“Brand Ascension’s Brand DNA process helped us understand what we stood for as a brand and what made us unique. It enabled us to define our distinctive brand attributes which served as the foundational framework so that every employee understood how they contributed to the uniqueness of Aleut. This understanding enabled each employee to be a spokesperson for the company giving us 1000 marketers instead of 3.
The DNA process played a major role in the culture change we created. We included employees from every level within the organization which helped us create 100% buy-in from all employees. We re-evaluated and adjusted our business processes to be more consistent with our Brand DNA. We also realigned our Business Development function matching employees with the right experience with the right projects (e.g., Air Force experience on Air Force proposals and Army experience on Army proposals). These changes dramatically enhanced our ability to deliver a more consistent, distinctive and relevant brand experience to our customers and elevate the level of awareness of our brand in the market.
Bottom-line is the work done for Aleut by Brand Ascension had a direct effect on our rapid growth to $100 Million in revenues. The process allowed all Aleut employees to become ambassadors of our brand because they understood and were part of the process of defining and building our brand. I would highly recommend The Brand Ascension Group to any company to increase their overall success.”
— John Baily, CEO, Aleut Management Services
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“We had great response from the team on the day of the Brand Awareness event. I personally thought it went very well, especially for the challenges we faced. The weather didn’t help us. The geographic separation of the participants didn’t help us. The fact that many of our employees are part time and have other primary employment didn’t help us. Despite those and other challenges we had a very good turn out. People were engaged and focused. People were willing to play and be a little vulnerable. People were able to get creative. And, they had fun doing it.
The platform has been readily accepted and that speaks to the process by which it was formed. The collaboration of a diverse team, the ‘corporate introspection’ and the time that was invested resulted in a brand platform that really does represent who we are and who we can become.
We are deep in preparation for our peak season. The hard work we are doing now is essential to the hard work that is to come. It is just different than when we have a hundred teenagers running around the building everyday. This is the time we do the prep work that makes the summer season actually work. The timing of this event couldn’t have been better in my opinion. The team needed this to work toward. They needed this direction. They needed this vision. They needed this reminder of who we are, who they are and who we can be when we all work together for a common purpose.”
— Mark Stolberg, General Manager, MasterDrive, Colorado Springs, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Suzanne’s message to our service club was truly impactful and inspiring. Our group quickly realized we were wasting resources trying to market our club before branding ourselves. We came to realize that we had a brand that exists deep inside and represents who we are, why we exist, and how we relate to others in our community. Starting from the inside out we needed to identify and define who we are and then start owning it. The unique and distinctive ‘who we are’ message will attract those of like mind. We would recommend Brand Ascension’s programs for any organization looking to elevate their brand presence.”
The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs InterQuest
Tami L. Zamborelli, Member and Phyllis Stark, Ph.D., Member
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“”Wow, I wasn’t expecting such a breakthough!” That is what you will tell yourself when you complete one of Suzanne’s Mastermind Courses. I know, you “already know” everything about branding right? Wrong. In fact, you probably have it completely wrong. That was my thinking before taking the course. No only did I find a subject matter expert in Suzanne, I found that developing a brand IS hard work! It is human nature to be cynical when approaching work that requires you to take realistic inventory of who you are, what you believe in and how you want to “show up”. Suzanne’s process takes you down a developmental path that quickly identifies where your authenticity gaps are (i.e. where you are and where your authentic self knows you should be). If you are not aligned with your authenticity, everything in your life will suffer as a result. I highly recommend anyone who wants to get to the next level in business or their personal life to enroll in this series. This is an exclusive training program for high-caliber, high-potential clients so be ready to roll up your sleeves do some life changing work. Buena Suerte!”
— Cory Arcarese, CEO, CArc Media
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Suzanne is a fantastic brand expert who makes an immediate impact to the bottom line. Her efforts helped me successfully launch a small business venture (fitness gym: dynamic-gyms.com) into a very competitive market achieving break even revenue goals within three weeks of opening! Simply unheard of in this market segment. This would not have been possible without her direct efforts to help us succeed.”
