MEET THE TEAM

I’ve held a passion for advertising for as long as I can remember. As a small child, much of my “play time” included countless hours of reciting and recreating television commercials for V05 Shampoo, Coppertone Tanning Lotion, Butternut Bread, and many other famous brands of the early 1960s as I imagined that I was the pitch girl for all these products. My parents loved it and encouraged me, although I could never figure out why they always laughed so hard! 

Things got serious as I grew up, started a family, and went to college. I felt a strong calling to help others, so I became a social worker and I worked with adult survivors of domestic and childhood abuse. It was during this time that I learned how to really listen. Through reflective listening and creative problem solving I was successful in helping many people. I fell head over heels in LOVE with the growth process of listening, reflecting, and creating to solve real life problems and relieve years of suffering. 

After 15 years in the helping professions, in 2000, I took a chance opportunity to assist a local advertising agency. It was here that I was able to begin fusing together my 2 great loves- being the “pitch girl” and helping others grow! Instead of helping people overcome their personal issues, I was helping people to discover and overcome their marketing issues! Rather than setting personal goals and tracking progress, I was helping to set marketing goals and tracking progress! And…I was helping people GROW…their business!

Since 2000 when my two great loves collided, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing and talented people. I sold advertising for radio, television, print, and digital, and I worked on thousands of successful campaigns. In 2013, I took another chance and started Ad Vice Marketing. We’ve grown from one person (me) to six, and we are helping so many wonderful local businesses to grow exponentially. 

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How about yours? Ready to GROW? Let’s Chat!

As a successful salon owner and colorist, my experience has made me very adept at listening, interpreting, and accomplishing customer's desired outcomes- both creatively and monetarily. These skills have easily transferred from behind the chair to creating and managing campaigns behind the scenes. In addition, my passion for art, design, and service has uniquely positioned me to create engaging content that directly contributes to achieving our clients' branding and marketing goals.

When I'm not at work, you can find me knitting, spending time with my fur babies, or riding on the back of our motorcycle.

With over 30 years of experience with QuickBooks and an Associate's Degree in Accounting, Patti brings a wealth of bookkeeping expertise to the team.

She adores being a grandmother and loves spending time with her 17 grandchildren. Patti's favorite way to relax is outside in the fresh air tending to her gardens like pulling weeds and growing flowers.

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Patti is a council member at The St. Ambrogio Ladies Auxiliary. If you want to see Patti's competitive side, find her on a bocce ball court there!

Ande is our Marketing Assistant who helps with copywriting, content planning, and other projects.

Here is what she says about herself: "I graduated in 2022 with my B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from Drake University. Ad Vice Marketing has allowed me to break into the marketing industry by refining the skills I learned in college. I am continuing at Drake University by pursuing my M.A in Communication Leadership. I love reading, running, and watching The Rookie on ABC.

After an incredibly entertaining and rewarding career within the local media and advertising market, I did what any rational and well-adjusted person would do: I joined the family business. It has been exactly the wild journey I had hoped it would be and more. Each day brings a new opportunity for growth and learning, a new reward, and just the right amount of industry changes to keep me on my toes. 

I love complex problem solving, being part of a greater purpose, and helping people. Most importantly, I thrive on delivering results for our clients and watching their lives become easier. This sentiment also applies to our team at Ad Vice Marketing. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with these hilarious, wildly intelligent, talented women. We’ve created a culture of innovation, support, and encouragement - where knowledge is freely shared and all hands are working towards a common goal. We trust each other. Anyone who has been part of a group dynamic knows that trusting your teammates is worth its weight in gold and we openly share this culture with our clients. 

I have a knack for identifying problems and challenges -  it’s a blessing and a curse, but it comes hand in hand with my passion for creating solutions. There truly is nothing that makes me light up more than offering and implementing a solution that improves someone’s life. I KNOW how cheesy that sounds, but it’s the truth. There are a million ways to put those skills into practice and I strive to apply them every day - Marketing and Advertising just happen to be my medium of choice.

My ultimate goal is to build lasting, beneficial relationships with our clients because we’ve earned their trust and have shown our value. We’re in it for the long haul and we’re willing to do what it takes to ensure the mark is met. 

When working with me you can expect a consultative approach. As a Realistic Idealist and an INFJ-T, I naturally assume the role of an advocate. This, combined with my experience, beautifully positions me to make thoughtful recommendations and share insights with you as if your business were my own. 

Outside of work hours, I’m typically lost in philosophical conversations with my 14 year old (it gets real deep, haha!), reading, tinkering with home improvement projects, exploring the great outdoors, relaxing in the garden, or zoning out next to a campfire. I’ve also been known to pluck around on a guitar while making amusing attempts to sing along, but I won’t impose my newfound skillset onto you -  I can be awkward, but I have boundaries.

Are you ready to form a partnership with a team that is dedicated to facilitating your goals? Would you like to work with a group of people who are authentic, passionate, and have a track record of success? Let’s have coffee and dig in! I promise I’ll share insights that will put you closer to a solution.

Hi! My name is Christina Wales, and I am one of the Social Media Strategists at Ad Vice Marketing. Besides my slightly obsessive passion for marketing, I am an avid cyclist, gardener, and cat lady. I will find any excuse to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine! My favorite thing to do on the weekend is to go for a hike at one of our many beautiful forest preserves in Winnebago County. My goal is to hike the entire Appalachian Trail!

At Ad Vice, my role currently involves a mix of everything: sales, campaign strategies, research, and metrics. My role has evolved over the last two years, providing me with more experience and opportunities to challenge myself. Our team offers a creative and innovative environment where new ideas are continually encouraged. That collaborative aspect motivates me to continue to learn as much as I can about our ever-changing industry, such as new digital platforms and marketing trends. In the fall of 2022, I will receive my Bachelor’s degree in Business from Judson University, with an emphasis in marketing.

In the meantime, I’ve honed my skills by assisting local businesses with marketing recommendations. Born and raised in Rockford, I am dedicated to helping local business owners to achieve their goals and continue following their dreams. Driven by the success of marketing campaigns and the ability to help others, I do my best to ensure clients get the recognition they need to grow sales and awareness. I am eager to continue my journey pursuing marketing, design, and visibility with client satisfaction as the ultimate goal!

Feel free to reach out to me at c.wales@ad-vicemarketing.com.

Sam is our Creative Digital Designer who brings our content to life by creating images and videos for our clients.

Here's what Sam says about herself: "With my Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in Illustration, I learned the fundamentals of design. My education provided me with the tools to deliver images that will fit seamlessly with each of our client's unique brands. In addition, I like to draw, thrift shop, collect art books, and watch animated movies.