Overview

Company Summary

We’re Yamamoto, a full-service creative agency, and we move mountains for our clients. Since 1979, we’ve been reinventing, elevating, and amplifying brands. We’ve worked with national and global brands, from yogurt to microchips to lawnmowers. We’ve been their secret advantage in getting the attention, love, and consumers they deserve. We are champions of challengers. Tech-loving rabble-rousers who make a living by solving problems and slaying giants. We believe in making a difference by disrupting the usual narratives and telling stories that steal attention. We believe in strategy that is born from insights and leads to unskippable messages. We’re the secret weapon that gives you an unfair advantage. Based in Minneapolis, MN, we also have offices in Chicago and Toronto. For new business please contact Beth Whelan at [email protected] or 612-375-0180.

---

Staff

Total Number of Employees

Office Employees: 51-100
Total US: 51-100
Total Worldwide: 51-100

Kathy McCuskey
Chief Executive Officer
Kathy is one of the most accomplished and successful marketing professionals in the industry. Her national and global experience spans numerous categories, including CPG, technology, manufacturing, healthcare and retail. She has been at the helm of Yamamoto for 14 years, leading the agency’s record growth and expanded office footprint. Kathy has been named one of the Top 25 Women in Business and voted one of the 10 Most Admired CEOs in Minnesota.

In addition, she is an equine-obsessed, sunshine-loving, bonafide country gal. In her own words: “You’re never wrong with empathy and kindness."

Michael Stelmaskzek
Chief Creative Officer
Great people trying to do great things. That’s the formula and it has served Michael well. A writer and leader, Michael has spent the better part of the last two decades creating work that has made himself and his clients quite proud. He brings passion and a point of view. He wants to solve the real problems and instigate real results. And he’ll always give you his best and accept the challenge if it needs to be better.

Michael is a girl dad and cinephile who would rather be playing point guard for the Knicks. He was once nearly mauled by a lion in Zimbabwe.

Chris Rahill
Chief Strategy Officer
As the leader of the strategy practice at Yamamoto, Chris has a brilliant mind and inherent curiosity – a powerful combination. Regardless of industry or objective, Chris looks at things from the client’s perspective, analyzes complex marketing issues, then breaks them down to clear, concise solutions that positively impact business.

Chris is a proud Bills fan, closet foodie and owner of an invented cat allergy. He was once at a TV shoot where the Creative Director jumped off a bridge.

Jon Trettel
Chief Digital Officer
As chief digital officer, Jon leads, develops and directs Yamamoto’s digital efforts – responsible for the creative quality, design, development and deployment of all digital marketing initiatives. Jon lives and breathes digital and experiential. Not just how things look creatively, but how they work within physical and digital properties. He is a dominant force with a strong business acumen, staying ahead of trends in digital technology to advance our clients’ businesses.
Jon is an outdoorsman, carnivore and self-professed smart-ass. He’s more calculating than he lets on, though he prefers to do it from 20 feet up a tree.

Matt Morano
Managing Director, Chicago
Matt is a hybrid client service professional and brand/business strategist with a diverse background in marketing, making him an invaluable resource to our clients. From direct marketing to brand strategy and consumer promotions, Matt understands how to help brands build deep relationships with audiences to inspire behavior that drives business growth.

Matt is a pizza aficionado and 80’s hip-hop head. He once rode in a limo with Michael Strahan and feels quite strongly that Seinfeld is the best TV show of all time.

Andy Ross
SVP, Client Experience and Growth
Andy is a strong, seasoned and strategic leader. He’s worked at agencies in New York and Minneapolis on several high-profile, complex accounts. He brings a collaborative approach to client relationships and uses his creative expertise to bring multichannel ideas to life.

Additionally, he is a voracious reader, watch collector and volunteer amateur talent scout for the Minnesota Twins. He can vividly remember the TV commercial that got him into advertising: I owe a lot to Volkswagen. He happens to drive a Volkswagen.

Shawn Pals
Executive Creative Director
Shawn is a creative leader, mentor and inspiration to his creative teams. He’s a thoughtful creative director with design roots, leading all major brand work at Yamamoto. Shawn has been the creative heart and soul of our body of work at Yamamoto. Everyone appreciates Shawn’s collaborative nature and immense talent. He’s highly driven to find smart, creative solutions that solve real business problems.

Shawn is a guitar strummer, car enthusiast and avid sports dad who can still do a kickflip. He doesn’t like olives, but he’s learning to love mushrooms.

---

Clients and Brands

Client & Brands	Start Date
Cargill Global Strategy and Marketing, Nutrena, ProElite, ProForce, North American Grain	01-01-2016
Action for Healthy Kids	N/A
Comcast	N/A
Solventum (3M Healthcare)	N/A
Duke University Duke Aulmni Duke Climate Commintment	N/A
Middleby Outdoor	N/A
Security Health Plan	N/A
PhRMA	N/A
Truvia	N/A
Illumina	N/A
US Steel Corporation	N/A

---

Billings & Revenue

Billing / Revenue Ranges	Number of Clients
Billing < $1M and/or Agency Revenue < $200K	4
Billing > $1M and < $3M	5
Billing > $3M and < $5M	2
Billing > $5M and < $10M	3
Billing < $10M and < $25M	1

Total Gross Media Placed by this Office

Allocation Percent of Media Placed by this Office

---

Types of Services

Service Offering	Revenue
Advertising - General Market/ Traditional	0
Content stategy & development	0
Brand Consulting	0
Design	0
Direct Marketing	0
Digital/Interactive | Blogging Discussion Forums, Community Building	0
Business-to-Business	0
Digital/Interactive | Search Engine Optimization	0
Creative Strategy & Development	0
Digital/Interactive | Website Development, Hosting, Monitoring	0
Influencer Marketing	0
Data & Analytics	0
Digital/Interactive | Search Engine Marketing	0
Direct Marketing	0
Event Marketing	0
Industrial Advertising	0
Social Media	0

---

Industry Experience

Healthcare | medical products
Home Products | Home Improvements (hardware, paint, plumbing, gardening)
Travel | hotels & resorts
Technology | consumer electronics
Technology | .com business
Restaurants
Healthcare | pharmaceutical
Technology | electronics
Recreation & Sports | hobbies
Apparel & Fashion | jewelry & accessories
Business Services & office products
Technology | computer hardware & software
Technology | communications
Education
Financial services | investments
Healthcare | managed care
Professional Services (accountants, consultants, lawyers)
Non-profit, associations & public services
Healthcare | direct to consumer (DTC)
Agriculture
Automotive | aftermarket
Financial services | insurance
Telecommunications
Recreation & Sports | sporting goods
Industrial, Manufacturing & chemicals
Healthcare | Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities, Medical Services
Food & Beverage | food
Food & Beverage | pet food
Consumer Services
Food & Beverage | alcoholic beverages
Financial services | Banking - Consumer
Retail
Pets | accessories/veterinary/boarding

---