— Larry Solecki, CEO, Dynamic Training & Fitness Gyms
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I have attended two of Suzanne’s branding workshops. She is an excellent speaker, but what really stands out is her inside-out approach to branding. A common thread among modern management theorists and practitioners alike is the need to think strategically up front and build a firm base of principle-driven operations from which to do business. Doing so builds adaptability and draws our attention to the things that really matter, instead of obsessive concern with packaging. It is an important step toward more sustainable business models that are grounded in long-term thinking. Accordingly, Suzanne’s process drives businesses and individuals building personal brands to do so from a position of authenticity grounded in deep introspection. She encourages us to know who we are and what we bring to the table, and to examine that thoroughly before engaging in marketing. This approach ensures alignment between what we tell people, the products we deliver, and what we do when nobody is looking. Her approach is especially important given the uncertainty that characterizes today’s business environment. In a world where social connections increasingly affect one’s ability to keep and attract business, this alignment and the ability to adapt from a position of self-knowledge can not be understated. An hour with Suzanne is an hour well spent!”
— Tonya Henderson Wakefield, D.M.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Suzanne is a subject matter expert and superb facilitator for building a dynamic culture and brand. I have been in two organizations that immersed themselves in her engaging and powerful Brand DNA process. Her process fully enrolls everyone from customer facing staff to senior executives so that all conclusions are readily embraced and instantly internalized by all stakeholders. If your enterprise wants to experience immediate and lasting transformation, engage Suzanne.”
–-Robert Todd, Operations & Finance Dir. & Consultant
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I highly recommend Suzanne for website, branding, and any and all creative work. She is excellent to work with: fast, on-time, full of fresh ideas, offers solutions, great attitude, multi-talented…and also fun! Suzanne has been a tremendous asset to Grizzard and our marketing program. She is an integral part of our team and success.”
–Stacy Guidice, Marketing Director, Grizzard Communications
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“I first met Suzanne soon after I started work at the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) during our progression through the Brand DNA program. What stood out to me, and still continues to, is her passion, high energy, involvement and commitment to the businesses that she works with. She has given the SBDC fresh, new, out-of-the box ideas that has changed our organization down to the core, and has helped us identify how to truely incorporate our brand. Her facilitation of seminars and workshops for the SBDC has created a positive buzz throughout Colorado Springs, and I believe that any business would be positively influenced by working with Suzanne! Please contact me for further information.”
— Shawna Markiewicz, Office of Professional & Executive Development (OPED) – UCCS College of Business, Center for Entrepreneurship, & EPIIC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Working with Suzanne is an inspiring experience. Her workshops and presentations are engaging, informative, and enjoyable! Any business, big or small, would benefit from her “ground-up” approach to branding and inspiration. I would highly recommend her for any speaking engagement.”
James P. Ziuchkovski, DDS, MS, PC
Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Suzanne is personable, precise in her communications, and extremely professional. Her concept and methodology of brand development is simple and powerful, and it’s already reaping great results! Her vast experience and impeccable integrity make her a powerful member of my business team. I highly recommend Suzanne to any business owner seeking greater impact and a bigger bottom line!”
Top Qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity
— Chevy Chevallard, President, Conduct Your Life
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I worked with Suzanne on my Brand, I was in a similar position as a Sole Proprietor as I ran the self-sustaining business training division of our local community college. It was just me and I was the brand. So going through her brand-building process, I focused not only on building the brand of the Division, but also working on my own personal brand.
The process was very thought-provoking, and enabled me to see myself in a new light. I was able to ressurrect the value of my past experiences and apply them into my daily life, create a unique positioning statement, and develop standards of living that were actionable.
This is the tool to help professionals, business owners, and those with a desire to be more than what they currently are, to become more self-actualized and highly conscious of their competitive advantages.
Suzanne was not only a delight with whom to work but her professional attention to detail and coaching during the process were extremely valuable. Any organization or sole proprietor can most definitely achieve greater results upon working with Suzanne and The Brand Ascension Group!
