Nancy Starr, President
Nancy Starr (formerly Sipera) understands that any successful marketing campaign starts with a plan. Her ability to approach projects from a strategic point of view, with expert guidance and advice customized to match the goals of the client, has earned tangible results for First Impressions clients such as The University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, Atlas Van Lines’ franchisees, New Jersey Transit, BCA Insurance Group, New Jersey Renaissance Faire, Liberty Lake Day Camp and RE/MAX of NJ.
But she’s not only an impresario when it comes to strategizing; her creative thinking and spot-on execution give every campaign a professional luster and bring impactful results. From the shapes, colors, lines and taglines of a memorable print ad or logo, to the engaging content of a social media post designed to grab eyeballs and be shared, First Impressions delivers magic that opens doors to new clients, sells products and services, and creates not just customers but devoted brand fans. And it’s this creativity that’s made her a six-time winner of The Communicator Award for her clients’ creations.
Nancy’s experience spans many industries, including banking, building, corporate training, education, HVAC, insurance, IT, legal, manufacturing, private schools, retail, real estate and senior services – both for the general consumer and B2B. She has worked with such hospitality flagships as Holiday Inn, Wyndham, Radisson, Hawthorn Suites, and Comfort Inn, as well as NCI-supported cancer studies for breast and prostate cancer, diabetes and ophthalmic care. A devoted mother of 2, she is also tuned into and has in-depth experience at reaching moms, one of the greatest purchasing segments there is.
Nancy is the co-founder of Strike It Strong, a non profit organization that empowers women through self-defense workshops and supporting women in crises.
First Impressions loves playing in the following sandboxes: Strategic Marketing, Strategic Action Plans, Consulting, Advertising Plans, Media Buying, Project Management, Online Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Videos, Webinars, Creative, Execution, Graphic Design, Copywriting, Printing, Public Relations, and Promotional + Property Management Signage.
Jonathan Dewees, Director of Digital Strategy
Jon brings decades of expertise in technology and digital marketing strategy to every project. He is responsible for executing and developing client solutions, creating strategies, and managing digital branding across various channels to help clients increase awareness, grow their business and market share.
Jon offers cutting-edge digital consulting, with the ability to develop, measure, monitor, and analyze client success metrics. His deep understanding of client business categories allows him to introduce innovative solutions to clients. He has a proven track record of delivering high-quality work, leading client presentations, and maintaining the integrity of the agency process through comprehensive documentation.
Jon is proficient in JAVA, HTML, Drupal, WordPress, Shopify, and Big Commerce. He holds certifications in Google Analytics, Google AdWords, MailChimp email marketing, HubSpot, and DISC profiles.
He founded Dewees Business Systems, a technology integration and service company, as well as Global Print Systems, a wireless print technology company for which he holds a patent. His clients have included major names like Disney, Marriott, and USAir.
Jon is a graduate of McDaniel College. He is currently a member of the Medford Rotary.
Chuck Eldridge, Large Format Sign Specialist
Marketing through signage has been seen a revolution of changes. With more than 40 years in the printing, signage and packaging industry, Chuck Eldridge has stayed at the forefront of the technological and creative advances within the industry.
With the ability to draw from old-school wisdom and combine it with new age technology, Chuck is able to create and manufacture images that help clients stand out from the rest.
He prides himself on finding reasonable and economic solutions to client projects and works collaboratively with creative teams to make that happen.
Sanford Student, Lead Consultant
Sandy is an accomplished senior executive and noted innovator with over 30 years of experience in bringing consumer and commercial products to market, and implementing new strategies and solutions. His responsibilities have included marketing, product development, channel alignment, sales, and operations. He is a noted proponent of executing a positive customer experience. His expertise encompasses both manufacturer, merchant, government, and end user perspectives and he is a noted retail strategist. Sandy has the ability to grasp change, and to determine its impact upon ongoing businesses and how to prepare for new market segments.
Sandy combines broad strengths in business with expertise in human centered design, and is keenly aware of the drivers for technology and its ever-expanding reach. He has orchestrated the diffusion of technology and launched numerous new products used in daily life. At Kodak he grew the digital camera business to over $670 million in revenue, capturing the top-market-share position in North America and diversified the breadth of the product portfolio. He also developed the pre-cursor to Google Earth with Kodak Citipix aerial photography.
During his 10 years at Sony Corporation he introduced new products and inventions, including compact disc players, camcorders, projection TV, home theater, and cell phones. At Sony, he developed the channel strategy that led to Sony’s market expansion and category leadership. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Samurai Award for exemplary leadership from Sony. Sandy has also been involved with entrepreneurial start-up business models at Primestar and at Solo Health.
Throughout his career Sandy has provided strategic consulting services to leading worldwide organizations, including: AT&T, CIBA Vision, Extend Electronics, Kodak, Maya Design, Motorola, Novartis, Oak Mortgage, Projectiondesign, Rutgers University, Solo Health, Sun Bank, VTech Electronics, and the United States Government.
Sandy has been instrumental in staging acclaimed local celebratory events and raising millions of dollars for local charitable organizations.
