and lead generation through online marketing and would provide both project-based assessments and ongoing execution of SEO and PPC services.