– Jerry Fritz, Chief Wow Officer, Generating Wow!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“My organization (the Colorado Springs SBDC) offers a great services, but we were struggling with informing our community about all of the great things we provide. After working with Suzanne’s Brand DNA program to remedy this problem, we’ve seen almost instant results from our efforts.
Suzanne has been a wonderful resource, and has been very attentive to our needs as we progressed through the program. Her creativity and energy make her a joy to work with, and I look forward to continuing our relationship beyond the Brand DNA program.
If there are any specific questions I can answer, or more information I can provide please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
–Matt Barrett, Director, Colorado Springs SBDC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The time that we spent with Brand Ascension at our annual all-employee meeting proved to be a truly memorable experience for everyone on our team. The structured activities that our employees participated with were energetic and effectively pushed the creative thinking of all our employees—regardless of job role—to a new, exciting level. It was great to see the once-hidden confidence and creativity from everyone slowly bubble up and come out. By the end of the event, everyone on our team was excited and confident in the new culture and the new brand that we all had helped create.
Spending time with Brand Ascension is something that I’d recommend to any company that is looking to create a core “foundation” for the future. I’m confident now, thanks to Suzanne and Carol’s passion, that the Charter Media Michigan team will begin better living the confident, hip, cutting-edge, professional and creative culture that is Charter Media.
Steve Timmer, Marketing Manager, Charter Media, Michigan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
After a career in both IBM and HP, I have seen some of what I thought was the best marketing teams in the industry but Suzanne’s approach is a paradigm shift. Her approach requires a soul searching that is then developed and imprinted on every aspect of the business including the logo. This brings a focus that removes the paralysis and indecision that hampers business reducing productivity and customer satisfaction. Quality and company character would be elevated and valued by customers with Suzanne’s direction
– Jim Cochran, President, QBMS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I want you to know just how important building my brand DNA is for my business. It really centers everything that we do about the business around these critical words and success factors. It has improved our workshops and webinar content and materials, our delivery and interaction with our students and clients, and increasing the value of all that we do for our clients. Thank you a thousand times over! I have one (DNA sheet) right by my desk, and I refer to it many times during the day. It is a fantastic guide for everything I do all day long.
Jaclyn Kostner Ph.D., CEO, Bridge The Distance, Denver, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have had the pleasure of working on my entrepreneurial business brands with Suzanne and Carol for quite some time. I must admit, their insight into the “dig-deep” discovery process, which guides and encourages their clients to seek out the driving forces that make the entrepreneurial spirit fly, (whoo hoo!) has been an effective tool in identifying what I would like my clients to feel, hear, see, smell, taste and touch from my brand perspective.
But…guess what? Recently, in consulting with Suzanne about my unique Brand DNA profile, I found that I was struggling to identify definitive, spot-on terms that made emotional and business sense when defining my company values, true differentiators, standards, etc. Suzanne was saying “dig deep, really deep” and I was saying, “wait a minute…you mean you want a “me-first” perspective? How can that be?” In my many years in the corporate arena, brand parameters were not developed by investigating and defining company values first! Promotional and marketing campaigns presenting one’s products and/or services had always been created with the customer/client needs and expectations at the forefront. Most certainly, it is extremely vital to respect and define those desires, but as a professional in cultivating and maintaining relationship referrals, I see that we are, without a doubt, experiencing a paradigm shift in the way we have previously understood “branding” and its importance in the achievement of personal and business success. “AH-HA!” Now I get it! Call Suzanne. She will definitively help you to experience that “AH-HA’ moment you’ve been seeking! BA Group leads the way!
–-Pam Melchior, CEO/Owner, Entrepreneurs in Motion
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Thanks for doing such a great job at our kick-off event for the Peak Venture Group Middle-Market Entrepreneurs. I am very grateful that you put as much heart and soul into this project as we have. Your enthusiasm, passion and knowledge about branding captivated and empowered our members during the entire session. You and The Brand Ascension Group created exactly the success we were hoping to achieve!”
Loren Lancaster, Managing Director, Core Capital Group, Colorado Springs, CO
An IMAP Partner Firm
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Suzanne Tulien is a Master at her craft. I have worked with her in several capacities. The latest being a Brand refresh. Suzanne helped me review my Brand style, and attributes. We used these to update, and modernize, my logo, website, packages, and business card. Suzanne is an incredible Wordsmith. She helped me put together new content for my website, highlighting the benefits I offer to my Clients. She held my hand through the whole relaunch process. Had it not been for her expertise, knowledge, and patience, I would never have been able to do this on my own. She helped me breathe new life into my business. I will be forever grateful to her.”
– Caryn August, Caryn August Image Consultant
“Thank you so much for your awesome presentation at ‘Contribution not Competition.’ Everyone in the audience is still singing your praises! Your keynote “Personal Brand Presence” was exactly what the audience needed. Your unique insight on branding and your ability to inspire people to look at their business from a different perspective was precisely the message that they needed to be able to have their businesses stand out from the crowd! I personally was excited to implement everything I learned from your speech and I have seen the other women implementing the tools as well.”
“You have proven yourself as an expert and authority in your field and am truly honored that you were a speaker for Embodied Grace Productions. Your message was crafted in a way that was easy to understand and so inspiring that the audience was motivated to take action right away! I had no doubt that you would be fantastic on this subject, and I was highly please with your ability to connect and interact with the audience.
On behalf of Embodied Grace Productions, I appreciate the valuable contribution you have made in making the conference a success. Once again the knowledge. information and enthusiasm you shared really had an impact on the audience. You left them begging for more!”
Respectfully, Jennifer Lonnberg, CEO – Embodied Grace Productions, LLC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What is a brand? Really? We thought we knew until the Brand Ascension Group showed us exactly how much we didn’t know. Working with The Brand Ascension Group has been an eye opening experience. We were shown and coached on every aspect of what our brand really meant to us and to others. Their process and methods are easy to understand and they have been invaluable in assisting us with our business growth in unforeseen ways. We recommend them and seriously encourage any organization – new or established – to utilize their services. We believe that they have given us an advantage over many businesses simply because we now know what they don’t.
“Since Mary and I went through the DNA process we have implemented several of the results into our daily business routines. For example, we live by our mantra “Free spirited, dream achievers with creative flare.” which was developed after several hours of the DNA process with Suzanne and Carol. We make sure that everything we do is consistent with our mantra…from how our office is painted, to our website, to our marketing collateral–everything has the same personality…fun, creative, professional and very much out of the ordinary. We pride ourselves on being different. It has worked well for us. We have retained most of are initial clientele and get referrals quite often from them.
Having the DNA process done was one of the best things we could have done. It helped us to gain focus on what really mattered to us as a company. With that said, it has helped us stay on track with every facet of our business… If an new project or idea doesn’t fit with our mantra as a company and we can’t believe in it whole heartedly, then we know it’s not the right choice for us…”
Reina Gutierrez & Mary Burdis, Co-Owners, Data With Design,
Co. Springs, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the beginning of 2005, I met with Suzanne Tulien and Carol Chapman of The Brand Ascension Group, (BA Group). My idea and the direction I wanted to take the company was clear but I needed the expertise of a consulting firm to facilitate the project. After our initial meeting and project proposal submitted by BA Group, I was excited to get started.
In March, the work began to redefine who we were and how we wanted to show up to our current customers and our future customers. We started with a comprehensive brand assessment of the company followed up by a Brand DNA session. From this we were able to define the competencies, style, values and standards that are unique to us. This clearly began to lay the ground work that would not only set The Sun Spot apart from any other competitor in town but in the country as well. From this, we were able to develop the Brand Platform and the Brand Promise which set the standards from which virtually everything in our Operation Manuals have been written. Not only were we able to define who we were but from these intense and focused sessions, BA Group helped lay the blueprint out for which all thoughts, concepts and procedures can effectively springboard from for our future. It was “simply mind-blowing” – which happens to be our Brand Platform. If your intent is to create a “simply mind-blowing” company, then you have to start with company that understands what “simply mind-blowing” is. BA Group does. From the way we hire our Team Members to the way we view our community, and everyone in between, our disciplines have changed. New procedures, new methods, new techniques, new logo, new colors, new designs for future stores and most important, a new state of being, are just some of the ways that BA Group help us in this change. Oh and buy the way, if someone ever tells you that once the company’s well is dug and your stuck with the water…they’re wrong! Just dig deeper. With the help of BA Group, The Sun Spot is currently experiencing positive change in its internal way of being, emanating outwards in its external way of being with customers, employees and vendors. I am personally grateful for the work that BDG did for us and with us. The sessions were not all fun but both Suzanne and Carol hung in there and saw us through. With all of the things that they did for my team and The Sun Spot, the one thing that to this day stands above all the rest is that they actually cared.
Bart Hanks, CEO, The Sun Spot, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outstanding job Carol and Suzanne!! Thank you very much for your well planned and executed DNA Brand Elevation day–very good! Lots of food for thought and I will be referring back to your information and our experience often, as I see this as a guide to much, if not all of our efforts. Thank you for all the materials and insights. I will be forwarding to the team.
Again, my sincerest thanks!
Andrea Weiland, President, CEO,
International Center for Performance and Health, Denver, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hi Suzanne,
We are getting AWESOME responses about brochure that I mass-emailed out yesterday. We just landed a huge connection with ceochallenges.com in Boulder and I think the Brochure solidified his interest. He owns the logo to Ironman and wants to set up seminars at our center about the athlete in the workplace.
Feel good about your work–it’s working :-)!
Best, Andrea Wieland, M.B.A., Ph.D.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I shared a bit with our staff today on our new branding efforts and it met with great excitement. Thank you again for the great DNA program last week.
Have you seen all the Westin Hotel branding being executed? “This is what it should feel like” with magazine ads that are perfume flaps debuting their new “scent” and the TV ads showing floating candles and others with birds singing. It’s so amazing how this all ties into what we talked about – our senses – and how much that means to the entire brand experience with a company. Before last week, I don’t know that I would have noticed it quite as much, and I certainly wouldn’t have understood what was behind it all. It would be a great example for you to share with new clients.
Thanks again. I’m thrilled to be thinking differently!
Best, Shan Bookstaff, Senior Sales Manager, Charter Media
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Our DNA session was fun and very insightful! We received confirmation and clarification of the definition of who we are, how we appear to those, and how we can package (through our behaviors) to show up congruent to our brand! We have already passed your name on to our colleagues!
‑‑ Victoria Munro, Make-It-Fly, Denver, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
As you know, Terry & I have been in sales and “marketing” for the past 20 years, however, the idea of branding was a unique way for us to think about our business. Meeting with you and attending the seminar on branding has created a clear path for us to take for our business. The Pet Pantry is a franchise and we started with 70 customers, 18 months ago, our customer base now is 550. We feel that is a direct reflection on this path of branding. Every decision we make becomes so much clearer when you have an understanding of how and what branding means both internally and externally to our customers. We recently surveyed our customers and to our delight we had a 25% return. 100% of our customers stated they would order from us again and are completely satisfied. It doesn’t get much better than that. Thanks for your unique way of thinking and the path we are on to grow our business. Branding has made every decision and direction easier to make and a whole lot more fun. The answers become so clear. Please refer any potential customers to us, as we would be happy to discuss your skills/knowledge with them.
—Debbie & Terry Brookham, Furry Friends, Co. Springs, CO
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[ As a result of being voted as Runner-Up to 1st place in the 2007 Colorado Springs Best Of Competition for Best Engineering Consulting Firm] …”FYI, we are doing our best to live the brand promise! Next year we’ll be #1. Thanks for help in getting us on the right tract.
Erik D. Mitchell, P.E., Principal Engineer
